VE3GFN

Episode 535 - Michael Goldstein - VE3GFN

Michael Goldstein VE3GFN has spent more than 70 years in the hobby spanning the full arc of amateur radio’s technical evolution. Licensed in the 1950s, Mike began as a dedicated homebrewer and CW operator, later designing receivers published in Bill Orr’s, W6SAI Radio Handbook and built a professional career in electronics instrumentation at the University of Toronto. In this interview, he reflects on  his mentors, Morse code, classic and modern radios, contesting at 100 watts, and the transition from vacuum tubes to today’s SDR transceivers, sharing practical insight and perspective earned over a lifetime on the air.

Show Notes

Sponsor Transcription

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Hamradio Workbench Allstar Node - 55915

People

• Bill Orr W6SAI — Amateur radio author and editor — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_I._Orr
• Howie Wyman VE1HC — Early mentor and first contact
• Al Hart W8VR — Amateur operator and mentor — https://www.qcwa.org/w8vr-13732-sk.htm

Places

• Halifax, Nova Scotia — Early amateur radio activity location -- https://www.halifax.ca
• Toronto, Ontario — Long-term operating and career location -- https://www.toronto.ca

Organizations & Clubs

• American Radio Relay League (ARRL) — U.S. national amateur radio association -- https://www.arrl.org
• Halifax Amateur Radio Club — Canadian amateur radio club — https://halifaxarc.org
• University of Toronto — Employer; electronics instrumentation work -- https://www.utoronto.ca

Publications & Journals

• QST — ARRL monthly amateur radio magazine -- https://www.arrl.org/qst
• Radio Handbook (Bill Orr) — Amateur radio technical handbook — https://amzn.to/3OsBM3n
• 73 Magazine — Amateur radio construction magazine -- https://www.worldradiohistory.com/73_Magazine.htm
• National Contest Journal — Amateur radio contesting publication — https://www.ncjweb.com

Awards & Certificates

• DXCC Honor Roll — ARRL DX award for confirmed entities -- https://www.arrl.org/dxcc
• 5-Band DXCC — DXCC award for five HF bands — https://www.arrl.org/5-band-dxcc

Modes & Bands

• CW (Morse Code) — Continuous wave operating mode -- https://www.arrl.org/cw-mode
• SO2R — Single Operator Two Radio contesting technique — https://ncjweb.com/bonus-content/Nov-Dec-Dewey-SO2R-Part1.pdf
• HF Bands — Below 50 MHz amateur bands — https://www.arrl.org/files/file/Regulatory/Band%20Chart/Hambands4_Color_17x11.pdf

Antennas & Feedlines

• Open Wire Line — Balanced transmission line feed -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ladder_line
• Collinear Wire Antenna — Multi-element wire antenna -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collinear_antenna

Equipment & Technology

• Hallicrafters SX-99 — Vintage shortwave receiver — https://wireless-girl.com/Projects/Hallicrafters-SX99/
• Heathkit DX-35 — Tube HF transmitter — https://people.ohio.edu/postr/bapix/DX35.htm
• Drake TR-4 — HF transceiver — https://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/hamhf/tr4.html
• Elecraft K3 — HF transceiver with roofing filters — https://elecraft.com/products/k3s-transceiver
• Icom IC-7610 — SDR HF/50 MHz transceiver -- https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-7610/
• Vibroplex Bug Key — Semi-automatic Morse key -- https://www.vibroplex.com
• Tektronix Oscilloscope — Electronic test equipment -- https://www.tek.com

Companies

• EMI Cossor — Electronics instrumentation firm -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EMI
• Electrosonic — Canadian electronics distributor -- https://www.e-sonic.com

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Hallicrafters SX-99 Receiver

Heathkit DX-35 Novice Transmitter

Elecraft K3 HF Transceiver

Icom IC-7610 HF Transceiver

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