Best CEO of Worldwide Engineering Podcasts (2025)

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How China Captured Apple. Patrick McGee, Author, Apple in China 56:43

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3d ago56:43

56:43

Here's a question I get a lot. How did China get so good so fast. People with front line experience in the People's Republic talk about something called the China arc. Chinese leaders identify your company as the global leader. They entice you to invest in China. Chinese companies gradually extract know-how from you. Then they begin to compete with…

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Contest Crew Returns: SO2R Secrets and CQWW Plans 29:42

8h ago29:42

29:42

I'm joined by Chris Hurlbut KL9A, Dan Craig N6MJ, Randy Thompson K5ZD, and Bill Fehring W9KKN for another episode of our popular Q5 Contest Crew series—your backstage pass to the minds and methods of ham radio’s top contesters. Randy is deep into a full station rebuild in Ohio, cranes and all, with a shiny new PGXL amp and a garage full of cables h…

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How Flyover Country Made a Contesting Giant: Pat Barkey N9RV 49:46

3d ago49:46

49:46

Pat Barkey N9RV is a Contest Hall of Famer whose radio journey began with a childhood plan to stay connected to his best friend over a summer apart. What started as a search for CB radios led him instead to a neighbor’s ham shack — and into a lifelong obsession with CW, contesting, and station building. First licensed in 1967, Barkey quickly found …

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What Western Business Leaders Misunderstand About China – Insights from Mitchell Presnick, Visiting Fellow, Harvard Fairbank Center 55:53

9d ago55:53

55:53

Dazed, bruised and confused. That's how leaders of global automakers and suppliers operating in China feel these days. Since 2020, they have seen their once formidable China sales and profit machines vanish. As a group global automakers will sell 8 million fewer vehicles in China this year than they did in 2020. Eight million! People at headquarter…

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Out and About with Stuart VE9CF: Founder of Historic Sites on the Air 24:20

7d ago24:20

24:20

Stuart Crawford VE9CF is… a Canadian ham with a military past, a marketer’s mind, and a newfound mission to tell stories through amateur radio. First licensed in the ‘90s as VE4SRC, Stuart’s callsign changed with each military posting—from Manitoba to Alberta to New Brunswick. But the hobby took a 30-year backseat as career and family took the whee…

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Making YOTA Work: Hamvention's Ham of the Year Neil Rapp WB9VPG 37:41

14d ago37:41

37:41

Neil Rapp WB9VPG is amateur radio’s original prodigy—and one of its most effective modern mentors. At age five, Neil became the youngest person ever to earn an FCC ham license, a novelty that landed him in the National Enquirer and on the cover of international ham radio magazines. But celebrity wasn’t the point. The point was code, conversation, a…

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K1DG’s Global Contest Story: 30 Countries and Counting 43:54

21d ago43:54

43:54

Doug Grant K1DG is a seasoned contester whose career spans six WRTCs, operations from over 30 countries, and a long-standing USA record in the CQ 160 contest. From his early days in suburban Boston, Doug’s path wound through legendary multi-op stations like W2PV and milestone efforts such as co-founding WWROF and organizing WRTC 2014. His reputatio…

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The Embroiderer Behind Ham Radio’s Coolest Gear: Bart SQ1K 18:54

22d ago18:54

18:54

Bart Bzymek SQ1K is a Polish ham radio operator who’s stitched together two worlds—DXing and design—into a life as precise as the embroidery he’s known for. He began as a shortwave listener in the 1990s and quickly climbed through Poland’s licensing system, earning his first-class ticket by mastering CW. A dedicated contester, Bart has logged serio…

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Inside the World Wide Radio Operators Foundation: Tim Duffy K3LR 28:34

28d ago28:34

28:34

Tim Duffy K3LR is a powerhouse in the contesting world—CEO of DX Engineering, founder of Contest University, host of the formidable K3LR station—but here, he joins us as the chairman of the World Wide Radio Operators Foundation (WWROF), the engine behind some of competitive ham radio’s best infrastructure and largest radiosport contests. If you’ve …

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Tom Georgens 8P5A: Inside the Mind of a Ham Radio CEO 43:34

1M ago43:34

43:34

Tom Georgens W2SC, also known as 8P5A, has a wall of plaques that reflect not just his victories—but the decades of discipline, grit, and quiet precision behind them. While running a Fortune 500 company, he built a formidable contest station in Barbados, troubleshooting in the tropical heat and chasing perfection from one contest season to the next…

