QSO Today Podcast - Interviews with the leaders in amateur radio

Paul Topolski, W1SEX, was my guest in Episode 133, in February 2017, six years ago. I wanted to reprise this interview as well as point out that Paul is always one of the first to help as a speaker or Expo moderator. Paul was just meters from ground zero working the communications center, when terrorists struck the 2013 Boston Marathon, killing three and injuring hundreds of spectators and participants. Paul shares with me his ham radio story, his experience, and how he continues to make a difference to his community in this QSO Today.

Jim Aspinwall, NO1PC, was the fly on the wall, as a kid growing up in Madison, Wisconsin, listening to his dad and friends talk about electronics, radio, and television repair. This led to a "hands on" electronics education that kept him employed from junior high school to this day. As a public safety volunteer, Jim believes that giving back to the community is key to a happy life. Amateur radio, and all of its benefits, is the icing on Jim's cake of life. N01PC is my QSO Today.

Jerry Spring, VE6TL, like many hams got an early start in amateur radio as a teen, but stepped out of the hobby to nurture a career and family. Upon returning Jerry revisited his love of vintage WW2 gear, vintage transceivers in general, and a love of CW and contesting to make enough contacts for DXCC. ForJerry, both hamshack and workbench are fully operational and busy. VE6TL is my QSO Today.

Thomas, "Tommy" Henderson, WD5AGO, has always found EME or Moonbounce operation on the bands above 6 meters fascinating and worthwhile, making thousands of contacts by phone or CW. Building his own EME rigs has led to deep technical expertise and ham radio success. As a teacher and now department head of the Electronics Technology program at Tulsa Community College, he uses amateur radio to enhance his full curriculum while demonstrating its utility. WD5AGO is my QSO Today.

Quin Schultze, K8QS, began his ham radio journey as a teenager with modest means and found his calling in college where he majored in communications, leading to a doctoral degree. Through Quin's looking glass we discuss the uniqueness of our ham radio hobby, the communities that form within it, and the real estate in the ether that we tend while on the air. K8QS is my QSO Today.

Paul Simmonds, VK5PAS, now a retired South Australia Police detective, is a relatively new ham, along with his wife, Marija, VK5MAZ. They have taken the hobby to new heights by operating in the great outdoors of South Australia, participating in WWFF, SOTA, POTA, and other outdoor amateur radio operating events. He collects certificates, QSL cards, and new friends, around the World, in pursuit of amateur radio. VK5PAS is my QSO Today.

Mark Persons, W0MH, was a recent speaker at the QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo where he presented "How to build a Broadcast Engineer's Version of a HF Amateur Radio Station, detailing his home ham radio shack installation meeting broadcast standards. Broadcast radio ran in Mark's family, and he spent a long and successful career as a broadcast engineer, contributing tens of articles to professional and amateur radio publications, and is the consummate radio mentor, volunteer and ham radio elmer. W0MH is my QSO Today.

Walt Stinson, W0CP's love of shortwave listening, amateur radio, and electronics led him to a career as an entrepreneur and founder of ListenUp, in Denver, Colorado. Walt remained on the cutting edge of the consumer electronics industry leading to his induction into the Consumer Electronics Association Hall of Fame. W0CP enjoys working DX, contesting, and now Summits on the Air from the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Walt is my QSO Today.

Bill Levy, N2WL, operates from his apartment in New York City, and from a remotely controlled FlexRadio station in Colorado, as part of a network of remotely controlled stations available for hire. As a kid, Bill paid for his ham radio hobby by running Wall Street, and he did a stint as a wildlife photographer for Time-Life and Partridge Films, while operating as a DX entity from Africa. N2WL tells his ham radio story in this QSO Today.

Mike Crestohl, W1RC, is the benevolent dictator and founder of Near Fest, New England Amateur Radio Festival, a collector of WW2 spy radios, a journalist with contributions to amateur magazines, and a lover of Collins boat anchor gear. Mike likes to operate a remote station while on the road and is my QSO Today.

Mooneer Salem, K6AQ, discovered that amateur radio provides plenty of opportunities for hams who also love computers and computer programming. K6AQ loves open source, contributing to HF digital voice development in the Free-DV Project, and improving on WinLink HF digital email gateways. Combine all this with Software Defined Radio and you have an active 21st century ham. K6AQ is my QSO Today.

Ted Robinson, K1QAR, was a speaker in the last QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo on the subject of magnetic loop antennas, especially in noisy urban areas, HOAs, and urban lots. Ted has a long ham radio history, a love of surfing, aviation, restoring Collins Equipment, and now expertise in the construction and use of high power magnetic loop antennas. K1QAR tells his ham radio story in this QSO Today.

