QSO Today Podcast - Interviews with the leaders in amateur radio

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 Today.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 KD3CR very interesting, allowing you to draw your own conclusions.

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.

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.

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.

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.