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The Best and Worst Radios for Field Day? W3LPL and K3RA 7:11

1M ago7:11

7:11

After our deep dive into W3AO’s record-breaking Field Day operations, we came back with one simple question for Frank W3LPL and Rol K3RA: What radios actually get the job done—and which ones are banned—at Field Day? Their answers might surprise you.By Kevin Thomas

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KM7W Style: A Different Kind of Field Day 16:34

1M ago16:34

16:34

Field Day means different things to different hams. For some, it’s a competition—a chance to test gear, strategy, and skill. When we spoke with the W3AO team about their 28-year run of record-breaking efforts, we celebrated that spirit. But Field Day can also look like this: lawn chairs in a field, lawn mowing, antenna builds, and a loose pact that…

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PJ6Y Saba: W6IZT’s Youth-Led DXpedition Plan 24:37

1M ago24:37

24:37

Gregg Marco W6IZT has participated in some of ham radio’s most well-known DXpeditions—and a few dozen vacation-style ones too. From his ridge-top shack in rural Georgia, he’s spent the last two decades blending deep technical chops with a passion for the hobby. But his latest venture—PJ6Y from Saba Island—isn’t just another stamp in the logbook. It…

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Contest Crew Confessional: What Really Happened in IARU 20:52

1M ago20:52

20:52

The Contest Crew is back—Randy K5ZD, Dan N6MJ, Chris KL9A, and Bill W9KKN—fresh off the IARU HF World Championship. From broken antennas and overheated shacks to surprise guest ops and last-minute tech rescues, this episode captures the contest highs, lows, and hard-won wisdom only this crew can deliver. Dan N6MJ’s operation from the legendary N2QV…

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Inside the ISTRA Contest Conference in Porec, Croatia 12:46

1M ago12:46

12:46

The ISTRA Contest Conference is taking place October 9–12th in Poreč, Croatia, and Braco E77DX, Mirko 9A6KX, and Dave 9A1UN are here to tell us all about it. Born from late-night conversations and a desire for deeper community, the ISTRA Contest Conference is quickly becoming Europe’s most vital gathering of contest operators. What started as a bol…

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Estonia’s Quiet Contesting Force: Kris ES7A 36:20

2M ago36:20

36:20

Our Contest Crew Europe introductions continue with Kris Kass ES7GM, also known by ES7A. Kris is a third-generation Estonian ham radio operator whose story arcs from Soviet-era restrictions to modern contesting excellence. Raised in a family where CW was practically a second language—his grandfather operated behind the Iron Curtain as UR2GT (during…

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Relentless Competitor: Dave 9A1UN Rebuilds 9A1P to Greatness 25:17

2M ago25:17

25:17

Dave Kucelin 9A1UN, also known by his contest call 9A1P, is one of the most accomplished HF contesters in Croatia and the tenacious force behind a station that’s endured devastating storms, unresolvable land disputes, and a rotating cast of club members—all while racking up thousands of QSOs. In this episode, Dave opens up about building (and rebui…

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Contest Crew Europe’s Rising Star: Sven DJ4MX 26:28

2M ago26:28

26:28

Sven Lovric DJ4MX is part of a new wave of contesters and DXpeditioners reshaping what youth, excellence, and ambition look like in ham radio today. At just 23, he’s already logged pileups from Guyana and the remote Pacific outpost of the Marshall Islands. Whether operating as 8R7X or V73WW, Sven thrives in the thick of it—chasing signals from the …

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Building One of Europe’s Top Contest Stations: Mike SJ2W 24:47

2M ago24:47

24:47

Mike Larsmark SJ2W is one of Europe’s premier contest station builders—an operator who pairs deep technical skill with long-term investment and a clear vision for finding a competitive edge from the far northern Swedish countryside. Licensed at 15, Larsmark jumped into contesting early and never looked back. He credits Contest Crew member Randy Tho…

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Contest Crew EUROPE Debuts! 38:26

2M ago38:26

38:26

Braco E77DX is the driving force behind the first-ever Contest Crew: Europe Edition—a project built on the momentum and format created by the original Contest Crew: Randy K5ZD, Dan N6MJ, Chris KL9A, Bill W9KKN, and Dr. Scott Wright K0MD. Together, they set the tone for what this series became: smart, unscripted, and genuinely fun. Their candid, str…

