QSO Today Podcast - Interviews with the leaders in amateur radio

Michael Rainey, AA1TJ, is a master of building simple HF transmitters from the materials that he has on hand, including the parts from a compact fluorescent light bulb. AA1TJ was my guest in Episode 80, more than four years ago. We remastered the audio of this valuable episode to present Mike again in this QSO Today.

Dale Parfitt, W4OP, developed a love for operating VHF and above, including moonbounce operation, from an early exposure to a 6 meter Gonset Communicator, or Gooney Box. His love for electronics grew into a career as an electronics engineer and the entrepreneur founder of Par Electronics where custom filters and antennas are Dale's special forte. W4OP tells his story in this QSO Today.

Glen Jenkins, WB4KTF, grew up on US Marine bases in the 50's and 60's, and was no stranger to starting over in new places. Glen tells his ham radio story that includes a professional start in Israel, a stint in Moscow, a successful landing in Houston Texas, until Hurricane Harvey changed his retirement plans. Glen loved his early Heathkit HF Transceivers, collecting Colliins gear, and working the digital modes on his modern station. WB4KTF is my QSO Today.

Janis Carson, AB2RA, first licensed in 1959,has been an active ham since childhood, has an interest in the restoration and repair of older tube type amateur rigs, is a frequent contributor to Electric Radio Magazine, and documents her projects on her own website. Janis may be the "Erin Brokovich" of ham radio, as an advocate for your hobby to the FCC, and she mentors new and old hams in her community. AB2RA tells her ham radio story in this QSO Today.

Michael, Mike, Ritz, W7VO, left the big city for rural Oregon to build his dream contest station. Mike uses his station to help new and local hams to learn the skills necessary to become lifetime contestors and HF operators. In addition to his leadership

Guy Lemieux, VE2BWL, built his dream contest station, including a one-hundred ten foot self supporting tower, from metal stock delivered to his bard, in a rural area of Southern Quebec. while attempting to relax in the evenings and weekends from a stressful career. Guy shares this project and the stories behind his seven tower contest station in this QSO Today.

Fred Schramm, K2HA, visited Israel a few weeks ago and contacted me to meet with him in Jerusalem. Howard, 4X1ZZ, and I visited Fred at his hotel and recorded this interview with him. Fred tells his ham radio story, his life in Fairbanks, Alaska, and his thoughts on keeping old hams connected when they can no longer get on the air.

Michael, Mike, Foerster, W0IH, loves to ragchew with his friends on 80 meters in the evening. Mike is a frequent contributor to QST magazine including articles on finding and solving electronic noise problems and remote control of your HF station while on the road. We also discuss his broadband adjustable 80 meter dipole in this episode of QSO Today.

George Byrkit, K9TRV, was first licensed in 1966, in Madison, Wisconsin. He returned to amateur radio as a licensee many years after letting that Novice license expire. George has since jumped back into amateur radio with both feet that include a board position in TAPR, projects in TAPR, including software development, work with HamSCI, and his local radio club and emergency groups. We touch on George's many special projects in this QSO Today.

Michael, Mike, Murphy, WU2D, separates his professional and his personal radio and electronics life by building, using, and working with vintage radios made no later than the early 1960s. As a collector and builder of old time and military surplus radios,