Qso Today - A Conversation For Amateur Radio Operators

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.

Corey Ruth, KD3CR, was a speaker in last August’s QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo,  with a presentation titled, HF in an HOA: The BBTD Attic Antenna.  His presentation captured my attention because Corey is a relatively new ham, living in an HOA, an immigrant to the United States, and using an antenna that for all intents and purposes, was too good to be true.  You will hear in this interview that my conversion from being a skeptic to a believer is complete.  I know that you will find this interview with KD3CR very interesting, allowing you to draw your own conclusions. 

Callum McCormick, M0MCX, is YouTube's DX Commander and maker of a line of antennas of the same name.  Callum says that he has the best business in the world,  is an active ham, on the air, always testing and fine tuning his antenna creations.  M0MCX shares his discoveries with antennas and ham radio on regular YouTube postings, growing his audience to over 42,000 subscribers.  Callum McCormick, M0MCX, is my QSO Today.

Dave Jensen, W7DGJ, found his way into amateur radio from volunteering to help disabled Korean War veterans, who were active amateurs,  in a Cleveland, Ohio, Veterans Hospital.  From that interaction grew a love of radio and communications that has lasted a lifetime.  Dave likes to work CW on 17 meters and build his own equipment.  W7DGJ is my QSO Today.

Chip Lohman, NN4U, was introduced to amateur radio during an early stint as a US Marine stationed next to an Army MARS station.  Fascinated by the technology that could connect him to his family around the World, Chip got his first license.  NN4U has reinvented himself a few times over his career, and he tells this story in this QSO Today.

Geoffrey Mendenhall, W8GNMs,  early interest in electronics, germanium transistors, and later high power triodes led him to a career, as an engineer,  designing, building, and managing broadcast transmitters projects for Gates Radio and later Harris Broadcast.  Geoff made a presentation in the last QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo on Beverage Antennas, urging us to try building Beverages  even if conditions are not optimal, and being surprised by the result.  W8GNM is my QSO Today.   

Vince d'Eon, VE6LK, has taken hold of the many amateur radio opportunities on HF SSB, VHF/UHF mobile operation, repeater building and maintenance, and supporting events with his Calgary based amateur radio club.  Vince is a regular contributor to the bi-weekly Ham Radio Workbench Podcast and made a presentation at the last QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo on Disaster Communications and Leadership Imperatives for Radio Amateurs.  VE6LK is my QSO Today.

Charlie Brown, NJ7V, is twice a mountain goat, a title that comes from many SOTA activations.  Of course this means achievement and expertise operating portable from mountain tops across Arizona and the West.  NJ7V will share his amateur radio story, secrets to SOTA success, and some ideas on how to build a local SOTA organization in this QSO Today.

Kirk Kleinshmidt, NT0Z, has spent most of his professional life working in amateur radio as an editor, author, and contributor to the amateur radio magazines that we have grown to love including QST, ARRL Handbook, Spectrum Monitor, and others.  His own book, Stealth Amateur Radio, continues to advise us how to get on the air and enjoy our hobby, even when our living situation is against it.  NT0Z is my QSO Today.

Dr. Jack Purdum, W8TEE, licensed since 1954, is a prolific author of at least 17 books on computer programming languages and microprocessor projects for amateur radio and is now the Microcontroller Editor at CQ Magazine. This episode is part of my series of interviews to introduce you to QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo Speakers. Jack and Al Peters, AC8GY, are now prolific creators of Arduino projects and gave a presentation last August 2021 on building an HF SSB/CW software defined transceiver, called the T41. W8TEE is my QSO Today.

Julian White, OH8STN, operates outdoors in Finland's Arctic Circle and records, on his popular YouTube Channel,  his expeditions with his compact but sophisticated simulations of grid down communications.  Julian is a natural teacher and his channel may be one of the best ways to understand how and what to pack and take into the wild.    OH8STN is my QSO Today.

Pablo Lewin, WA6RSV, has an interest in radio astronomy and scans the heavens with his hydrogen line radio telescope using an SDR or software defined radio.  Pablo had an interesting aviation career where amateur radio weaved in and out of it since the late seventies.  Now in aviation retirement, he does stand up  comedy and creates content for the film and television industry.  WA6RSV tells his amatueur radio story in this QSO Today. 

Stephen Houser, N1SH, was essential to helping Rex Harper, W1REX, present his Build-A-Thons at the QSO Today Virtual Ham Expos with multi-camera coverage of Rex’s project demonstrations.  Stephen had early exposure to amateur radio and  was no stranger to our hobby years before he got his first license. Stephen has a strong interest and expertise in computers, programming, building projects, and he makes his own contributions to our interesting hobby.  N1SH is my QSO Today.

Michael Johnson, WO9B's ham radio career has evolved through a number of phases over the last 50 years that now include CW and QRP operation, with his dog, during CWOPs weekly tests from local parks in Milwaukee.  Mike’s park operation has  become a weekly meetup for his local radio club.  WO9B also enjoys DMR and HF digital modes and is my QSO Today.

Nelson Farrier, NF7Z, is a relatively recent new ham, a retired middle school teacher of STEM learning to children, and a graduate of the ARRL Teacher Institute. He has some refreshing insight into what we as an amateur radio community do better to relate to children and strengthen our numbers with younger hams.  NF7Z is my QSO Today.

Courtney Duncan, N5BF, has humble amateur radio beginnings in Texas where he earned a degree in musical piano performance.  Destiny intervened, allowing Courtney to get a degree as an  electronic engineer and a career at JPL, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, associated with NASA and CalTech in Pasadena, California  working on flight radio systems for spacecraft that go to Mars and beyond.  Now retired after 30 years, N5BF is active as the president of the San Bernardino Microwave Society,  amateur microwave operation and contesting,  and moonbounce.  N5BF is my QSO Today.

Paul Mower, VA6MPM, treks across the Canadian Rockies, often for days at a time.  Amateur radio connects Paul to the outside world when he is far beyond his cellular telephone coverage.  Paul enjoys working Summits on the Air from some of the most remote outposts in the world.  VA6MPM is my QSO Today.

Andy Mitchell, VA3CW, as an eleven year old Boy Scout, participated with his small troop in Boy Scout Jamboree on the Air, in 1974. This exposure changed the course of Andy’s life, profession, and interests.  Getting on the air and working DX are the simple ham radio pastimes that contribute to his free time enjoyment.  VA3CW is my QSO Today.

Dr. Brian Callahan, AD2BA, has a background in music, anthropology, Japanese video arcade games and open source software leading him to amateur radio and his Extra Class license.  As a new and younger ham, as well as a college professor to younger potential hams, AD2BA shares his experience and insight on how we might involve young people in our hobby.  Brian is my QSO Today.