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.

When is comes to homebrewing QRP HF radios with simple parts and test equipment, then one of the go-to  guys is Tony Fishpool, G4WIF, current membership chairman of the G-QRP group in the UK, and frequent contributor to its quarterly SPRAT magazine.  Tony is also a co-author with Graham Firth, G3MFJ, of Simple Test Equipment for the QRPer, and numerous articles on equipment building with attention to detail and budget.  Tony believes, along with his co-hearts at G-QRP,  that ham radio does not have to be expensive to be fun. G4WIF is my QSO today.

Randy Hall, K7AGE, has been a ham for almost 50 years and is well known for his You-Tube channel with his hundreds of ham radio videos.  Randy is also a regular contributor to Ham Nation on the TWIT network where he works with George, W5JDX, on the Smoke and Solder segment videos.  He works just about all bands and modes.  Randy is a ham’s ham and elmer, and a popular guest on a number of the ham radio podcasts. K7AGE is my QSO Today.

In 1954, at 19 years of age, Bob Eshleman, W4DR, and two buddies decided to put Navassa Island back on the ARRL DXCC list, the first activation of Navassa since the end of World War II.  Prepared with a National Receiver, Harvey Wells transmitter, and an old generator,  the three lads pulled off their first DXpedition.  This would be the first of many DXpeditions for Bob.  W4DR is my QSO Today where he shares his amateur radio story as a DXer and now grid square chaser.

Bob Wilson, N6TV, is a bay area contester and CW operator.  Having developed his CW craft on the National Traffic System as a teenage kid, he now enjoys the North American Sprint, a four hour contest and using the latest SDR receivers to see what’s up on the bands during a contest event.  A professor at Contest University in Dayton and a member of the World Radiosport Team Championship, Bob shares what he know about this and more on this QSO Today.

Jeff Briggs, K1ZM, is the author of DXing on the Edge- The Thrill of 160 meters and he operates an amazing DX station on Canada's Atlantic shore. Eric, 4Z1UG, and Jeff discuss 160 meters, DXing, building a super station and more on this episode of QSO Today.

Paul Topolski, W1SEX, 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 Eric, 4Z1UG, this experience, his ham radio story, and how he continues to make a difference in his community in this QSO Today.

Beginning as a scanner listener, Gary Hoffman, KB0H, discovered amateur radio shares his love of it with his wife, Nancy, N0NJ.  Gary is focused on emergency communications where he is the assistant emergency coordinator, operations for St. Louis County ARES.  He writes about amateur radio and the human condition on his blog, The Amateur’s Amateur.  KB0H is Eric, 4Z1UG’s QSO today.

My guest today, Brian Clarke, VK2GCE, has been a ham since his childhood in New Zealand, went on to get advanced degrees, built a recording studio in London for Pink Floyd, and now resides in Australia.  Brian is a collector of ex-military radios and is a promoter of amateur radio in his spare time.  VK2GCE is my QSO Today.

My QSO Today with Mike Myers, VA3MPM, a very active ham in Ottawa, Canada, and enjoys ham radio through rag chewing on 80 meters, collecting old rigs, participating in his ham clubs, and helping new radio amateurs become successful hams.  Mike is also a musician and shares his interest in tube type guitar amplifiers.  

David White, WN5Y, is a home-brewer from the beginning of his ham radio story, and loves to build receivers for ham radio.  Originally inspired by the designs of the late Lew McCoy, W1ICP, and later Wes Hayward, W7ZOI,  David’s latest receivers are called electroluminescent because he incorporates LEDs as components in the receiver design itself, and not just as front panel indicators.  David shares his story in this QSO Today.

In this QSO Today, Ian Keyser, G3ROO, discusses with Eric, 4Z1UG, his amazing “maker space”, collecting and refurbishing World War 2 vintage spy radios, his top band, 160 mhz operations, and his reflections on ham radio today.

Brooke Allen, N2BA, joins Eric, 4Z1UG, on episode 127 of the QSO Today Podcast to discuss “gamifying” amateur radio to make it attractive to young people, both men and women,  while at the same time understanding what it means to be a ham radio operator to older hams. Brooke touches on the “flow state”, field day at the annual Burning Man event in the Nevada desert , and social skills for nerds.

Since the mid-1970s, Rob Sherwood, NC0B, founded Sherwood Engineering, in Colorado, to build Drake receiver upgrades and to test the performance of amateur radio receivers and transceivers beginning with Drake receivers.  Rob’s list has become the gold standard by which many amateurs, including contest operators, choose their next rig. Licensed since 1961, NC0B shares his amateur radio story with Eric, 4Z1UG in this QSO Today.

As a 2009 QRP ARCI Hall of Fame inductee - Hans Summers, G0UPL,  is an electronic experimenter and amateur radio innovator extraordinaire.  Hans pays careful attention to compact and minimal parts count to achieve the design goals of his homebrew projects. Hans is the owner of QRP Labs joins Eric, 4Z1UG, in a conversation about QRSS slow data transmissions, high altitude balloon transponders, and shares his ham radio and electronic builder story.  

Eric, 4Z1UG, host of the QSO Today Podcast, has an "eyeball" or in-person contact with Eddie Leighton, ZS6BNE, creator of RaDAR, or Rapid Deployment Amateur Radio, in Johannesburg, South Africa during Eric's recent visit.   Eric and Eddie set up and operate Eddie's RaDAR setup while discussing the amateur's options for carrying ham radio equipment into the field. 

Jim Veatch, WA2EUJ, is a three time winner of the ARRL Homebrew Challenge contest where his winning entries pushed the limits of homebrew design and implementation within the financial constraints of the contest. Jim has gone on to create other projects, some of which are now available in kit form, such as the Hardrock 50 amplifier and automatic antenna tuner available from HobbyPCB.  Jim is Eric, 4Z1UG’s QSO Today.

Contest Super Station owner, Frank Donovan, W3LPL, will tell you that his ham radio story began in 1923 when his grandfather collected parts and built single tube receivers for friends and family. These parts and grandpa’s expertise were young franks introduction to electronics and radio many years later. With the support of his radio clubs and Elmers, Frank, focuses on the technology and engineering of great ham radio station design and performance to win contests throughout the year. W3LPL is my QSO Today.

Dale Green, VE7SV, is a  2013 CQ Contest Hall of Fame winner who chases the endless Summer by dividing his time between his homes in Renaca Beach, Chile and Chilliwack, British Columbia.  Dale operates a contest super station for over 20 years in Canada where he has honed his skills to become one of the top contesters in the World as well as a contest mentor and elmer.  He credits ham radio for his love for travel and meeting new people.