Michael Fluegemann, KE8AQW, is a next generation ham, active on HF and CW. Michael is an engineer at Ford, likes the Long Island CW Club, and made a training video on the popular Morserino Arduino training device on this YouTube channel. KE8AQW provides some insight into how we might attract the next generation of hams in this QSO Today.

Hayden Honeywood, VK7HH, is a Ham Radio YouTuber, with an interest in VHF, UHF, and microwave amateur operations using multiple modes including WSPR. Hayden operates a remotely controlled station, as well as maintains the repeater network that serves his island State of Tasmania, Australia. VK7HH shares his knowledge, expertise, and his ham radio story in this QSO Today.

Lee Finkel, KY7M, honed his operating skills passing CW messages for the Nation Traffic System in the 60s. His membership in the with Central Arizona DX Association, after moving to Phoenix from Chicago, led KY7M to an interest in DX, DXpeditions to West Africa, and contesting. Lee is now a trustee of the NA7TB Milt Jensen N5IA Memorial Station, a remotely controlled multi-band station that includes a 160 Meter 8 circle antenna in the Arizona desert. KY7M is my QSO Today.

David Trachtenberg, N4WWL's ham radio journey started with shortwave listening as a young teen growing up on the East Coast, and once licensed, matured to operating Air Force MARS in the service of his hobby and country. David appreciates the variety of new equipment and technology as well as making new friends on the air. N4WWL is my QSO Today.

Murray Greenman, ZL1BPU, now a silent key, was my guest in Episode 71 more than 5 years ago. Murray was famous in amateur circles for the development of many popular digital modes. I spoke to Murray over Skype from his home in New Zealand. The body of Murray's work, spanning over 20 years, includes a book, Digital Modes For All Occasions, and on-line content that is very detailed and complete. Murray passed away in April 2022. May his memory be for a blessing.

Art Bell, W6OBB, now a silent key, was my guest on Episode 85, in March of 2016 and the interview that follows is the remastered version. Art was a very active ham from his QTH in Pahrump, Nevada, and his 160 meter Rhombic antennas were legendary. He was also one of the most popular late night talk radio hosts for over 30 years, syndicated nationwide until his retirement in 2007. I was a great fan of Art's and like many of his fans truly miss him on the radio.

Tim Berry WB4GBI has been a ham almost 50 years, in Knoxville, Tennessee, and has more than a passing interest in repeaters, emergency communications, and has been a broadcast engineer for most of his life. Tim shares his ham radio story in this QSO Today.

Lauren Libby, W0LD, was my guest on the QSO Today podcast, five years ago this month, and because of a confluence of events including the ham expo and the holidays of the Jewish new year, I decided this week to go back into the QSO Today catalog and remaster an amazing interview I had with Lauren. What's more, I got to meet Lauen in person at the Dayton Hamvention last May helping me to better choose the now remastered episode of Episode 161. Lauren's love of radio broadcasting brought him to amateur radio, his interest in DXing by meteor scatter and EME moon bounce. Lauren made his career in radio broadcasting and is the CEO of the World's largest International shortwave broadcasting network. W0LD is my QSO Today.

Otis Vicens, NP4G, grew up in Puerto Rico, with an appreciation for radio, a love of learning, and an eventual career in orthodontics. NP4G has enjoyed ham radio from his teenage years and now is one of the 3Y0J DXpedition crew members to Bouvet Island in January 2023. Otis joins me to tell his ham radio story and about his preparations for Bouvet.

Michael Kalter, W8CI, became infatuated with radio as a young boy growing up in rural Ohio in the days of Sputnik and President Kennedy's race to the moon. It wasn't until many years later that Michael joined the amateur radio ranks, becoming a leader in the Dayton Amateur Radio Association sponsors of the Dayton Hamvention. W8CI tells his ham radio story in this QSO Today.

Rod Hardman, VA3ON, is one of the hosts of the Ham Radio Workbench Podcast, and while a relatively new ham, has a love for hands on radio, technology, and tools that goes back to the 1970s. Rod played an interesting role with his company in New Orleans just after Hurricane Katrina that renewed his interest in amateur radio, finding his community, and eventually building his own tribe. VA3ON tells his story in this QSO Today.

Bill Jordan's, AE4S, love of electronics and radio paralleled his professional career as college professor. As a founding member of the Tallahassee Amateur Radio Society and the AE4S repeater, Bill is connected and communicates with the lifelong friends he has made through ham radio. AE4S tells his ham radio story in this QSO Today.

