I’m Kevin Thomas, W1DED—host of Q5, where I’ve rediscovered a childhood passion for ham radio. This special edition was originally recorded for the Radio Maine podcast, where my wife, Dr. Lisa Belisle, interviews me—for a non-ham audience—about the journey from an HW-101 in Presque Isle, Maine to building a global ham radio media platform. Like many, I stepped away from the hobby for decades. But during COVID, with time, curiosity, and a podcast studio already up and running, I started asking questions. Conversations with operators turned into recordings, and soon Q5 was born—a space for every corner of ham radio, from competitive contesters to weekend POTA ops. Since then, I’ve lugged gear through Caribbean customs, logged contacts from state parks with my sons, and learned to track not just propagation, but people. This is also a story about the human depth of ham radio. Whether it’s activating Shenandoah National Park with my dad, troubleshooting gear in the Bahamas with Lisa, or getting a replacement power supply delivered by ferry from Ira, J88IH, the thread is always community. From teens prepping for J62K to legends like K3LR, the voices I feature on Q5 remind me why this hobby matters. Q5 is more than a YouTube channel—it’s a return to something real. Whether you’re a seasoned DXer, a rabid contester, or just ham-curious, you’re welcome here. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio.
Kevin, Your videos have some of the best production value of any on QRZ. We really appreciate your contributions to the community. The way you speak about the hobby is really compelling and respectful. I was also interested to hear about the fact that you own an art gallery. Art is one of my passions and it's fun to hear that we have that in common. Thanks for sharing some of yourself with us, Jaime Jeffries, KF7WIS CEO, QRZ
Hi Jaime, Thank you for the kind words — that really means a lot coming from you and from QRZ. The platform has been incredibly supportive of what I’m trying to do with Q5, and I truly appreciate the openness and encouragement. I’ve always admired how QRZ brings together such a wide range of people who care deeply about amateur radio. It’s been a pleasure to contribute to that community and to see the conversations that grow around the videos. And yes — art is a big part of my world, so it’s wonderful to know we share that passion as well. Thanks again for reaching out, and for everything you do to keep QRZ such a vibrant and important part of the hobby. All the best, Kevin Thomas, W1DED
