Victoria University Antarctic Research Expedition Science and Logistics Reports 2001-02: VUWAE 46

RADIO COMMUNICATIONS

RADIO COMMUNICATIONS

VHF radio communications at each of the valley campsites was extremely limited. At Beacon and Arena valleys the VHF high-gain aerial worked in selected places, but there was a fault with the connector pin fitting and this made the antenna unreliable and not usable. Although this problem was eventually fixed, Pearse Valley was too isolated for the aerial to work. Here communication was possible only with the HF 'butterbox' or by climbing .5 hr to a suitably high location.

In addition to poor communications, a hand-held VHF radio was lost at the Beacon Valley campsite during the helicopter landing and loading for the move to Arena Valley. A limited search for it was made with the helicopter waiting during the move to Pearse Valley.

Field operations in Antarctica now require reliable and quick communications with Scott Base. Because of this, I strongly recommend that satellite phones be provided to field parties that are out of VHF radio contact.