QSO Today Podcast - Interviews with the leaders in amateur radio

Richard Newstead, G3CWI, as an avid outdoor radio enthusiast, co-founded SOTA or the Summits on the Air program. When he needed the right gear to take to the mountaintop, Richard had to create and import his own equipment, ultimately resulting in the creation of his company, Sotabeams, our new sponsor on QSO Today. Richard's story includes operating from a research station in Antarctica during the Falklands war to the founding of Sotabeams our new QSO Today sponsor.

Rick Karlquist, N6RK is a long time amateur radio operator who likes contests, DX, and over the years acquired a large square of property in California's Central Valley to have enough room to build his antenna farm. In this episode we discuss building 90 foot vertical antennas with irrigation pipe, and using the falling derrick method to raise tall masts and towers. Rick has acquired a wide range of experience from his amateur radio and professional life, some of which he shares in this QSO Today.

Bernie van der Walt, ZS4TX, is a South African ham for many years. He loves to contest on HF, and operates two remote control EME or Moon bounce stations on two and six meters away from the noise pollution of his residential neighborhood. We discuss these subjects and more on this episode of QSO Today.

Mitch Gill, NA7US is the New editor of QRP Quarterly Magazine, the official journal of the QRP Amateur Radio Club International and a former columnist for both Popular Communications and CQ VHF. Mitch has a love for all things amateur radio and is now retired from active military service where he operated at YI9TU in Iraq. Mitch tells this story and more in this QSO Today.

Tomas Hood, NW7US is the propagation editor of a number of shortwave and amateur radio magazines, and has a wide variety of websites, that grew out of his love for all things radio, and for listening on the bands to far off DX and commercial broadcast stations. Tomas shares his understanding of propagation and the lessons we can learn from listening, really listening to the QSOs and exchanges during contest operation.

My guest this week is Geoff Howard, W0CG / PJ2DX, who operates along with his ham friends the P2JT contest station in a villa on a cliff overlooking the sea in Curacao. Geoff shares his ham radio story and the history of P2JT in this QSO Today.

Keith Hibbert, WB2VUO, is the ARRL Technical Coordinator for Western NY State. In that capacity Keith serves as a resource and goto guy for technical questions by amateur radio operators. Keith and I had a great QSO on his areas of interest that include QRP Single Sideband, digital modes like FT-8, and Keith's interest in both amateur HF and aircraft beacons. Keith shares his insights and some valuable resources in this QSO Today.

One of the most unusual ham radio operating modes is meteor scatter or bouncing signals off the ionized trails left by space dust the the earth's atmosphere. Shelby Ennis, W8WN has operated this mode for over 50 years, first on CW using tape recorders to send a high speed burst, then using the K1JT digital modes. We learn that meteor scatter is a reliable mode and much more in this QSO with W8WN.

Natural disasters, especially the most recent hurricanes, present us with opportunities to make a real difference if we step up to the plate. As part of this amateur radio story, Brian Machesney, K1LI, was presented his opportunity to make a difference on the Caribbean Island of Dominica after it was wiped out by Hurricane Maria in October 2017. Brian, his wife, and other hams came stepped up to the plate and provided relief with the Dominica Airlift as it was called by the press. This story and so much more in this QSO Today with K1LI.

Steve Murphy, N8NM, builds most of his modern equipment using the Manhattan and "ugly" construction method, or he refurbishes old tube transmitters, receivers, and transceivers. Steve is not afraid to try a new design or component to further his love of home brewing. We follow the ham radio career of N8NM in this episode of QSO Today.

Brain Short, KC0BS, is a busy amateur radio operator in Kansas City, Missouri. He is actively involved in teaching ham radio and getting new hams involved in the many amateur radio activities that Kansas City hams enjoy. In this episode, we discuss tower climbing and safety, APRS, emergency services, building up code speed, and Brian's participation in the emergency efforts around the Joplin Missouri tornado that destroyed much of the city in May 2011.

Jeff Damm, WA7MLH, designs and builds his own amateur radio receivers, transmitters, and transceivers using the ugly construction method based on the work of his amateur radio mentor and friend, Wes Hayward, W7ZOI. Jeff shares his ham radio story and his electronic construction philosophy with Eric, 4Z1UG, in this QSO Today.

