Wayne Green W2NSD

Wayne Green (callsign W2NSD) was an influential figure in the world of amateur radio, personal computing, and publishing. He was best known as the founder and publisher of 73 Magazine, a long-running magazine dedicated to amateur (ham) radio, which ran from 1960 to 2003.

Key facts about Wayne Green:

• Full Name: Wayne S. Green II

• Callsign: W2NSD (which he often said stood for "Never Say Die")

• Born: September 3, 1922

• Died: September 13, 2013

• Profession: Publisher, editor, entrepreneur, amateur radio operator

Contributions:

• 73 Magazine: His most notable publication, focused on ham radio, covered technical projects, opinions, and editorials—often very outspoken ones. It helped popularize and support the amateur radio community for over four decades. Green had a notable hand in the amateur radio magazine "CQ" as well where he was the editor.

• Personal Computing Magazines: He also helped start or was involved in several other tech-related magazines, including:

  • Byte (initially as a co-founder)

  • Kilobaud Microcomputing

  • 80 Microcomputing (focused on the TRS-80 computer)

• Entrepreneurial Spirit: Green was known for his provocative writing style, controversial opinions, and a strong belief in alternative technologies, including cold fusion and unconventional health ideas.

Wayne Green was a colorful and often polarizing personality, but he played a major role in shaping early tech and ham radio media.

Wayne Green was much more than just a publisher—he was a provocateur, futurist, and relentless self-promoter. His views and career offer a fascinating look at the evolution of amateur radio, personal computing, and fringe science from the 1960s onward.

📰 Publishing History & Influence

📡 73 Magazine (1960–2003)

• Core focus: Amateur radio (ham radio)

• Style: Technical articles, editorials, how-tos, equipment reviews, and Green's own columns.

• Editorial tone: Bold, confrontational, and fiercely independent. He often criticized the ARRL (American Radio Relay League) and other institutions he saw as bureaucratic or outdated.

• His column, Never Say Die (NSD), was filled with opinions, predictions, and personal anecdotes—sometimes off-topic, but always entertaining.

💻 Personal Computing Era

In the mid-to-late 1970s, Green jumped into the rapidly growing world of home computing:

• BYTE Magazine (1975):

  • Green helped launch BYTE, one of the most influential early computer magazines.

  • He lost control of the magazine early due to a falling-out with its staff, including his then-girlfriend/editor-in-chief.

• Kilobaud Microcomputing (1977):

  • Started in direct competition with BYTE after his ouster.

  • The name was a jab—“Kilobaud” being a play on BYTE's name.

• 80 Microcomputing:

  • A hugely popular magazine focusing on the Tandy/Radio Shack TRS-80 computer.

  • This became his most commercially successful computer magazine.

He went on to launch others, including InCider (Apple computers), RUN (Commodore 64), and Hot CoCo (Color Computer).

🧠 Views & Controversies

Wayne Green's writing went far beyond electronics:

• Alternative Science: Advocated for cold fusion, free energy, and other fringe technologies.

• Conspiracy Theories: Occasionally dipped into controversial or conspiratorial subjects.

• Holistic Health: Promoted unconventional health ideas like vitamin megadosing and raw food diets.

• Predictions: He often made bold forecasts about the future of technology, many of which were accurate—especially regarding personal computing, telecommunications, and the internet.

📚 Legacy

Despite the eccentricity, Green had a lasting impact on several fields:

• Amateur radio: He energized and expanded the ham community with 73 Magazine.

• Computing journalism: He was a pioneer in accessible tech media during the PC revolution.

• Entrepreneurship: A maverick who wasn't afraid to start new ventures and fail forward.

Quote That Captures Him:

“Never Say Die means you never give up. You can change the world if you want to, and I want to.”

Wayne Green's editorials in 73 Magazine were renowned for their candid and often provocative commentary on amateur radio and technology. Here are a few notable excerpts that capture his distinctive voice:

1. On Innovation in Amateur Radio:

   "The ham who isn't experimenting is just another appliance operator."

2. On Bureaucracy and Regulation:

   "The FCC's idea of progress is to regulate yesterday's technology tomorrow."

3. On the Future of Technology:

   "Personal computing will do for the mind what the industrial revolution did for the hand."

These quotes reflect Green's advocacy for experimentation, skepticism of regulatory bodies, and foresight into technological advancements.