Jim Stafford, W4QO, was recognized at the 2010 Dayton Hamvention for over 50 years of ham radio achievements that include mentoring and elmering, QRP building and operating, and revitalizing the North Fulton Amateur Radio League into one of the premier ham radio clubs in the USA. Jim tells his amateur radio story to Eric, 4Z1UG, in this QSO Today.

IIn a country, like Chile, that gets 70% of the earthquakes recorded around the World, hams like Dr. Dino Besomi, CE3PG, have to be ready at a minute’s notice to provide emergency communications when  traditional communications channels fail. Dino shares his ham radio story and the role of amateur radio operators in Chile, with Eric, 4Z1UG, in this QSO Today.

Bill Murray, W9VC, likes to spend his ham radio time building tube type transmitters of his own design from old equipment purchased at hamfests. In addition, Bill likes to rebuild old gear and and operate QRP in the field.  W9VC shares his ham radio story in this episode of QSO Today.

From time to time, one of the listeners to the QSO Today podcast reaches out to me to dialog about something in ham radio often related to a previous episode.  I began a conversation with Gerry Jurrens, N2GJ, that resulted in this QSO Today conversation. Gerry has a wide range of ham radio interests, including QRP and emergency communications, and… he loves to Elmer other hams in the art of amateur radio.  N2GJ is my QSO Today.

Scott Wright, K0MD, travels the World extensively as part of his responsibilities as a doctor with the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. This creates for Scott opportunities to take his portable station on DXpeditions around the globe from China, the Caribbean, to South America.  K0MD shares his ham radio story and some practical advice on this QSO Today.

Bob Witte, K0NR, is an amateur radio blogger with a long history of ham radio homebrewing, repeater building, and operation using many bands and modes.  From his home in Monument, Colorado, Bob is also an excellent Elmer and is a partner in Ham Radio School dot com for teaching the amateur radio basics beyond the first license. K0NR is my QSO Today.

Sometimes, amateur radio can play an important role in shaping the news around World Events.  For BBC correspondent and amateur radio operator, Laurie Margolis, G3UML, it was on amateur radio that Laurie discovered, reported and scooped the invasion by Argentina of the Falkland Islands starting the Falklands war in 1982.  Laurie and I discuss this event and the rest of his ham radio journey in this QSO Today.

Bill Kelsey, N8ET, has a long and interesting amateur radio career beginning in 1962. From his interest in QRP and QRP kits, Bill founded the Kanga Kit Company, creating radio and test equipment kits for the ham community for many years. While Bill is recovering from a recent stroke, he still has projects on his workbench, now using Arduino processors, pursuing UHF moon bounce, and finds time to operate the Digital modes. Bill joins Eric, 4Z1UG, in this QSO Today.

Keith Ranger, G0KJK, now retired from the Church of England, has had a lifelong love of electronics and radio who has never owned a commercially manufactured amateur radio.  Instead Keith builds his own receivers and transmitters, works the World, makes contacts, and rag chews.  He quickly dispels the notion that ham radio is an expensive hobby and demonstrates how to have fun and enjoy the amateur radio hobby for very little money. Keith joins Eric, 4Z1UG, on this episode of QSO Today.

Imagine that you get your dream job out of college, and later as part of that job, your employer wants you to solve a riddle that will take years or never to complete.  For Tom Vinson, NY0V, that dream job for a ham was with the Collins Radio Company, later Rockwell Collins, and the riddle was to find the wreckage of Amelia Earhart’s Lockheed Electra aircraft somewhere in the South Pacific.  He could use the technology and human resources of the company to solve this riddle.  Tom recounts this story with Eric, 4Z1UG, in this QSO Today.

Many of us entered the ham radio hobby from building a crystal set or using a short wave receiver growing up.  Tom Witherspoon, K4SWL, established his credentials in short wave radio before joining the ham radio ranks. Active in QRP as well as short wave listening, Tom is the founder of Ears to our World, a non-profit organization that brings radio to rural and undeveloped parts of the World.  K4SWL joins Eric, 4Z1UG, in this QSO Today.

There is no time like the present to sail the South Pacific, solo, with amateur radio.  This is exactly what my guest today, Susan Meckley, W7KFI, did for almost twenty years until she turned eighty and retired from the open seas.  As a ham for almost seventy years, Susan developed a love for 20 meter CW and sailing and combined them both in her journey that she shares with me,  Eric, 4Z1UG, in this QSO Today.

Tony Brock-Fisher, K1KP, is a frequent contributor to both QST and CQ Magazine, and he enjoys a well rounded amateur radio operation.  Tony always take a deep dive approach to any of his ham radio projects including rebuilding old gear, redesigning his 40 meter beam, or reducing the noise from his new solar electric array.  K1KP joins Eric, 4Z1UG, on this episode of QSO Today.

Since 2001, Bill Sexton, N1IN has been the public relations officer of US Army MARS, one of the oldest collaborations between the Amateur Radio Service and the US Government. Now over ninety years of age, MARS is using cutting edge technology in the HF bands to become even more relevant in a time of national emergency. Bill shares his amateur radio and the MARS story with Eric, 4Z1UG, in this QSO Today.

Bob Leo, W7LR, began his ham radio journey in the 1930s as a kid growing up in California. He went on to become a member of the first commercial DXpedition to Africa and later a co-founder of the Amateur radio club of Thailand. Bob had a rich career as an electrical engineer and Professor of Electrical Engineering at Montana State University.  Now, his 90’s, Bob resides in Bozeman Montana with Cobi, his wife of over 60 years.  Bob is  my QSO Today.

When it comes to understanding how antennas really work, then the “go to” ham is Bob Zavrel, W7SX, author of the ARRL book, Antenna Physics - An Introduction.  Through this book, Bob bridges the gap between “how to” antenna books,  and calculus based antenna theory books for engineers.  Bob has a long resume in radio and electronics, is the accidental creator of the Signetics NE602 mixer chip,  and shares his story with us in this QSO Today.  

Dick Stroud, W9SR, took his first ham radio test in 1938 that began a ham radio and professional journey as an electronic engineer.  This journey, over 75 years, included witnessing the hydrogen bomb tests in the 1950, a successful engineering career, and numerous contributions to the amateur radio hobby of articles on home-brewing, antennas, and propagation.  W9SR is my QSO Today.

Rich Holoch, KY6R, is an avid DXer and needs only two more entities to get to the top of the DX Honor Roll.  As the Sunspot cycle fades into memory, you will find Rich on 160 meters with his phased loop receiving antennas and a strategy for operation out of a difficult HF location by using HFTA, or High Frequency Terrain Analysis.  More on this in my QSO Today with KY6R.

