QSO Today Podcast - Interviews with the leaders in amateur radio - podcast cover

QSO Today Podcast - Interviews with the leaders in amateur radio

Eric Guth, 4Z1UGqsotoday.com
QSO Today is a weekly conversation, or QSO, between amateur radio operators about ham radio. Eric Guth, 4Z1UG, hosts a new guest every week to talk about their ham radio journey, their specialized expertise in ham radio, and how amateur radio has impacted their personal and professional lives. QSO Today is targeted at anyone interested in amateur radio who wants to learn more about this fascinating hobby.
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Episodes

Episode 407 Arun Kumar W8ARU

Arun Kumar, W8ARU, builds most of the gear that he uses on the air, based on a skillset that he learned from becoming an amateur radio operator in India in the 1960s. This skill set combined with advanced degrees in engineering has put Arun on the cutting edge of solar and battery technologies used in big equipment as the World is going green. Arun was also Ashhar Farhan, VU2ESE’s original mentor, one of his many major contributions to our hobby. W8ARU is my QSO Today.

Jul 01, 202258 minSeason 1Ep. 407

Episode 406 Jerry Arnold K9AF

Jerry Arnold, K9AF, is a long time commercial broadcaster and amateur radio operator, originally from Southern California, and now living in Terre Haute, Indiana. While Jerry likes to operate CW, he also has a restored AM Broadcast transmitter on 160 meters to transmit that warm AM sound we like to hear. K9AF and I discuss a whole range of ham radio topics in this QSO Today.

Jun 25, 20221 hr 9 minSeason 1Ep. 406

Episode 405 Herb Goodluck N7HG

Herb Goodluck, N7HG, is a member of the Navajo Nation and son of one of the famous World War 2 heros called the Navajo Code Talkers. Herb keeps the Code Talkers memory alive with an annual special event at Window Rock, Arizona. N7HG is also an active amateur radio operator and my QSO Today.

Jun 17, 20221 hr 4 minSeason 1Ep. 405

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 and a key player for NASA on the Air, NASA’s year long amateur radio celebration. N3DEZ is my QSO Today.

Jun 11, 20221 hrSeason 1Ep. 404

Episode 403 Tracy McKim VE3TWM

Tracy McKim, VE3TWM, believes in the effectiveness of low power communications to communicate across town or around the World. Tracy uses his YouTube Channel, Outdoors On The Air, to first demonstrate the use of fiberglass poles to install wire antennas, and then to successfully demonstrate outdoor ham radio operation using those full size antennas to operate QRP single-sideband. VE3TWM is my QSO Today.

Jun 04, 20221 hr 20 minSeason 1Ep. 403

Episode 402 Geoffrey Mark KM6TVJ

Geoffrey Mark, KM6TVJ, is one of the new kids on the block, a recent new amateur radio licensee. Geoffrey has some fresh ideas and our QSO around his career in the entertainment industry, a pilot, and “maker” caused me to think of some non-traditional ways that we hams can communicate. KM6TVJ is my QSO Today.

May 27, 20221 hr 10 minSeason 1Ep. 402

Episode 401 Bruce Prior N7RR

Bruce Prior, N7RR, loves to operate SOTA in Washington State’s great outdoors where he has cataloged for SOTA all of the available mountain peaks in the state. I had the great pleasure of spending an afternoon last week with Bruce in Washington, activating Mt. Walker in Washington’s Olympic Mountain range. My first SOTA activation where I learned the basics of SOTA activation. This was a great opportunity to get to know my guest in this week’s QSO Today.

May 21, 20221 hr 7 minSeason 1Ep. 401

Episode 400 - Eric Guth 4Z1UG with Jim Wilson K5ND

Jim Wilson, K5ND, returns to interview QSO Today Podcast host Eric Guth, as Eric reaches the 400th episode milestone of QSO Today. Jim and Eric discuss the changes to QSO Today that have evolved since the 200th episode milestone include the four QSO Today Virtual Ham Expos and the upcoming, soon to be announced QSO Today Academy for the advancement of amateur radio expertise.

May 14, 202255 minSeason 1Ep. 400

Episode 399 John Raydo K0IZ

John Raydo, K0IZ, had a great mentor at the beginning of his ham radio story that laid the foundation for John’s approach to operating amateur radio and building radio equipment from scratch. John shares this story and how he now remotely controls and has the noise benefit of his rural Colorado rig when operating from his QTH in Missouri. K0IZ is my QSO Today.

May 07, 20221 hr 4 minSeason 1Ep. 399

Episode 398 John Fallows VE6EY

John Fallows, VE6EY, when faced with an urban HF noise problem, applied this knowledge, expertise, and background from his years of experience in amateur radio to find a solution. This solution, John presented, last March, in the last QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo. Every problem leading to a solution has a story, and VE6EY tells it in this QSO Today.

