QSO Today Podcast - Interviews with the leaders in amateur radio

Preston Douglas, WJ2V, discovered the joys of QRP and home-brewing whole transceivers almost by accident. The result is a rewarding ham radio past-time leading to becoming the President of the QRP-ARCI group. Preston brings to life his ham radio story, home brew projects, and QRP in this QSO Today.

After 44 years with the ARRL, beginning as an intern in 1972 at the American Radio Relay League, David Sumner, K1ZZ, retired, last year, as CEO and General Manager. In this episode of QSO Today, Dave shares his ham radio story from its early beginnings, his favorite operating practices, and his reflections on his years at League Headquarters.

My QSO this week is with Fred Regennitter, K4IU, has a rich ham radio history spanning over 50 years, from the first crystal radio receiver to his modern FlexRadio software defined transceiver. DX and contests are Fred's interest and the new digital modes have won a new appeal for making contacts as we reach the bottom of the Sunspot cycle. Amateur radio has expanded into a big tent that with many facets. K4IU tells us why in this episode of QSO Today.

Larry Staples, W0AIB, is the publisher of Larry's List, a regular email message center that updates Kansas City amateur radio operators with the latest news, events, and rigs for sale. As an active amateur radio operator for almost sixty years, Larry believes that the ultimate goal of ham radio is to get to know people, face to face, for the "eyeball" contact. W0AIB is my QSO Today.

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. Always an active amateur radio operator, 4X1MK is willing to try every operating mode. Ron shares his amateur radio story and his perspective of amateur radio in Israel, past and present.

Dennis Vernacchia, N6KI, was an active ham who was drafted by the US Army and sent to Vietnam at the height of the war in the late sixties. This is an amateur radio story where Army MARS, ham radio, and the skills acquired from the hobby literally saved his life. This situation and his relationship with a later prominent television comedian brought relief and comfort to American soldiers serving in Vietnam and their families. Dennis is an active contester and tells the rest of his story in this QSO Today.

Inspired by one of his home brew elmers, Jim Garland, W8ZR, uses his electronics and metal fabrication workbench to create beautiful ham radio projects (a few displayed in QST magazine) and to restore old vintage boat anchor transmitters and receivers that he rotates through his three operating positions at his QTH in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Jim tells his ham radio story in this QSO Today.

Israel's most notable amateur radio operator might just be Dov Gavish, 4Z4DX. First licensed in Israel with his dad over fifty years ago, Dov has made a career of operating from wherever he happens to be in the World, always ready to get on the air. While CW is is favorite operating mode, Dov just likes to get on the air with whatever mode works, including DMR. 4Z4DX is Eric's guest on this QSO Today.

Dave Casler, KE0OG, 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 aerospace industry and a self published author of both fiction and nonfiction works.

Burt Weiner, K6OQK, Los Angeles repeater pioneer and creator of the second repeater to serve Los Angeles in the late 50's through the late 1970s is my QSO Today. Burt's proximity to Los Angeles area broadcast radio stations and station engineers who served as his mentors, created for Burt a lifetime amateur radio and professional path that he is still on today.