Rex Harper, W1REX, became an amateur radio operator from his early memories of radio as a kid and his desire to do electronics as a hobby.  His love for QRP and later QRP kit building came from wanting to build electronic devices in an evening or two that just worked.  Rex shares his ham radio story and the development of his business, QRPme, with Eric, 4Z1UG, in this episode of QSO Today. 

Graham Firth, G3MFJ, joined our amateur radio hobby almost sixty years ago as a kid growing up in Yorkshire, England.  Electronics and electronics building was the driver and is still Graham's first love in the hobby.  QRP was the natural choice of this builder and a way to avoid television interference to his neighbors.  Graham is active in the G-QRP group, builds QRP kits for the group, and still plays a mean bass guitar. G3MFJ is my guest on QSO Today. 

After over 50 years in amateur radio, the hobby still gives Ned Stearns, AA7A, a new challenge every day.  Ned has operated every mode on every band during his ham radio career, and currently operates EME or moon bounce on two meters.  As a long time DXer, Ned recently returned from the South Sandwich Islands as a member of the Intrepid DX Group DXpedition.  AA7A is my QSO Today.

Jeff Murray, K1NSS is a cartoonist and story teller who specializes in being a keen observer of ham radio and ham radio operators.  He uses his website, dashtoons.com, to share his cartoons and stories with all of us.  Cartoonists, especially political and social cartoonists, use their medium to get us to lighten up a bit, look in the mirror, and put everything into perspective.  Jeff does the same with this amateur radio cartoons,  and his main character, Dash, the dog faced ham.  K1NSS is my guest on this QSO Today.

It's not often that we think of amateur radio contesting as a sport.  It is according to my guest today a radio sport, one that has international competitors who have the experience and training of Olympic athletes in the sport of ham radio contesting. Randy Thompson, K5ZD, was bitten by the radio sport bug early in his ham radio career and is one of the top contesters in the World today.  Randy is my guest on QSO Today. 

One of the pioneers in ATV or amateur radio television is Art Towslee, WA8RMC.  Originally,an  ATV signal, over the ham bands,  was similar to the commercial television broadcast standard.  However, Art and the  DATV-Express Project are moving the state of the art to ham television delivered in digital mode. Art shares his ham radio story and his knowledge of this fascinating subject with Eric, 4Z1UG, in this episode of QSO Today.

Bill Dean, W0OR, is a long time ham and contestor from Minnesota, where he has lived much of his life, even serving four terms in Minnesota’s legislature. Now a snowbird, who in his mid-seventies learns Spanish,  does DXpeditions with friends, and operates from from a second home, high in the Andes mountains, in Ecuador,  during Minnesota’s cold Winter months.  Our subject today is Bill's ham radio story, operating, DXpeditions on a budget, and contesting.

From his first long nose pliers, at the age of six, to his private use of the chemistry lab at his junior high-school, Pete Friedrichs, AC7ZL, has had a fascination with technology, chemistry, and radio.  Often this is old but amazing technology that he recreates with the remnants of discarded objects.   Pete is a renaissance man whose study and fabrication of "simple" technology rivals that of some of America's great inventors.  He is a published author of books based on his experiments, as well as fiction and ghost stories. AC7ZL is Eric's guest on QSO Today.  

If we could apply the term “grand dame” to amateur radio, then the grand dame of amateur radio must be Ellen White, W1YL.  Ellen began her amateur radio career, as a love story,  just as World War 2 ended.  Her ham radio career spans over 70 years.  And today as Ellen enters her nineties, she  is still an active ham operating on 40 meter CW.  I am so grateful that Ellen is a listener to the QSO Today podcast and is my QSO Today.

One of the best ways to get some real hands on experience in electronics, especially as a beginner, is to build electronic kits.  Even the seasoned veteran ham can enjoy even the more complex kits.  In amateur radio circles, the kit building guru is Joe Eisenberg, K0NEB.  Joe spends his free time, in addition to operating his favorite contests and attending hamfests, testing kits, making recommendations, and teaching others how to be successful in kit building. Joe is Eric, 4Z1UG’s, QSO today.

With almost sixty years in our amazing hobby, Bob Epstein, K8IA, and his wife Sandy, N7RQ, pursue their love of the contest through their Arizona Outlaws Contest Club and their multi operator contest station, based in their home.  Bob shares his story with me in this QSO Today.

Jack Falker, W8KR, has been a ham for over 60 years.  He now divides his time between ham radio, rose gardening, and writing an international blog on rose gardening. Now that his tower and beam are retired, Jack uses phased vertical antennas above the rose garden to work DX around the World. Jack discusses amateur radio, vertical antennas, and the mystical side of amateur radio with Eric, 4Z1UG, in this QSO Today.

Gregory Andracke, W2BEE, is an accomplished news cameraman and documentary cinematographer, with Academy and Emmy awards to his credit.  He is also an accomplished amateur radio operator, with over fifty years in the hobby. His love for ham radio is as strong as it ever was. Greg joins Eric, 4Z1UG, in this QSO Today.

Jim George, N3BB is an active contestor, DXer, and rag chewer.  Jim has many contest awards and was a team member in the 2000 World Radiosport Team Championship, or WRTC,  in Slovenia.  Now retired, Jim divides his time between ham radio, his wife, Diana, grandchildren, and authoring books.  His most recent book, Contact Sport, about the 2014 World Radiosport Team Championship, brings the excitement and suspense of this uniquely ham radio experience to the non-amateur radio audiences.  N3BB is Eric’s QSO Today.

After a successful career in finance, Tom Gallagher, NY2RF, embarks on a new career as the ARRL’s new executive director succeeding the retiring David Sumner, K1ZZ.  Tom joins Eric, 4Z1UG, in this QSO Today to discuss his ham radio story and his future role at the ARRL.

When it comes to home brew single side-band transceivers and test equipment,  Ashhar Farhan, VU2ESE, is the master of building amateur radio equipment on a budget, with common parts. Ashhar is the designer of the BITX "open source" HF SSB transceiver, and has an international reputation as a home brewer, and is referred to as the “home brew hero” by Bill Meara, N2CQR, of the Soldersmoke podcast. Ashhar Farhan is Eric, 4Z1UG's guest on QSO Today.

If you wanted to homebrew QRP radios with vacuum tubes, or thermatrons, then the goto guy would be Grayson Evans, TA2ZGE, author of the book, Hollow State Devices.  Grayson joins Eric, 4Z1UG, to discuss his ham radio life, thermatrons, home brewing, and operating QRP, from his QTH in Turkey.  

