QSO Today Podcast with Eric Hofer KJ4YZI

KJ4YZI

9/11/2026

Episode 541 - Eric Hofer - KJ4YZI

Eric Hofer, KJ4YZI, began his ham radio journey CB radio before discovering ham radio through a local Elmer and two-meter repeaters, where he developed a lifelong interest in radios, antennas, weak-signal work, and experimenting. Through his popular Ham Radio Concepts YouTube channel, Eric encourages new and returning amateurs to explore everything from two-meter sideband, EME moonbounce, to satellites, digital modes, used equipment, antenna projects, and kit building. Eric works in land mobile radio, microwave, repeaters, and public-safety communications, giving him a strong technical foundation for the practical experiments he shares with his audience. KJ4YZI is my QSO Today.

Show Notes

Transcript

Listen to Podcast

People

Eric Hofer, KJ4YZI — Interview guest and creator of Ham Radio Concepts. https://www.youtube.com/@HamRadioConcepts
Eric Guth, 4Z1UG — QSO Today host conducting the interview. -- https://www.qsotoday.com/podcasts/4z1ug

Places

Vero Beach, Florida — Hofer's home and primary amateur-radio operating area. -- https://www.covb.org/
Sebastian, Florida — Community near Vero Beach explicitly mentioned when describing Hofer's QTH. -- https://www.cityofsebastian.org/
Fort Lauderdale, Florida — Hofer's birthplace and starting point of his former repeater-monitoring drives. -- https://www.fortlauderdale.gov/Home
Jacksonville, Florida — End point of drives during which Hofer worked repeaters county by county. -- https://www.jacksonville.gov/
Tallahassee, Florida — Location where Hofer tested participation in established repeater groups. -- https://www.talgov.com/
Gainesville, Florida — Another location where Hofer joined local repeater conversations. -- https://www.gainesvillefl.gov/Home
Orlando, Florida — Location associated with HamCation and Hofer's hamfest attendance. -- https://www.orlando.gov/Home
Dayton, Ohio — Location associated with the Dayton Hamvention discussed in the interview. -- https://www.daytonohio.gov/

Organizations, Clubs & Publications

ARRL — U.S. national amateur-radio association discussed regarding publications, spectrum defense, and outreach. -- https://www.arrl.org/
QST — ARRL amateur-radio magazine whose VHF-and-above coverage is discussed. -- https://www.arrl.org/qst
Florida Weak Signal Society — Florida organization specifically mentioned for weak-signal VHF enthusiasts. -- https://flwss.net/
Israel Amateur Radio Club — Israeli amateur-radio organization mentioned regarding spectrum-defense support. -- https://www.iarc.org/english-membership/

Events

Dayton Hamvention — Major U.S. amateur-radio convention discussed for exhibits and YouTube coverage. -- https://hamvention.org/
Orlando HamCation — Florida amateur-radio convention attended by Hofer. -- https://www.hamcation.com/
ARRL Field Day — Amateur-radio operating event discussed in relation to 2-meter SSB activity. -- https://www.arrl.org/field-day

Equipment

Cobra 29 LTD — CB transceiver Hofer received for his tenth birthday. -- https://www.cobra.com/products/29ltd
Radio Shack HTX-202 — Two-meter handheld Hofer identifies as his first amateur-radio transceiver. -- https://www.manualslib.com/manual/4045575/Radio-Shack-Htx-202.html
Icom 9700 — VHF/UHF/1.2-GHz transceiver discussed for weak-signal and EME operation. -- https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-9700/
Icom 705 — Portable transceiver cited as equipment many modern amateurs already own. -- https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-705/
Icom 7300 — HF transceiver used by Hofer for extremely low-power FT8 experiments. -- https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-7300/
Icom 706 Mark 2G — Older multiband transceiver recommended as an affordable used-radio example. -- https://www.icom.co.jp/lineup/products/IC-706MKIIG/
SharkRF M1KE — Internet-connected amateur-radio device discussed as an alternative to conventional radios. -- https://www.sharkrf.com/products/m1ke/
IFR COM-120B — Communications service monitor Hofer uses in professional land-mobile-radio work. -- https://www.opweb.de/en/manufacturer/ifr/com-120b
IFR 1200 Super S — Additional radio service monitor explicitly mentioned by Hofer. -- https://bama.edebris.com/manuals/ifr/1200S

Antennas

Yagi antenna — Directional antenna used extensively for Hofer's VHF, UHF, and EME experiments. -- https://www.arrl.org/antenna-modeling-files
Cubical quad antenna — Two-meter antenna Hofer built with assistance from his YouTube audience. -- https://www.arrl.org/arrl-antenna-book

Modes & Operating Technologies

Earth-Moon-Earth (EME) — Moonbounce communication technique central to Hofer's recent weak-signal experimentation. -- https://www.arrl.org/weak-signal-vhf-dx-meteor-scatter-eme-moonbounce
FT8 — Weak-signal digital mode Hofer uses on HF and VHF. -- https://wsjt.sourceforge.io/wsjtx-main_en.html
Weak-signal operation — Hofer's preferred operating practice across VHF, EME, and digital modes. -- https://www.arrl.org/weak-signal-vhf-dx-meteor-scatter-eme-moonbounce
EchoLink — Internet-linked amateur-radio system mentioned with repeater capabilities. -- https://www.echolink.org/help_ex/intro.htm
AllStarLink — Network used to interconnect amateur-radio repeaters and nodes. -- https://allstarlink.org/
DMR — Digital mobile-radio mode discussed for worldwide amateur talk groups. -- https://www.dmr-marc.net/
D-STAR — Digital amateur-radio mode Hofer explicitly considers legitimate RF radio operation. -- https://dstarinfo.com/
System Fusion — Yaesu digital voice system mentioned among modes supported by internet-connected devices. -- https://systemfusion.yaesu.com/what-is-system-fusion/
Amateur-radio satellite operation — Space-communications activity Hofer identifies among his preferred operating interests. -- https://www.amsat.org/
Amateur repeaters — Repeater operation introduced Hofer to amateur radio and remains a major interview topic. -- https://www.arrl.org/frequency-coordinators
Simplex operation — Direct station-to-station operation contrasted with repeater communication. -- https://www.arrl.org/band-plan
Single sideband (SSB) — Voice mode emphasized for long-distance two-meter terrestrial contacts. -- https://www.arrl.org/band-plan
CW — Morse operating mode discussed for two meters and EME. -- https://www.arrl.org/band-plan
FM — Primary mode Hofer initially encountered through two-meter repeater operation. -- https://www.arrl.org/band-plan
AM — Mode specifically cited among possibilities available on two meters. -- https://www.arrl.org/band-plan

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