Qso Today - A Conversation For Amateur Radio Operators

Al Brogdon, W1AB, was licensed almost 70 years ago, has made significant contributions to our hobby through his writing for QST magazine over the years including the “100, 50, and 25 Years Ago” column, and articles for both 73 and Ham Radio Magazine.  W1AB can head copy CW at 55 words a minute and is my QSO Today.

While I am busy working with my team on the QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo, I am reprising some older episodes of guests who will appear as speakers in the Expo.  Carl Lutzeswchwab, K9LA, is one such speaker who was interviewed in episode 37 of this podcast five years ago.  Of course, Carl’s story is timeless, but now the audio is remastered by Ben Bresky.

Doug Millar, K6JEY, grew up in Southern California, is a teacher of teachers, and like to operate EME or Moon Bounce on the sidewalk in front of his home.  Doug likes everything about ham radio and operates on a range of rigs from boat anchors to the most modern QRP, all modes in all bands.  K6JEY is my QSO Today.

Curt Kinghorn, W6OEA, grew up in a ham radio household and was already a builder before his first amateur license.  An education in physics and exposure to a cosmic ray detector kindled an interest in radio astronomy.  It seems that ham radio operators make great radio astronomers and it is in this area that we will jump into the deep end in this QSO Today.

Julius Jones, W2IHY, had an early interest in electronics and radio as a teenager growing up in Boston, in the early 1960s.  Like many young hams, in those days, the intoxication from the space race and the evolving electronic technology led young Julius into an engineering career and the ultimate establishment of his own company based around solutions he created for his own ham shack.  W2IHY is my guest in this QSO Today. 

Anthony, Luscre, K8ZT, has a love for cataloging all of his interests and sharing with others.  In this episode, I find some great websites, built by Anthony, that are not only amazing resources for ham radio operators, but also for teachers who want to master the on-line resources that they now need to support their students during this pandemic.  K8ZT is my QSO Today.

Tim Carter, W3ATB, was the first home remodeling media personality, even before it was popular.  Tim’s ham radio journey was enhanced by his understanding that expert mentors are the best and fastest way to success in any subject, especially amateur radio.  Tim shares his interesting story in this QSO Today. 

Bob Fontana, AK3Y’s, ham radio and electronic career was a friend’s broken shortwave to AM down converter.  Bob shares his ham radio story, his past and current ham radio interests, and the ultra wide band technology that he developed over his career. 

Jim Andrews, KH6HTV, has spent a life in amateur radio and technology, and is known for his contributions to amateur radio digital television and the use of this technology supporting emergency communications in and around Boulder, Colorado.  KH6HTV shares his ham radio story in this QSO Today.

Rick Dubbs, WW9JD, spent four years at sea in US nuclear submarines, retired as a teacher of junior high school kids, flies drones professionally as a part of his small business, and now has time for his ham radio projects.  WW9JD shares his ham radio story and his project details in this QSO Today.

This week I celebrate 300 episodes of the QSO Today Podcast with George Zafiropoulos, KJ6VU, Bill Meara, N2CQR, Pete Juliano, N6QW, Ashhar Farhan, VU2ESE, and Hans Summers, G0UPL.

Don Banta, K5DB, is a ham’s ham, because of his generous nature, his contributions to the local ham community and his being ready to mentor any amateur or would-be amateur that needs help.  Don is the organizer of the Arkansas QSO Party, active in 80 meter nets, and likes to work DX.  K5DB is my QSO Today. 

Paul Taylor, VK3HN, loves to operate QRP, SOTA, or Summits on the Air, with his homebrew pocket-sized multi-band transceivers that he designs and builds in his home workshop.  Paul enjoys a weekly 160 meter AM net using his homebrew 200 watt solid-state AM transmitter. VK3HN is my QSO Today. 

Sam Birnbaum, W2JDB, has a background in computer science and programming that led him to first develop a software logging program called QLog for operating and logging the digital modes more easily while doing National parks on the air.  Sam’s enhancements to QLog now allow blind ham operators to work FT8.  

Charlie Morris, ZL2CTM, builds his QRP rigs, the old fashioned way, starting with a paper and pencil, combining basic components to make each stage of a receiver or transceiver.  Once the radio is made, he adds an Arduino micro-controller, touch screen, and other advanced components to bring his masterpiece into the 21st century. Charlie is a prolific creator of You-Tube videos to document and demonstrate his creations.  ZL2CTM is my QSO Today.

Bry Carling, AF4K, collects old boat anchor radios, is the co-founder of the Novice Rig Roundup, and provider of thousands of old-time crystals, that he sells for your next rig restoration, or a new build of Bob Heil, K9EID’s, pine board project AM transmitter.  Bry shares his eclectic ham radio story in this QSO Today. 

Bob Nagy, AB5N, is having the time of his life in retirement. He teaches technology and the Russian language in his adopted community of Hot Springs, Arkansas, creates You-tube instructional videos, builds solar powered devices for hiis house and ham shack, and operates the digital  modes. His expertise and improvements of the audio characteristics of the microphones on amateur transceivers is unmatched. AB5N is my QSO Today.

Michael Rainey, AA1TJ, is a master of building simple HF transmitters from the materials that he has on hand, including the parts from a compact fluorescent light bulb.  AA1TJ was my guest in Episode 80, more than four years ago. We remastered the audio of this valuable episode to present Mike again in this QSO Today.

Dale Parfitt, W4OP, developed a love for operating  VHF and above, including moonbounce operation, from an early exposure to a 6 meter Gonset Communicator, or Gooney Box. His love for electronics grew into a career as an electronics engineer and the entrepreneur founder of Par Electronics where custom filters and antennas are Dale’s special forte.  W4OP tells his story in this QSO Today.

Glen Jenkins, WB4KTF, grew up on US Marine bases in the 50’s and 60’s, and was no stranger to starting over in new places.  Glen tells his ham radio story that includes a professional start in Israel, a stint in Moscow, a successful landing in Houston Texas, until Hurricane Harvey changed his retirement plans.  Glen loved his early Heathkit HF Transceivers, collecting Colliins gear, and working the digital modes on his modern station. WB4KTF is my QSO Today.