Apr 29, 20221 hr 13 minSeason 1Ep. 398

Episode 397 Ed Wilson N2XDD

Ed Wilson, N2XDD, discovered radio as a kid with a gifted four channel public safety scanner. This led to an interest in radio, a career in law enforcement, and exposure to amateur radio. Now an active ham, Ed has become a booster of the M17 project, a native ham radio digital mode for VHF and above. NX2DD is my QSO Today.

Apr 20, 20221 hr 3 minSeason 1Ep. 397

Episode 396 Jordan Makower WA2BRV

Jordan Makower, WA2BRV, spent his career influencing kids in the sciences as well as supporting their amateur radio interests. Now retired, Jordan is a frequent contributor to the K9YA Telegraph magazine. WA2BRV is my QSO Today.

Apr 15, 202250 minSeason 1Ep. 396

Episode 395 Dave Slotter W3DJS

Dave Slotter, W3DJS, like many hams who had an early interest in radio, but postponed joining our fraternity, is here now. Dave takes the skills that he developed over the years in software development and design to create a distribution of over 100 amateur radio softwares deployed on the Raspberry Pi called HamPi. W3DJS demonstrates through his contributions to amateur radio just how valuable new blood in ham radio can be. Dave is my QSO Today.

Apr 06, 20221 hr 18 minSeason 1Ep. 395

Episode 394 Robin Critchell WA6CDR

Robin Critchell, WA6CDR, had a profound influence on many young hams operating in the VHF and UHF bands in Southern California in the 70s’ and 80s. He and Alan Burgstahler, WA6AWD, at the time and now a silent key, created the Cactus Intertie, now the World’s largest full duplex radio linked amateur radio network. “Top band” or 160 Meters is Robin’s favorite band, and he has participated on DxExpeditions, had an incredible career in the communications industry, and can fix just about anything. W...

Apr 01, 20221 hr 35 minSeason 1Ep. 394

Episode 393 Hans van de Groenendaal ZS6AKV

Hans van de Groenendaal, ZS6AKV, has been a mover and shaker in South Africa amateur radio for as long as he has been licensed, almost 65 years. In that time he has taken leadership positions in the South African Radio League, represented his country at the International Amateur Radio Union, involved himself in high altitude balloon launches, AMSAT South Africa, and a host of projects going back to his early beginning. Hans is an alumni speaker at the QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo and is my QSO Tod...

Mar 25, 20221 hrSeason 1Ep. 393

Episode 392 Dave Bottom WI6R

Dave Bottom, WI6R, a second generation amateur radio operator, credits this early exposure to radio and spending his teenage years in Palo Alto, to a stint in the famous Hewlett Packard labs and a lifetime electronics career. WI6R is a builder of his own rigs, kit rigs, and a restorer of popular vintage rigs. Dave likes DX, QRP, and operating and is my QSO Today.

Mar 19, 20221 hr 24 minSeason 1Ep. 392

Episode 391 Rod Fritz WB9KMO

Rod Fritz, WB9KMO, is a fixer and builder, who is a pioneer in amateur television, amateur television repeaters in the UHF and microwave bands, and now the Amateur Television Network, a combination of amateur analog and digital television, over RF links and the Internet. This network allows amateurs to share video, over amateur radio, Worldwide. Rod, WB9KMO, discusses the details of this history in this episode of QSO Today.

Mar 04, 20221 hr 40 minSeason 1Ep. 391

Episode 390 Michael Burnette, AF7KB, and Kerry Burnette, KC7YL

Michael Burnette, AF7KB, and his wife, Kerry Burnette, KC7YL, are both active in amateur radio, a board member and president, respectively of their local amateur radio club, and the creators of the Fast Track series of amateur radio licensing manuals, originally designed by Michael for Kerry. As a result they are both on the fast track to amateur radio success. They share their ham radio story in this QSO Today.

Feb 25, 20221 hr 14 minSeason 1Ep. 390

Episode 389 Arnie Shatz N6HC

Arnie Shatz, N6HC, began his amateur radio journey over 64 years ago, loves to work DX, on CW, and has participated in 14 major DXpeditions, including the ill fated 3Y0Z to Bouvet Island a few years ago. N6HC believes that amateur radio is the best hobby for developing critical thinking and problem solving skills, and he is my QSO Today.

Feb 19, 202254 minSeason 1Ep. 389

Episode 388 Corey Ruth KD3CR

Corey Ruth, KD3CR, was a speaker in last August’s QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo, with a presentation titled, HF in an HOA: The BBTD Attic Antenna. His presentation captured my attention because Corey is a relatively new ham, living in an HOA, an immigrant to the United States, and using an antenna that for all intents and purposes, was too good to be true. You will hear in this interview that my conversion from being a skeptic to a believer is complete. I know that you will find this interview with...

