Radio Communications

During the season we had access to both Codan SSB and Tait VHF radio sets for communications with Scott Base. The positioning of a repeater on Brown Peninsula allowed the Tait VHF sets to be used effectively from "inside" the Miers Hut and on only one occasion was the Codan HF set required to reach Scott Base from the Miers. Communications were extremely good and a high gain aerial was not required. At no time were communications missed because of "technology" failure.

It was still not possible, even with the repeater, to use the VHF sets from the Garwood and so the Codan was required on our visits to this "outpost". The Codan was used to maintain contact with other field parties and to keep in touch with what was going on in the New Zealand field programme. Because of this, the batteries required changing 4 or 5 times over the duration of the event.

The solar panels were not used as we had a generator and using a "multibox" it was possible to charge the batteries while doing other work. The generator was essential to operate the computer for data collation and down-loading of material to and from the dataloggers. It was also needed for recharging the EDM batteries which only lasted one days survey operations.

The Coms Operators this season provided an excellent service and an efficient link to Scott Base. They seemed to take an interest in what we were doing and were always willing to have a chat or read out some news. With only two persons in the Miers for much of the season they provided a much appreciated link to the "outside".