Amateur radio was the early beginning for a career in radio for Art Bell, W6OBB, who became one of America’s number one late night talk show hosts.  Art's audience on Coast to Coast AM grew to 15 million listeners in over five-hundred markets. Art discusses ham radio and his broadcast radio career in this QSO Today with Eric, 4Z1UG.

The local city dump was the source of parts for Peter Parker, VK3YE's first ham radio projects. This humble beginning made Peter one of the most prolific contributors of videos and articles on the art of amateur radio.  Peter builds his own gear, operates QRP from the local beach, and gives valuable advice on how to be a successful operator. VK3YE is 4Z1UG's guest on QSO Today. 

Jim Kutsch, KY2D, has enjoyed almost fifty years of amateur radio because a local ham club reached out to him as a teenager after a life altering accident. It was through this act of kindness and mentoring from the ham fraternity that started Jim's passion for amateur radio leading to a successful career as a computer scientist, professor, and CEO of a remarkable non-profit organization. He is Eric, 4Z1UG’s guest on QSO Today. 

Keith Kaiser, WA0TJT, works every single day to bring kids into the Boy Scouts and amateur radio and has been doing it since 1988. He shares his love of digital modes, ham radio operations, high altitude ballooning, the Boy Scouts, and geocaching in this episode of QSO Today.

Propagation, especially in the HF bands still remains a mystery for many amateur radio operators. Eric is joined in this QSO Today by Tad Cook, K7RA, author of the weekly ARRL Propagation Bulletin to discuss our hobby and the effect of Space weather on low band propagation.

If you were stranded on a desert island with Mike Rainey, AA1TJ, and a compact fluorescent light bulb, the chance is good that Mike could build you a low frequency QRPP transceiver to send your distress messages. Eric, 4Z1UG, discusses with Mike his approach to amateur radio and the satisfaction that he gets from his home brew projects and operating at the 50 milliwatt level.  

Bob Allphin, K4UEE, has traveled to 126 countries and has gone on forty DXpeditions to the far corners of the Earth to active exotic and remote locations. Bob discusses his early amateur radio beginnings, his love of our hobby and DXing, and provides some advice on how to attract new hams to the hobby in this episode of QSO Today.

Bob Hopkins, WB2UDC, joins Eric, 4Z1UG, in this QSO Today about the importance of ham radio Elmers, especially in the lives of kids, and how to pay it forward to future generations of hams. Bob is an active elmer with kids through the New Jersey Boy Scouts of America as well as creating opportunities for kids to speak to astronauts first aboard the Space Shuttle and now to the International Space Station.

Radio kit design for the Four State QRP Group is one of the passions of Dave Cripe, NM0S.  As a amateur  radio generalist, with a strong discipline and technical background, Dave enjoys a wide range of operating modes and power levels, and home-brewing in addition to mentoring prospective hams through the Boys Scouts of America. NM0S is Eric, 4Z1UG’s guest on QSO Today.

Doug Crompton, WA3DSP’s, interest in ham radio began as a kid in Pennsylvania in the ‘60s. Doug’s careful attention to detail and documentation of his projects make him an Elmer’s Elmer.  Doug joins Eric, 4Z1UG, in this QSO Today about boat anchors restoration, Allstar linking using the Raspberry Pi, and WSPRnet.

What is a DX contact on 10 Ghz?  Paul Wade, W1GHZ, tells his ham radio story, about his ham radio operations in the amateur radio frequencies above 1 Ghz, and how these contacts are made. Paul is a regular contributor on amateur radio microwave subjects to both QST and QEX magazines. He joins Eric, 4Z1UG, in this week’s QSO Today.

Don Greenbaum, N1DG, comes from a ham radio family and started in the hobby as an eleven year old Novice, over fifty years ago. A veteran of the some of the most challenging DXpeditions and co-founder of CW Ops organization, Don shares his insight and experience on amateur radio,  with Eric, 4Z1UG, on this episode of QSO Today.

Alan Wolke, W2AEW, is a master mentor and elmer who uses YouTube to produce and share his electronic and ham radio educational videos. This is in addition to being a an active ham, volunteer examiner, and advisor to the “maker movement” of things.  He his Eric, 4Z1UG’s, guest on QSO Today.

Bob Heil, K9EID, is no stranger to ham radio, as a pioneer in audio systems, not only for the rock and roll stars in the 60’s and 70’s, but for ham radio as well. As the founder of Heil Sound, Bob’s injection of audio experience and know how has raised the bar of what is acceptable for good sounding voice communications on amateur radio. Bob shares his ham radio story with Eric, 4Z1UG, on this episode of QSO Today.

HF digital modes are synonymous with Murray Greenman, ZL1BPU, creator of MFSK, WSQ, DominoEX, MFSK16, FSK-Hell and S/MT-Hell, and most recently FSQ.  Murray is a ham’s ham, who creates, contributes, and shares in exhaustive detail the developments and discoveries that he has made during his 49 years in amateur radio.  Murray joins Eric, 4Z1UG, in this QSO Today.

Bill Tippett, W4ZV’s ham radio journey is a series of firsts. He was the first USA Novice licensee to achieve DXCC, first teenager to achieve DXCC Honor Roll, first 160 meter DXCC from “0” land, and the first amateur operator Worldwide to work 300 DXCC countries on 160 meters. Bill shares his ham radio story with Eric, 4Z1UG, on QSO Today.

If you wanted to operate two meter EME or “moon bounce”, then you're Elmer should be Howard Sherer, AE3T, who has made over 700 contacts with a modest station and antenna array. Howard discusses his ham radio journey, travel and ham radio, and EME, with Eric, 4Z1UG,  on this episode of QSO Today.  

When it comes to hams making their own kind of music, one has to think of Don Huff, W6JL, who notes on his QRZ page that people who make things are happier than those who buy them. Don operates a completely modular home-brew HF station and power amplifier that is continuously variable in output power from 50 mw to 550 watts. Don loves to rag chew and share, and this is why he is Eric, 4Z1UG’s guest on QSO Today.

According to Nick Kennedy, WA5BDU, we live in the “golden age” of home brewing in amateur radio. Nick explains how this golden age is possible, what he does with a former AT&T long-lines microwave site, and highlights his amateur radio journey, with Eric, 4Z1UG, on QSO Today.

If you want to meet a ham that works every contest and operates every mode, from 160 meters to 1296 Mhz, then John Thompson, K3MD, would come to mind. With over 350,000 contacts in his logbook since 1991, John is just a guy that loves operating, especially contests. At the same time, he collects classic rigs, writes articles, and mentors hams, and is active in many ham organizations. John joins Eric, 4Z1UG, in this week's QSO Today.

