Ham Talk Live*! (*sometimes)

The "big ugly" might be a famous 22 ounce hamburger in Indiana, but this week on Ham Talk Live! we're talking big ugly baluns! John Portune, W6NBC is here to take your questions about building an ugly (coiled coax) balun and why they are useful.Be sure to CALL in with your questions and comments by calling 859-982-7373 live during the call-in segment of the show. You can also tweet your questions before or during the show to @HamTalkLive.w6nbc.com

Mark Brown, N4BCD, the chairman of the Huntsville Hamfest, is here to talk about the exciting news the Huntsville Hamfest board just received about the possibilities of hosting the event in person this year. He will be on the show to answer your questions about the changes that are being planned.Be sure to CALL in with your questions and comments by calling 859-982-7373 live during the call-in segment of the show. You can also tweet your questions before or during the show to @HamTalkLive.hamfest.org

Tim Helming, WT1IM, the PIO of the Comm Academy 2021, an emergency communications and amateur radio conference, will take your calls live. The Comm Academy, like many other conferences, has been moved online for this year. So, you don't have to go to Seattle this time! You can attend from anywhere with an internet connection.Be sure to CALL in with your questions and comments by calling 859-982-7373 live during the call-in segment of the show. You can also tweet your questions before or during the show to @HamTalkLive.commacademy.org

Jack Dominic, the Executive Director of the National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting, is here to talk about a new feature at the museum: virtual tours. Get a taste of what the museum has to offer, even when the doors are closed due to the pandemic. Hear stories of how the radio signals from VOA Bethany Station impacted countless lives.Be sure to CALL in with your questions and comments by calling 859-982-7373 live during the call-in segment of the show. You can also tweet your questions before or during the show to @HamTalkLive.We’re giving away some free t-shirts out of the iTunes reviews posted from now until the end of February. 1.Launch Apple's Podcast app on your mobile device or open iTunes on your computer2.Search for Ham Talk Live!3.Click on the HTL logo4.Scroll down to “Write a Review”5.Be sure to leave your callsign in the review so I can contact you if you win!voamuseum.org

Dr. Scott Wright, K0MD, the co-principal investigator for the Mayo Clinic's convalescent plasma treatment research, returns to share the results of the study that were recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Scott will also talk about how ham radio operators were involved.Be sure to CALL in with your questions and comments by calling 859-982-7373 live during the call-in segment of the show. You can also tweet your questions before or during the show @HamTalkLive.

Michael Kalter, W8CI, the spokesperson for the Dayton Hamvention is back to bring us the bad news about cancelling Hamvention a second year in a row. We'll talk about the decision making process and the plans for alternate activities that will take place during the now cancelled Hamvention weekend.Be sure to CALL in with your questions and comments by calling 859-982-7373 live during the call-in segment of the show. You can also tweet your questions before or during the show to @HamTalkLive.

Joe Eisneberg, K0NEB returns to the show, but not to talk about kits! Joe has completely overhauled his shack, and it's featured in this month's CQ Magazine. We'll talk about what Joe did to upgrade his shack, and how the performance has noticeably increased. He will take your questions live, and give some tips for making your shack more efficient.Be sure to CALL in with your questions and comments by calling 859-982-7373 live during the call-in segment of the show. You can also tweet your questions before or during the show to @HamTalkLive.

Michael Cauley, W4MCA is back tonight to take your calls and questions about the Orlando Hamcation Special Edition being held online February 13th and 14th. Michael will talk about how to attend, and what we can look forward to from the virtual version of Hamcation.Be sure to CALL in with your questions and comments by calling 859-982-7373 live during the call-in segment of the show. You can also tweet your questions before or during the show to @HamTalkLive.Links: hamcation.comvurbl station link: https://vurbl.com/station/Aa3ZqAjlpoR/

John Portune, W6NBC is back to talk about his latest creation featured in QST - a helical copper tape and PVC antenna that can be used similar to a J-pole, but can also work on the HF bands.Be sure to CALL in with your questions and comments by calling 859-982-7373 live during the call-in segment of the show. You can also tweet your questions before or during the show to @HamTalkLive.w6nbc.comProgramming note: Ham Talk Live! will not be on the air Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. Join us next time on January 7, 2021.

It's that time of year again! What should be on the ham's wish list? This year, Steve Molo, KI4KWR from GigaParts takes his turn at holiday gift ideas for the radio amateur. Call in with your questions and comments LIVE on the show!Be sure to CALL in with your questions and comments by calling 859-982-7373 live during the call-in segment of the show. You can also tweet your questions before or during the show to @HamTalkLive.GigaParts.com

Bryant Rascoll, KG5HVO, the YOTA Month coordinator for the Americas, will take your calls about December YOTA Month! Youth all around the world are participating in this very special annual event with some huge goals. Be sure to CALL in with your questions and comments by calling 859-982-7373 live during the call-in segment of the show. You can also tweet your questions before or during the show to @HamTalkLive.Links:http://YouthOnTheAir.org - More Information about YOTA in the Americashttp://www.bit.ly/DYMstations - Find YOTA Stations on DX Summit

Rob Sherwood, NC0B stops by to make a follow up visit after the show three weeks ago to take your questions since the phones acted up and we ran out of time. Plus, he's had a chance to test the ICOM IC-705 since then, so we'll talk about the results.Be sure to call with your questions at 859-982-7373 or tweet us at HamTalkLive. Or if you're logged into Spreaker, leave us a comment during the show with your question.Rob's web site: nc0b.com

Marcel Stieber, AI6MS is here talk about fully remote US license examinations, hybrid exams, and to take your questions!Be sure to CALL in with your questions and comments by calling 859-982-7373 live during the call-in segment of the show. You can also tweet your questions before or during the show to @HamTalkLive.https://hamstudy.org/sessions/online (online exam listings)https://blog.hamstudy.org/ (info about taking and giving exams)https://www.qrz.com/ai6ms (presentation on fully-remote exam administration given at the QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo)

Jay Adrick, K8CJY and Lee Hite, K8CLI from the National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting are here to talk about the new, revamped Drake Radio Exhibit now on display at the museum. We'll take a look at the history of the Drake company, some interesting facts about the Drake line, and why this exhibit is a must-see for any Drake fan.Be sure to CALL in with your questions and comments by calling 859-982-7373 live during the call-in segment of the show. You can also tweet your questions before or during the show to @HamTalkLive.

Rob Sherwood, NC0B from Sherwood Engineering returns to talk about the performance of several radios since his last visit on this show and will take your questions live about his analysis.Be sure to CALL in with your questions and comments by calling 859-982-7373 live during the call-in segment of the show. You can also tweet your questions before or during the show to @HamTalkLive.