Irad Deutsch, 4Z1AC, began his ham radio journey at the age of twelve. With a strong foundation in software development and a keen interest in the fusion of ham radio and digital technology, Irad has emerged as a leading voice in modernizing communication methods within the amateur radio sphere through his creation of VarAC digital mode. His dedication to preserving the human connection in ham radio while embracing the advancements of the digital age makes him an influential and insightful figur...
Apr 05, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 496
Charles Wilmott, M0OXO, operates a private, self-funded, QSL management bureau, where he sorts and distributes both physical and electronic QSL cards for distribution around the World for the best known DXpeditions including 3YOK Bouvet and Peter I Islands, as well as for IOTA, or Islands on the air. We touch on Charles’ ham radio beginnings and his private career as a police officer in Sheffield, South Yorkshire , United Kingdom, made famous by its founding industries of steel and coal, and by ...
Mar 29, 2024•49 min•Season 1Ep. 495
Fred Hopengarten K1VR, and his wife Betty, were guests in my home after an afternoon of touring with me the unusual sites around Jerusalem and Gush Etzion, where I live a few years ago. Fred has a long history in amateur radio and took to the law rather than engineering as a profession specializing in communications law and antenna regulations for both commercial broadcasting and amateur radio. His book, Antenna Zoning for the Radio Amateur, is a must read for hams that need and want external an...
Mar 22, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 494
Dr. Jonathan Kramer W6JLK, transitioned into becoming an communications law attorney after a successful career in cable television engineering in addition to his amateur radio activities. Kramer W6JLK stressed that amateurs should be very active in local government as a way to advocate for antenna and tower rights, especially in areas of strong HOA controls. W6JLK and I discuss the first Motorola simulcast radio system in Kern County, California, and his use of AREDN and portable radios for inte...
Mar 16, 2024•1 hr 22 min•Season 1Ep. 493
Linus Balsys, LY2H, dives into the fascinating realm of field operations in his native Lithuania, QRP techniques, Morse code, digital modes, and much more. Linus talks about his exploration of the great outdoors with park activations, hillfort castles, chases awards, and delves into satellite communications. From his Renault Trafic campervan equipped with cutting-edge ham radio gear like the Icom IC-705 and the QRP-Labs QMX. Linus showcases the innovation and affordability of modern equipment. I...
Mar 09, 2024•1 hr 33 min•Season 1Ep. 492
Paul Barnes, W4YRL, now a ham for over 65 years, enjoys FT8, CW, and getting on the air with modest wire antennas. Paul has traveled to over 50 countries and enjoyed operating from abroad. He credits the hobby for a happy career in electronics focused on simulators for space, military, and nuclear power plants, and for the life long friends that he has made along the way. W4YRL is my QSO Today.
Mar 01, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 491
Eric Guth, 4Z1UG, was a guest at the celebration of the 200th Ham Radio Workbench Podcast. Eric joined George, KJ6VU, Vince, VE6LK, and Mark, N6MTS in a special episode of their podcast that became HRWB episode 201. This recording of that HRWB episode is added to the QSO Today "official record" for posterity.
Feb 24, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 490
John Rusciano, NG0Z, knew that eventually living in an HOA would meet he and his family’s needs, even if it meant not having a ham radio station and outside antennas. The state of the art and ubiquitous Internet connectivity made it possible for John to build his ultimate remotely controlled amateur radio station at his vacation home, away from the city's electronic noise and the restrictions of HOA. NG0Z allows me to interrogate him about all of the aspects of building his remote station in thi...
Feb 17, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 489
Charles Powell, NK8O, would argue that an early interest in radio and communications aided him in making a transition from professional French Horn player to pediatric doctor rather than suffer the mid-life crisis. Charles likes just about everything that ham radio offers including POTA, CW, kit building, old rigs, and operating his own DXpeditions from exotic locations around the world. NK8O and I discuss these topics and more in this QSO Today.
Feb 10, 2024•1 hr 24 min•Season 1Ep. 488
Jonathan Taylor, K1RFD, has reached his 50th year has a ham radio operator, is the creator of Echolink, one of the first amateur radio Voice over Internet Service linking amateur radio stations, the receiver of technical innovation awards, and author of "VoIP: Internet Linking for Radio Amateurs", now in its second edition. K1RFD checks all of the ham radio boxes for operating, homebrewing, software development, radio restoration, and is my QSO Today.
