QSO Today Podcast - Interviews with the leaders in amateur radio

Bob Fontana, AK3Y’s, ham radio and electronic career was a friend’s broken shortwave to AM down converter.  Bob shares his ham radio story, his past and current ham radio interests, and the ultra wide band technology that he developed over his career. 

Jim Andrews, KH6HTV, has spent a life in amateur radio and technology, and is known for his contributions to amateur radio digital television and the use of this technology supporting emergency communications in and around Boulder, Colorado. KH6HTV shares his ham radio story in this QSO Today.

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.

This week I celebrate 300 episodes of the QSO Today Podcast with George Zafiropoulos, KJ6VU, Bill Meara, N2CQR, Pete Juliano, N6QW, Ashhar Farhan, VU2ESE, and Hans Summers, G0UPL.

Don Banta, K5DB, is a ham’s ham, because of his generous nature, his contributions to the local ham community and his being ready to mentor any amateur or would-be amateur that needs help. Don is the organizer of the Arkansas QSO Party, active in 80 meter nets, and likes to work DX. K5DB is my QSO Today.

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.

Sam Birnbaum, W2JDB, has a background in computer science and programming that led him to first develop a software logging program called QLog for operating and logging the digital modes more easily while doing National parks on the air. Sam’s enhancements to QLog now allow blind ham operators to work FT8.

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.

Bry Carling, AF4K, collects old boat anchor radios, is the co-founder of the Novice Rig Roundup, and provider of thousands of old-time crystals, that he sells for your next rig restoration, or a new build of Bob Heil, K9EID’s, pine board project AM transmitter. Bry shares his eclectic ham radio story in this QSO Today.

Bob Nagy, AB5N, is having the time of his life in retirement. He teaches technology and the Russian language in his adopted community of Hot Springs, Arkansas, creates You-tube instructional videos, builds solar powered devices for his house and ham shack, and operates the digital  modes. His expertise and improvements of the audio characteristics of the microphones on amateur transceivers is unmatched. AB5N is my QSO Today.

Michael Rainey, AA1TJ, is a master of building simple HF transmitters from the materials that he has on hand, including the parts from a compact fluorescent light bulb.  AA1TJ was my guest in Episode 80, more than four years ago. We remastered the audio of this valuable episode to present Mike again in this QSO Today.

Dale Parfitt, W4OP, developed a love for operating VHF and above, including moonbounce operation, from an early exposure to a 6 meter Gonset Communicator, or Gooney Box. His love for electronics grew into a career as an electronics engineer and the entrepreneur founder of Par Electronics.

Glen Jenkins, WB4KTF, grew up on US Marine bases in the 50’s and 60’s, and was no stranger to starting over in new places. Glen tells his ham radio story that includes a professional start in Israel, a stint in Moscow, a successful landing in Houston Texas, until Hurricane Harvey changed his retirement plans.

Janis Carson, AB2RA, first licensed in 1959,has been an active ham since childhood, has an interest in the restoration and repair of older tube type amateur rigs, is a frequent contributor to Electric Radio Magazine, and documents her projects on her own website. Janis may be the “Erin Brokovich” of ham radio, as an advocate for your hobby to the FCC, and she mentors new and old hams in her community.

Mike, Ritz, W7VO, left the big city for rural Oregon to build his dream contest station, and uses it to help local hams learn contesting skills. He is a leader in local Oregon clubs, serves as the ARRL Northwest Division Director, and is new board member of the ARRL Foundation. Mike shares his ham radio story in this QSO Today.