Ham Radio Gizmos

N2LEE
  • 5.0 (3)
  • HOBBIES
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to Ham Radio Gizmos! We're here to educate and entertain amateur radio enthusiasts, whether you're just starting out, or have been at it for years. Ham radio is packed with fascinating, untold stories—from the pioneering innovators who laid the groundwork to the cutting-edge tech that keeps us connected today. We love diving into these stories and sharing them with curious minds like yours. If you know of an interesting story we should be covering, please reach out and let us know.

  1. JAN 28

    How Did Gus's Hamfest Purchase Catch his Garage on Fire?

    In this episode of Guy & Gus Ham Radio Gizmos, we explore the RIGHT way to use dummy loads after Gus learns the hard way. Plus: Norwegian WWII resistance radio operators, Aerial's Q&A on power handling, and Guy's "This Week in Ham Radio History."============================ I have received a number of emails asking about what they can do to support the podcast.And I don't believe in asking for donations so I decided the best thing to do is to let Guy and Gus do this for me. I am continue to expand the line of products and use Guy and Gus to help.Customize with YOUR Name & Callsignhttps://Store.HamRadioGizmos.com============================What You'll Learn:Dummy load power ratings and why they matterSWR basics and proper impedance matchingOil-filled vs resistor-type dummy loadsHow to safely test transmitters and amplifiersAmazing WWII ham radio resistance story

    18 min

  2. JAN 6

    Why Did Gus's $175 Transformer Terrify Mr. Whiskers the Cat?

    Gus spent $175 on a vintage Fender Deluxe Reverb transformer to repair his Heathkit Warrior. There was just one problem: it's a guitar amp transformer. Guy tries to explain why impedance ratios matter. Gus tests it anyway. Even Mr. Whiskers knows this is bad.Meanwhile, Guy reveals the surprising origin of Q-signals (spoiler: British ships and railroad operators invented them, not hams), and Aerial attempts humor while answering listener questions about first HF antennas, tuners, and apartment operating. ⚠️ DISCLAIMER:If you order vintage audio transformers on eBay, attempt to use guitar amp parts in ham radios, or test questionable equipment at your brother's house, this program may cause spontaneous understanding of why specifications actually matter. We are not responsible for terrified cats, strongly worded feedback from spouses, or neighborhood power outages. Don't try Gus's methods at home.HISTORY OF Q-SIGNALS https://youtu.be/PTDhrAvVhFUWelcome to Ham Radio Gizmos, where you Laugh and Learn—because twin brothers Guy and Gus can't agree on anything about amateur radio, and you'll learn everything while they argue about it.⚡ IN THIS EPISODE:🔧 The Transformer Disaster:Gus explains why a 1967 Fender guitar amp transformer is "basically the same" as an AM modulation transformer (it's not). Guy explains impedance matching. Gus tests it at Guy's house. The results are... distinctive.📻 The Real History of Q-Signals:Guy reveals that hams didn't invent QSL, QTH, QRM, or QRP. British merchant ships did in 1909. Then railroad telegraph operators influenced them. Then we borrowed them. Indefinitely.🤖 Aerial's Q&A Debut:Our AI assistant answers real listener questions:Mike in Sacramento: Best first HF antenna for new Generals?Sarah in Portland: Resonant antennas vs. tuners—what's the difference?Tom in Atlanta: Should you buy an expensive radio or invest in your antenna?Jason in Chicago: Realistic apartment HF solutions that actually workPlus, Aerial attempts her first jokes. Guy encourages her. Gus provides commentary. 📚 TOPICS COVERED:✅ Why guitar amp transformers ≠ modulation transformers✅ Impedance matching in AM transmitters✅ British maritime Q-codes (1909)✅ Railroad telegraph influence on ham radio✅ ARRL's QST magazine origin✅ End-fed half-wave antennas (49:1 configuration)✅ Antenna tuners vs. resonant antennas explained✅ Budget priorities: radio or antenna first?✅ Magnetic loop antennas for apartments✅ FT8 and digital modes for compromised antennas✅ Why Mr. Whiskers is still hiding under the couch

