W3GMS Thursday Night Roundtable

🗓️ Roundtable Summary – July 10, 2025Host: Chuck, NA3CW Repeater: W3GMS – 146.985 MHz (PL 100 Hz, Tone Squelch 94.8 Hz) Topic: “What is your favorite season and why? And what are your favorite summertime activities?”🌤 General Discussion Highlights:Favorite Seasons: The overwhelming favorites were spring and fall due to mild temperatures, reduced humidity, and comfortable outdoor conditions. Only a few expressed fondness for summer or winter.Common Themes:Disdain for hot, humid

In this Independence Day edition of the W3GMS Roundtable, Chuck (NA3CW) unexpectedly steps in to host after a brief mix-up in scheduling. The group reflects on last weekend’s Field Day activities, sharing stories of great contacts, family involvement, high visitor turnout, and some humorous anecdotes—including using antenna ladder line to repair an exhaust pipe.Participants discuss operating conditions, equipment setups, CW adventures, and the importance of community in amateur radio. With

🧵 General Discussion HighlightsHost W3MFB opened with a reminder about AllStar/EchoLink check-ins, repeater etiquette, and local power issues. He ran the session off battery power due to flickering mains.N4MRW participates in a few VHF nets in Raleigh, NC when work allows. HF is currently unavailable at his QTH.W3JAM reminisced about past traffic nets on 75m and local VHF nets. He’s planning to rebuild his ham shack, with interest in rejoining nets once equipment is set up.K3DZM (Dylan)

Host: Jim (AF3Z) Topic: Operating Style – Chair, Snacks, and Listening Habits Theme: “What’s your ham shack comfort setup?”🗣️ General HighlightsJim (AF3Z) kicked off the net with a fun “lifestyle” prompt:What kind of chair do you sit in while operating?Do you keep food or drink in the shack?Do you mostly listen or get on the air and make contacts?The roundtable was well-attended, with a mix of RF and digital check-ins. Most participants leaned toward listening more than transmitting, with

W3GMS Thursday Night Roundtable Recap – June 5, 2025This week's roundtable, hosted by Phil (KC3CIB), centered on a practical and universally relevant topic: two-meter antennas. Participants were invited to share what antennas they currently use, whether they’d recommend them to others, and any personal preferences or insights.Antenna Talk Highlights:The Diamond X300A and X510 were clear favorites, praised for their durability, performance, and gain.Simpler options like quarter-wave ground

This week's roundtable, hosted by Jack (K3YVQ), featured a lively discussion on two light-hearted prompts: “If you could change your name, what would it be and why?” and “What are you looking forward to as the weather warms up?” Participants shared thoughtful, funny, and personal reflections, with some diving into family heritage, adoption stories, and name-related anecdotes.We also welcomed a new ham to the repeater, Jeremy (KD3BGL), who checked in from Avondale and shared his plans to