QSO Today Podcast - Interviews with the leaders in amateur radio

My guest this week is Geoff Howard, W0CG / PJ2DX, who operates along with his ham friends the P2JT contest station in a villa on a cliff overlooking the sea in Curacao. Geoff shares his ham radio story and the history of P2JT in this QSO Today.

Keith Hibbert, WB2VUO, is the ARRL Technical Coordinator for Western NY State. In that capacity Keith serves as a resource and goto guy for technical questions by amateur radio operators. Keith and I had a great QSO on his areas of interest that include QRP Single Sideband, digital modes like FT-8, and Keith's interest in both amateur HF and aircraft beacons. Keith shares his insights and some valuable resources in this QSO Today.

One of the most unusual ham radio operating modes is meteor scatter or bouncing signals off the ionized trails left by space dust the the earth's atmosphere. Shelby Ennis, W8WN has operated this mode for over 50 years, first on CW using tape recorders to send a high speed burst, then using the K1JT digital modes. We learn that meteor scatter is a reliable mode and much more in this QSO with W8WN.

Natural disasters, especially the most recent hurricanes, present us with opportunities to make a real difference if we step up to the plate. As part of this amateur radio story, Brian Machesney, K1LI, was presented his opportunity to make a difference on the Caribbean Island of Dominica after it was wiped out by Hurricane Maria in October 2017. Brian, his wife, and other hams came stepped up to the plate and provided relief with the Dominica Airlift as it was called by the press. This story and so much more in this QSO Today with K1LI.

Steve Murphy, N8NM, builds most of his modern equipment using the Manhattan and "ugly" construction method, or he refurbishes old tube transmitters, receivers, and transceivers. Steve is not afraid to try a new design or component to further his love of home brewing. We follow the ham radio career of N8NM in this episode of QSO Today.

Brain Short, KC0BS, is a busy amateur radio operator in Kansas City, Missouri. He is actively involved in teaching ham radio and getting new hams involved in the many amateur radio activities that Kansas City hams enjoy. In this episode, we discuss tower climbing and safety, APRS, emergency services, building up code speed, and Brian's participation in the emergency efforts around the Joplin Missouri tornado that destroyed much of the city in May 2011.

Jeff Damm, WA7MLH, designs and builds his own amateur radio receivers, transmitters, and transceivers using the ugly construction method based on the work of his amateur radio mentor and friend, Wes Hayward, W7ZOI. Jeff shares his ham radio story and his electronic construction philosophy with Eric, 4Z1UG, in this QSO Today.

Hal Turley, W8HC, is a veteran DXpeditioner who is headed for Bouvet Island, perhaps the World's most remote Island and DX entity, in a few weeks. Hal tells his ham radio story, his discovery and the satisfaction that he gains from working DX, and his personal preparations for his upcoming trek to Bouvet Island with the 3Y0Z DXpedition team. W8HC is my QSO Today.

Bob Rosier, K4OCE, started his ham radio journey in the fifties, inspired by his father who built their first family television using a surplus radar screen and a broadcast receiver. Bob discovered QRP almost by accident and from that point on realized that he could have reliable DX contacts based on good operating practice and technical expertise. Bob is the creator of the "OCE Minirig" QRP transmitter.

Heading South to Australia, our QSO Today is with Rob Norman, VK5SW, who wanted to get away from the electronic noise of the his home city of Adelaide, in South Australia, by building a remote control HF station in the Australian bush some two hours drive from his QTH. We learn from Rob, what it takes to make this a great solution getting on the air.