22-07-2017, 08:26 AM
From WIA News for 23 July 2017:
SILENT KEY VK4BRG
Ron Graham came from Sarina and had been an RI in Central Queensland
He manufactured EPIRB detectors that worked, were simple and easy to operate. He couldn't find anybody in search and rescue circles that would take him seriously.
He made many units including 243mhz versions (military distress freq) that were also used on standard 121.5 MHz epirbs. He also made units that worked on "practice freqs" close to the distress freqs for use as training units.
One 'local' used one of his smaller 243 MHz models to find 2 guys in the water at night out of the Capricorn coast in October 1997 after all other daylight attempts had failed. They'd lost all hope of rescue when darkness fell. Saved their lives thanks to Ron Graham's unit.
His units were also tested as working satisfactorily out of high winged aircraft in South Australia when the floppy antenna extensions were strengthened. Aim the antenna out of the open door from inside the a/craft and fly in a circle. Simple.
VK4BRG made antennas that were used as standard issue portable locators for ACA and NSW water police teams in Sydney at the Olympic Games in 2000 where they proved their value.
Once proved, Ron's locators became standard issue in SAR operations Aus wide.
Even the Vic police eventually "discovered" them after 8 years of denial.
He spent time on communications work in S/W Pacific communities where he became interested in other practical useful applications of his hobby.
Ron worked in technical design, install and maintenance in the South West Pacific, New Guinea and Northern Australia for many firms before 'settling down' bit south of Sarina Central Queensland in the mid-1980s.
It was here that Ron got serious with his love for long distance radio and set a long path distance record with a confirmed contact with station 5H1HK inZanzibar on the 50 to 54 megahertz band of 28264km - a contact made in April 1989 that still stands today unbeaten as a Queensland State Record.
Ron also ran a Packet Radio Bulletin Board system and was one of the first System Operators to adopt the QNEWS TT-System, an information page system a bit like Teletext but much more flexible.
One of life's good guys .
Vale Ron Graham VK4BRG
SILENT KEY VK4BRG
Ron Graham came from Sarina and had been an RI in Central Queensland
He manufactured EPIRB detectors that worked, were simple and easy to operate. He couldn't find anybody in search and rescue circles that would take him seriously.
He made many units including 243mhz versions (military distress freq) that were also used on standard 121.5 MHz epirbs. He also made units that worked on "practice freqs" close to the distress freqs for use as training units.
One 'local' used one of his smaller 243 MHz models to find 2 guys in the water at night out of the Capricorn coast in October 1997 after all other daylight attempts had failed. They'd lost all hope of rescue when darkness fell. Saved their lives thanks to Ron Graham's unit.
His units were also tested as working satisfactorily out of high winged aircraft in South Australia when the floppy antenna extensions were strengthened. Aim the antenna out of the open door from inside the a/craft and fly in a circle. Simple.
VK4BRG made antennas that were used as standard issue portable locators for ACA and NSW water police teams in Sydney at the Olympic Games in 2000 where they proved their value.
Once proved, Ron's locators became standard issue in SAR operations Aus wide.
Even the Vic police eventually "discovered" them after 8 years of denial.
He spent time on communications work in S/W Pacific communities where he became interested in other practical useful applications of his hobby.
Ron worked in technical design, install and maintenance in the South West Pacific, New Guinea and Northern Australia for many firms before 'settling down' bit south of Sarina Central Queensland in the mid-1980s.
It was here that Ron got serious with his love for long distance radio and set a long path distance record with a confirmed contact with station 5H1HK inZanzibar on the 50 to 54 megahertz band of 28264km - a contact made in April 1989 that still stands today unbeaten as a Queensland State Record.
Ron also ran a Packet Radio Bulletin Board system and was one of the first System Operators to adopt the QNEWS TT-System, an information page system a bit like Teletext but much more flexible.
One of life's good guys .
Vale Ron Graham VK4BRG