AmateurRadio.com

Bob Heil, K9EID, is a very busy guy (especially today as he gets ready to debut his new show on Leo Laporte’s TWiT network called HAM Nation), but I had the opportunity to catch up with him to find out more about his plans:

Bob, when Leo Laporte, “The Tech Guy,” offered you the opportunity to host a show about ham radio on his amazing TWiT Network, what was your first reaction?

I was very thrilled and extremely honored to have Leo recognize the importance of the ham radio community.

Talk some about the equipment you’ll be using to record the show. Will you be broadcasting live?

The show will be done live from my station lab where I develop all of our amateur radio as well as professional series products. I use a P.C. based computer fed with an Alesis Mix 8 USB mixer. Using one of our PR 40 into the mixer, it gives me great flexibility with tailoring the audio right where we need it. For camera, I am using what most of the TWIT hosts are using, the new Logitech C 910 HD camera. Very small but extremely high quality for the size and cost.

You’re going to have a massive technically-oriented audience that may not have much familiarity with Amateur Radio. What are some of the goals you’re hoping to achieve with the show?

It is amazing how many hams are in that TWiT audience. It was one of the leading factors that led Leo to invite our industry onto his network. As Leo, I will let the chat room guide us to the subjects they want to know more about but I already have guests lined up to do all types of technical things – kit building, antennas, types of transceivers, digital communications, D Star, emergency communications, Field Day activities, etc. . . any ideas? Please pass them on. We, the amateur radio community now has a platform on Tuesday night where we can share with the world.

What are some of your personal interests as a ham? What equipment do you run in your shack?

If it were not for my interest in ham radio back in the mid 50’s as a high school teenager, I would never have been able to accomplish anything close to what has happened. The basis of everything I do was learned from great mentors I met on the air. I spent 17 years as a technician exploring SERIOUS VHF work. Since 1976 when I upgraded, I have been all over the map but I STILL revert to much of my original gear that I have had over the years including my 1956 Harvey wells, 1958 CE 20A, 1962 HT 37. I love all of the vintage gear and you can find me on AM several nights a week. Because my station is my lab for my company, I have many late model transceivers to keep up with the technology and what needs to be done to make then sound good.

Tune in Tuesday nights, starting tonight, 6pm Pacific/9pm Eastern at http://live.twit.tv.  You’ll also be able to watch the show via the embedded video below.  Good luck, Bob!

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