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IARU HF World Championship: Contest Crew Gets Ready 20:19

2M ago20:19

20:19

In this episode, the Contest Crew—Randy K5ZD, Dan N6MJ, and Bill W9KKN—turns their attention to the IARU HF World Championship, a 24-hour sprint that’s more than just a summertime curiosity. It’s a deceptively technical contest: the rules are simple, but the path to a top score is anything but. As Randy lays out the structure and quirks—zones, head…

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Q5 June 2025 Update 3:04

2M ago3:04

3:04

By Kevin Thomas

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POTA Legend in the Making: Les KI5GTR on Activating, Contesting, and Going All-In 21:59

2M ago21:59

21:59

Les Chalfant KI5GTR is the kind of operator who reminds us what Parks on the Air is all about. From zero to full-throttle in just a few years, Les has activated all 286 parks in Arkansas, is closing in on 700 unique park activations overall, and still found time to earn a serious contest plaque from his home QTH—Rookie Overlay #1 in the U.S. for th…

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ARRL Field Day 2025: Contest Crew Makes Plans 19:18

2M ago19:18

19:18

ARRL Field Day is here—and whether you’re running 100 watts on a hilltop with a friend, part of a multi-operator 6A club effort, or setting up a 1B in your backyard, it’s one of the most beloved events in ham radio. In the latest Contest Crew episode, Randy Thompson K5ZD, Daniel Craig N6MJ, Christopher Hurlbut KL9A, and Bill Fehring W9KKN share the…

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10,000 QSOs in 48 Hours: Jeff N5TJ’s CQWW SSB Record 24:16

2M ago24:16

24:16

Jeff Steinman N5TJ is one of amateur radio’s most accomplished contesters—a four-time WRTC medalist and the current holder of the all-time CQWW SSB world record, set from EA8BH in 1999. His contesting journey began with responding to a classified ad in QST by Lou K4VX that led to mentorship, a teenage single-op debut, and more than 50 return visits…

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Why World Wide Award Might Be Ham Radio’s Best New Event 28:40

2M ago28:40

28:40

Randy Thompson K5ZD is a world-class contester, but in this episode, he turns his attention to one of the fastest-growing events in ham radio: the World Wide Award (WWA). With the July Sprint just days away, Randy explains how WWA evolved from a WRTC beta test into a global scavenger hunt for activators and chasers—not a contest, but just as thrill…

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Germany’s Contest Machine: Manfred DJ5MW 25:04

2M ago25:04

25:04

Manfred Wolf DJ5MW is one of Europe’s most consistent and respected contesters—earning five WRTC qualifications and podium finishes in 2014, 2018 and 2023. Based in Germany’s scenic “three countries corner,” he operates from a former ski jump tower outfitted with a modest but highly effective antenna setup. In this wide-ranging conversation, we tra…

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How Safe and Secure Are Robocars? John Wall, Chief Operating Officer, QNX 36:58

2M ago36:58

36:58

In the good old days of driving, we needed to make sure the mechanical things worked: Things like the engine, of course, the steering and the brakes. We were in charge of driving the car. Now, for better and for worse, technologies are moving in and taking over. Sensors, cameras, on-board computers, software. Those powerful technologies are mostly …

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Saving Ham Radio: Kay K6KJN and the DLARC 28:03

2M ago28:03

28:03

Kay Savetz K6KJN is saving ham radio—sort of. Not by answering the big question of how we build the future, but by preserving the proof that it all ever happened—and why it mattered, and still does. As curator of the Digital Library of Amateur Radio & Communications (DLARC), Kay has quietly assembled the most ambitious archive in the hobby’s histor…

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Why POTA Activators Love This Logger: Sebastian KI2D 36:40

3M ago36:40

36:40

Sebastian Delmont KI2D is the creator of PoLo—the open-source portable logger from Ham2K that’s become a favorite among Parks on the Air activators. What began as a side project to streamline his own field operations has grown into a widely adopted logging tool for portable ops. With a clean interface, fast logging, and offline capability, PoLo cap…

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Q5 Contest Crew Inbox: You Asked, They Answered 39:46

