Radio Active Times, Issue 10, February 2026

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The official newsletter of the Handiham Radio Club. Issue 10, February 2026.

Greetings from the Editor

Since we are in the dead of winter, this seems like a great time to hear about what our members do at this time of year. In this issue you will read about a Winter Field Day event in a part of the country that was not frozen solid. Here in Virginia we had several Winter Field Day events planned, but most of the area ended up under more than half an inch of ice and snow, so we had to cancel them all. We are finally thawing out, and I am looking forward to getting back on the air for fun rather than for emergencies.

Mélanie Carriveau, KN4ZSY, Editor in Chief

Contributions Wanted

If you have something related to ham radio or technology that you want to share with the club, please submit it to our Editor in Chief, Mélanie Carriveau, KN4ZSY. There is no deadline for submissions, and the submission guidelines are quite flexible.

Net Numbers for January 2026

By Peter Atkinson, KD9VTU, Assistant Net Manager

Check-ins by week, January 2026
Week Nets Check-ins Average per net
January 1–2 2 47 23.5
January 5–9 6 132 22
January 12–16 6 133 22.17
January 19–23 (best week of the year so far) 6 135 22.5
January 26–30 6 133 22.17
Year to date 26 580 22.31
Check-ins by net, January 2026
Net Nets Check-ins Average
Monday 4 85 21.25
Tuesday 4 85 21.25
Wednesday 4 82 20.5
Wednesday night 4 88 22
Thursday 5 122 24.4
Friday 5 108 21.6
Check-ins by net control station, January 2026
Net control station Nets Check-ins Average
Sabra, AI7UG 3 64 21.33
Larry, K7GND 5 108 21.6
Tom, KB8TYJ 1 23 23
Daryl, N5VLZ 4 81 20.25
John, NU6P 2 49 24.5
Linda, N7HVF, and Peter, WX9IDX 3 63 21
Peter, WX9IDX 8 185 23.13

Be sure to drop in to our daily nets at 11:00 AM Central time, Monday through Friday:

  • EchoLink: HANDIHAM conference server, node 494492
  • DMR: talkgroup TGIF, TG 3141
  • AllStar: node 473670

Monthly Contest Spotlight

By Tom Behler, KB8TYJ

Below is a list of contests over the next month that I thought might interest you. It is only a small sampling of the many contests scheduled, and it covers the ones I know best. I encourage you to visit the WA7BNM Contest Calendar for the complete listing, since there may be contests of special interest to you. I include state QSO parties because they are fun and easy to work, especially if you have lived in, or now live in, that state. Finally, if you have worked a contest that isn’t listed here and want to tell us about it, get in touch with me, and I’ll include your thoughts in a future spotlight.

  • ARRL International DX Contest, CW: 0000 UTC February 21 to 2400 UTC February 22. The CW is often fast and can seem a bit daunting, but this is a great way to rack up DX contacts and maybe find some countries you’ve been looking for.
  • CQ 160-Meter Contest, SSB: 2200 UTC February 27 to 2200 UTC March 1. A nice contest for testing your 160-meter capabilities, and maybe snagging a few surprise DX contacts.
  • South Carolina QSO Party: 1500 UTC February 28 to 0159 UTC March 1.
  • North Carolina QSO Party: 1500 UTC March 1 to 0100 UTC March 2.
  • ARRL International DX Contest, SSB: 0000 UTC March 7 to 2400 UTC March 8. You don’t have to know the code for this one! Just get in there and talk all over the world.
  • Oklahoma QSO Party: 1500 UTC March 14 to 0200 UTC March 15, and 1500–2200 UTC March 15.
  • Idaho QSO Party: 1600 UTC March 14 to 0400 UTC March 15, and 1400 UTC March 15 to 0200 UTC March 16.
  • Wisconsin QSO Party: 1800 UTC March 15 to 0100 UTC March 16.

Article 1: Winter Field Day

By Linda Reeder, N7HVF

The idea for Winter Field Day was presented to the Society for the Preservation of Amateur Radio (SPAR) in 2006 by Walt, W5ALT, and Charles, N5PVL. They thought Winter Field Day would be an excellent way for hams to learn how to handle emergencies in cold weather. The first Winter Field Day was held January 13–14, 2007, in Texas. SPAR has since become the Winter Field Day Association, which now holds Winter Field Day on the fourth weekend of January.