    23 min
  3. Gus's Project Takes Down the Entire Neighborhood's Power

    12/30/2025

    Gus's Project Takes Down the Entire Neighborhood's Power

    This week on Guy & Gus Ham Radio Gizmos: Gus's homebrew radio combiner takes down the entire neighborhood's power, we uncover the secret WWII ham radio operators who intercepted Nazi communications, and our AI assistant shocks Gus by matching his vintage radio expertise!In Episode 2, we explore the incredible story of the Voluntary Interceptors—over 1,500 amateur radio operators (many just teenagers) who secretly helped win World War II by listening to Nazi transmissions from their garden sheds. Most didn't learn what they were REALLY doing until 30 years later!Plus, Gus attempts to build a $15,000 radio combiner for $50 using salvaged TV parts. What could go wrong? (Hint: The power company got involved.)And in our Ask Aerial segment, Gus tests our AI assistant with a technical question about selenium rectifier replacement in vintage Hallicrafters receivers—and gets an answer that leaves him speechless.

    15 min

  4. 12/11/2025

    G & G - Learn & Laugh - Ham Radio Gizmos - Episode 1

    Ham Radio Education Shouldn't Be Boring.With G&G, It Won't Be.Learn amateur radio through our "Learning and Laughing" approach.Twin brothers Guy and Gus teach you everything from license prep to equipment reviews - while arguing about absolutely everything.Ham radio education shouldn't put you to sleep. With G&G, it won't. • Learning and Laughing since 2025 | New episodes weekly

    18 min
  5. Everyone’s Panicking About AI… Here is What They are Missing

    09/29/2025

    Everyone’s Panicking About AI… Here is What They are Missing

    Everyone's talking about how AI is going to ruin jobs, kill creativity, and replace everything we love. But here’s the thing—they said the same about the printing press, railroads, electricity… even ham radio. In this video, we take a ride through history’s greatest tech freakouts—and uncover what they all missed. Whether you're a ham, a skeptic, or just tech-curious, this one might change your frequency.Reference Sources1. People Destroyed Printing Presses Out of Fearhttps://bigthink.com/the-past/printing-press-ai/2. How AI Will Impact Ham Radio — Part 1https://digitalcommons.calvin.edu/calvin_facultypubs/945/3. AI, Science, and the Printing Presshttps://online.ucpress.edu/hsns/article/54/5/617/203880/4. The Sisyphean Cycle of Technology Panicshttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7477771/5. Tech Panics, Generative AI, and Regulationhttps://datainnovation.org/2023/05/tech-panics-generative-ai-and-regulatory-caution/6. Gutenberg’s Message to the AI Erahttps://www.brookings.edu/articles/gutenbergs-message-to-the-ai-era/7. The History of Amateur "Ham" Radiohttps://everything-everywhere.com/the-history-of-amateur-ham-radio/8. Ham Radio and Artificial Intelligence (YouTube)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LiCFdXf3M89. Introducing Radio Alpha – ARRL Museumhttps://www.arrl.org/news/introducing-radio-alpha-the-arrl-museum-and-research-library10. Why the Printing Press Helps Us Understand AIhttps://arxiv.org/abs/2104.12731

