QSO Today Podcast - Interviews with the leaders in amateur radio

Eric Hofer, KJ4YZI, began his ham radio journey CB radio before discovering ham radio through a local Elmer and two-meter repeaters, where he developed a lifelong interest in radios, antennas, weak-signal work, and experimenting. Through his popular Ham Radio Concepts YouTube channel, Eric encourages new and returning amateurs to explore everything from two-meter sideband, EME moonbounce, to satellites, digital modes, used equipment, antenna projects, and kit building. Eric works in land mobile radio, microwave, repeaters, and public-safety communications, giving him a strong technical foundation for the practical experiments he shares with his audience. KJ4YZI is my QSO Today.

Al Rovner, K7AR, discovered amateur radio in high school through his electronics shop teacher, an active ham who helped him earn his first license in 1971. After college and a break from the hobby, Al returned to the air in 1980 and soon found that working DX was far more interesting than working all states. That interest grew into decades of serious DXing, eventually taking him to the upper levels of the DXCC Honor Roll and sending him on DXpeditions around the world. Along the way, Al became an experienced contester and CW operator, while also embracing newer modes including FT8. More than 50 years after he began, the excitement of arriving somewhere new, putting up an antenna, and hearing the bands come alive still drives him. K7AR is my QSO Today.

John Burwell, KI5QKX, found his way into amateur radio through 44Net, the Class A public IP address space set aside for amateur radio almost 50 years ago, now managed by ARDC. John's interest in connecting devices over the Internet led him to this remarkable ham radio resource. In this interview, we go deep into IP addressing and networking, opening the door to new ways licensed amateurs can learn, experiment, and build Internet-connected projects. KI5QKX is my QSO Today.

Bill and Pete at the SolderSmoke Podcast refer to my guest today as the Heathkit Guru of South Texas, a mantle that Will Everett, N5OLA, wears with pride. After returning from civilian life as a reporter and aid worker in Afghanistan in 2015, Will relicensed in 2019 and took his passion for vintage Heathkit amateur radio transceivers to a new level, restoring them to their former glory before sending them on to new owners. Operating from South Padre Island, Will enjoys CW on his Heathkit HW-101, finding quiet moments between running his coffee shops and pursuing his restoration passion. N5OLA is my QSO today.

Jim Hall, AD4EB, discovered radio as a young shortwave listener and builder, then turned a lifetime of engineering, CW, RTTY, and contesting into one of amateur radio's most demanding operating specialties: mobile QSO party contesting. In this episode, Jim shares how his early Heathkit projects, teletype machines, and work with HAL Devices led him deeper into electronics and ham radio, and how he now combines two-radio contesting, station automation, careful route planning, and the steady driving support of his wife, Melody, to win state QSO parties from the road. AD4EB's story is a fascinating look at skill, preparation, partnership, and the pure fun of chasing pileups county by county.

Marty Young, W4MY, is a lifelong amateur radio operator whose 50-year journey began with a simple shortwave receiver as a child and grew into a deep passion for CW operation, homebrewing, and portable radio in the outdoors. From building his first Heathkit HW-16 as a teenager to leading roles in clubs, contesting, and Parks on the Air, Marty represents the classic self-taught ham who never stopped learning. His story reflects persistence, curiosity, and a hands-on approach to radio that has carried him from the early days of Morse code and QSL cards to modern portable operations and mentoring new operators today.

Michael Goldstein VE3GFN has spent more than 70 years in the hobby spanning the full arc of amateur radio's technical evolution. Licensed in the 1950s, Mike began as a dedicated homebrewer and CW operator, later designing receivers published in Bill Orr's, W6SAI Radio Handbook and built a professional career in electronics instrumentation at the University of Toronto. In this interview, he reflects on his mentors, Morse code, classic and modern radios, contesting at 100 watts, and the transition from vacuum tubes to today's SDR transceivers, sharing practical insight and perspective earned over a lifetime on the air.

Cory Sickles, WA3UVV, first licensed in 1973, explores radio from the inside out, including homebrew transmitters, vintage gear, and cutting edge digital modes that he highlights in his monthly Spectrum Monitor Magazine column, Digitally Speaking. Cory was a bleeding edge pioneer in desktop computing and applications for specialized business segments. He is a passionate club builder and mentor, helping grow one of the most active and welcoming amateur radio clubs in Western Pennsylvania, while serving the ARRL in key outreach and coordination roles. WA3UUV believes that strong clubs, digital innovation, and human connection are the future of amateur radio and is my guest in this QSO Today.

