QSO Today Podcast - Interviews with the leaders in amateur radio

Steve Herman, W7VOA's, love of amateur radio and media led him into a career as a news correspondent for the Associated Press, freelance overseas journalist, and ultimately with the Voice of America (VOA) as its White House correspondent, traveling and reporting on the President of the United States. Even with his 24 X 7 busy schedule, W7VOA has time for amateur radio and this QSO Today with Eric, 4Z1UG.

When Tom Robinson, G0SBW, wasn't getting satisfactory results from his HF station at this home QTH, he decided to move his operation to the English shore, on his back while walking. As a single-sideband operator running QRP, Tom has had amazing success with this "man-pack" radio, refining its operation and ease of use, and taking it on DXpeditions abroad. GOSBW is Eric's QSO Today.

From an early age, the love of radio broadcasting brought Lauren Libby, W0LD, to amateur radio and DXing by meteor scatter and moon bounce. Lauren has made a career of radio broadcasting and is the CEO of the World's largest international shortwave broadcasting network. W0LD is my QSO Today.

Have you ever wondered what effort it takes for the ARRL to process up to ten thousand DXCC applications per year, not to mention the all of the other contests and awards that once required QSL cards from each side of a contact to confirm it. My QSO this week is with Bill Kennamer, K5FUV, who used to be the guy responsible for DXCC and other ARRL awards. We hear Bill's ham radio story in this QSO Today.

When Rick Dougherty NQ4I isn't operating single sideband at 51 thousand feet in a Gulfstream jet, he may be preparing for the next big contest at this super multi-multi station in Griffin, Georgia. A career jet pilot and ham radio contester, NQ4I shares his amateur radio story with Eric, 4Z1UG, in this QSO Today.

Amateur radio is a big tent with an appeal for every amateur's special interest. Once a QRO DX operator, the new magic of ham radio for Don Minkoff NK6A, came from turning down the power to QRP levels and getting out of the QTH to the great outdoors and working SOTA, or Summits on the Air. Don shares his ham radio story and so much more in this QSO Today.

Someone said some place, that if you want to get stuff done, give it to a busy person. My guest this week is Dave Prestel, W8AJR. Dave is a busy person who as a volunteer for many ham radio organizations in Howard County, Maryland, just gets stuff done to the benefit of the amateur radio community and his larger community. He is my QSO Today.

David Rowe, VK5DGR, has been a guest target since QSO Today episode 16 with Bruce Perens, K6BP because of David's seminal work with audio codecs for digital audio on HF. David has a strong background in digital voice, a technology that is now the foundation for all of the telephony and voice over IP that we do. As an advocate of open source and the consummate teacher, David shares all of his work while educating us with his blog, rowetel.com. VK5DGR is Eric, 4Z1UG's QSO Today.

Sputnik was the catalyst that spurred many to enter electronics, engineering, and amateur radio. Rob Brownstein, K6RB, was inspired to find a ham across the street to build his first crystal set for a science fair project leading to a lifetime as a ham radio operator. Rob is a co-founder of CWOPS and its on-line CW training academy helping hundreds of hams a year become better CW operators. K6RB shares his ham radio story with Eric, 4Z1UG, in this QSO today.

Dave LeDuc, N1IX, like many of my guests got his ham radio start as a teenager in the sixties. His love for CW and chasing DX has not diminished over the years. His new passion is running QRP and winning contests. Dave shares his ham radio story and offers some advice for QRP success in this episode of QSO Today.