3M ago39:46

39:46

Randy K5ZD, Chris KL9A, and Bill W9KKN are… answering your questions in this special Contest Crew Inbox edition. From the top: Yes, Randy’s new Ohio station is coming along. Listeners wanted an update—and he delivered, sharing the goals behind his build (spoiler: he claims he's not chasing top-five scores—we’re not so sure) and the practical decisi…

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The Contesting Mind of Helmut Mueller DF7EE 32:19

3M ago32:19

32:19

Helmut Mueller DF7EE is a contest category tactician with a past passion for portable ops—and another of ham radio’s great storytellers. Operating from Germany and often Madeira Island (CT3 has been getting a lot of airtime lately!), Helmut has earned top scores in major contests—not by outgunning the high-power field, but by strategically selectin…

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What Really Happened at D4DX? Braco E77DX’s WPX CW Recap 37:09

3M ago37:09

37:09

Braco E77DX is a man who doesn’t flinch— not at a chaotic pileup, not in a storm, and certainly not when a contest weekend kicks off with him climbing towers solo on a cloud-shrouded Cape Verde mountaintop. In this episode, he walks us through the behind-the-scenes grind of his (unofficial) second-place finish in the 2025 CQ WPX CW Single Op High P…

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How Does All That Awesome Tech Get Into Your Connected Car? Laurie Fitzgerald, President, Avanci Vehicle 43:05

3M ago43:05

43:05

By now, you have probably heard that there are more than 200 million connected cars on the road today. But, wait a minute. What is a connected car – and how does a connected car make our lives better? A simple way to think about it is that a connected car is one that is linked to the internet, just like our phone. And like our smartphones, that lin…

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The Report That Makes You a Better Ham Radio Contester: Log Checking 28:28

3M ago28:28

28:28

By Kevin Thomas

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Inside the CQ9A (KL9A) WPX CW Win: Q5 Contest Crew 26:26

3M ago26:26

26:26

Chris KL9A is back—and so is the Contest Crew. After a short break for Dayton, the full squad—Bill W9KKN, Dan N6MJ, Randy K5ZD, and the man of the hour, Chris KL9A—returns with jabs, laughs, and real-world tips. This episode digs into Chris’s thrilling victory from Madeira Island (CQ9A) in the Single Op High Power category at CQ WPX CW 2025, with d…

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"China Will Be Dominant And America Will Be Irrelevant." Kyle Chan, Author, New York Times Op-Ed 37:20

3M ago37:20

37:20

It is hard for Americans to imagine not being No. 1. The US has been the leading industrial, economic and military power since the end of WWII. But now America confronts a challenger that appears to be bigger, faster and more ambitious. That challenger is China. The PRC now manufactures one third of the world's cars, sixty percent of EVs, seventy p…

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Trump's Tariff Shock Treatment - What's Next? Wendy Cutler, Vice President, Asia Society Policy Institute 31:21

4M ago31:21

31:21

How do we begin to get our minds around the global blitz of tariffs unleashed by the Trump Administration. Is it madness or is there a method to the madness? One thing is certain: Donald Trump has definitely captured the attention of leaders in Asia, Europe, Mexico and Canada. They are trying to come to terms with arguably the greatest economic and…

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Craig Mod – What Japan Taught Him About Self-Worth and Slowing Down 2:08:40

4M ago2:08:40

2:08:40

Watch episode on YoutubeIn this episode, Kevin sits down with writer, photographer, and technologist Craig Mod for a wide-ranging conversation on the value of slowness in a fast-moving world. From walking solo across Japan to rethinking the economics of independent publishing, Craig shares his philosophy of presence, deep attention, and building cr…

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Inside ARDC: Bdale Garbee KB0G on Funding the Future of Ham Radio 47:48

4M ago47:48

47:48

Bdale Garbee KB0G is the President of Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC), the private foundation quietly reshaping the future of ham radio. With deep roots in the early internet and the historic allocation of 44Net, ARDC today manages a $100M+ endowment, granting millions each year to fund innovation, education, and community growth. In th…

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Why I’m Shifting Gears to Q5: Evolving My Ham Radio Storytelling 3:22

4M ago3:22

3:22

After reconnecting with amateur radio, I started W1DED Worldwide Ham Radio to learn, explore, and share. But something bigger emerged—a community, a vision, and a deeper sense of what this hobby truly deserves. Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio is the next chapter: an expanded platform for thoughtful storytelling, sharp interviews, and real conversation—acros…

