Fred Lass K2TR is a legend by reputation and by record—once dubbed “King Fred” during the founding days of YCCC, a title he wears with his usual self-effacing humor. From a modest childhood in Niagara Falls to a career in broadcast engineering, Fred built a life around RF. A licensed ham since the 1960s, he’s revered for his antenna mastery with technical talks that still pack rooms at Dayton Hamvention and Northeast HamX. He’s an original Murphy’s Marauder and a founding voice of what became the powerhouse Yankee Clipper Contest Club. Fred's technical chops aren’t just theoretical. As chief engineer at a broadcast station in the 1970s, he saved his employer hundreds of thousands of dollars by designing a circularly polarized antenna upgrade that required no new tower—a feat of RF and mechanical design rooted in skills honed through ham radio and a degree from RPI. Today, he’s still pushing boundaries, planning an ambitious VU4 Andaman Islands DXpedition with antenna arrays designed for the unique circumstances of that location—challenging propagation paths, remote logistics, and in-band station isolation. And, you'll find him contesting with the multi-multi titan, K3LR. Thanks to Icom for sponsoring Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio—because legendary QSOs deserve legendary radios. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio.
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30:26
Power Genius, Contests, and Helicopters: 4O3A’s Ham Radio Life
Ranko Boca 4O3A is a force in global contesting and amateur radio innovation. From his breathtaking hilltop QTH in Montenegro—accessible only by rugged vehicles or his personal helicopter—Ranko has redefined what it means to build a world-class station. A telecom engineer by training and a contester since the 1970s, his early days were shaped by club stations and soldering irons. Today, he leads SkySat and the 4O3A product line, home to cutting-edge hardware like the Power Genius XL and Station Genius—gear that’s reshaped high-performance amateur radio. After a stint in broadcast engineering and a war-disrupted career that took him to Hungary, Ranko returned to Montenegro with a singular vision: build not just a top-tier contest station, but a company that delivers "broadcast-grade" equipment to hams worldwide. His station, nearly destroyed by wildfire in 2017, is now being rebuilt—bigger, tougher, and smarter than before. He calls it “living in a big radio club,” and he means it literally: 4O3A’s R&D is as much about passion as it is about profit. In contesting, Ranko doesn’t shy from strong opinions. He’s called for bold changes in the CQ World Wide rules: shorter operating times for health and fairness, equal QSO points to level the geographical playing field, and a new "Single-Op Two Band" category to democratize high-level competition. And while he refuses to name a definitive “third best” contester in the world, his praise for legends like N5TJ and K1TO—and for regional masters like YT6W and YT7AW—shows he’s thinking globally, but never forgets home. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. Special thanks to DX Engineering, whose support of ambitious operators—from Parks on the Air to top-level contesters—keeps this hobby pushing the limits, from the mountaintops of Montenegro to basement shacks worldwide.
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Inside HamSCI’s First Field Exercise at K3LR: Dr. Nathaniel Frissell W2NAF
HamSCI just completed its first-ever multi-day field exercise at the world-class K3LR contest station in West Middlesex, PA. For four days, students, professors, researchers, and volunteers came together to install components of the Personal Space Weather Station (PSWS), explore the physics behind HF communication, and experience the hospitality of station owner Tim Duffy K3LR. In this interview with HamSCI founder Dr. Nathaniel Frissell, we go inside the project: from pounding ground rods and deploying a DX Engineering active receive antenna, to configuring the RX888 wideband SDR and seeing the first live data roll in. You’ll also hear about the camaraderie, the antenna farm tour, and even the first-ever QSOs made by new hams at K3LR. This is more than a technical milestone—it’s a glimpse at how amateur radio connects science, education, and community. A special thanks to DX Engineering for their support of HamSCI and this project. DX Engineering—trusted by contesters, DXers, and portable operators worldwide.
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Bringing Ham Radio to Malawi: Don Jones 7Q6M
In this episode of Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio, Kevin Thomas W1DED travels (virtually) to Malawi to hear the remarkable story of Don Jones 7Q6M (K6ZO). From his base at the Embangweni Mission Hospital, Don has spent years operating on HF, mentoring young operators, and helping grow a national amateur radio community in Malawi. We talk about the challenges of building a station where parts and power are scarce, how the Malawi Project became a pipeline for new operators, and how the Jeffrey Dahn Memorial Foundation now carries forward the mission of training African youth in electronics and radio. Along the way, you’ll hear how partnerships with groups like W3HAC and Yasme Foundation, plus support from the broader amateur radio community, have made a lasting impact. Amateur radio isn’t just about contacts—it’s about transforming lives. Don’s story shows how a signal from rural Africa can inspire the next generation of operators worldwide. Sponsored by DX Engineering. From contest superstations to mission-hospital setups in Malawi, DX Engineering provides the gear that keeps amateur radio operators on the air. Trusted by DXers, contesters, and portable operators around the globe. https://www.dxengineering.com
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Contest Crew Returns: SO2R Secrets and CQWW Plans
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 he’s still trying to decode. Dan, meanwhile, operated WAE remotely from N2QV, reveling in a seamless K3-to-K3 setup—but bailing to the spa when solar flares ruined the bands. Chris is juggling Montana wildfire prep and fall contest training, while Bill is mid-move from California to Illinois, paring down old projects and dropping 30 pounds ahead of CQP. The main event: SO2R and 2BSIQ. From legacy Microham boxes to rare YCCC kits and elegant DIY rigs from K6AM, the crew breaks down what works, what doesn’t, and why audio switching is more about what’s between your ears than your radios. For newer ops, it’s a masterclass; for veterans, it’s a reminder that even the pros keep refining. They close with fall CQ Worldwide plans—ZF1A, CQ9A, V47T—and WRTC pairings for England, including the headline: Dan and Chris are teaming up again. Let the trash talk commence. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. Big thanks to DX Engineering for backing contesters, DXers, and portable ops with the tools and tech to stay loud and competitive across the globe.
Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio sets a new standard in amateur radio media. Through longform interviews, sharp technical insight, and global storytelling, we explore the people and ideas shaping the future of the hobby. From top-tier contesters to everyday ops, Q5 dives into what makes ham radio personal, competitive, and endlessly compelling. New episodes feature behind-the-scenes station builds, SO2R deep dives, WRTC prep, Parks on the Air, HamSCI, and honest talk from the world's most dedicated operators. Proudly supported by DX Engineering and Icom —helping hams stay loud, connected, and ready for the next challenge. Subscribe for real conversations at the edge of the hobby.
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