W3GMS Thursday Night Roundtable Recap – June 5, 2025

This 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 planes and Comet GP3s got nods for ease of setup and solid results.
• For those just getting started, suggestions ranged from mag-mounts on cookie sheets to DIY antennas using SO-239 connectors and brazing rod.
• Joe (W3GMS) gave a thorough rundown of high-performance options including the X700 and also mentioned using small beams for specific repeater coverage.
• There was also discussion on low-profile or mobile antennas mounted creatively (like rain gutters) for minimal coverage needs.

Technical Sidebar:

• Chuck (NA3CW) and others discussed how antenna choice should match operating goals—whether repeater work, simplex, or portable ops.
• Beam antennas were recommended for more directional needs and better performance on simplex.

Second Round – EchoLink & Field Day:

• Leon (AA3LH) checked in via EchoLink, and his signal sparked a small side discussion about clipping issues with digital modes.
• Joe (W3GMS) offered field day updates, including operator spreadsheet deadlines and positive weather predictions.
• Chuck shared progress on tower setup and experimentation with a Yaesu FT-710 ahead of Field Day “GOTA” coaching duties.

Late Check-ins & Wrap-up:

• Several more stations joined late, sharing their antenna setups and general thoughts.
• The conversation naturally drifted into a laid-back post-net chat between a few ops, including photography topics, camera menus, and the evolution from film to digital.