Radio Communications

K042 was issued with tacit VHF radios and a Compak HF radio. The HF was used during the crevasse rescue at New Glacier because the VHF repeaters at Mt Erebus or Mt Newall were obscured. HF communications varied at times due to atmospheric disturbance which made it difficult to initially inform Scott Base of the detailed situation.

VHF communication was used most of the time from Cape Roberts and on occasion from central Granite Harbour. For some reason communication also varied from day to day or hour to hour both on the Erebus and Mt Newall repeaters. On several occasions at Cape Roberts hut we could not transmit via Mt. Newall on a raised high gain antenna, even though this had given excellent results the previous season. The repeater on Mt. Erebus was also unpredictable and might need realigning or tuning to service Granite Harbour better. A temporary repeater on Mt. England or Mt Marston would service most of the Granite Harbour area.