QSO Today Podcast - QSO TODAY AMATEUR RADIO PODCAST

NN4U

1/21/2022

Episode 385 - Chip Lohman - NN4U

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.

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W8GNM

1/15/2022

Episode 384 - Geoffrey Mendenhall - W8GNM

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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.

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WO9B

11/20/2021

Episode 376 - Michael Johnson - WO9B

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.

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G4GEE

10/9/2021

Episode 370 - Robert Nash - G4GEE

Dr. Robert Nash, G4GEE, discovered early on that amateur radio is a social hobby that makes him a citizen of the World with friendships on every continent. Working DX and dedicating time to his local club, the Coventry Amateur Radio Society, is his formula for ham radio success. G4GEE is my QSO Today.

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W1TP

7/2/2021

Episode 358 - Tom Perera - W1TP

Tom Perera, W1TP, has a collection of over 3000 Morse code keys and bugs going back to pre-American Civil War, perhaps the largest collection in the World. He displays these keys in his virtual, on-line museum. W1TP shares with me the history of his collection, some interesting stories, and his newest interest and collection of military cipher machines, including the WW2 German Enigma, in this QSO Today.

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WA1JXR

6/26/2021

Episode 357 - Greg Algieri - WA1JXR

Greg Algieri, WA1JXR, began his ham radio journey by asking his dad for a Gillette Blue Razor Blade to make this first receiver, leading to amateur radio licenses, higher electronics education, and an entire career with Raytheon, where he worked in radio and antenna design. WA1JXR is active in his amateur radio community as a teacher of new and existing hams, restoring boat anchor vintage radios, and getting on the air. He is my guest in this QSO Today.

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WB3AVD

6/19/2021

Episode 356 - Ted Holland - WB3AVD

Ted Holland, WB3AVD, describes himself as a cultural anthropologist who creates artistic telegraph or CW keys based on themes that move him, including OZ’s Emerald City. His workshop is in a converted "Church in the Middle of the Block", a mini artist's colony. Ted is an avid QRP contest operator and local emcomm enthusiast, WB3AVD shares his amateur radio successes in this QSO Today.

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WA9CWX

6/12/2021

Episode 355 - Frank Kollins - WA9CWX

Frank Kollins, WA9CWX, loves to operate CW from multiple operating positions, from restored vintage to the most modern rigs. Frank is a student and teacher of radio history from its very ether-like beginnings, to radio’s evolution through World War 2. WA9CWX has an amazing Morse key collection and is my QSO Today.

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N6VI

6/5/2021

Episode 354 - Marty Woll - N6VI

Marty Woll, N6VI, found his way into amateur radio, along with other high school teens in Southern California’s San Fernando Valley in the late 1960s. Interested in CW, chasing DX, and contesting, Marty’s ham radio interests evolved to include VHF, UHF, and microwave contest “roving”, and now emergency communications. N6VI has always been a leader in our hobby and is my QSO Today.

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N6TR

5/8/2021

Episode 350 - Larry Tyree - N6TR

Larry Tyree, or "Tree", as he is known in amateur radio circles, loves to operate contests, work DX on 160 meters, from his 28 hilltop acres in the Oregon forest, near Portland. Tree is a serious CW operator, where good antenna design, focus, skill, and patience bring the amateur radio rewards. Tree tells his ham radio story in this QSO Today.

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k7OJL

5/1/2021

Episode 349 - Roland Smith - K7OJL

Roland Smith, K7OJL, is currently my teacher at CW Academy, who got a very early start in ham radio almost 60 years ago. After a stint in the US Air Force, life and professional relocations around the World paused Rolands ham radio activity. Roland has since returned to amateur radio at a fast and furious pace, operating in just about every band and mode. Together, we explore the dramatic changes in the hobby and how K7OJL has adapted in this QSO Today.

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K7REX

4/9/2021

Episode 346 - Dan Marler - K7REX

Dan Marler, K7REX, owes much of his professional opportunities and success to his amateur radio background. A "people person", K7REX, likes to give back to the amateur radio community as an ARRL Section Manager and founder of the RATPAC, a group that does not include Sammy, Dean, and Frank. Dan tells his ham radio story in this QSO Today.

