QSO Today Podcast - QSO TODAY AMATEUR RADIO PODCAST

AB2KT

8/24/2018

Episode 212 - Frank Brickle - AB2KT

Frank Brickle, AB2KT, took a professional path to music composition at Princeton. He combined his musical composition skills with his technical knowledge of computer programming and background in amateur radio to develop the first software defined radio (SDR) software used first by the US government and later by private industry. Frank AB2KT is a noted classical music and opera composer and a pioneer in SDR technology.

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G0KSC

8/17/2018

Episode 211 - Justin Johnson - G0KSC

Justin Johnson, G0KSC, tells his ham radio story and how it led to the founding of his company, Innovantenna, and his approach to antenna designs, that maximize signal to noise, rather than gain, to produce amazing results. If you are re-considering your antenna system, then you will enjoy this QSO Today with G0KSC.

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AI8Z

7/21/2018

Episode 207 - Mike Mussler - AI8Z

Mike Mussler, AI8Z, is one of the early pioneers in the 630 Meter band experimental trials in 2007 that resulted in the band being opened for amateur radio exploration much later. AI8Z rebuilds old rigs, especially military surplus WW2 vintage radios that adorn his Cortez, Colorado ham shack. We start with Mike’s ham radio history in this QSO Today.

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KE4PT

6/30/2018

Episode 204 - Kai Siwiak - KE4PT

One of the best kept secrets of amateur radio is the amazing QEX Magazine published by the ARRL and edited by my guest today, Kai Siwiak, KE4PT. If you are a home brewer and want a more indepth amateur radio technology understanding, then QEX should be on your desk every month. Kai provides a fascinating look at home-brewing, the digital modes, and modest antennas for the antenna challenged ham in this episode of QSO Today.

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AE3RM

6/16/2018

Episode 202 - RaUl Midón - AE3RM

Bad ass and blind is how my guest on QSO Today describes himself on his website and the release of his new jazz music album of the same name. Raul Midón, AE3RM, is also a long time and dedicated amateur radio operator, who takes his ham radio operation on his musical tours around the World. For those of us who think we are too busy to get on the air, Raul provides an answer to a busy schedule while sharing ham radio story on this QSO Today.

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K1VT

5/19/2018

Episode 198 - Jack Mandelman - K1VT

Dr. Jack Mandelman is on the short list for holding the most patents, over 700 Worldwide, in the area of semiconductor physics, while at the same time a successful ham radio operator working DX and CW. Now in the middle of a QTH move, Jack is exploring satellite communications and DMR. K1VT shares his ham radio story and the period during the space race to the moon that led to the technology that we all enjoy in our QSO today.

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W3NW

4/20/2018

Episode 194 - Ryhor Greg Harbacheuski - W3NW

Dr. Ryhor “Greg” Harbacheuski, W3NW, began his ham radio story in Belarus, a republic of the former Soviet Union. After immigrating to the United States to pursue his career, Greg is a successful orthopedic surgeon by day, and he enjoys melting solder, refurbishing Soviet receivers, and kit building by night. W3NW tells his ham radio story in this QSO Today.

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KW5GP Returns

3/17/2018

Episode 189 - Glen Popiel - KW5GP returns

Glen Popiel, KW5GP, author of two popular books on Arduino for amateur radio and a book on mesh networking for amateur radio joins QSO Today once again. Glen told his ham radio story in Episode 49, almost three years ago. We catch up with Glen to get an Arduino update and to hear about his current and future projects.

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G3CWI

3/9/2018

Episode 188 - Richard Newstead - G3CWI

Richard Newstead, G3CWI, as an avid outdoor radio enthusiast, co-founded SOTA or the Summits on the Air program. When he needed the right gear to take to the mountaintop, Richard had to create and import his own equipment, ultimately resulting in the creation of his company, Sotabeams, our new sponsor on QSO Today. Richard’s story includes operating from a research station in Antarctica during the Falklands war to the founding of Sotabeams our new QSO Today sponsor.

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N6RK

3/3/2018

Episode 187 - Rick Karlquist - N6RK

Rick Karlquist, N6RK is a long time amateur radio operator who likes contests, DX, and over the years acquired a large square of property in California’s Central Valley to have enough room to build his antenna farm. In this episode we discuss building 90 foot vertical antennas with irrigation pipe, and using the falling derrick method to raise tall masts and towers. Rick has acquired a wide range of experience from his amateur radio and professional life, some of which he shares in this QSO Today.

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ZS4TX

2/24/2018

Episode 186 - Bernie van der Walt - ZS4TX

Bernie van der Walt, ZS4TX, from Bloemfontein, South Africa is an active ham radio operator. Bernie loves to contest on HF, and operates two remote control EME or Moon bounce stations on two and six meters away from the noise pollution of his residential neighborhood. We discuss these subjects and more on this episode of QSO Today.

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NW7US

2/10/2018

Episode 184 - Tomas Hood - NW7US

Tomas Hood, NW7US is the propagation editor of a number of shortwave and amateur radio magazines, and has a wide variety of websites, that grew out of his love for all things radio, and for listening on the bands to far off DX and commercial broadcast stations. Tomas shares his understanding of propagation and the lessons we can learn from listening, really listening to the QSOs and exchanges during contest operation.

