Subj : Amateur Radio Newsline (B
To : All
From : Daryl Stout
Date : Fri Aug 17 2018 11:34 am
SILENT KEY: FORMER AMSAT PRESIDENT BILL TYNAN W3XO
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: A noted figure in amateur radio satellite operations
has become a Silent Key, as we hear from Jack Parker, W8ISH.
JACK: William Tynan, W3XO, who was known throughout the amateur radio
satellite world, has become a Silent Key. The Washington, D.C. native
had an early love of radio, that led him to a career in broadcasting,
as well as an affinity as a hobbyist for VHF and ham radio satellites.
He attended the first meeting of a group in 1969 that later became
AMSAT, a group he would serve as president in 1991. For two decades,
he was also AMSAT's volunteer OSCAR Number Administrator, designating
the alphanumeric identities on amateur radio satellites. He stepped
down from that role only last month.
As AMSAT's vice president for human spaceflight, Bill lobbied hard for
NASA to allow space shuttles to permit ham radio operation. This
launched the program known as Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment, or
SAREX, which led eventually to the program known as ARISS, Amateur
Radio on the International Space Station. He was a strong advocate
too for the ARISS interoperable radio system project, soon to get
underway on the ISS. He served on AMSAT's board of directors from 1986
to 2003, and was chairman for his final five years.
Many amateurs also remember his column "The World Above 50 MHz" which
ran in QST Magazine from 1975 to 1992. During that time, he advocated
for the adoption of a grid system for VHF/UHF operators, which led to
the option of the Maidenhead grid system, and ultimately the ARRL's
VUCC operating award program for 50 MHz and above.
A Life Member of ARRL, AMSAT, and the Institute of Electrical and
Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Bill was Hamvention's Amateur of the Year
in 1996.
Bill Tynan, who lived in Kerrville Texas, was 91. Vale Bill Tynan.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jack Parker, W8ISH.
(AMSAT)
**
MINING FOR GOOD CONTACTS ON HF
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: From the heights of space, to the depths of the earth,
hams are always seeking good QSOs. Neil Rapp, WB9VPG, spoke with one
amateur, who is mining for good contacts. Literally.
NEIL: Portable operation is sweeping the planet. While some locations
on the air events have been around for a long time, many have popped
up after the success of National Parks on the Air. Some of them include
Islands, Summits, Jamboree, National Parks, Walmart Parking Lots, Pubs,
NASA, Lighthouses, Windmills, Beaches, and Moats. Craters is being
planned for this fall.
But today, we're talking about Mines on the Air. John Fuller, WJ0NF,
took a few minutes to talk with me about the event.
JOHN: Actually, I thought of it before I got my license. But then I did
a lot of research online, watching YouTube and stuff, and I thought this
would be great to combine with some of my other hobbies. I like to go
ATV riding, and hiking, and do some exploring; and then there's so many
mines in this area that I was trying to research. I thought "wow, this
would be great. I could take my radio and I could talk to people." And,
I had been looking at that time, we had National Parks on the Air, and
it just seemed like a great idea; even if nobody else wanted to
participate, I figured I'd have fun doing it as well. I like to do a
little photography, so it really just combined a whole bunch of hobbies
together, and started me on this path to create Mines on the Air, which
is basically going out to mines; whether they are current mines,
abandoned mines, or historical mines, and then setting up and activation
just like you would a park, or a SOTA type of activation.
NEIL: While there isn't an award program at least yet, you can score
some very unique QSL cards working the mines.
JOHN: If I activate a mine, I take a bunch of pictures, and I document
that mine. And, I create custom QSL cards, and send those to like the
first 20 people, or how many ever that I've contacted. So, they get a
unique QSL card, with a picture of that mine in the location, and then
a little bit of information on it.
NEIL: John encourages those who might be interested, to go to
MinesOnTheAir.com for more information, including safety.
JOHN: A couple of key things is obviously safety. Just like doing a
SOTA activation, or an island activation, or anything, you want to be
safe. You have to use some common sense, and not go into mines and
things like that. But I've got some documentation on the web site,
with some good ideas. Even if they're just interested in seeing the
pictures, there's a lot of very cool pictures, and locations on the site.
NEIL: John says Mines on the Air is a great way to enjoy the outdoors
along with ham radio.
Reporting for Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Neil Rapp, WB9VPG.
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