QSO Today Podcast - QSO TODAY AMATEUR RADIO PODCAST

N0IVN

5/11/2024

Episode 501 - Ron Hranac, Jr - N0IVN

Ron Hranac, N0IVN, is not only a long time ham radio operator but a 50 year pioneer in the cable television industry, and author of hundreds of articles and presentations for the Society of Cable Television Engineers. We discuss the crossover of amateur radio and cable television technology, interference to amateur radio from leakage, and the potential opportunities for young people who want to enter the industry on the ground floor. N0IVN is my QSO Today.

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W7DAO

11/18/2023

Episode 476 - David Okrent - W7DAO

David Okrent W7DAO, like many hams grew up with shortwave radio, electronic kits, and a radio interest that led to a professional career related to our hobby. David focuses the use of these skills and expertise on emergency rescue and treatment as a military medical corpsman, as an EMT, and providing volunteer support to the Red Cross. Contribution and giving back to his community drives W7DAO, who is my QSO Today.

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VE1JMB

8/5/2023

Episode 462 - John Bignell - VE1JMB

John Bignell VE1JMB, makes a difference by serving his Halifax, Nova Scotia community for many years as a paramedic and EMT. While involved with two-way radio as part of his profession for many years, amateur radio seemed like the most natural next step to John’s radio life, but also to re-enforcing his community’s emergency response when everything else fails during a disaster. VE1JMB is my QSO Today.

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W6TIA

7/22/2023

Episode 460 - Richard Rudman - W6TIA

Richard Rudman, W6TIA, found an early love for electricity, electronics, and radio from frayed electrical cords and Boston’s Washington Street electronic surplus stores in the late 1950s. Radio and Technology would serve Richard well for over 65 years as a broadcast engineer in the prestigious and large Los Angeles market. Amateur radio expertise and business acumen make Richard Rudman a leader in Emergency Alert System or EAS. W6TIA is my QSO Today.

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K1CE

3/18/2023

Episode 443 - Rick Palm - K1CE

Rick Palm K1CE is a well-known figure in the ham radio community, having spent a career at the ARRL and writing columns and articles that have been widely read and appreciated by fellow enthusiasts. With a particular interest in public safety radio and ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service), Rick has dedicated his time and expertise to ensuring that these critical communication channels remain reliable and effective. Although now retired and based in Florida, Rick remains an active participant in the ham radio community, regularly checking in to nets and staying involved in his local ARES chapter. K1CE is my QSO Today.

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NO1PC

2/4/2023

Episode 437 - Jim Aspinwall - NO1PC

Jim Aspinwall, NO1PC, was the fly on the wall, as a kid growing up in Madison, Wisconsin, listening to his dad and friends talk about electronics, radio, and television repair. This led to a “hands on” electronics education that kept him employed from junior high school to this day. As a public safety volunteer, Jim believes that giving back to the community is key to a happy life. Amateur radio, and all of its benefits, is the icing on Jim’s cake of life. N01PC is my QSO Today.

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WB4GBI

10/8/2022

Episode 420 - Tim Berry - WB4GBI

On the final Sunday of the Dayton Hamvention, I was wandering around the Xenia fairground and needed to rest my feet. My guest this week was sitting at the table and was kind enough to let me join him. We struck up a conversation that ultimately led to this interview. Tim Berry WB4GBI has been a ham almost 50 years, in Knoxville, Tennessee, and has more than a passing interest in repeaters, emergency communications, and has been a broadcast engineer for most of his life. Tim shares his ham radio story in this QSO Today.

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NP4G

9/24/2022

Episode 418 - Otis Vicens - NP4G

Otis Vicens, NP4G, grew up in Puerto Rico, with an appreciation for radio, a love of learning, and an eventual career in orthodontics. NP4G has enjoyed ham radio from his teenage years and now is one of the 3Y0J DXpedition crew members to Bouvet Island in January 2023. Otis joins me to tell his ham radio story and about his preparations for Bouvet.

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N3DEZ

6/11/2022

Episode 404 - Desiree Baccus - N3DEZ

Desiree Baccus, N3DEZ, while a relatively new ham, has an infectious excitement and enthusiasm for amateur radio that cannot be underestimated. She is already a mover and shaker for advancing amateur radio to her community ,and she is a key player for NASA on the Air Event, NASA’s year long amateur radio celebration. N3DEZ is my QSO Today.

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VE6LK

1/7/2022

Episode 383 - Vince d'Eon - VE6LK

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.

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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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W7SCY

11/7/2020

Episode 326 - Bob Weed - W7SCY

Bob Weed, W7SCY, was born and raised in the Oregon Cascade Mountains over eighty years ago. In this retirement, Bob has returned home to an area that has always been subject to fire, mudslides, earthquakes, and active volcanoes. W7SCY shares his seventy plus years as a radio amateur that includes his interest in traffic nets and emergency operations in his area, in this QSO Today.

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k4FMH

10/5/2019

Episode 270 - Frank Howell - K4FMH

Frank Howell, K4FMH, has a love for radio and electronics that goes back over 60 years, but is only now a recent licensee. Frank serves as the ARRL Assistant Director of the Delta Division, and avid ham radio journalist, and podcaster. He makes a great case for recruiting retired people into the hobby by the energy, volunteerism, and technical devotion that he discusses in this QSO Today.

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N6CL

3/16/2019

Episode 241 - Joe Lynch - N6CL

Joe Lynch, N6CL, began his ham radio story over 50 years ago in Bonita, California. After a stint in Vietnam, a career as a minister, and an amateur radio journalist for CQ Magazine focused on VHF and above, Joe, is now the director of religious education at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York. Both he and his wife, Carol, are active ham radio operators. N6CL has always been active in amateur radio emergency services, including at the site of the 1995 bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City. N6CL is my QSO Today.

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KG5Q

9/1/2018

Episode 213 - Kevin Parmenter - KG5Q

Kevin Parmenter, KG5Q, caught my attention from an article that he published in QST Magazine, August 2017 about the Flightaware system. I was intrigued with the article that leverages our technical ability against a services that uses crowd sourced receivers, in private hands, Worldwide, to track commercial and military aircraft to display their location, speed, and altitude on Flightawares website. KG5Q joins be to discuss his ham radio story and the Flightaware system in this QSO Today.

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K1LI

1/13/2018

Episode 180 - Brian Machesney - K1LI

Natural disasters, especially the most recent hurricanes, present us with opportunities to make a real difference if we step up to the plate. As part of this amateur radio story, Brian Machesney, K1LI, was presented his opportunity to make a difference on the Caribbean Island of Dominica after it was wiped out by Hurricane Maria in October 2017. Brian, his wife, and other hams stepped up to the plate and provided relief with the Dominica Airlift as it was called by the press. This story and so much more in this QSO Today with K1LI.

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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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W1SEX

2/17/2017

Episode 133 - Paul Topolski - W1SEX

Paul Topolski, W1SEX, was just meters from ground zero working the communications center, when terrorists struck the 2013 Boston Marathon, killing three and injuring hundreds of spectators and participants. Paul shares with Eric, 4Z1UG, this experience, his ham radio story, and how he continues to make a difference in his community in this QSO Today.

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KB0H

2/10/2017

Episode 132 - Gary Hoffman - KB0H

Beginning as a scanner listener, Gary Hoffman, KB0H, discovered amateur radio and shares his love of it with his wife, Nancy, N0NJ. Gary is focused on emergency communications where he is the Assistant Emergency Coordinator, operations for St. Louis County ARES. He writes about amateur radio and the human condition on his blog, The Amateur’s Amateur. KB0H is Eric, 4Z1UG’s QSO today.

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