Joe Long, WA2EJT, has been a frequent contributor to ham radio magazines for decades including 73 and Electric Radio magazine. Joe loves vintage military transmitters and receivers as well as the best tube type rigs. Like many hams of his generation he was early into computers, PCs, and programming where his knowledge contributed to his career advancement and his enjoyment of amateur radio. WA2EJT tells his story in this QSO Today.

While many of us "old timers" may think we know what drives youth interest in amateur radio, a discussion with Conner Black, W4IPC, and CJ Pokowitz, WW0CJ, today's amateur radio youth leaders, may lead us to believe that old timer "value propositions" for ham radio do not resonate with today's youth. Join Eric and his guests in this discussion of how to potentially increase our numbers in this QSO Today.

Richard Bateman, KD7BBC, smitten by computers and programming from an early age, used this talent to solve problems. Combined with an interest in amateur radio, driven by his family, Richard developed Exam Tools amateur radio testing software now used by the majority of volunteer examiners today. The Covid Pandemic accelerated the evolution of Exam Tools for remote testing. KD7BBC tells the story in this QSO Today.

Eric Anderson, AF7YQ's ham radio interest led him to advanced degrees from MIT and to become Chief Architect and Camera software manager at Apple's Advanced Technology Group, creators of the first LCD based cameras, Chief Technology Officer at FlashPoint, and owner of more than 140 patents. Now retired, Eric creates unique ham radio CW transceivers for his new company, Preppcomm. AF7YQ is my QSO Today.

Dave Mackey, K1KA, like many amateurs of his generation, was influenced by broadcast radio, broadcast hosts like Jean Shephard, and the magic of radio in the late 50's and 60's. Dave went on to work with companies like Multitone, Microwave Associates, and Cushcraft before spending a generation in his own manufacturing company. Amateur radio played a serious role in Dave's career choices and personal successes. K1KA tells his story in this QSO Today.

Frank Roman, KC8VKA, was born in Puerto Rico, grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, enlisted in the Navy, and served in Vietnam. Frank is a successful business entrepreneur, now retired, who has continued to leverage his education and experience both professionally and in his pursuit of amateur radio. KC8VKA enjoys mentoring hams in Cleveland, Puerto Rico, and in Panama City, Florida in conjunction with the Panama City Amateur Radio Club. Frank is my QSO Today.

Will Ravenel, AI4VE, like many of us, returned to amateur radio after raising a family. Will is active in the QRP-ARCI, as its treasurer, and takes leadership positions in his ham clubs. Will loves to operate ham radio's first digital mode, CW, using either hand, at low power. AI4VE shares his operating expertise, running low power, in the field and on the beach, in this QSO Today.

Arun Kumar, W8ARU, builds most of the gear that he uses on the air, based on a skillset that he learned from becoming an amateur radio operator in India in the 1960s. This skill set combined with advanced degrees in engineering has put Arun on the cutting edge of solar and battery technologies used in big equipment as the World is going green. Arun was also Ashhar Farhan, VU2ESE's original mentor, one of his many major contributions to our hobby. W8ARU is my QSO Today.

Jerry Arnold, K9AF, is a long time commercial broadcaster and amateur radio operator, originally from Southern California, and now living in Terre Haute, Indiana. While Jerry likes to operate CW, he also has a restored AM Broadcast transmitter on 160 meters to transmit that warm AM sound we like to hear. K9AF and I discuss a whole range of ham radio topics in this QSO Today.

Herb Goodluck, N7HG, is a member of the Navajo Nation and son of one of the famous World War 2 heros called the Navajo Code Talkers. Herb keeps the Code Talkers memory alive with an annual special event at Window Rock, Arizona. N7HG is also an active amateur radio operator and my QSO Today.

Desiree Baccus, N3DEZ, while a relatively new ham, has an infectious excitement and enthusiasm for amateur radio that cannot be underestimated. She is already a mover and shaker for advancing amateur radio and a key player for NASA on the Air, NASA's year long amateur radio celebration. N3DEZ is my QSO Today.

Tracy McKim, VE3TWM, believes in the effectiveness of low power communications to communicate across town or around the World. Tracy uses his YouTube Channel, Outdoors On The Air, to first demonstrate the use of fiberglass poles to install wire antennas, and then to successfully demonstrate outdoor ham radio operation using those full size antennas to operate QRP single-sideband. VE3TWM is my QSO Today.

Geoffrey Mark, KM6TVJ, is one of the new kids on the block, a recent new amateur radio licensee. Geoffrey has some fresh ideas and our QSO around his career in the entertainment industry, a pilot, and "maker" caused me to think of some non-traditional ways that we hams can communicate. KM6TVJ is my QSO Today.

