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June 12th 2025 #464 - AF3Z| W3GMS Roundtable
Manage episode 489506979 series 3669352
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Host: Jim (AF3Z)
Topic: Operating Style – Chair, Snacks, and Listening Habits
Theme: “What’s your ham shack comfort setup?”
🗣️ General Highlights
- Jim (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 a few dedicated QSO chasers and net participants.
- Chairs ranged wildly from Herman Miller Aerons and antique rocking chairs to folding chairs, wooden stools, and even no chairs at all.
- Snacks and drinks: Most hams were cautious about eating near gear. Water and coffee were popular, with some enjoying chips, candy, or even beer (safely distanced from the radios).
- Multiple ops shared insights into their shack setups, with some working out of basements, shared office spaces, or even vehicles.
🔧 Technical Mentions
- Ron (WA3VE) and Greg (W3DIB) discussed running AllStar mobile with great success and low latency, encouraging others to explore similar setups.
- Field Day Prep was a recurring theme. Several ops mentioned gearing up for the weekend with coax workshops, antenna setup, and mentoring new operators.
- Joe (W3GMS) shared updates on the tower project and upcoming improvements to eliminate intermod by introducing a secondary site with alternate PL tone (94.8 Hz).
🛠️ Technical Tidbits and Side Projects
- Joe (W3GMS) is reworking Studio B with a legal-limit sideband/CW station featuring the TS-590 and Mercury LUX 1500W amp.
- Luke (KC3SCY) is building a wooden riser for his ham desk and even crafting his own bow and chair using only hand tools.
- Greg (W3DIB) brought up a cool side experiment using Mumble for low-latency peer audio and experimenting with Talk Connect.
🎙️ Community Vibe
- Everyone shared friendly banter about their "shack lifestyle" — from kids raiding the snack supply to keeping cats and musical instruments in the shack.
- Chris (KD3EMS), a newer ham, shared how radio serves as his stress-relief hobby amid running a medical training business.
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