There is no doubt that Quin, K8QS, and Tom, WA9TDD, have Ham Radio Perspectives. For one thing, the friends, who have remained close since their Chicago high school years in the 1960s, have their individual voices and their definite views. For another thing, they have Ham Radio Perspectives because that's the name of YouTube channel they co-host. The heart, the humor and even the humility they bring to the task has been attracting about 2,000 new subscribers a month.

Like most hams, Tom and Quin are always investigating what makes things work - and so they look inside the culture of amateur radio - and yes, we do have a culture! Their lively podcasts have explored the evolution of hamfests and even the history of DXing, taking a somewhat anthropological view of DXers themselves as the "hunters and gatherers" of HF. Their positive approach extends to their viewers, who are invited to pose questions about antennas, grounding issues and even QSL cards. Viewers are also encouraged to send in funny or even embarrassing stories to match the ones they hear in the show.

Quin told Newsline during a recent video interview: [quote] "We are role models in what it means to have friends in the hobby," [endquote] The show's goal is to restore the personal element and humanity that was stripped from so many of our lives during the isolating years of the pandemic. Even as they laugh together, they're also solving problems together, or trying to.

They both told Newsline [quote] "We are friends no matter what." [endquote]

As to the question of what makes things work, well, they may have figured that out, after all.