Bruce Prior, N7RR, loves to operate SOTA in Washington State's great outdoors where he has cataloged for SOTA all of the available mountain peaks in the state. I had the great pleasure of spending an afternoon last week with Bruce in Washington, activating Mt. Walker in Washington's Olympic Mountain range. My first SOTA activation where I learned the basics of SOTA activation. This was a great opportunity to get to know my guest in this week's QSO Today.

Jim Wilson, K5ND, returns to interview QSO Today Podcast host Eric Guth, as Eric reaches the 400th episode milestone of QSO Today. Jim and Eric discuss the changes to QSO Today that have evolved since the 200th episode milestone include the four QSO Today Virtual Ham Expos and the upcoming, soon to be announced QSO Today Academy for the advancement of amateur radio expertise.

John Raydo, K0IZ, had a great mentor at the beginning of his ham radio story that laid the foundation for John's approach to operating amateur radio and building radio equipment from scratch. John shares this story and how he now remotely controls and has the noise benefit of his rural Colorado rig when operating from his QTH in Missouri. K0IZ is my QSO Today.

John Fallows, VE6EY, when faced with an urban HF noise problem, applied this knowledge, expertise, and background from his years of experience in amateur radio to find a solution. This solution, John presented, last March, in the last QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo. Every problem leading to a solution has a story, and VE6EY tells it in this QSO Today.

Ed Wilson, N2XDD, discovered radio as a kid with a gifted four channel public safety scanner. This led to an interest in radio, a career in law enforcement, and exposure to amateur radio. Now an active ham, Ed has become a booster of the M17 project, a native ham radio digital mode for VHF and above. NX2DD is my QSO Today.

Jordan Makower, WA2BRV, spent his career influencing kids in the sciences as well as supporting their amateur radio interests. Now retired, Jordan is a frequent contributor to the K9YA Telegraph magazine. WA2BRV is my QSO Today.

Dave Slotter, W3DJS, like many hams who had an early interest in radio, but postponed joining our fraternity, is here now. Dave takes the skills that he developed over the years in software development and design to create a distribution of over 100 amateur radio softwares deployed on the Raspberry Pi called HamPi. W3DJS demonstrates through his contributions to amateur radio just how valuable new blood in ham radio can be. Dave is my QSO Today.

Robin Critchell, WA6CDR, had a profound influence on many young hams operating in the VHF and UHF bands in Southern California in the 70s' and 80s. He and Alan Burgstahler, WA6AWD, at the time and now a silent key, created the Cactus Intertie, now the World's largest full duplex radio linked amateur radio network. "Top band" or 160 Meters is Robin's favorite band, and he has participated on DxExpeditions, had an incredible career in the communications industry, and can fix just about anything. WA6CDR, is my QSO Today.

Hans van de Groenendaal, ZS6AKV, has been a mover and shaker in South Africa amateur radio for as long as he has been licensed, almost 65 years. In that time he has taken leadership positions in the South African Radio League, represented his country at the International Amateur Radio Union, involved himself in high altitude balloon launches, AMSAT South Africa, and a host of projects going back to his early beginning. Hans is an alumni speaker at the QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo and is my QSO Today.

Dave Bottom, WI6R, a second generation amateur radio operator, credits this early exposure to radio and spending his teenage years in Palo Alto, to a stint in the famous Hewlett Packard labs and a lifetime electronics career. WI6R is a builder of his own rigs, kit rigs, and a restorer of popular vintage rigs. Dave likes DX, QRP, and operating and is my QSO Today.

Rod Fritz, WB9KMO, is a fixer and builder, who is a pioneer in amateur television, amateur television repeaters in the UHF and microwave bands, and now the Amateur Television Network, a combination of amateur analog and digital television, over RF links and the Internet. This network allows amateurs to share video, over amateur radio, Worldwide. Rod, WB9KMO, discusses the details of this history in this episode of QSO Today.

Michael Burnette, AF7KB, and his wife, Kerry Burnette, KC7YL, are both active in amateur radio, a board member and president, respectively of their local amateur radio club, and the creators of the Fast Track series of amateur radio licensing manuals, originally designed by Michael for Kerry. As a result they are both on the fast track to amateur radio success. They share their ham radio story in this QSO Today.

Arnie Shatz, N6HC, began his amateur radio journey over 64 years ago, loves to work DX, on CW, and has participated in 14 major DXpeditions, including the ill fated 3Y0Z to Bouvet Island a few years ago. N6HC believes that amateur radio is the best hobby for developing critical thinking and problem solving skills, and he is my QSO Today.