In the past I have attended many summer Field Day events at Payson Lakes in Utah, but this year was my first Winter Field Day. It was also the first time the Utah Amateur Radio Club sponsored a Winter Field Day event. It was held in West Valley at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center. We could not stay overnight, but we were able to operate from noon until 8 PM. There were 2 trailers, one for 40 meters and one for 20 meters.

Sylvia Berndrt, K7KQY, and I tried 40 meters first, but it wasn’t doing very well; despite the poor conditions, we made 6 contacts. Then we went over to Don Rawlins’s (N7YUQ) trailer, which was nice and warm, and made 25 contacts on 20 meters, so I made a total of 31 contacts counting the 6 on 40 meters. It was so cold outside, but it was nice and warm in Don’s trailer, and the Oreo cookies and hot chocolate also helped keep us warm. When Noji Ratzlaff, KN0JI, came in and changed the band to 75 meters, I got to talk to Alberta, Canada. That was so neat!

At 7:30 PM we sat around the fire outside and had pizza. Thank you, Adam Stribling, KK7NJJ, for the pizza; it was delicious. James Bennett, KK7ARS, took pictures of us sitting around the fire. I had a wonderful time at my first Winter Field Day.

Talking Ham: D Region

The D region is the lowest region of the ionosphere, 48 to 90 km (30 to 56 miles) above the Earth’s surface. It contributes very little to shortwave radio propagation; it mainly absorbs energy from radio waves passing through it. This absorption has a significant effect on signals below about 7.5 MHz during daylight.

Article 2: Tricks for the OpenGD77 Firmware on the TYT MD-UV380

By Jerry Maccoux, W0UH

I recently sent this list to a friend who assured me these tips did not work on his radio. Upon further inspection, he found that they work just fine. Make sure you try each tip carefully: you may have partially entered a frequency on the screen, so clear it, and you will be successful. I found a recording of someone demonstrating these commands, and after trying them once or twice I could use them quickly. I find my TYT as usable as my TH-D75A, and since writing this article I have mainly operated with the TYT MD-UV380.

Keypad layout

  • Top row, left to right: Menu, Minus, Plus, Back (Exit).
  • Second row: 1, 2, 3, Star.
  • Third row: 4, 5, 6, 0.
  • Bottom row: 7, 8, 9, Pound.
  • Left-side keys, top to bottom: SK1, PTT, SK2.

Shortcuts

OpenGD77 key shortcuts
To do this Press
Lock the keypad (lock clears when the radio is turned off) Menu, then Star
Unlock the keypad SK2 together with Star
Lock transmit (lock clears when the radio is turned off) Menu, then Pound
Unlock transmit SK2 together with Star
Change power setting SK2 with Plus, or SK2 with Minus
Change mode between FM and DMR SK2 with Star
Change zone (memory mode only) SK2 while turning the selector knob
Quick menu SK1 with Menu
Check battery status SK1, plus SK2, plus Menu
Change VFOs Long press Back
Change time slot Hold down Star
DTMF entry Pound
DTMF contact list SK2 with Pound

DTMF entry

Press Pound, type a command such as *81, then press Menu, and the radio transmits that command over the air. This is good for sending commands to your repeater or ClearNode. For example, to connect your ClearNode to a node, try *3 27404, then Menu; you will connect to SouthCARS.

The DTMF contact list (SK2 with Pound) lets you arrow through a group of preprogrammed DTMF commands, including:

  1. System status
  2. Full system status (I’m not sure what this one does)
  3. Reconnect
  4. Say time
  5. Say IP address
  6. Say registration
  7. Parrot once
  8. Restart system
  9. Restart Asterisk
  10. Disconnect

What is in the Menu?

  1. Zone
  2. Contacts
  3. Channel details
  4. RSSI
  5. Firmware info
  6. Options
  7. Last heard
  8. Radio information
  9. Satellite
  10. GPS

Channel Details includes: RX frequency, TX frequency, FM or DMR mode, use location, latitude, longitude, DMR ID, color code, time slot, talkgroups, contact, RX CTCSS, TX CTCSS, bandwidth, step frequency, and TOT (time-out timer), among others.

