Other formats

    Adobe Portable Document Format file (facsimile images)   TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

Victoria University Antarctic Research Expedition Science and Logistics Reports 1982-83: VUWAE 27

Communications:

Communications:

A Compak radio was provided for the twice daily radio skeds with Scott Base. We found that we always needed to transmit on high power and that the batteries had a life of only 8-10 days. Communication with Scott Base was often very difficult due to ionospheric disturbances, and a lot of skeds had to be relayed via Vanda Station or another field party. On the positive side it was only in extremely rare cases that we were unable to receive transmissions from Scott Base.

One problem we experienced in the field was that although we had provided a "shopping list" during the radio skeds, the items and our mail were not put on helicopters coming to Shapeless Mountain although there were at least 3 opportunities when this could have been done. The problem continued after we left the field as mail for K6A was not forwarded during their relocation from Shapeless Mountain to the Allan Hills. Information regarding possible helicopter moves was often patchy and when helicopters did not arrive when scheduled explanations via the radio were rarely given.