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Victoria University Antarctic Research Expedition Science and Logistics Reports 1999-2000: VUWAE 44

12 Radio Communications

12 Radio Communications

iReport on the suitability and effectiveness of the radio equipment issued to you at Scott Base. Comment on battery power, condition of aerials and utilisation of solar panels.

We had two separate radio setups: an HF unit to communicate with Scott Base and two handheld VHF units for communicating line-of-sight amongst ourselves. We were supplied with a double 12 V battery to power the HF radio and we found the 'B' battery to be much more reliable than the 'A' battery. When using the 'A' battery our radio would often cut out (lose all power) during a radio sked and we would have to quickly switch to page break battery 'B'. The VHF units worked quite well. The solar panels kept the batteries well charged. During the last couple of weeks a wind storm broke the wire part of our HF aerial (without snapping the plastic casing) causing increased difficulty in contacting Scott Base. We didn't know the aerial was broken until we dismantled the camp at the end of the season.

We feel that a very useful addition to the radio kit would be an inexpensive voltmeter so that we can tell how well our batteries are charged. This would be especially useful for the VHF batteries because their charges last for such a short time.

iiReport on reception/transmission conditions and suitability of radio sked timing. Note particularly any periods during your field trip, or regions you visited, where radio reception was especially bad or unexpectedly good. Comment on conditions where repeater stations were used.

In general our communications with Scott Base were loud and clear. We feel that it is not necessary to sked with Scott Base every 12 hours and feel that a sked every 24 hours would suffice.

iiiComment on Scott Base's general efficiency during radio skeds in providing details of forthcoming field movements (eg helicopters), weather forecasts, resupply, or news service.

Scott Base's general efficiency in providing information during skeds was fine. We very much appreciated the relaxed and chatty approach of two radio operators, Matt and Stephen. We were in the field for quite a while and it was really nice to be able to talk to someone on the radio and have them read the headlines and the sports news to us. We also thought it was great that they would read jokes to us as well. It put us in good spirits.

We found that there were some considerable miscommunications between us and the Operations Manager, Peter Cleary, with regard to helo lift capabilities and cargo. An example was when four of our event members were returned to Scott Base. We had previously confirmed with Peter that while the helo was at our field site we would use it to fly to the top of a nearby peak (Mt. Brooke) to investigate findings from a previous group. Peter advised us that the helo could only take four persons and no cargo to the peak because of the elevation. Once the helo arrived, the pilots assured us that they could take the four persons and the full amount of retro cargo (approx. 800 lbs) to the top of the peak and then continue on to Scott Base without a problem. Had we known this we could have left the cargo and taken six persons up instead. We realise the position of Antarctica New Zealand and the Operations Manager in dealing with field party safety, but feel that Peter is overly and restrictively cautious in allowing the movements of persons in the field with regard to air transport.

ivRemember that you are strongly encouraged to keep a detailed radio log while in the field, in particular if you are a deep field party. The log is to be given to the Operations Manager when returning your radio at Scott Base. Such a log can become a vital and lifesaving source of information in the event of a Search & Rescue operation and can become an important LEGAL document.

We wish to point out that at no point during our orientation at Scott Base were we recommended to keep a detailed radio log while in the field.

We feel that as part of the orientation it would be very beneficial to have a briefing from the Comms Operators to orient all event members with proper radio procedure. Although we did not experience any significant difficulties during our field season, all our knowledge relating to this came from the field manual. The meeting would also serve the purpose of allowing field event members to get to know the Comms Ops since they are the only outside people that we will have any contact with for the next couple of months.