QSO Today Podcast - Interviews with the leaders in amateur radio

Hosted by Eric Guth, 4Z1UG

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Episodes

545

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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About the show

QSO Today is a weekly conversation, or QSO, between amateur radio operators about ham radio. Eric Guth, 4Z1UG, hosts a new guest every week to talk about their ham radio journey, their specialized expertise in ham radio, and how amateur radio has impacted their personal and professional lives. QSO Today is targeted at anyone interested in amateur radio who wants to learn more about this fascinating hobby.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

November 13, 2026Episode 54359 min

Episode 543 Fred Mc Guire KD5FMU

Fred "Freddy" McGuire, KD5FMU, discovered amateur radio almost by accident while serving as a deputy sheriff in rural eastern Oklahoma, where his department needed better communications on a limited budget. Amateur radio, along with linking technologies such as EchoLink and later AllStarLink, offered possible solutions and opened the door to a much larger interest in the hobby. Freddy embraced amateur radio, shares what he learns through his Ham Radio Crusader YouTube channel, and is always willing to lend a hand or speak at a local hamfest. KD5FMU is my QSO Today.

October 23, 2026Episode 5421 hr 6 min

Episode 542 Jeff Banke NZ2S

Jeff Banke, NZ2S, combines his electronics experience with a passion for emergency communications, Parks on the Air, equipment restoration, and mentoring new hams. As president of the Inland Empire VHF Radio Amateurs, he organizes hands-on workshops, portable operating activities, and opportunities for younger operators to develop their skills. From improving Astron power supplies to designing practical antenna solutions, Jeff believes that almost everything can be made better through experimentation. His enthusiasm for sharing knowledge and encouraging others makes NZ2S my QSO Today.

September 11, 2026Episode 5411 hr 10 min

Episode 541 Eric Hofer KJ4YZI

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.

August 23, 2026Episode 5401 hr 1 min

Episode 540 Al Rovner K7AR

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.

August 6, 2026Episode 5391 hr 18 min

Episode 539 John Burwell KI5QKX

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.

July 14, 2026Episode 53858 min

Episode 538 Will Everett N5OLA

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.

June 26, 2026Episode 5371 hr 0 min

Episode 537 Jim Hall AD4EB

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.

April 12, 2026Episode 5361 hr 20 min

Episode 536 Marty Young W4MY

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.

February 22, 2026Episode 5351 hr 9 min

Episode 535 Michael Goldstein VE3GFN

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.

January 12, 2026Episode 5341 hr 25 min

Episode 534 Cory Sickles WA3UVV

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.