Hal Turley, W8HC, is a veteran DXpeditioner who is headed for Bouvet Island, perhaps the World's most remote Island and DX entity, in a few weeks. Hal tells his ham radio story, his discovery and the satisfaction that he gains from working DX, and his personal preparations for his upcoming trek to Bouvet Island with the 3Y0Z DXpedition team. W8HC is my QSO Today.

Bob Rosier, K4OCE, started his ham radio journey in the fifties, inspired by his father who built their first family television using a surplus radar screen and a broadcast receiver. Bob discovered QRP almost by accident and from that point on realized that he could have reliable DX contacts based on good operating practice and technical expertise. Bob is the creator of the "OCE Minirig" QRP transmitter.

Heading South to Australia, our QSO Today is with Rob Norman, VK5SW, who wanted to get away from the electronic noise of the his home city of Adelaide, in South Australia, by building a remote control HF station in the Australian bush some two hours drive from his QTH. We learn from Rob, what it takes to make this a great solution getting on the air.

Preston Douglas, WJ2V, discovered the joys of QRP and home-brewing whole transceivers almost by accident. The result is a rewarding ham radio past-time leading to becoming the President of the QRP-ARCI group. Preston brings to life his ham radio story, home brew projects, and QRP in this QSO Today.

After 44 years with the ARRL, beginning as an intern in 1972 at the American Radio Relay League, David Sumner, K1ZZ, retired, last year, as CEO and General Manager. In this episode of QSO Today, Dave shares his ham radio story from its early beginnings, his favorite operating practices, and his reflections on his years at League Headquarters.

My QSO this week is with Fred Regennitter, K4IU, has a rich ham radio history spanning over 50 years, from the first crystal radio receiver to his modern FlexRadio software defined transceiver. DX and contests are Fred's interest and the new digital modes have won a new appeal for making contacts as we reach the bottom of the Sunspot cycle. Amateur radio has expanded into a big tent that with many facets. K4IU tells us why in this episode of QSO Today.

Larry Staples, W0AIB, is the publisher of Larry's List, a regular email message center that updates Kansas City amateur radio operators with the latest news, events, and rigs for sale. As an active amateur radio operator for almost sixty years, Larry believes that the ultimate goal of ham radio is to get to know people, face to face, for the "eyeball" contact. W0AIB is my QSO Today.

Ron Gang, 4X1MK, had his early amateur radio beginnings in Canada, and later immigrated, as part of a group, to Israel in the 1970s where his amateur radio license, skills, and equipment were highly appreciated. Always an active amateur radio operator, 4X1MK is willing to try every operating mode. Ron shares his amateur radio story and his perspective of amateur radio in Israel, past and present.

Dennis Vernacchia, N6KI, was an active ham who was drafted by the US Army and sent to Vietnam at the height of the war in the late sixties. This is an amateur radio story where Army MARS, ham radio, and the skills acquired from the hobby literally saved his life. This situation and his relationship with a later prominent television comedian brought relief and comfort to American soldiers serving in Vietnam and their families. Dennis is an active contester and tells the rest of his story in this QSO Today.

Inspired by one of his home brew elmers, Jim Garland, W8ZR, uses his electronics and metal fabrication workbench to create beautiful ham radio projects (a few displayed in QST magazine) and to restore old vintage boat anchor transmitters and receivers that he rotates through his three operating positions at his QTH in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Jim tells his ham radio story in this QSO Today.

Israel's most notable amateur radio operator might just be Dov Gavish, 4Z4DX. First licensed in Israel with his dad over fifty years ago, Dov has made a career of operating from wherever he happens to be in the World, always ready to get on the air. While CW is is favorite operating mode, Dov just likes to get on the air with whatever mode works, including DMR. 4Z4DX is Eric's guest on this QSO Today.

Dave Casler, KE0OG, creates ham radio Youtube videos from the Western Slope of Colorado to educate and inform his ham radio audience. Beginning with videos to aid in obtaining ham radio licenses, Dave has created a catalog of how-to videos for ham radio that are interesting and well produced. Dave is a retired project engineer from the aerospace industry and a self published author of both fiction and nonfiction works.

Burt Weiner, K6OQK, Los Angeles repeater pioneer and creator of the second repeater to serve Los Angeles in the late 50's through the late 1970s is my QSO Today. Burt's proximity to Los Angeles area broadcast radio stations and station engineers who served as his mentors, created for Burt a lifetime amateur radio and professional path that he is still on today.

