Thomas Witherspoon, K4SWL: “Curiosity, Inclusiveness, and Mentoring Will Propel Amateur Radio Forward”

Thomas Witherspoon, K4SWL

We are most fortunate to have as our keynote speaker Thomas Witherspoon, K4SWL. Thomas has been a ham radio operator since 1997, making most of his contacts in the field with low-power (QRP) gear. He runs QRPer.com, the SWLing Post, and the Shortwave Radio Audio Archive, and is a regular co-hosts the Ham Radio Workbench podcast. A 2023 inductee into the QRP Hall of Fame, Thomas has a deep love for chasing weak signals from the great outdoors.

Thomas will explore the enduring values of amateur radio—joy, kindness, community, diversity, and mentorship—and how they have always been at the heart of the hobby. He will highlight how mentorship, or Elmering, ensures amateur radio remains self-sustaining. It is through these values that amateur radio continues to be a dynamic and innovative space where operators push technical boundaries, foster new ideas, and build lifelong connections that will carry the hobby into the future.
 

Bio:

Thomas Witherspoon, K4SWL, has been a ham radio operator since 1997, making most of his contacts in the field with low-power (QRP) gear. He is the owner and curator of QRPer.com, a website devoted to field radio, and also runs the SWLing Post and the Shortwave Radio Audio Archive—two resources dedicated to shortwave radio and international broadcasting. His YouTube channel features ad-free, real-time, real-life field activation videos, capturing the joy (and occasional chaos) of operating outdoors. Thomas believes his videos are also a sure-fire way to cure one’s insomnia.

A regular co-host on the Ham Radio Workbench podcast, Thomas enjoys discussing everything from home projects to the latest radio gear—just don’t get him started on backpacks, or you may never escape the rabbit hole. He has an insatiable curiosity for how things work, a habit that began at age six when he discovered that opening up electronics is a surefire way to void warranties (a skill he still possesses today).

In 2023, Thomas was inducted into the QRP ARCI QRP Hall of Fame for his contributions to the amateur radio community. When he’s not chasing weak signals, testing new gear, or hiking to the next SOTA or POTA location, he’s likely scheming up new ways to carry even more radio equipment into the field—preferably in a very well-organized backpack.