Feb 11, 20221 hr 6 minSeason 1Ep. 388

Episode 387 Callum McCormick M0MCX

Callum McCormick, M0MCX, is YouTube's DX Commander and maker of a line of antennas of the same name. Callum says that he has the best business in the world, is an active ham, on the air, always testing and fine tuning his antenna creations. M0MCX shares his discoveries with antennas and ham radio on regular YouTube postings, growing his audience to over 42,000 subscribers. Callum McCormick, M0MCX, is my QSO Today.

Feb 05, 20221 hr 14 minSeason 1Ep. 387

Episode 386 Dave Jensen W7DGJ

Dave Jensen, W7DGJ, found his way into amateur radio from volunteering to help disabled Korean War veterans, who were active amateurs, in a Cleveland, Ohio, Veterans Hospital. From that interaction grew a love of radio and communications that has lasted a lifetime. Dave likes to work CW on 17 meters and build his own equipment. W7DGJ is my QSO Today.

Jan 29, 20221 hr 29 minSeason 1Ep. 386

Episode 385 Chip Lohman NN4U

Chip Lohman, NN4U, was introduced to amateur radio during an early stint as a US Marine stationed next to an Army MARS station. Fascinated by the technology that could connect him to his family around the World, Chip got his first license. NN4U has reinvented himself a few times over his career, and he tells this story in this QSO Today.

Jan 22, 20221 hr 12 minSeason 1Ep. 385

Episode 384 Geoffrey Mendenhall W8GNM

Geoffrey Mendenhall, W8GNMs, early interest in electronics, germanium transistors, and later high power triodes led him to a career, as an engineer, designing, building, and managing broadcast transmitters projects for Gates Radio and later Harris Broadcast. Geoff made a presentation in the last QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo on Beverage Antennas, urging us to try building Beverages even if conditions are not optimal, and being surprised by the result. W8GNM is my QSO Today.

Jan 15, 20221 hr 11 minSeason 1Ep. 384

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.

Jan 08, 20221 hr 3 minSeason 1Ep. 383

Episode 382 Charlie Brown NJ7V

Charlie Brown, NJ7V, is three times a mountain goat, a title that comes from over 3000 SOTA activation points. Of course this means achievement and expertise operating portable from mountain tops across Arizona and the West. NJ7V will share his amateur radio story, secrets to SOTA success, and some ideas on how to build a local SOTA organization in this QSO Today.

Jan 01, 20221 hr 6 minSeason 1Ep. 382

Episode 381 Kirk Kleinschmidt NT0Z

Kirk Kleinshmidt, NT0Z, has spent most of his professional life working in amateur radio as an editor, author, and contributor to the amateur radio magazines that we have grown to love including QST, ARRL Handbook, Spectrum Monitor, and others. His own book, Stealth Amateur Radio, continues to advise us how to get on the air and enjoy our hobby, even when our living situation is against it. NT0Z is my QSO Today.

Dec 25, 20211 hr 10 minSeason 1Ep. 381

Episode 380 Jack Purdum W8TEE

Dr. Jack Purdum, W8TEE, licensed since 1954, is a prolific author of at least 17 books on computer programming languages and microprocessor projects for amateur radio and is now the Microcontroller Editor at CQ Magazine. This episode is part of my series of interviews to introduce you to QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo Speakers. Jack and Al Peters, AC8GY, are now prolific creators of Arduino projects and gave a presentation last August 2021 on building an HF SSB/CW software defined transceiver, calle...

Dec 18, 20211 hr 12 minSeason 1Ep. 380

Episode 379 Julian White OH8STN

Julian White, OH8STN, operates outdoors in Finland's Arctic Circle and records, on his popular YouTube Channel, his expeditions with his compact but sophisticated simulations of grid down communications. Julian is a natural teacher and his channel may be one of the best ways to understand how and what to pack and take into the wild. OH8STN is my QSO Today.

Dec 11, 20211 hr 12 minSeason 1Ep. 379

Episode 378 Pablo Lewin WA6RSV

Pablo Lewin, WA6RSV, has an interest in radio astronomy and scans the heavens with his hydrogen line radio telescope using an SDR or software defined radio. Pablo had an interesting aviation career where amateur radio weaved in and out of it since the late seventies. Now in aviation retirement, he does stand up comedy and creates content for the film and television industry. WA6RSV tells his amatueur radio story in this QSO Today.

Dec 04, 20211 hr 5 minSeason 1Ep. 378
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