Steve Herman, W7VOA's, love of amateur radio and media led him into a career as a news correspondent for the Associated Press, freelance overseas journalist, and ultimately with the Voice of America (VOA) as its White House correspondent, traveling and reporting on the President of the United States. Even with his 24 X 7 busy schedule, W7VOA has time for amateur radio and this QSO Today with Eric, 4Z1UG.

When Tom Robinson, G0SBW, wasn't getting satisfactory results from his HF station at this home QTH, he decided to move his operation to the English shore, on his back while walking. As a single-sideband operator running QRP, Tom has had amazing success with this "man-pack" radio, refining its operation and ease of use, and taking it on DXpeditions abroad. GOSBW is Eric's QSO Today.

From an early age, the love of radio broadcasting brought Lauren Libby, W0LD, to amateur radio and DXing by meteor scatter and moon bounce. Lauren has made a career of radio broadcasting and is the CEO of the World's largest international shortwave broadcasting network. W0LD is my QSO Today.

Have you ever wondered what effort it takes for the ARRL to process up to ten thousand DXCC applications per year, not to mention the all of the other contests and awards that once required QSL cards from each side of a contact to confirm it. My QSO this week is with Bill Kennamer, K5FUV, who used to be the guy responsible for DXCC and other ARRL awards. We hear Bill's ham radio story in this QSO Today.

When Rick Dougherty NQ4I isn't operating single sideband at 51 thousand feet in a Gulfstream jet, he may be preparing for the next big contest at this super multi-multi station in Griffin, Georgia. A career jet pilot and ham radio contester, NQ4I shares his amateur radio story with Eric, 4Z1UG, in this QSO Today.

Amateur radio is a big tent with an appeal for every amateur's special interest. Once a QRO DX operator, the new magic of ham radio for Don Minkoff NK6A, came from turning down the power to QRP levels and getting out of the QTH to the great outdoors and working SOTA, or Summits on the Air. Don shares his ham radio story and so much more in this QSO Today.

Someone said some place, that if you want to get stuff done, give it to a busy person. My guest this week is Dave Prestel, W8AJR. Dave is a busy person who as a volunteer for many ham radio organizations in Howard County, Maryland, just gets stuff done to the benefit of the amateur radio community and his larger community. He is my QSO Today.

David Rowe, VK5DGR, has been a guest target since QSO Today episode 16 with Bruce Perens, K6BP because of David's seminal work with audio codecs for digital audio on HF. David has a strong background in digital voice, a technology that is now the foundation for all of the telephony and voice over IP that we do. As an advocate of open source and the consummate teacher, David shares all of his work while educating us with his blog, rowetel.com. VK5DGR is Eric, 4Z1UG's QSO Today.

Sputnik was the catalyst that spurred many to enter electronics, engineering, and amateur radio. Rob Brownstein, K6RB, was inspired to find a ham across the street to build his first crystal set for a science fair project leading to a lifetime as a ham radio operator. Rob is a co-founder of CWOPS and its on-line CW training academy helping hundreds of hams a year become better CW operators. K6RB shares his ham radio story with Eric, 4Z1UG, in this QSO today.

Dave LeDuc, N1IX, like many of my guests got his ham radio start as a teenager in the sixties. His love for CW and chasing DX has not diminished over the years. His new passion is running QRP and winning contests. Dave shares his ham radio story and offers some advice for QRP success in this episode of QSO Today.

My QSO Today is with Jim Talens, N3JT, who combines DX and contesting, operating CW, and going on DXpeditions into his amateur radio hobby. A ham since 1960, Jim is one of the founders of CWOPS and an advocate of CW or Morse code operation to really enjoy being on the air on HF. Jim operates his station remotely when he splits his time between two houses. More on this and other ham radio subjects in this QSO Today.

Chris Burger, ZS6EZ, believes that if we have lofty goals, like winning DX contests, and measure our results against other contesters, then even South African amateur radio operators can be winners. Chris is a contest winner and a contributor to our ham radio hobby through his articles and website. ZS6EZ is Eric, 4Z1UG's QSO Today.

For George Heron, N2APB, the love of amateur radio comes from the design, collaboration, and building electronic devices for amateur radio, along with his friend and mentor, Joe Everhart, N2CX - and then sharing this live on their Chat with the Designers podcast. All of it interests George, from test equipment and restored vintage radios to a stand alone SDR transceivers and more efficient designs of magnetic loop antennas. N2APB is Eric, 4Z1UG's QSO Today.

