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 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.

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