{"id":59161,"date":"2024-03-04T10:47:52","date_gmt":"2024-03-04T14:47:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=59161"},"modified":"2024-03-04T10:47:52","modified_gmt":"2024-03-04T14:47:52","slug":"arrl-bob-heil-k9eid-silent-key","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2024\/03\/arrl-bob-heil-k9eid-silent-key\/","title":{"rendered":"ARRL: Bob Heil, K9EID, Silent Key"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

Bob Heil (left) and me, Thomas (right): Photo from 2015 when I was fortunate enough to spend a couple days with Bob Heil at a radio conference.<\/p><\/div>\n

Bob Heil, K9EID, Silent Key (ARRL News)<\/a><\/h1>\n

03\/01\/2024<\/p>\n

The man who defined the sound of live rock \u2018n\u2019 roll music and brought audio engineering principals into mainstream amateur radio use, Dr. Bob Heil, K9EID, has passed away at the age of 83. He was an ARRL Life Member and in the ARRL Maxim Society. A Facebook post from Heil Ham Radio paid tribute to their founder: \u201cBob fought a valiant, yearlong battle with cancer, and passed peacefully surrounded by his family.\u201d<\/p>\n

Heil founded Heil Sound in 1966, through which he created the template for modern concert sound systems for musicians like the Grateful Dead, The Who, Joe Walsh, and Peter Frampton. The talk box used on iconic live record Frampton Comes Alive! was of Heil\u2019s design. His audio engineering products have been featured in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and he was honored in 2007 with the Parnelli Audio Innovator Award for his impact on the live sound industry. \u201cMy life has been about achieving great sound, whether on the concert stage or in the amateur radio world,\u201d Bob Heil recounted in 2022. \u201cI\u2019ve watched Heil Sound go from a regional sound company to a world-class microphone manufacturer. This company has been my passion,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Parallel to his commercial and artistic success in live music, was his passion for amateur radio. He was active in ham radio from a young age and merged his expertise in audio engineering with his love for radio. Heil Ham Radio was founded to produce microphones, headsets, and other gear for radio amateurs with an emphasis on high-quality audio.<\/p>\n

Heil was known as a mentor who enjoyed helping others find success in ham radio. Recently, his grandson Charlie Hartley, KF0OOP, became a licensed ham to surprise Heil for his birthday. The pair attended the ARRL Midwest Convention\/Winterfest in St. Louis, Missouri, on January 27, 2024.<\/p>\n

Heil was a generous donor to amateur radio organizations, including ARRL. Recently, he donated a host of new audio gear to the Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Station, W1AW.<\/p>\n

His generosity and kind nature will be missed by many, including ARRL Director of Development Kevin Beal, K8EAL. \u201cBob was a titan in many areas. He was generous with his time, offered keen insights, and had the heart of a philanthropist in the ARRL Maxim Society,\u201d Beal said. \u201cHe was a gentleman to his core, making friends easily and everywhere he went, from rock stars to captains of industry. I consider it a real privilege to have become a friend to him, too, all because of amateur radio.\u201d<\/p>\n

Heil was known for his passion for AM operations. He served for many years as an on-camera host of the Ham Nation podcast. Tributes to Heil have been flooding social media, including from his co-hosts.<\/p>\n

ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, said Heil\u2019s passing is a significant loss. “Bob Heil’s technical achievements that brought high-quality audio to amateur radio pale in comparison to his generosity and willingness to help his fellow ham. He’s long been known as someone eager to help mentor and teach. His legacy on our hobby will be long-lasting. Our thoughts are with his loved ones.”<\/p>\n