    11 min
  6. The WWII Hams Who Intercepted Hitler’s Secrets

    08/26/2025

    The WWII Hams Who Intercepted Hitler’s Secrets

    During World War II, radios were confiscated from civilians across Britain. Yet somehow… a few were quietly given back.Why? Because hidden in the static were signals the military couldn’t afford to miss—coded transmissions from the German intelligence services.While Enigma was being cracked at Bletchley Park, another ultra-secret operation was underway. A ghost army of ordinary hams, teenagers, and even a few women sat in their bedrooms and garden sheds, pulling faint Morse code out of the ether. They logged everything. They asked no questions. And for decades, they told no one.The truth only began to surface in the last 40 years. Until then, even their families had no idea.Who were these “secret listeners”?Why did the government trust amateurs with a task so critical to the war?And how close did they come to being forgotten entirely?This is the hidden story behind ham radio’s most secret chapter.To learn more check out The Secret Listeners by Sinclair McKayhttps://amzn.to/4mt5BwRResources & References used to write this story.BBC News – “The teenage radio enthusiasts who helped win World War II”Katia Moskvitch, BBC Technology Reporter (2013).👉 https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-23162846RSGB RadCom – Voluntary Interceptors Tribute (September 2018)Article adapted by John Swartz, WA9AQN.👉 https://rsgb.org/main/blog/news/gb2rs/headlines/2018/09/07/voluntary-interceptors-tribute/BBC Documentary – “The Secret Listeners” (1979)First public reveal of the Voluntary Interceptors after decades of secrecy. Transcript archived at East Anglian Film Archive.👉 http://eafa.org.uk/catalogue/5108Geoffrey Pidgeon – The Secret Wireless War: The Story of MI6 Communications 1939–1945 (2003).Book highlighting MI6 communications and the role of civilian listeners.👉 https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Secret-Wireless-War.pdf (excerpted version)Nigel West – GCHQ: The Secret Wireless War 1900–86 (1987).Detailed history of the Radio Security Service and its transition into GCHQ.👉 https://archive.org/details/gchq-secret-wireless-warBletchley Park Trust – Archives & ExhibitsMuseum exhibits at Bletchley Park (includes the RSGB National Radio Centre).👉 https://bletchleypark.org.uk/Wikipedia – Government Code and Cypher School (GC&CS)Background on Bletchley Park and its connection to Enigma and Ultra intelligence.👉 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_Code_and_Cypher_School

    9 min
  7. The CW Way - How Morse Code Will Change Your Brain Forever!

    07/14/2025

    The CW Way - How Morse Code Will Change Your Brain Forever!

    Inspired by Chris Rukowski's book, this video shares a true story of the profound impact of Morse code. It explores the history, personal journey, and enduring legacy of the dot code in today's digital world, highlighting its relevance in amateur radio and emergency communications. Join us as we delve into the CW Way of Life.My Personal Story...After being licensed for over 45 years, I was afraid of Morse Code. My last battle was when I had to go downtown to the FCC office to get my technician license. But now I have fully embraced the code, and while I am still learning, I am facing this demon head-on and having a blast. Funny when you are not being told you have to learn something; how much more fun something can be. :)If you are interested in learning Morse Code? I encourage you to join the Online Long Island CW Club. https://longislandcwclub.orgLink to Amazon Affiliate to purchase Chris's book.The CW Way of Life: Learning, Living, and Loving Morse Code (in a Digital World)https://amzn.to/468POy2

    9 min
  8. EP: 6 - The FCC and Ham Radio: Allies, Enforcers, and a Few Weird Signals

    06/25/2025

    EP: 6 - The FCC and Ham Radio: Allies, Enforcers, and a Few Weird Signals

    In this episode, we crack open the dusty files of radio history and dive into the long, complicated, and sometimes quirky relationship between the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the ham radio community. From terrifying exam rooms with stone-faced government testers, to modern RDF vans chasing down rogue signals, it’s been a wild ride since 1934. I’ll share my own firsthand memories of getting licensed back when the code test wasn’t optional—and intimidation was part of the deal. We’ll explore how the FCC tracks down interference (yes, with spy-van-looking trucks), the strange mystery of number stations, and how policy changes like dropping the Morse code requirement have shaped the hobby for new generations. If you've ever wondered what the FCC actually does for hams—or how close they might be to your QTH when someone fires up a jammer—this one’s for you. So grab your headphones and settle in. You might just come away with a new appreciation for the folks who issue us our license... and keep us honest. Visit YouTube.com/@HamRadioGizmos for additional content.

    10 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Welcome to Ham Radio Gizmos! We're here to educate and entertain amateur radio enthusiasts, whether you're just starting out, or have been at it for years. Ham radio is packed with fascinating, untold stories—from the pioneering innovators who laid the groundwork to the cutting-edge tech that keeps us connected today. We love diving into these stories and sharing them with curious minds like yours. If you know of an interesting story we should be covering, please reach out and let us know.

Information

  • Creator
    N2LEE
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © N2LEE
  • Show Website
    Ham Radio Gizmos