From the hills of Tennessee, Kirk Pickering, K4RO, operates a SO2R, single operator 2 radio, contest station and makes over ten-thousand contacts a year. Using Beverage antennas, Kirk is able to operate 160 meters, the “top band”, as solar cycle band conditions fade.  Kirk is Eric, 4Z1UG’s, guest on QSO Today.

Amateur Radio and The Boy Scouts of America merged in a new and strong partnership under the leadership of Jim Wilson, K5ND, through his promotion of the annual Jamboree on the Air, the largest single scouting event in the World. Jim is Eric, 4Z1UG’s, guest on QSO Today.

When Craig Thompson, K9CT, wanted a place to spend a contest weekend with his amateur radio friends he built a multi operator contest station on a rural property, not far from his home in the city. Drawing on the experience and expertise of other multi operator contest station owners, Craig built his ultimate man cave.   Craig discusses his amateur radio story and the details of building this station with Eric, 4Z1UG, in this QSO Today.

Larry Makoski, W2LJ, is a QRP CW operator, founder of the “Skeeder Hunt”, an outdoor QRP contest, and a blogger with many stories to tell and observations to make about amateur radio.  Larry joins Eric, 4Z1UG, in this episode of QSO Today.

Phil Anderson, WOXI, founded Kantronics in 1971 to build wiring harnesses for automobiles. The company morphed over time to become one of the premier manufacturers of terminal node controllers or TNCs for amateur packet radio. Now retired, Phil is as active as ever pursuing new avenues in ham radio. Phil joins Eric, 4Z1UG, in this episode of QSO Today.

Maybe the ultimate home-brew project is to build the modern “KWM4” based on the Collins KWM2, then soup it up, like a hotrod, with an Arduino microprocessor, a digital synthesizer, and a digital display. This was and is Pete Juliano, N6QW’s dream rig. Pete joins Eric, 4Z1UG, for a conversation on home-brewing, construction technique, and ham radio on QSO Today.  

  Lance Collister, W7GJ, has had a fascination with VHF,  six and two meters,  for over fifty years, when he had a Heathkit Twoer and a three element yagi. Now Lance travels to the far corners of the Earth with his Elecraft KX3 to bounce his six meter signal off of the moon. Lance tells us how he does it in his conversation with Eric, 4Z1UG, on QSO Today.

  Chuck Adams, K7QO, is working the world with his single channel 20 meter transceiver just to show that he can. CW is Chuck’s mode of choice because of its efficiency and as a gateway to making ham radio affordable to anyone. Chuck shares his ham radio life, his Manhattan Muppet board construction method, and how to copy call signs at 140 words a minute, with Eric, 4Z1UG, on this episode of QSO Today.

  Who could imagine that an offer to build fifty experimental SDR radios called the SDR1000 would turn into an order for five-hundred units in the first year launching Gerald Youngblood, K5SDR, into the SDR business.  FlexRadio Systems was launched,  in 2003, on the kitchen table of K5SDR's Austin, Texas house to become the premier ham radio supplier of turn-key SDR radios.  Gerald joins Eric, 4Z1UG, in this episode of QSO Today.

  The book,  SOS at Midnight, by Walker Thompson, inspired Glenn Elmore, N6GN, to become an amateur radio operator. Son of a Caltech physicist, Glenn follows in the family’s tradition of careful research and documentation of his experiments in WSPRnet for VHF and UHF propagation, and his use of quad-copters as a sky hook for his surface wave transmission line experiments. Join N6GN and Eric, 4Z1UG, in a fascinating discussion on QSO Today.

  According to Joe Shupienis, W3BC, a “real ham” is an active ham, who takes part in any aspect of the hobby. Joe is the founder of the Quad Counties Amateur Radio Club, over 40 years ago, and he continues to lead the hobby with his ham radio blog and contributions to the club newsletter. Besides being active on the air, Joe is the ARRL WPA club coordinator under Section Manager, Tim Duffy, K3LR.  W3BC joins 4Z1UG on QSO Today.

Becoming a top contester in the World of amateur radio is about skill, practice, experience, and a great station according to Pat Barkey, N9RV. Pat combines all of these attributes, including his SO2R, single operator two radio, station,  to be one of the top contesters in the World. Now he is the editor of the National Contest Journal, a professor at Contest University, and Eric, 4Z1UG’s, guest on QSO Today.

  For some hams, amateur radio provides an opportunity to not only work DX, but to travel the world on DXpeditions of all kinds.  My guest on QSO Today,  has visited over 60 countries during his ham radio career.  Wayne Mills, N7NG, was also inducted into the CQ DX Hall of Fame and is the founder of DX University.  He is Eric, 4Z1UG’s guest, this week,  on QSO Today.

  Like many of us who got interested in radio as kids, Doug Grant, K1DG, got his start with a crystal radio kit from an ad in the back of Boy’s Life magazine.  Receiving  signals on a wire strung across the back yard was the beginning of Doug’s amateur  radio journey that led him, this year,  to his induction into the CQ Contest Hall of Fame.  Contests are Doug’s passion, and he  operates a Single Operator Two Radio (SO2R)  contest station. He shares the details with Eric, 4Z1UG, on QSO Today.

  When it comes to introducing amateur radio to kids, there is no better elmer than Carole Perry, WB2MGP.  Carole captured the imagination of almost nine-hundred Staten Island, New York,  public school kids a year, for almost thirty years.  With this experience and and knowledge, Carole is still a leader in ham radio education through a number of national organizations.  She joins Eric, 4Z1UG, in this QSO Today.

  Bill Meara, N2CQR, rediscovered his love of homebrewing while on professional assignment for the American Foreign Service, in the Azores. He has since traveled the World with his family and ham radio while at the same time building homebrew transceivers using the Manhattan method. Bill joins, Eric, 4Z1UG, in his QSO Today.

  When it comes to building ham radio projects using the Arduino microcontroller, the best person to call is Glen Popiel, KW5GP, author of Arduino for Ham Radio, published by the ARRL. Like many hams, Glen was into computers early and now applies those computer skills to new and fascinating ham radio projects. KW5GP is Eric, 4Z1UG’s, guest on QSO Today. #qsotoday  

When the need to operate portable arose on a family vacation, Budd Drummond, W3FF, fashioned a temporary antenna mast from a painters extension pole and some PVC pipe fittings.  A little more innovation led to the Buddipole system for portable antennas.  A ham for more than sixty years, Budd, W3FF, founder of Buddipole, is Eric, 4Z1UG’s guest on QSO Today.

