W3GMS Monday Night Workbench Net

Febuary 9 2026 - Intermod Nights + Shack Projects | W3GMS Workbench

Chuck (NA3CW) hosts the W3GMS Monday Night Workbench as stations check in from icy Pennsylvania, share week-in-radio updates, and work through a set of practical bench questions. Topics include choosing alignment/trimmer tools (plastic vs ceramic and why non-conductive matters), whether extending a G5RV makes sense (and how ladder line length impacts multi-band behavior), and a late-breaking troubleshooting deep dive on diode/rectifier testing in a potted assembly—covering common diode failure modes (shorts, opens, leakage) and what you can realistically verify when you can’t lift a lead.

January 26 2026 #288 - Winter Field Day Debrief + Vertical Antennas and Ground Planes | W3GMS Workbench

Harvey (KC3NZT) hosts the W3GMS Monday Night Workbench with a Winter Field Day wrap-up and a solid technical discussion focused on vertical HF antennas and “ground plane kits” for antennas like the Antron 99 and IMAX 2000. The group digs into what a ground plane is really doing (and what happens when the antenna “finds” one through your coax or tower), shares real-world results with and without radials, and connects it to practical RF-in-the-shack symptoms like USB glitches and RFI. There’s also troubleshooting from Winter Field Day—including a radio that kept rebooting (cold + battery/power sag), dipole layout considerations (flat vs inverted-V for multi-station setups), and how to track down suspected power-line noise.

January 12 2026 #286 - Cold Weather and your Radio Gear | W3GMS Workbench

This episode of the 985 Workbench comes from the W3GMS 146.985 MHz repeater and delivers a deep, practical discussion centered on Winter Field Day preparation, cold-weather operating challenges, and real-world station experience. After net announcements and repeater operating notes, stations check in from across Pennsylvania, New England, and the West Coast, sharing recent ham radio activity including antenna installs, transmitter builds, straight-key CW operation, digital mode awards, AllStar and EchoLink use, and ongoing Field Day site work. The primary technical discussion explores how cold weather affects amateur radio equipment, with contributors covering: * Battery chemistry behavior in low temperatures, including Li-ion and LiFePO₄ limitations * Charging risks below freezing and the role of battery management systems * LCD display failures and sluggish operation in cold environments * Generator reliability, laptop boot issues, and operator ergonomics * Mechanical stress on coax, connectors, solder joints, and antennas A secondary Q&A segment focuses on indoor 10-meter antenna solutions for operators living under HOA restrictions or without attic access. Suggested approaches include shortened dipoles, window-mounted antennas, balcony deployments, magnetic loops, modified mobile whips, and low-power digital operation strategies. The episode reflects the Workbench’s hands-on, experience-driven format, blending mentoring, technical insight, and community collaboration. Format: Directed technical roundtable and Q&A Net: Monday Night Workbench on W3GMS 146.985 MHz Recorded: January 12, 2026 Host: Ron, WA3VEE

January 5 2026 #285 - Intermodulation Causes | W3GMS Workbench

This episode features the Monday Night Workbench net on the W3GMS 146.985 MHz repeater, a technical roundtable focused on practical amateur radio knowledge, experimentation, and learning. The discussion opens with net operations, repeater usage notes, intermod considerations, and digital access via EchoLink and AllStar. Operators then share recent on-air activity, station projects, antenna builds, Winter Field Day preparation, VE testing results, and ongoing bench work ranging from vintage transmitters to modern Raspberry Pi–based AllStar nodes. Technical Q&A topics include: * Build-it-yourself 2-meter antenna designs suitable for tree-mounted and portable use * Causes and behavior of intermod interference on RF and digital repeater links * How EchoLink and AllStar integrate with repeater infrastructure * The history, purpose, and technical implications of the MARS modification on amateur transceivers The episode blends hands-on engineering insight with real-world operating experience, historical context, and mentoring culture. It’s a snapshot of how amateur radio knowledge is shared live, unscripted, and collaboratively. Format: Directed technical roundtable and Q&A Net: Monday Night Workbench on W3GMS 146.985 MHz Recorded: January 5, 2026 Host: Greg, W3DIB

December 29 2025 #284 - Band Plans and Real World Decisions | W3GMS Workbench

In this episode of the W3GMS Workbench, Ron, WA3VEE, pinch-hits as host on the W3GMS 146.985 MHz repeater, guiding an in-depth technical discussion packed with practical experience and hard-earned wisdom from seasoned amateur radio operators. The centerpiece of the evening is a deep-dive comparison of modern HF transceivers, sparked by a listener question weighing the ICOM IC-7300 against the Yaesu FT-DX10. The group explores real-world receiver performance, Sherwood Engineering rankings, spectrum scopes, hybrid vs full SDR architectures, transmit audio quality, ergonomics, and why raw specifications rarely tell the whole story. Operators share hands-on experience, contesting vs ragchew priorities, and why actually operating the radio matters more than datasheets. The discussion then shifts to amateur radio band plans, focusing on the often-overlooked ultra-high-frequency allocations above 10 GHz. Participants explain why these bands exist, how they’re used for experimentation, microwave links, satellites, EME, and high-speed data—and why the FCC allows broad operating privileges there. Later, the Workbench tackles a practical real-world communications problem: replacing FRS radios for church operations. The group compares DMR, MURS, GMRS, and commercial Part 90 systems, covering licensing, security, cost, antennas, and vendor options—offering clear guidance for organizations needing reliable, non-ham communications. As always, the episode blends technical insight, real operating experience, and friendly collaboration, making it a standout example of what the W3GMS Workbench does best: helping operators make smart decisions with confidence.   📡 Mondays at 8:00 PM on the W3GMS Parksburg Repeater – 146.985 MHz 🎙️ Technical Q&A, real stations, real answers 🛠️ Newcomers welcome — questions encouraged