QSO Today Podcast - Interviews with the leaders in amateur radio

For Peter ODell, WB2D, amateur radio morphed into a professional life at the ARRL during the time of Spaceshuttle STS-9 and the introduction of the first amateur radio broadcast from the Shuttle. Peter describes his amateur radio journey and the challenges of being a ham radio journalist in this QSO Today.

Thomas, Tom, Tate, WA7NPX, began his ham radio journey with his best friend in middle school. The amateur radio hobby can make lifelong buddies as well as develop practical and professional skills. WA7NPX shares his ham radio story and how it can serve as a springboard for developing expertise in other hobbies as well.

Henry Seidner, WA2ROA, like many of his contemporaries in the 60s, discovered amateur radio from Shortwave listening and was licensed in high school. Henry spent most of his professional life living and working in New York City, and travelling the world. Amateur radio was his door opener allowing him to make lasting friendships. WA2ROA tells this ham radio story in this QSO Today.

Larry Tyree, or Tree, as he is known in amateur radio circles, loves to operate contests, work DX on 160 meters, from his 28 hilltop acres in the Oregon forest, near Portland. Tree is a serious CW operator, where good antenna design, focus, skill, and patience bring the amateur radio rewards. Tree tells his ham radio story in this QSO Today.

Roland Smith, K7OJL, entered ham radio almost 60 years ago after the launch of the Sputnik satellite. His ham radio activity paused for many years as a result of professional relocations and family commitments. Roland has since returned to amateur radio at a fast and furious pace, operating in just about every band and mode.

Peter Shilton, VE7PS, became a lifelong chaser of meteor scatter and EME contacts because of a very early acquisition of a Drake receiver and a transverter, at the beginning of his ham radio career. VE7PS tells this story in our QSO Today.

Patrick (Pat) Brown, AK5TX, has always had a love for radio leading to opportunities from Chicago to Alaska to Texas! Amateur radio was the game-changer for Pat when he suddenly lost his eyesight, almost 20 years ago. Pat is now "More than able, I am Handi-Capable!" He continues his journey including contributing to our art, hobby, craft, sport, and science in the amateur community residing in Tyler Texas. He is a part of our amazing hobby. Today, my QSO is AK5TX!

Dan Marler, K7REX, owes much of his professional opportunities and success to his amateur radio background. A people person, K7REX, likes to give back to the amateur radio community as an ARRL Section Manager and founder of the RATPAC, a group that does not include Sammy, Dean, and Frank. Dan tells his ham radio story in this QSO Today.

Tom Robinson, G0SBW, made a very interesting presentation at the Expo called, "Amateurs Research Poor Radio Communications at the Battle of Arnhem, in 1944", where the British lost this WW2 battle because of poor communications. I urge you to go view Tom's presentation at the Expo. I interviewed Tom back in September of 2017, because Tom likes to operate backpack mobile on the English Shore, dragging his counterpoise, like a tail behind him. He has had amazing success with this operating mode, and shares how you too can get out of the noise by also operating manpack mobile. G0SWB is my QSO Today.

When it comes to understanding how antennas really work, then the "go to" ham is Bob Zavrel, W7SX, author of the ARRL book, Antenna Physics - An Introduction. Through this book, Bob bridges the gap between "how to" antenna books, and calculus based antenna theory books for engineers. Bob has a long resume in radio and electronics, is the accidental creator of the Signetic NE602 mixer chip. Bob was my guest in this interview over 200 episodes ago and shares his story in this replay in this QSO Today.