Volunteering to ham radio organizations and interesting kids in amateur radio is the center of Bob Sterner’s, KB0BS, ham radio activity on the Front Range of Colorado.  Bob shares his insight, with Eric, 4Z1UG, on QSO Today,  gained from his hundreds of hours a year as a volunteer examiner, ham radio mentor, radio club organizer, and leader in the Colorado ham radio community.

  After a career in electronics engineering, Tony Parks, KB9YIG, returned to ham radio, after thirty years, to find it very different than when he first started in the 1950s.  Upon returning in 2000, Tony discovered software defined radio or SDR, where he saw an opportunity to build starter kits for HF SDR receivers that became the Softrock SDR kits.  Tony joins Eric, 4Z1UG to discuss SDR and Softrock.

  When attempting to activate a new mountain peak, in Colorado,  for SOTA, Summits on the Air, Steve Galchutt, WG0AT, uses goats to act as his “sherpas” to carry his gear to the top. His goats allow him to make it to the top of the “teeners”, to set up and make contacts.  Join WG0AT and Eric, 4Z1UG on the QSO Today podcast.

  Combining the software development skills from his thirty-five year career in the US Coast Guard and his hearing loss drove David Freese, W1HKJ, into the early HF digital modes and eventually to support GMFSK software. Building on this popular platform, David then went on to develop FLdigi, one of ham radio’s most popular software programs for encoding and decoding digital transmissions. David discusses his ham radio journey that led to the “FL” line of open source software products with Eric Guth, 4Z1UG, in this QSO Today.

  Paul Ewing, N6PSE, is the founder of the Intrepid DX Group, who has organized and participated in eight DXpeditions to very rare DX and exotic locations around the World, including Northern Iraq, South Sudan, and Yemen. This gives Paul authority and insight on creation, management, and execution of DXpeditions in ham radio. As a ham radio blogger, Paul shares his reflections on ham radio and is  Eric’s guest on QSO Today.

  From the very beginning of her ham radio journey, almost 50 years ago, Carol Milazzo, KP4MD, applies the scientific method to her study and enjoyment of amateur radio.  Whether she is modeling antennas for installation in her attic or to using WSPRnet to study VHF and UHF propagation, Carol takes meticulous notes, adds footnotes and illustrations, and now produces video.  This makes Carol a terrific online Internet Elmer. KP4MD joins Eric, 4Z1UG, on QSO Today.

  For John Langridge, KB5NJD, amateur radio is a way of life, like the martial arts. He demonstrates that our amateur radio license privileges give us the real world opportunities to explore the science of radio.  He does this now in the 630 meter band with an experimental license. John takes us on his amateur radio journey and shares with Eric, 4Z1UG, the discoveries he has made along with way on this QSO Today. He urges us to get out of our comfort zone to really experience the thrill of our hobby.

Joe Moell, K0OV, discovered his love for amateur radio transmitter hunting as an 11 year old Novice in the 1950s. This passion for the hunt has led Joe to become the leading expert in transmitter hunting of all kinds including popularizing the European “fox hunt”, or on foot direction finding contests in the USA. He is an author of over 200 articles on “T hunting”,  and is Eric’s guest on QSO Today.  

  The launch of the first satellite, Sputnik, by the Russians, in October of 1957, inspired Don Keith, N4KC, to become a ham radio operator as a kid. Since then, Don has followed a path through radio broadcasting and is now the author of over 20 books, both fiction and non-fiction. A series of non-fiction books on World War II submarines has made Don an expert in this area.  Don joins Eric, 4Z1UG, to discuss his passion for amateur radio, on QSO Today. #QSOToday  

Tim Duffy, K3LR operates one of the most prestigious amateur radio contest stations in the United States with twelve operating positions, two for each band.  Tim shares his ham radio journey, from his early entry into ham radio as a twelve year old, to a career in cellular telephony, and culminating in his position as COO of DX Engineering.  Join Tim and Eric, 4Z1UG in their QSO Today.

  Amateur radio was the key driver that led Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA, to a MSEE in Electrical Engineering and then a career as an RF design engineer with both Motorola and later Magnavox. When the hobby bites us at an early age, doors open to a bright and successful future. Carl has written hundreds of articles on the propagation of radio signals over the years.  He shares this knowledge with Eric, 4Z1UG, in his QSO Today. #QSOTODAY

Sixty years in the hobby hasn’t diminished Frank Fahrlander’s, N7FF, enthusiasm for amateur radio and the exploration of new technologies and operating modes.  With a solid foundation in electronics that began in grade school and through a career in computers, Frank continues to build projects and kits, elmer new hams, lead his DX club,  and volunteer in his community.  N7FF joins Eric, 4Z1UG, in his QSO Today.

In California, San Bernardino County Fire has a unique program that includes over 200 amateur radio volunteers to provide auxiliary communications to the county during disasters and special events. Tracy Lenocker, WA6ERA, heads this group of ham radio volunteers that is one of the most comprehensive public services by hams to the largest county in the United States. Tracy joins Eric, 4Z1UG, in his QSO Today.

  After spending a career working on the railroad, Jerry Buxton, N0JY, is sending satellites into space with AMSAT, as their new VP of Engineering on the FOX-1 cube satellite project.  Amateur radio opens doors to new experiences and opportunities. Jerry shares his amateur radio story and his busy ham radio life with Eric, 4Z1UG, in this episode of QSO Today.

Amateur radio has its renaissance men that include Greg Latta, AA8V. By day, Greg is a university physics professor and lecturer, an avid homebrewer of vacuum tube transmitters and receivers, and metal fabricator. By Night, he is an award winning musician and folk artist. An attention to detail and organization, in perfect harmony, is the successful formula that Greg discusses with Eric, 4Z1UG, in his QSO Today.

Ron Milliman, K8HSY, has spent over 60 years in ham radio only to still find satisfaction, connections, and opportunity from the hobby he has loved all this time.  As a boy who lost is sight, Ron was fortunate to have a father, friends, and schoolmates who supported his ham radio projects and interests.  Join Ron and Eric, 4Z1UG, in their QSO Today.

Beginning at the age of five, when his father could get him inside a Gates broadcast transmitter to change out the bypass capacitors in the final amplifier, to a childhood of radio and audio repair, Kevin Custer, W3KKC, has gone on to make radio his life’s work.  Kevin’s Repeater Builder website has become the go to Internet resource for information on surplus land mobile radios, equipment, and test gear for building and maintaining amateur radio repeaters.  Kevin joins Eric, 4Z1UG, in his QSO Today.