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AC4BT

1/30/2021

Episode 338 - Jerry Weisskohl - AC4BT

Jerry Weisskohl, AC4BT, always had a love of radio and short wave listening. He got a late start in amateur radio but thinks that the art and practice of CW, or Morse code, is exactly what quiets and relaxes the mind after an engaging day as a computer scientist. AC4BT has taken lead roles with CWops and CW Academy and is my QSO Today.

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W1UU

1/23/2021

Episode 337 - Peter Butler - W1UU

Peter Butler, W1UU’s ham radio journey began with the purchase of a J38 code key and a trip to the library. Sputnik inspired Peter to a career in microwave engineering reinforced by this ham radio interest. Peter is the Vice President of CWops and actively involved in sharing his love for CW and good operating practice with the hundreds of amateurs who are signing on to do the same. W1UU is my QSO Today.

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KA7OEI

1/9/2021

Episode 335 - Clint Turner - KA7OEI

Clint Turner, KA7OEI, is an experimenter, builder, and operator on all bands and modes. He shares his background in microwave communications, EME or Moonbounce, and his involvement in the Northern Utah Web SDR Project, an amazing on-line resource hams who want to listen to all of the low bands with waterfall display, at the same time. KA7OEI is my QSO Today.

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N1RM

11/28/2020

Episode 329 - Rick Miller - N1RM

Rick Miller, N1RM’s ham radio story began at McMurdo Station in Antarctica and weaves its way through Russian submarine hunting to operating APRS on the back of a Harley Davidson motorcycle, on a grand tour of the United States. N1RM fills in all of the open spaces in this QSO Today.

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KR7RK

10/24/2020

Episode 324 - Keith Schlottman - KR7RK

Keith Schlottman, KR7RK, is not only a mountain goat, he is also a super sloth. Terms like this are not endearing, however if you are a SOTA activator or chaser, then you know how important these terms are to SOTA, Summits on the Air, operators. KR7RK tells his ham radio story in this QSO Today.

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WX2S

10/3/2020

Episode 321 - Steve Masticola - WX2S

Steve Masticola, WX2S, took a 30 year vacation from amateur radio to pursue his life. Now he is back. WX2S loves to operate in the field, necessitated by living in a Revolutionary War era village with antenna restrictions. This has created a new passion for SOTA, Parks on the Air, and QRP Fox Hunting. All this and more in my QSO Today with WX2S.

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W6LG

9/25/2020

Episode 320 - Jim Heath - W6LG

Jim Heath, W6LG, has been a ham for over 56 years. Jim is an Elmer’s Elmer with an amazing You-Tube channel, with over 30,000 subscribers. Jim not only reviews the basics of amateur radio, and he makes that content up close and personal, reflecting on his years of experience as an amateur radio operator.

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NM5M

9/12/2020

Episode 318 - Eric Silverthorn - NM5M

Eric Silverthorn, NM5M, has a great ham radio story, especially at the beginning with the support of his family for this ham radio interest. Eric likes contesting, SO2R operation and is a teacher of the Morse Code at CWOPS and spoke about it at the QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo. NM5M advises new and returning hams to explore the hobby, pursue what interests you, and warm up the soldering iron.

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K4ZDH

7/18/2020

Episode 311 - Riley Hollingsworth - K4ZDH

Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, started his ham radio career in Rock Hill, South Carolina, in 1960, proceeded through law school to a career at the Federal Communications Commission, the FCC. Riley was a part of the evolution of the FCC as it dealt with the new communications technologies including paging, cellular, PCS, and amateur radio. K4ZDH tells his amateur radio story as well as his impact on the amateur radio service through his career at the FCC.

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W1AB

7/11/2020

Episode 310 - Al Brogdon - W1AB

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 Magazines. W1AB can head copy CW at 55 words a minute and is my QSO Today.

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WW9JD

5/9/2020

Episode 301 - Rick Dubbs - WW9JD

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.

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VK3HN

4/18/2020

Episode 298 - Paul Taylor - VK3HN

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.

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ZL2CTM

4/4/2020

Episode 296 - Charlie Morris - ZL2CTM

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.

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