The very popular New England QSO Party will take place May 4-5, 2024. NEQP founder, and well-known ham radio operator, Tom Frenaye K1Ki joined me for a conversation about this year's event. Did you know that of the four largest state QSO parties - California (CQP), Florida (FQP), the 7th Call Area (7QP), and NEQP - that Tom K1KI, was instrumental in founding two of them? While in high school, Tom and his buddy, Chris WB6EUZ, started the first California QSO Party (it was later taken over by the NCCC to become what it is today). Decades later, Tom noticed that the individual New England states didn't have the critical mass to produce highly participatory QSO parties on their own, so he founded the New England QSO Party. If you’re interested in learning more, and maybe operating in the 2024 NEQP, listen to this interview with Tom.

As anticipated, my conversation with Kyle Krieg AA0Z in which he made the case for change in the world of contests has stirred up considerable debate. The online world responded with a spectrum of viewpoints, some in favor of Kyle's insights, while others questioned his knowledge of the facts. To dig deeper, I engaged with the Contest Crew, a group of seasoned contesters and former contest organizers, to dissect the core arguments presented in the interview and the subsequent online discourse. This dialogue promises to be illuminating, offering a well-rounded examination of the various opinions circulating.

Have you dreamt about operating from the Caribbean and being the DX? Dr. Bill Schmidt K9HZ has not only created a radio paradise for himself on the island of St. Lucia but his villa and amateur radio station are available for rent. If you're intrigued, listen to Bill talk about how he and his wife settled upon St. Lucia for their retirement home and how a simple ham radio setup eventually became two towers, a SteppIR antenna, Elecraft K4's, and more. Even if you're not planning a trip, hearing the story behind your QSO with J68HZ (or J62K in the recent CQ WPX SSB contest) will surely put a smile on your face. Thank you for joining us and subscribing to W1DED Worldwide Ham Radio where we bring you (at least) one interview with an experienced ham radio operator every week. 73, Kevin W1DED