Greg Lane, N4KGL, tells us how amateur radio adds to his enjoyment of his other outdoor hobbies that include Rocketry and model airplanes.  As one of the key US proponents of RaDAR, or rapid deployment amateur radio, Greg is the master of foot portable HF operation in the Southern forests and swamps, to the Gulf’s beautiful Florida beaches.  Greg Lane, N4KGL joins Eric, 4Z1UG in QSO Today.

 Ward Silver, N0AX, author of the QST magazine column, “Hands-On Radio”, editor of ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications, and author of many books on ham radio joins Eric, 4Z1UG, in his QSO Today.  In the podcast, Ward describes his ham radio beginnings and his amateur radio journey that includes his authoring many books and articles on ham radio. He also offers practical advice to new and returning hams.

When Eddie Leighton, ZS6BNE, created “shack in a sack” as a working concept for portable operation, in South Africa's great outdoors,  for ham radio activity and contests, he had no idea it would become an international ham radio phenomena he renamed RaDAR, or rapid deployment amateur radio. RaDAR, could be ham radio's "iron man" contest that combines outdoor activity with ham radio.  Eddie joins Eric, 4Z1UG, in his QSO Today.

  Amateur Radio opened many doors for David Larsen, KK4WW, that began in high school, with the US Navy, a front row seat to the burgeoning computer industry, a career at Virginia Tech, World travel, and a visit to the White House.   David joins Eric, 4Z1UG, in his QSO Today to discuss his ham radio life and all of the wonderful opportunities and relationships that amateur radio created. Now as the historian and curator of the Bugbook Historical Microcomputer Museum, David has his perfect vehicle for preserving his unique past for future generations.  

Scott Andersen, NE1RD, has evolved a system,  over the years, that combine a family vacation and a serious DXpedition, especially during contests that he calls the 100 pound DXpedition.  In this episode of QSO Today, Scott shares his secrets that include how to plan and execute the perfect combination of ham radio contesting and vacation in an exotic location. Some of this simple wisdom and experience might surprise you.

Dan Romanchik, KB6NU, is one of the most prolific bloggers about ham radio on the Internet today.  As an advocate for ham radio and as a teacher of ham radio, both with his study guides and the local classes that he teaches, Dan practices what he preaches.  Join the QSO Today between Dan and Eric, 4Z1UG, on the amateur radio topics that most interest them.

  Dan Walker, WG5G, works DX and has worked almost every country in the World, except four, with a simple Kenwood TS-130V and five watts of power.  All QRP.  Dan joins Eric, 4Z1UG,  in his QSO Today to discuss his ham radio story and what it really takes to be the best QRP DX operator in the World.  His answers might surprise you.

Dennis Blanchard, K1YPP,  started his ham radio journey in 1962 at the age of twelve, after discovering an old Hallicrafters receiver in the attic of the family home. Ham radio became a passion that eventually pulled his father and brother into the hobby.   In 2007, Dennis combined his love for backpacking and ham radio when he started a 6 month trek of the 2100 mile Appalachian Trail.  Dennis joins Eric, 4Z1UG, in his QSO Today to discuss his ham radio life and hiking the trail. 

  In 1980, when the hospital where she worked had a phone system failure, April Moell, WA6OPS, gave a call to local hams to come provide support. She discovered that hospitals in every community frequently have communications failures that risk the lives and safety of patients. Thirty years after founding the Hospital Disaster Support Communications System, April and her group now provide emergency communications to over 34 hospitals in her area.  Join Eric, 4Z1UG, in his QSO Today with WA6OPS.

Join Eric, 4Z1UG, in his QSO Today with Eric Manning, VA7DZ.  Eric and Eric discuss the Reverse Beacon Network and the use of the CW Skimmer software as tools for contesting and understanding of real time low band openings.  VA7DZ has a lifetime of amateur radio beginning in 1948, in his 5th grade classroom.  His ham radio journey led him to a career in computers and computer science, culminating as a professor of computer science and electrical and computer engineering,   and to his current ham radio operation at the University of Victoria. Even in retirement, Eric’s ham radio life is rich with experiences and new projects.

  After 60 years in the hobby, Martin Huyett, K0BXB, loves ham radio as much as he did when he first started. After a career in electronic engineering, inspired by ham radio, and an operating career that included homebrew slow scan television, 2 meter FM on surplus mobile equipment, and packet radio,  Martin has gone back to his ham radio roots and now enjoys a simple CW QSO on a straight key. Join Eric, 4Z1UG, in his QSO Today with K0BXB.

Join Eric, 4Z1UG in his QSO Today with Dean Mertz, K0MKT.  Dean and Eric have been friends for almost 40 years after meeting at the local ham radio club, in Southern California.  While their lives have taken them around the World, there is always an opportunity, a few times a year, to catch up on ham radio projects and personal lives. As a software engineer and hardware tinkerer, Dean always has an inspiring project to discuss.  This time its a web based audio adjustment meter, using the Beaglebone Black, for the local DMR mobile radio system.

Is is possible for ham radio operators to have a broadband wireless network for the transmission of voice, video, and data as a backup, to the Internet and the commercial infrastructures, that we depend upon? Jim Kinter, K5KTF, thinks it is. Jim is the chief evangelist for the Broadband Hamnet group in Austin, Texas. Ham radio broadband mesh networks is the topic of conversation in Eric’s, 4Z1UG, QSO Today with Jim Kinter, K5KTF.  Ham radio mesh networking began with the conversion of Linksys home routers, with special firmware, into a robust wideband data network to allow voice, video, and data between hams in the amateur bands. Join Eric and Jim in their QSO Today.

Bob Wolbert, K6XX, owns and operates a multiple position contest station in the coastal hills of Northern California.  According to Bob, you need every dB to get contacts in your log during a contest. As the team leader for the US in the World RadioSport Team Championship 2010,  he is especially qualified to speak about what it takes to be a great contest operator. As an employee of Elecraft, Bob gets to be a professional amateur radio operator in addition to his hobby operating ham radio. Join, Eric, 4Z1UG, in his QSO Today with Bob, K6XX.   

Scott Zimmerman, N3XCC, founder of the W3WAN repeater network in Pennsylvania, joins Eric, 4Z1UG, on the QSO Today podcast, to discuss the FM world of repeaters above 50 Mhz.  Coming to amateur radio from a commercial two-way radio background, Scott applies his expertise to maintain a network work of interconnected amateur radio repeaters that provide wide area coverage, international access through the Allstar linking network, and public service in times of emergency.  Scott is also a contributor to the Repeater Builder website, the one-stop for any ham who wants to reassign commercial land mobile radios to amateur service.

