Host: Greg (W3DIB)
Theme: Field Day Prep, Coax Projects, and Microphone Cable Woes

🔧 Technical Questions

Q1: Straightening Coiled Mic Cables (N3RBN)
Paul asked if there’s a reliable way to straighten the coiled section of an RJ-style microphone cable to reterminate it. Responses included:

• Chuck (NA3CW) and others suggested buying a cheap knockoff mic just for the cable, then rewiring.
• Scott (W3KZG) seconded the idea—some knockoffs fit well and don’t even require soldering.

Q2: Remote Relay vs. Direct Coax Run (KC3SQI)
Wayne asked if it’s better to run a home-run coax for a 2m antenna or share a remote relay rated only for 6m.

• Ron (WA3VEE) and Jim (KC3RFG) strongly recommended running dedicated coax to minimize signal loss and prevent mismatches.
• John (WA3KFT) shared his experience running 14 coax lines with high-quality switches, warning about specs and reliability.
• Consensus: fewer interconnections, always better.

📡 Roundtable Highlights

• Field Day Fever:
  Many ops are prepping hard—testing coax, installing connectors, tuning antennas. Chuck (NA3CW) and Joe (W3GMS) led a coax connector demo that was widely praised.
• APRS Success:
  John (KC3WWC) had a blast during APRS Thursday—received 174 messages from across the globe in 12 hours!
• First 6m Contacts!
  Jim (KC3RFG) made his first contacts on 6 meters thanks to some recent solar activity—repaired his mag-mount antenna with a solder rework.
• Project Progress:
  • Keith (KB3ILS) dove deep into bandpass filter design, winding toroids and using a NanoVNA and oscilloscope.
  • Scott (W3KZG) is renovating a trailer to double as a field day camper and ATV hauler.
  • Wayne (KC3SQI) poured concrete for his new tilt-over mast.
  • Ron (WA3VEE) helped tune the 40m dipole for Field Day, now resonant at 7.150 MHz.
  • Jon (WA3KFT) shared a robust setup with 14 coax switches and specialty tools from DX Engineering.

💬 Community Notes

• Health Check-Ins:
  The net closed with updates and well-wishes for an operator dealing with a medical emergency—several ops shared hospital updates and encouraging words.
• Father’s Day Recaps:
  Several shared heartfelt stories of family time—steak dinners, grandkid babysitting, and “gifts” like temporary pet duty.