QSO Today Podcast - Interviews with the leaders in amateur radio

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.