Feb 02, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 487
Lanny Aldrich, K1LEC, began his professional career as a third generation commercial dairy farmer in Vermont. Amateur radio was his hobby that he pursued at a steady pace to pursue DX, build operating skills, and contribute to the hobby by just being involved. Just his advice on antennas is a prize from our conversation. K1LEC is my QSO Today
Jan 27, 2024•1 hr 16 min•Season 1Ep. 486
Martin, Marty, Buehring, KB4MG, discovered amateur radio in private high school growing up in Chicago, Illinois, and went on for a career in electronics engineering following the development of semiconductors from basic transistors to Large Scale Integrates circuits and ASICS. Marty believes that ham radio clubs are key to ham radio success. KB4MG is my QSO Today.
Jan 20, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 485
Richard Gutknecht NZ2I, is a second generation amateur radio operator, catching the bug at an early age and getting the Novice license at age 15. Answering his country’s call to duty, Rick joined the Air Force and became an active ham while stationed in Germany. Now retired, Rick enjoys getting on the air, volunteering for his amateur radio club, and now producing and co-hosting a podcast on current events and American history. NZ2I is my QSO Today.
Jan 13, 2024•1 hr 14 min
William Thomas, WT0DX, was inspired by an early interest in electronics, amateur radio, building Heathkits, to spend a career as an engineer and inventor, with over 150 patents, in the electronics and ultimately the cable television industry where he was given the Cable TV Pioneer award by the National Cable Television Association. Bill is the co-inventor of the Interactive Program Guide still found on most cable television systems. Now retired, WT0DX, spends his time giving back to amateur radi...
Jan 06, 2024•1 hr 17 min•Season 1Ep. 483
Ram Muthukrishnan, VU2JXN, while growing up in India, had a difficult time finding any information about amateur radio in the libraries and magazines. It was not until Ram attended university that he met licensed amateur radio operators and could pursue the hobby. CW is Ram’s favorite operating mode, especially after attending CW Academy. He modified his SSB only BitX transceiver to operate CW and to use it for CW practice. As a software engineer by trade, Ram has a keen interest in software def...
Dec 30, 2023•1 hr 31 min•Season 1Ep. 482
Mark Wohlschlegal, WC3W, knew at age 12 that amateur radio would set the course of his life pursuing engineering degrees leading to a career in big system and equipment sales and marketing. An additional love of flying, boating, and motorcycle touring kept Mark and his family active outside of work. Now retired, WC3W operates a remote HF station, in Florida, with a partner and describes it all in this QSO today.
Dec 23, 2023•1 hr 13 min•Season 1Ep. 481
Caryn Eve Murray, KD2GUT, while inspired at a young age to ham radio, it wasn’t until after a successful career as a professional writer and journalist that she re-discovered amateur radio in 2014. Her ham radio history was pretty thoroughly covered in a recent Ham Radio Workbench podcast a few weeks ago. Our conversation explored her professional history leading to her reporting for Ham Radio Newsline and her love for CW. KD2GUT is my QSO Today.
Dec 16, 2023•1 hr 33 min•Season 1Ep. 480
Ante Laurijssen, VA2BBW, enjoys the simple amateur radio art of chasing DX and making contacts on CW, and operating QRP, from Gatineau, in Southwest Quebec, Canada . When operating POTA, Ante taught himself to send CW with his left while recording his log with his right hand. VA2BBW is the Radio Amateurs of Canada Awards Manager, enjoys giving back to the hobby, and is my QSO Today.
Dec 09, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 479
Don Westacott VE6HQ, believes that his early foundation in amateur radio contributed to his professional success through the multiple disciplines and out of the box thinking that is amateur radio. After a successful career and an expert in subsurface measurements and remote sensing for the petroleum industry, Don now likes to work 20 meters and refine his test equipment bench using the latest low cost solutions like the NanoVNA. VE6HQ is my QSO Today.