One of the major players in the "top band" , or 160 meters is Bob Garrett, K3UL, who as a blind ham has never let his visual impairment get in the way of his ham radio hobby. I first learned about Bob from an article where he was described as working on his own towers and antennas to build a first class HF ham station. Bob is a friend and mentor to many hams, with an open door policy. Just knock. K3UL is my QSO Today.

On my recent trip from Israel to the USA, to attend the Dayton Hamvention, I stopped in the Bay Area to visit with Wayne Burdick, N6KR, a long time and childhood friend, and co-founder of Elecraft, to catch up, discuss the KX2, and working HF from the field. That evening Wayne and I attended the QSO Today Bay Area Meetup where I asked the participants their name, callsign, and the most exciting thing that they think is happening in ham radio.

Richard Fisher, KI6SN, after a 40 year career in newspaper journalism, is now an editor and contributor to many of the most widely read amateur radio magazines including Popular Communications, WorldRadio Online, CQ, and QRP Quarterly. As a feature writer, Richard's digs deep into every area of amateur radio producing a prolific body of work that informs and educates us. KI6SN is Eric's QSO Today.

Rich Moseson, W2VU, is the current editor of CQ Magazine. From his vantage point as the editor of one of the oldest and prestigious amateur radio magazines, he has the opportunity to see the big picture of our ham radio hobby every month from articles published, reader feedback, and the many amateur radio conventions that he attends with his staff. This QSO is full of his observations on amateur radio today as well as his personal ham radio history. W2VU is my QSO Today.

Joe Carcia, NJ1Q, grew up down the street from the ARRL headquarters in Newington, Connecticut and is not the Station manager and trustee of the W1AW Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial station that sits on the grass in front of the League headquarters. Joe shares his ham radio story and details of this historic ham radio station in this episode of QSO Today.

Glen Zook, K9STH, began his elmering and mentoring by writing his first article for 73 Magazine in 1961 at the tender age of 17. Glen has gone on to write many practical ham radio articles from modifying a Heathkit Globe Chief for six meters to installing chemical ground rods for proper shack grounding. He has a collection of restored "boat anchors" that are copies of all of the rigs he has ever owned. As he pays extra attention to the details, his rigs are in as new condition as possible. I know know that will enjoy this QSO with K9STH.

John Ackermann, N8UR, is a proponent of open source, that is freely sharing both hardware and software designs in communities that work together to make it all better. The TAPR community is where John spends much of his time. Join us as we discuss TAPR, SDR transceivers, and the issues around open source and the maker movement.

Roy Lewallen, W7EL, approaches ham radio from an engineering and even scientific point of view. Roy is the creator of EZNEC, the popular antenna modeling software, and the author of many articles on radio and transceiver design, baluns, antennas, and inductors. His contributions to the amateur radio hobby and advancing the state of art puts Roy at the head of the class in amateur radio. W7EL is my QSO Today.

George Fremin, K5TR, is a seasoned SO2R contester and DXer. He has many years of experience building and maintaining multi operator contest stations in Texas. This experience with both operating the contest events as well as the practical maintenance of these stations led to an important conversation about tower safety. In addition to HF contests, George enjoys VHF and UHF contesting as well as DXpeditions. K5TR joins Eric, 4Z1UG, in this QSO Today.

Paul Stroud, AA4XX, went from being a QRO, high power operator, to a QRP operator, testing the bottom limits of power output to distance. Paul approaches ham radio now, as almost a meditative experience, where he operates from his solar powered ham shack deep in the woods near his house, under his wire antennas. Paul takes us on his ham radio journey in this QSO Today.

Richard Gillette, W9PE, is the consummate ham radio operator and mentor, IEEE speaker, and frequent contributor to our amateur radio hobby from his many articles in the ham radio magazines. His own website, w9pe.us, is an amazing resource, including his Excel based test equipment simulator for anyone wanting to teach the fundamentals of ham radio in a one day or weekend "ham cram" course. W9PE shares over 60 years of his ham radio experience in this QSO Today.

Don Beattie, G3BJ, is a former president of the Radio Society of Great Britain, past chairman of BARTG, or the British Amateur Radio Teledata Group, past president of the CDXC, the British DX foundation, board member of the RSGB, and its acting general manager for two years. The list goes on and on. Don is currently the President of the IARU, or the International Amateur Radio Union for Region 1. G3BJ is a leader in British amateur radio and is my QSO Today.