Useful items in Options include General options, Radio options, Display options and Sound options, among others. Pressing Menu again takes you into one of these menus, where you can explore values to change.

What is in the Quick menu?

Open the Quick menu with SK1 and Menu. It includes:

  • Change VFOs: turning the VFO knob lets you choose between VFO A and VFO B.
  • Exchange TX and RX frequencies.
  • Copy receive frequency to transmit frequency.
  • Copy transmit frequency to receive frequency.
  • Filter for CTCSS and DCS.
  • DMR filter.
  • Color code scan.
  • Time slot filter.
  • Copy VFO to channel.
  • Tone scan.
  • Dual watch, on transmit and receive frequencies.

Notes on Copy VFO to Channel: I like to use this radio as an FM analog radio. If I set a repeater frequency in my VFO, I press Menu on this option, then Menu again to confirm, and it saves it as “New channel” followed by a number. Be warned: this will very likely mess up the DMR code plug you entered from your PC. If, like me, you don’t mind fixing that, this is a great on-the-fly option. I put all my programmed repeaters in my FM analog zone.

Adding analog channels

  1. Press Menu, select Zone, and press Menu.
  2. Turn the selector knob to your analog zone.
  3. Press Menu.
  4. Press Back to get to your VFO.
  5. Enter the repeater frequency you want.
  6. Enter the offset.
  7. Enter the PL tone.
  8. Long press SK1, then press Menu for the Quick menu.
  9. Arrow to Copy VFO to New Channel.
  10. Press Menu twice.
  11. Press Back to get to the analog zone. Your new channel is there. Repeat for each repeater you want to add.

Special Notice

Please note that our April meeting will be held on the second Sunday of the month, April 12, because Easter falls on the first Sunday. Our bylaws automatically move our meeting to the second Sunday when the first Sunday falls on a holiday.

Calendar of Upcoming Events

February 2026

  • February 7–22, 0001–2359 UTC: The 100th anniversary of the city of Gdynia, 1926–2026, on the air. Six stations, Pomeranian Field Division of the Polish Amateur Radio Union, Gdańsk and Gdynia, Poland. All bands.
  • February 14–22, 0000–2359 UTC: 6th Annual Pluto Discovery Anniversary special event. W7P, Northern Arizona DX Association, Flagstaff, Arizona. Frequencies: 14.266, 21.366, 28.366, 7.266 MHz.
  • February 14–16, 1600–2300 UTC: Ice Station W0JH, Frozen Minnesota Lake Portable. W0JH, Stillwater Amateur Radio Association, Stillwater, Minnesota. Frequencies: 21.360, 14.260, 7.260, 3.860 MHz.
  • February 16–22, 0000–2359 UTC: Antarctic Activity Week. K4C, World Antarctic Program, McDonough, Georgia. Frequency: 14.270 MHz.
  • February 18–23, 0000–0600 UTC: Dry Tortugas. N4T, KC3YQL, Mount Joy, Pennsylvania. Frequencies: 7.238, 14.336 MHz.
  • February 21, 1600–2000 UTC: Calvert High School STEM Expo. K3CAL, Calvert Amateur Radio Association, Prince Frederick, Maryland. Frequencies: 14.250, 14.275, 14.300, 14.325 MHz.
  • February 21, 1200–2359 UTC: SWR Magazine Waves Weekend. KP3SWR, SWR Magazine, Camuy, Puerto Rico. Frequencies: 14.245, 21.245, 28.445 MHz.
  • February 21, 1300–2100 UTC: War Shipping Administration created, 1942. K3S, Nuclear Ship Savannah ARC, Odenton, Maryland. Bands: 40, 20, 15 and 10 meters.
  • February 23 – April 21, 0000–2359 UTC: Republic of Texas special event. WA5DTK, Texas History Operators Club, Montgomery, Texas. Frequencies: 7.030, 7.230, 14.040, 14.260 MHz.
  • February 25, 1500–2359 UTC: Annual Snowbird Field Day. W7ASL, Sunlife Amateur Radio Club, Mesa, Arizona. Frequencies: 50.329, 28.329, 21.329, 14.329 MHz.
  • February 28, 0000–2359 UTC: 2026 Rare Disease Day special event. N4R, KR4EE, Sparta, Tennessee. Frequencies: 14.070, 14.080, 28.074, 21.074 MHz.
  • February 28, 1400–2200 UTC: Freeze Your Keys, 22nd winter operating event. W0EBB, Kickapoo QRP ARC, Leavenworth, Kansas. CW 7.035 and 14.058 MHz; SSB 7.240 and 14.325 MHz.