Click here to read this article on the ARRL website.<\/a><\/p>\n

Bob, you were a true radio ambassador, and we all benefitted from your enthusiasm and passion for decades to come. Thank you.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Bob Heil, K9EID, Silent Key (ARRL News) 03\/01\/2024 The man who defined the sound of live rock \u2018n\u2019 roll music and brought audio engineering principals into mainstream amateur radio use, Dr. Bob Heil, K9EID, has passed away at the age of 83. He was an ARRL Life Member and in the ARRL Maxim Society. A […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[545,3],"tags":[8552,3809,4895],"class_list":["post-59161","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ham-radio","category-news","tag-arrl-news","tag-bob-heil","tag-david-iurescia-lw4daf"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-fod","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":16444,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/12\/qso-today-interview-with-bob-heil\/","url_meta":{"origin":59161,"position":0},"title":"QSO Today Interview with Bob Heil","author":"Robert Gulley","date":"December 28, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Eric over at QSO Today has posted an interview with Bob Heil, the founder of Heil Sound, whose microphones have transformed both the amateur community and the professional recording industry (Heil Sound is the only technology company featured in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!) The interview is about\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Bob-Heil","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Bob-Heil.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Bob-Heil.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Bob-Heil.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Bob-Heil.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12959,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/05\/improving-audio-fidelity-with-jbl-c2ps-monitor-speakers\/","url_meta":{"origin":59161,"position":1},"title":"Improving audio fidelity with JBL C2PS monitor speakers","author":"Thomas","date":"May 3, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Last year at the W4DXCC conference in Sevierville, Tennessee, I spent some quality\u00a0time with Bob Heil (K9EID). Bob is the mastermind\u00a0behind Heil Sound as well as the host of HamNation, a show devoted to all aspects of amateur radio\u2013\u2013yet this\u00a0job description\u00a0only scratches the surface of Bob's fascinating career. One thing\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"JBL-Monitor-Speakers","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/JBL-Monitor-Speakers.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/JBL-Monitor-Speakers.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/JBL-Monitor-Speakers.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":23192,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/01\/theatre-organ-from-the-ozarks-on-wtww-shortwave\/","url_meta":{"origin":59161,"position":2},"title":"“Theatre Organ from the Ozarks” on WTWW shortwave","author":"Thomas","date":"January 6, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Bob Heil (K9EID), who writes: You may be interested to know about the Saturday evening Theatre Organ shows on the 100KW of WTWW: \"Theatre Organ from the Ozarks\" each Saturday at 8PM CST (0200 UTC Sunday)\u00a0on WTWW shortwave \u00a05.085 MHz. Many readers might not\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Music"","block_context":{"text":"Music","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/music\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Bob-Heil-at-SacramentoWurlitzerConsole.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":29200,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/11\/heil-sound-and-last-man-standing\/","url_meta":{"origin":59161,"position":3},"title":"Heil Sound and Last Man Standing","author":"Robert Gulley","date":"November 16, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"The following was posted through an email from Heil Sound: When the producers of the popular TV show, \u201cLast Man Standing,\u201d needed an authentic ham radio set-up to use in the show, they turned to Heil Sound\u2019s Amateur Radio Division, helmed by Bob Heil. Now, thanks to the generosity of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Current Events"","block_context":{"text":"Current Events","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/current-events\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"last-man-standing-charity","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1427\/6938\/files\/charity_large.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":59308,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2024\/03\/bob-heil-50-years-of-maximum-rock-n-roll\/","url_meta":{"origin":59161,"position":4},"title":"Bob Heil: 50 Years of Maximum Rock n’ Roll","author":"Thomas","date":"March 19, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, William (W8LV), who writes: Bob Heil's story, as told BY Bob Heil, is available as a podcast. Here, find real music and amateur radio history as told firsthand! Available here: Check out: 50 Years of Maximum Rock n' Roll: Thank you, William! As a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Bob-Heil.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Bob-Heil.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Bob-Heil.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Bob-Heil.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":59172,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2024\/03\/radio-waves-international-symposium-focuses-on-broadcasting-last-morse-station-yaesu-frg-7-digital-frequency-kit-and-remembering-bob-heil\/","url_meta":{"origin":59161,"position":5},"title":"Radio Waves: International Symposium Focuses on Broadcasting, Last Morse Station, Yaesu FRG-7 Digital Frequency Kit, and Remembering Bob Heil,","author":"Thomas","date":"March 6, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Radio Waves:\u00a0 Stories Making Waves in the World of Radio Welcome to the\u00a0SWLing Post\u2019s Radio Waves, a collection of links to interesting stories making waves in the world of radio.\u00a0Enjoy! Many thanks to SWLing Post contributors Paul Jamet, Bob Butterfield, and NT for the following tips: International symposium: Universit\u00e9 Toulouse\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Yaesu-FRG-7.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Yaesu-FRG-7.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Yaesu-FRG-7.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Yaesu-FRG-7.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59161","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=59161"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59161\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":59162,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59161\/revisions\/59162"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=59161"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=59161"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=59161"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}