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Multi-Multi Titans: ND7K, K3LR, and the CQ WPX SSB 30:55

4M ago30:55

30:55

Kevin Thomas W1DED is back with the Contest Crew—Dan N6MJ, Chris KL9A, Randy K5ZD, and Bill W9KKN—for a relaxed but revealing breakdown of CQ WPX SSB 2025. This time, it was ND7K vs. K3LR—not a grudge match, but a fun, full-throttle rivalry kicked off by Tim Duffy himself. K3LR, with Randy on the team, shattered the longstanding NQ4I US record, fin…

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The Award Program That’s Changing Ham Radio Forever: World Wide Award 33:04

4M ago33:04

33:04

Max IW1FRU, Lorenzo IU1NSA, and Carlo IK1HJS, Fabio I4UFH, and Maurizio IV3ZXQ are the team behind the World Wide Award—a ham radio event that has grown from a single spark during WRTC Italy in 2023 into a full-blown phenomenon lighting up the HF bands twice a year. The origin story? Classic ham ingenuity. With Carlo leading WRTC Italy, the team ne…

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Let Only Red Flowers Bloom. Emily Feng, Author and International Correspondent, NPR. 34:43

5M ago34:43

34:43

When it comes to China, most Americans are mostly in the dark. Don't believe me? Just quiz your friends. Ask them to name the five largest cities in China. Or to tell you the difference between people in Fujian and Sichuan, or Beijing and Guangzhou? Or how many cars China exported last year. Is China's economy booming on the back of record exports …

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InEvitable: Inside the Messy Unstoppable Transition to Electrics. Mike Colias, Author & Detroit Deputy Bureau Chief, Autos, Wall St Journal 45:48

5M ago45:48

45:48

When it comes to EVs, people seem to embrace one of two schools of thought. In school one, electric vehicles may have a role to play but that role is limited. Manufacturers should not be required to build them. And citizens should not be required to pay taxes to subsidize purchase of EVs. In school two, the belief is that electric vehicles are, wit…

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Young People ARE Joining Ham Radio – Meet Seth NU1D 13:56

5M ago13:56

13:56

Seth Jones is… a young ham from Maine with an old soul for radio. At just 14, he’s earned his Extra license, snagged the vanity callsign NU1D, and has already gotten a taste of everything ham radio has to offer—from contesting to POTA, from sleepovers with Yagis to field day with an Elecraft K3 and a 30-foot trailer tower. Seth’s not here to be a t…

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China Overcapacity: A Permanent Feature, Not A Bug. Joerg Wuttke, Partner, Albright Stonebridge Group 47:48

5M ago47:48

47:48

Chinese leaders believe overcapacity across industries including automotive is a cyclical problem that fresh growth will solve. Foreign investors with experience in the PRC see things differently. To them, overcapacity is a direct result of China's planned economy. Not only does massive overcapacity spark price wars inside China, it also threatens …

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How Mentorship is Powering This 14-Year-Old’s Contesting Journey: Jake WV4AM 19:57

5M ago19:57

19:57

Jake Maltz, WV4AM, is just 14 years old, but don’t let that fool you—he’s already proving to be a fierce competitor in the world of ham radio contesting. Inspired by his grandfather, Steve Narducci, W9SN, and mentored by seasoned contester Fred Dennin, WW4LL, Jake is racking up QSOs and sharpening his skills at an impressive pace. He’s got the driv…

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The Quest for Real Time Scoring: Victor VA2WA with Craig K9CT 38:28

5M ago38:28

38:28

Victor VA2WA and Craig K9CT are revolutionizing ham radio contesting with real-time scoring. Contesting has long been a test of endurance, skill, and patience—but waiting weeks (or months) for results? That might be a relic of the past. Victor and Craig are leading the charge to bring instant results and real-time competition to amateur radio at ha…

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Don’t Touch the Mouse! Contesting Tricks from K1RX 44:07

5M ago44:07

44:07

Mark Pride is a veteran contester from New England and former leader of the renowned Yankee Clipper Contest Club. With more than six decades of ham radio experience, he’s done it all—from building top-performing stations to running at world-class rates—but what he enjoys most these days is mentoring. Whether it’s a brand-new op or someone trying to…

CEO Of Worldwide Engineering Podcasts