QSO Today Podcast - Interviews with the leaders in amateur radio

Amateur radio has its renaissance men that include Greg Latta, AA8V. By day, Greg is a university physics professor and lecturer, an avid homebrewer of vacuum tube transmitters and receivers, and metal fabricator. By Night, he is an award winning musician and folk artist. An attention to detail and organization, in perfect harmony, is the successful formula that Greg discusses with Eric, 4Z1UG, in his QSO Today.

Ron Milliman, K8HSY, has spent over 60 years in ham radio only to still find satisfaction, connections, and opportunity from the hobby he has loved all this time. As a boy who lost is sight, Ron was fortunate to have a father, friends, and schoolmates who supported his ham radio projects and interests. Join Ron and Eric, 4Z1UG, in their QSO Today.

Beginning at the age of five, when his father could get him inside a Gates broadcast transmitter to change out the bypass capacitors in the final amplifier, to a childhood of radio and audio repair, Kevin Custer, W3KKC, has gone on to make radio his life’s work. Kevin’s Repeater Builder website has become the go to Internet resource for information on surplus land mobile radios, equipment, and test gear for building and maintaining amateur radio repeaters. Kevin joins Eric, 4Z1UG, in his QSO Today.

Greg Lane, N4KGL, tells us how amateur radio adds to his enjoyment of his other outdoor hobbies that include Rocketry and model airplanes. As one of the key US proponents of RaDAR, or rapid deployment amateur radio, Greg is the master of foot portable HF operation in the Southern forests and swamps, to the Gulf’s beautiful Florida beaches. Greg Lane, N4KGL joins Eric, 4Z1UG in QSO Today.

Ward Silver, N0AX, author of the QST magazine column, “Hands-On Radio”, editor of ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications, and author of many books on ham radio joins Eric, 4Z1UG, in his QSO Today. In the podcast, Ward describes his ham radio beginnings and his amateur radio journey that includes his authoring many books and articles on ham radio. He also offers practical advice to new and returning hams.

When Eddie Leighton, ZS6BNE, created “shack in a sack” as a working concept for portable operation, in South Africa's great outdoors, for ham radio activity and contests, he had no idea it would become an international ham radio phenomena he renamed RaDAR, or rapid deployment amateur radio. RaDAR, could be ham radio's "iron man" contest that combines outdoor activity with ham radio. Eddie joins Eric, 4Z1UG, in his QSO Today.

Amateur Radio opened many doors for David Larsen, KK4WW, that began in high school, with the US Navy, a front row seat to the burgeoning computer industry, a career at Virginia Tech, World travel, and a visit to the White House. David joins Eric, 4Z1UG, in his QSO Today to discuss his ham radio life and all of the wonderful opportunities and relationships that amateur radio created. Now as the historian and curator of the Bugbook Historical Microcomputer Museum, David has his perfect vehicle for preserving his unique past for future generations.

Scott Andersen, NE1RD, has evolved a system, over the years, that combine a family vacation and a serious DXpedition, especially during contests that he calls the 100 pound DXpedition. In this episode of QSO Today, Scott shares his secrets that include how to plan and execute the perfect combination of ham radio contesting and vacation in an exotic location. Some of this simple wisdom and experience might surprise you.

Dan Romanchik, KB6NU, is one of the most prolific bloggers about ham radio on the Internet today. As an advocate for ham radio and as a teacher of ham radio, both with his study guides and the local classes that he teaches, Dan practices what he preaches. Join the QSO Today between Dan and Eric, 4Z1UG, on the amateur radio topics that most interest them.

Dan Walker, WG5G, works DX and has worked almost every country in the World, except four, with a simple Kenwood TS-130V and five watts of power. All QRP. Dan joins Eric, 4Z1UG, in his QSO Today to discuss his ham radio story and what it really takes to be the best QRP DX operator in the World. His answers might surprise you.