Ian Flemming, G3ZDQ, grew up tuning mysterious signals on his grandfather's radio in northwest England, a spark that led to a lifelong journey through classic gear, pioneering microprocessor work, Raynet emergency communications, digital modes, canal boat-portable QRP operation, and the restoration of iconic British radios from KW Electronics and Eddystone. His story weaves technical curiosity, professional engineering, and a deep love for radio's evolving technologies—from Hartley transmitters and 6146 finals to modern digital modes. G3ZDQ is my QSO Today. QSO Today Website: https://www.qsotoday.com/ HOST: Eric Guth, 4Z1UG Become a listener sponsor or make a donation to QSO Today here: https://www.qsotoday.com/donate.html Join our mailing list: https://www.qsotodaycommunity.com/amember/signup/nj73Jlm7

Norm Cantin, WA1NLG, discovered amateur radio at age 14 through Boy Scouts in Massachusetts, got his Technician license in 1969 so he could get on 6 meters, and that early exposure led directly to his career in navigation electronics. Amateur radio Elmers in the Framingham Radio Club helped him get his first job at Northstar, a startup building LORAN navigation equipment, where he spent almost 30 years rising to Vice President of Engineering, later working on GPS development, differential GPS, and aircraft landing systems. After a period at Outerlink building satellite tracking systems, he spent more than a decade at Raytheon working on Patriot modernization and activities that contributed to Iron Dome. Now retired on Cape Cod, Norm is focused on VHF weak signal work, homebrews LDMOS amplifiers, is building a second tower for 2-meter EME, is active in the Barnstable Amateur Radio Club, youth outreach, public service, STEM, Boy Scouts, and believes ham radio is still a "hobby of a thousand hobbies."

In this episode of QSO Today, we sit down with Jack Schuster, W1WEF , whose amateur radio journey spans more than 73 years. From building his first crystal set at age 10 to contesting at the highest levels around the world, Jack shares stories of innovation, DX adventures, CW mastery, and a lifetime of dedication to the hobby. His perspective offers both history and inspiration, making this conversation a must-listen for hams of every generation.

Jake Groenhof, N0LX, discovered amateur radio in the 1960s thanks to his uncle's impressive home station and his father's interest in CB radio.. Over the years, Jake turned his curiosity into a lifetime of experiments — from pedestrian-mobile DX with just 5 watts and an endfed antenna tethered to a balloon, to building saltwater antennas in PVC pipes, to flying pico balloons that circled the Earth six times. Along the way, he's set records, designed clever portable gear, and inspired others to push the limits of what amateur radio can do. N0LX is my QSO Today.

Alex Nersesian K6VHF is a US immigration success story. Hailing from the Republic of Georgia after the fall of the former Soviet Union, Alex credits amateur radio with finding work, career,family, and community in his new country. Now successfully living the American dream, K6VHF loves to chase DX on HF, VHF, and Microwave using FT-8, SSB, and CW and is an avid DXpeditioner. In addition, Alex makes EME, microwave, and rover contacts all of the way up to 122 GHz. K6VHF is my QSO Today.

Ron Demcko, WA2TBQ, found his way into electronics—and later amateur radio—thanks to the early influence of his older brother, John, KD7JR. From a young age, Ron funded his growing passion for kit building and radio experimentation by buying and reselling surplus electronic gear, a resourceful start that helped pave the way for his formal education. Today, Ron is a recognized expert in the field of radiation-resistant passive components, essential for military and space applications. On the air, CW remains his favorite mode. We cover all of this and much more in this episode of QSO Today.

Bob Pantazes, W2ARP, discovered amateur radio in high school but only became licensed at age 40. A career in electronics shaped his hands-on approach to amateur radio. With 296 DXCC entities, Bob is active in contesting, POTA - Parks on the Air, and antenna building. He advocates FT8 access for Technicians on HF to attract younger hams and grow our numbers the hobby. W2ARP is my QSO Today.

In the QSO Today podcast episode #525, host Eric Guth interviews Jack Prindle, a former law enforcement officer and amateur radio enthusiast, who shares his unique journey from his early electronics background in Kentucky to his distinguished police career, ultimately specializing in computer forensics. Jack, who obtained his amateur radio license in 1976, reflects on his passion for radio that grew alongside his professional life, including the establishment of his podcast, the AB4WS Radio Show, which serves as a source of information for ham radio events in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Throughout the discussion, Jack emphasizes the importance of community engagement in amateur radio, sharing tips for attracting new operators, and advocates for open public safety communications alongside the use of modern technology. As Eric shares insights about his recent health challenges, both host and guest highlight the healing aspects of radio and community, culminating in actionable steps for listeners and clubs to enhance their involvement in the amateur radio world.

Charles "Pete" Corp, WA2JMG, operates simple rigs into wire antennas, using low power. His primary operating mode is ragchewing on CW for meaningful and reliable communications. At the urging of his grandfather, Pete pursued the power system management side of electrical engineering side of his four year degree as a way to satisfy the market demand for power engineers in industry, when there is a scarcity of supply. WA2JMG tells us his ham radio story, beginning in 1960, in this QSO Today.

Ron Taylor WA7GIL, while having a love for HF CW, boat anchor restoration, and kit building, still stays current with home brew equipment using Arduino controllers, the latest ham radio software, and the NanoVNA. His beautiful ham shack and carefully appointed workbench and parts inventory allow Ron to build and fix just about anything. WA7GIL is my QSO Today.

Cathy Goodrich, W4CMG, is an enthusiastic contester and dedicated DX chaser. Known for her meticulous scheduling, Cathy ensures she dedicates time each day to amateur radio, honing her operating techniques and CW rag chewing skills. In her retirement, Cathy continues to make an impact as a Red Cross Coordinator in Nashville, TN, applying strategic insights gained from her extensive experience as a project manager in the pharmaceutical industry. In our conversation, we delve into how amateur radio operators can engage in and contribute their expertise to Red Cross operations, as well as improving on the air operating skills. W4CMG is my QSO Today.