  Bruce Perens, K6BP, is a self described evangelist for amatuer radio. As the creator of the Open Source Definition used for the free exchange of software code, Bruce has appled this to amateur radio towards the development of Codec2 and FreeDV, digital modulation schemes for HF and VHF.  Through his new company, Algoram, Bruce hopes to create the ultimate open source handheld software defined radio.  As an evangelist, Bruce founded No Code International, where he successfully eliminated the Morse code requirement for amateur radio licenses Worldwide.

You can still build a beautiful tuna can transmitter, especially if it uses vacuum tubes instead of solid state components.  Join Eric, 4Z1UG, in his QSO Today with Steve Johnston, WD8DAS, where they discuss Steve’s ham radio journey that includes experimentation in the 630 meter band, restoration of Chinese military radio gear, and the love of amateur radio.

  The right elementary school teachers who challenged their students with the Morse Code was just the beginning of Hap Holly’s, KC9RP’s, ham radio career leading to the RAIN Report and The Dayton Hamvention’s 2002 Amateur of the Year.  Join Eric, 4Z1UG, and Hap in their QSO Today.  

  The team of Sharon and Wayne Spring, K6IRD and W6IRD, make a powerful combination, not only in amateur radio, but as a lesson in commitment, hard work, and attention to detail. This has led both to not only a successful 50 year marriage, but to a rich, hands on amateur radio life.  Join Eric, 4Z1UG, in this inspiring conversation with both Wayne and Sharon Spring on QSO Today.

  Elecraft’s co-founder and CTO, Wayne Burdick, N6KR, joins Eric, 4Z1UG, on another QSO Today. Waynes fascination with home brewing from an early age combined with his love of QRP led to the development of some of the best amateur radio transceivers on the market. Wayne and Eric’s conversation reveals some insights into what makes a successful ham radio product.  

  Stan, WB2LQF, does more with less in his 50 year ham radio journey starting with a single tube transmitter loaded in to his bed springs to the Elecraft KX3 and an attic antenna.  Always a CW operator, ham radio played a major role in Stan’s professional and personal life.  Stan joins Eric, 4Z1UG, in his QSO Today.

  John Portune, W6NBC, may have more hams to his credit due to his teaching methods and one day amateur radio licensing courses than any of his peers.  John joins Eric, 4Z1UG, on the QSO Today Podcast to discuss this and John’s other ham radio interests from Amateur Fast Scan Television  to residential disguise antennas for antenna restricted neighborhoods.

One of the original founders of the Amateur Radio Service in Israel, Amnon Bar Giora, 4X1DF, joins Eric, 4Z1UG, in a conversation about his early beginnings as a radio operator for the pre-Israel Haganah, his training of Yugoslav partisans in the use of radio behind the Nazi lines, his pursuit of the Nazi doctor of Auschwitz across South America, and his co-founding of the Amateur Radio Service in Israel. At 91 years of age, Amnon has a rich history of radio, service to his country and people, and entrepreneurship.

  Yehuda, 4X1TQ, survived the electic shock of his life at the tender age of 13, while working on the high voltage power supply for his homebrew transmitter.  Fortunately, for all of us, this led Yehuda on a life of innovation, teaching, and paying forward on his ham radio journey.  Join Eric, 4Z1UG, on his QSO Today with Yehuda Cern, 4X1TQ.  

  Eric Nichols, KL7AJ, has Plasma dreams and chanrges up the ionosphere using high power transmitters based upon his years of experience in ham and broadcast radio.  Starting in 1972, as a high school senior in Southern California, Eric first earned his Novice Class Amateur Radio license, WN6TEE.  Upgrading to General Class, two years later, and adding a First Class Radio Telephone license, Eric made his way to North Pole, Alaska where he spent over 20 years as a broadcast engineer. He shares his ham radio journey through his contribution of over 150 published articles in QST, QEX, eHam and other publications, and even a ham radio novel, Plasma Dreams. Join Eric, 4Z1UG, in his QSO Today, with Eric Nichols, KL7AJ.

Ron, W6OM, carries on the tradition of “paying it forward” by “Elmering” neighborhood teenagers, Donnie and David to their Extra Class ham radio licenses.  Beginning in the Summer of 1957, at 10 years of age, Ron started his ham radio journey under his Elmer, the original W6OM, George Hutchins. Going on for his Novice license the following September, Ron’s first contact on 15 meters was another 10 year old, Andy Chesnioff, UA3AB, of the former Soviet Union.  That original contact created an international friendship that has lasted over 50 years and survived the “Cold War”.  His second contact was Stan, F05IW, another ham to become a lifelong friend and business partner. Follow with me on Ron’s ham radio journey.

Rich's ham radio journey began, in the suburbs of Detroit, on a bicycle, when he was sixteen years old, in search of the source of ham radio conversations heard on his portable all band radio.  Looking for "big" antennas on the neighborhood houses, he found his Elmer, Charlie, W8LVR, who led him through his first Novice license in 1964. This led Rich on a 40 year career through General Motors, slow scan televsion, working DX, and developing antennas. Rich is the developer of the "fractional wave loop antenna", a theme and variation on the magnetic loop antenna. Listen in on Eric's, 4Z1UG, QSO Today with Rich, K8NDS.

  Angel Santana, WP3GW travels around the World, from his home on the island of Puerto Rico, not by ship or airplane, but on the wings of ham radio. Angel says, “the magic for me is speaking to people in other countries”. He likes to meet people, make connections from different countries, from different backgrounds.  Join Eric, 4Z1UG, in his QSO with Angel about his beginnings in ham radio, his “wall paper”,and the contributions he has made and continues to make to amateur radio as the Public Information Office in his ARRL section for Puerto Rico.  

Bob Greenberg, W2CYK, is a third generation ham radio operator, whose "Elmer", was his grandfather, Art Greenberg, the original W2CYK.  Follow Bob's ham radio journey from its beginnings almost 40 years ago.  

Join Eric, 4Z1UG, in his QSO with Arie Kliengold, PA3A on QSO Today.  Arie discusses his early beginnings in radio as a Merchant Marine radio operator and how he went on to do DXpeditions in Africa in conjunction with Mercy Ships, hospital ships that bring advanced medical care to Africa.  See the show notes at www.qsotoday.com/podcasts/pa3a  

This is the first podicast of the new QSO Today weekly program where Amateur Radio operators are interviewed by Eric, 4Z1UG. Our audience are prospective, new, and returning members of the ham radio community who wish to learn more about the hobby though conversations, or QSOs, with experienced hams.  The goal of the podcast is to introduce the wide range of ham radio options by experts in these areas.