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W0CG

2/3/2018

Episode 183 - Geoff Howard - W0CG / PJ2DX

Many of us, especially when we are sitting at our work desk in the cold of Winter, long for tropical warmth, golden sands, and great ham radio that operating from the Caribbean could offer. My guest this week is Geoff Howard, W0CG / PJ2DX, who operates along with his ham friends the P2JT contest station in a villa on a cliff overlooking the sea in Curacao. Geoff shares his ham radio story and the history of P2JT in this QSO Today.

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WB2VUO

1/27/2018

Episode 182 - Keith Hibbert - WB2VUO

Keith Hibbert, WB2VUO, is the ARRL Technical Coordinator for Western NY State. In that capacity Keith serves as a resource and goto guy for technical questions by amateur radio operators. Keith and I had a great QSO on his areas of interest that include QRP Single Sideband, digital modes like FT-8, and Keith’s interest in both amateur HF and aircraft beacons. Keith shares his insights and some valuable resources in this QSO Today.

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N8NM

1/6/2018

Episode 179 - Steve Murphy - N8NM

Steve Murphy, N8NM, builds most of his modern equipment using the Manhattan and “ugly” construction method, or he refurbishes old tube transmitters, receivers, and transceivers. Steve is not afraid to try a new design or component to further his love of home brewing. We follow the ham radio career of N8NM in this episode of QSO Today.

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KC0BS

12/30/2017

Episode 178 - Brian Short - KC0BS

Brain Short, KC0BS, is a busy amateur radio operator in Kansas City, Missouri. He is actively involved in teaching ham radio and getting new hams involved in the many amateur radio activities that Kansas City hams enjoy. In this episode, we discuss tower climbing and safety, APRS, emergency services, building up code speed, and Brian’s participation in the emergency efforts around the Joplin Missouri tornado that destroyed much of the city in May 2011.

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WJ2V

11/25/2017

Episode 173 - Preston Douglas - WJ2V

Preston Douglas, WJ2V, discovered the joys of QRP and home-brewing whole transceivers almost by accident. The result is a rewarding ham radio past-time leading to becoming the President of the QRP-ARCI group. Preston brings to life his ham radio story, home brew projects, and QRP in this QSO Today.

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K1ZZ

11/18/2017

Episode 172 - Dave Sumner - K1ZZ

After 44 years with the ARRL, the American Radio Relay League, beginning as an intern in 1972, David Sumner, K1ZZ, retired, last year, as CEO and General Manager. In this episode of QSO Today, Dave shares his ham radio story from its early beginnings, his favorite operating practices, and his reflections on his years at League Headquarters.

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4X1MK

10/28/2017

Episode 169 - Ron Gang - 4X1MK

Ron Gang, 4X1MK, had his early amateur radio beginnings in Canada, and later immigrated, as part of a group, to Israel in the 1970s, where his amateur radio license, skills, and equipment were highly appreciated and valued. Always an active amateur radio operator, 4X1MK is willing to try every operating mode. Ron shares his amateur radio story and his perspectives of the amateur radio service in Israel, past and present.

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N6KI

10/21/2017

Episode 168 - Dennis Vernacchia - N6KI

Dennis Vernacchia, N6KI, was an active ham who was drafted by the US Army and sent to Vietnam at the height of the war in the late sixties. This is an amateur radio story where Army MARS, ham radio, and the skills acquired from the hobby literally saved his life. This situation and his relationship with a later prominent television comedian brought relief and comfort to American soldiers serving in Vietnam and their families. Dennis is an active contester and tells the rest of his story in this QSO Today.

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4Z4DX

10/6/2017

Episode 166 - Dov Gavish - 4Z4DX

Israel’s most notable amateur radio operator might just be Dov Gavish, 4Z4DX. First licensed in Israel with his father over fifty years ago, Dov makes a career of operating from wherever he happens to be in the World, always ready to get on the air. While CW is is favorite operating mode, Dov just likes to get on the air with whatever mode works, now including DMR. 4Z4DX is Eric’s guest on this QSO Today.

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W7VOA

9/15/2017

Episode 163 - Steve Herman - W7VOA

Steve Herman, W7VOA’s, love of amateur radio and media led him into a career as a news correspondent for the Associate Press, independent foreign journalist, and ultimately with the Voice of America (VOA) as its White House correspondent, traveling and reporting on the President of the United States. Even with his busy schedule, W7VOA has time for amateur radio and this QSO Today with Eric, 4Z1UG.

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NK6A

8/8/2017

Episode 158 - Don Minkoff - NK6A

Amateur radio is a big tent with an appeal for every amateur’s special interest. Once a QRO DX operator, the new magic of ham radio for Don Minkoff NK6A, came from turning down the power to QRP levels and getting out of the QTH to the great outdoors and working SOTA, or Summits on the Air. Don shares his ham radio story and so much more in this QSO Today.

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K6RB

7/21/2017

Episode 155 - Rob Brownstein - K6RB

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.

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N3JT

6/30/2017

Episode 153 - Jim Talens - N3JT

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.

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