March 2026

  • March 3–14, 0001–2359 UTC: Geratol Net, 50-plus years of service. N1KL, Geratol Net, Wheelwright, Massachusetts. 3.668 MHz and Extra Class HF frequencies.
  • March 7, 1400–2100 UTC: Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge. W4OT, Vero Beach Amateur Radio Club, Vero Beach, Florida. Frequencies: 14.250, 14.035, 28.350, 21.290 MHz.
  • March 7, 1300–2359 UTC: YL POTA Party, Erie Canalway. N3ARB, Upstate New York POTA (Parks on the Air), Spencerport, New York. Frequencies: 14.320, 7.230 MHz.
  • March 14, 0900–1500 UTC: 68th anniversary of the atomic bomb dropped near Florence, South Carolina. W4ULH, Florence Amateur Radio Club, Florence, South Carolina. Frequencies: 14.285, 7.285 MHz.
  • March 14, 1300–2200 UTC: Celebrating Florida’s statehood. W4F, Lake Monroe Amateur Radio Society and Ham Radio Outlet, Winter Springs, Florida. Frequencies: 14.255, 21.335, 28.360 MHz.
  • March 14–15, 1800–0100 UTC: David Sarnoff Radio Club Pi Day. N2RE, David Sarnoff Radio Club, Mount Laurel, New Jersey. Frequencies: 14.031, 14.314, 7.227, 7.031 MHz.
  • March 14, 1700–2359 UTC: Launching of the USS Midway aircraft carrier. NI6IW, USS Midway Museum Ship, San Diego, California. Frequencies: 14.320, 7.250, 14.070 MHz; PSK31; D-STAR on Papa System repeaters.
  • March 15, 1800–2030 UTC: Battleship USS Wisconsin (BB-64) on the air in honor of the Wisconsin QSO Party. N4WIS, USS Wisconsin Radio Club, Norfolk, Virginia. Frequencies: 14.264, 21.364, 28.364, 7.264 MHz.
  • March 21, 1330–2100 UTC: First LORAN experimental stations. K3S, Nuclear Ship Savannah ARC, Port of Baltimore, Maryland. Bands: 40, 20, 17, 15 and 10 meters.
  • March 21–23, 0000–0400 UTC: New Jersey Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship for Youths. NJ2KC, New Jersey Knights of Columbus Amateur Radio Club, Bridgeton, New Jersey. Frequencies: 14.250, 21.4125, 7.225, 28.450 MHz.
  • March 21, 1300–1900 UTC: Solivita Car Show. N4SRC, Solivita Radio Club, Kissimmee, Florida. Frequencies: 18.124, 24.980, 14.074, 21.074 MHz.
  • March 21–22, 1400–2359 UTC: Virginia QSO Party. K4NVA, Sterling Park ARC, Sterling, Virginia. Frequencies: 1.845, 3.860, 7.260, 14.270 MHz.
  • March 28, 0700–1100 UTC: 10th Annual Loomis Hamfest. W6EK, Sierra Foothills Amateur Radio Club, Rocklin, California. Talk-in: 145.130 MHz, CTCSS 114.8 Hz.

Handiham Radio Club Board, February 2026

  • President: Jerry Maccoux, W0UH
  • Vice President: Tom Behler, KB8TYJ
  • Secretary: Mélanie Carriveau, KN4ZSY
  • Treasurer and Handiham Program representative: Lucinda Moody, AB8WF
  • Immediate Past President: Linda Reeder, N7HVF
  • Technology Committee Chair: John Glass, NU6P
  • Outreach Committee Chair: Peter Atkinson, KD9VTU
  • First Member at Large: Darrell Horst, KM6KFW
  • Second Member at Large: Christoph Bungard, DF9WM

To reach the club or any board member, please contact the Handiham Radio Club through the Handiham Program.