Dec 02, 2023•1 hr 17 min•Season 1Ep. 478
Steve Stroh, N8GNJ, has always enjoyed the confluence of computers, data communications, and amateur radio from the earliest days of AX.25 packet radio to the current AREDN and SDR (software defined radio). Steve uses his Zero Retries newsletter on Substack, to communicate the amazing amateur radio technology developments in data communications that does not get covered in the standard amateur radio journals. N8GNJ shares his experience and interesting stories in this QSO Today....
Nov 24, 2023•1 hr 30 min•Season 1Ep. 477
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.
Nov 18, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 476
Kay Savetz, K6KJN, followed his father, Steve, into amateur radio when he entered college and Journalism school at the beginning of the Atari computer age. Tech journalism is Kay’s profession leading him to be the technical historian specializing in amateur radio and communications at the Internet Archive. We deep dive into Kay’s interest in amateur radio, technology and communications history, and the Atari 8 bit computers in this QSO Today.
Nov 10, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 475
Alan Higbie, K0AV, is a ham over sixty years, with an interest in CW, contesting, working DX, and working 2BSIQ mode. Alan has developed special expertise in finding RF noise sources around his QTH using a portable SDR receiver, and as a trial lawyer, he has had the opportunity to live in unusual places that lead to unusual ham radio operating events. K0AV is my QSO Today.
Nov 04, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 474
Joshua Wander, 4X4BB, began in amateur radio as a “prepper” where radio is one of the elements of being prepared for disaster, natural or otherwise. Origionally, Josh was from Pennsylvania, where he grew up, but immigrated to Israel with his family 10 years ago when I first met him. Josh is many things including journalist on many war fronts, volunteer rescuer of refugees from the Ukraine into Israel, and most recently one of the ZAKA team members who is recovering, identifying, and preparing th...
Oct 27, 2023•46 min•Season 1Ep. 473
Dov Gavish 4Z4DX is one of Israel’s best known amateurs outside of Israel, and avid DXer and DXpeditioner. Even before Parks on the Air or Summits on the Air, Dov had a rig in the car ready to go on a moment's notice. While CW is his favorite operating mode, Dov prefers whatever mode works to make the contact. 4Z4DX is my QSO Today.
Oct 21, 2023•1 hr 14 min•Season 1Ep. 472
Ron Gang, 4X1MK, had his early amateur radio beginnings in Canada, and later immigrated, as part of a group, to Israel in the 1970s, where his amateur radio license, skills, and equipment were highly appreciated and valued. Always an active amateur radio operator, 4X1MK is willing to try every operating mode. Ron is also a musician and painter who shares his amateur radio story and his perspectives of the amateur radio service in Israel, past and present.
Oct 14, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 471
Tony Fishpool, G4WIF, is still active in the United Kingdoms G-QRP Club and contributes to the quarterly Sprat Magazine, is the author of a book on Test Equipment for the QRPer, an numberious article on equipment building with particular attention to detail and budget. I am please to present to you this re-edited and mastered QSO with Tony Fishpool, G4WIF.
Oct 06, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 470
Today's podcast is a reprise of my interview with George Fremin, K5TR in April of 2017. George is a world class contester and DXer, with years of experience building and maintaining first class multi-operator contest stations. George gives some important advice on tower safety and working on antenna towers. We also touch on the “flow state” that is achievable during intense contesting rounds in this QSO Today.
Sep 30, 2023•1 hr 27 min•Season 1Ep. 469
I interviewed Dave Casler, KE0OG, in September 2017, at a time when 10 meters was dead, and the discussion of ham radio education was as important then, as it is today. Dave creates ham radio Youtube videos from the Western Slope of Colorado to educate and inform his ham radio audience. Beginning with videos to aid in obtaining ham radio licenses, Dave has created a catalog of how-to videos for ham radio that are interesting and well produced. Dave is a retired project engineer from the aerospac...
Sep 22, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 468
Kyle Krieg AA0Z, says that radio, in his case CB Radio, was the pre-internet social network that he used with his friends in his mid-west rural town. Imagine American Graffiti with radios. Eventually learning that amateur radio can take Kyle to a higher level, AA07 jumped in completely, immersing himself in POTA - Parks on the Air, portable operation, software defined radio, and remote control. We both agree that ham radio contesting should be even more gamified and we discuss all of these topic...
Sep 16, 2023•1 hr 34 min•Season 1Ep. 467
