2 Meter, 70 Centimeter and 23 Centimeter FT8/FT4 Activity-NA.
This is Mike – KD5KC in El Paso Texas.
Many of you know I was a soldier in Europe for over 6 years of my 20+ year career, 1976 – 1984. While there I held the calls DA4DF as a TECH and DA1WJ as a GENERAL. Of my activity over there, I have to say for the first 3 years was 90% on 2m, and probably 75% of that SSB. There was only one digital mode, that was RTTY. There were no computers, the “teleprinter” was loud and heavy, and if you forgot and left it on, someone would get on and hit the ENTER key about 10,000 times so when you got home the whole roller of paper was spit out on your floor. GOOD TIMES. When I got the German General license as DA1WJ my band use expanded, but there was still a lot of 2m-SSB. And every visit to the family in Germany since then has seem me on the VHF-UHF bands. We visit often.
Last time we were over I stumbled on a little digital contest. To me, it feels more like a QSO-Party. At a certain time on a certain day, you get on a certain band and just make contacts. I contacted the event sponsor and asked if USA participation was welcome. They said they welcomed it. But back home, I discovered the contest hours were on a Tuesday afternoon, late-morning to mid-afternoon here. That wasn’t going to work.
I contacted the sponsors some more, and after some discussion it was decided to build a special portion of the contest. First it was USA only, then expanded to North America. And here we are, ready to begin.
The idea behind this event is to just promote DIGITAL ACTIVITY on 2m, 70cm and 23cm. Participation is simple. The photo below is a short run-down of how to participate. If you have a VHF-UHF radio capable of digital operation, here is a chance to try something different. Each month, one night a week, one band a week. Week-1: 2m. Week-2: 70cm. Week-3: 23cm.
The Web-URL for this event has just been released. https://ft8activity-na.net/
There are a dozen or more stations in the W-TX and S-NM area that are capable of participating in some or all of this. I don’t know how many will give this a try. I’ll be in there trying. I hope I will not be alone. You never know who might pop up. I hope some of you will answer my CQ.
Questions and comments are most welcome. I will also be sharing this with other microwave groups across the continent, feel free to share this where appropriate.
Vy73 – Mike – KD5KC.
DM61RT – El Paso, TX.
https://www.qrzcom/db/KD5KC
W5T-SOTA Association Manager.
