As a communications and radio technician in my normal life back home, working in Antarctica took a bit of adjusting to. The high winds, often poor visibility, extremely cold temperatures and difficulties experienced just working on anything outside, can be summed up as the ‘A’ factor.
Having to wear glasses adds another layer of difficulty to this, and being over 60, I have slowed down from how I used to be. However, perseverance under difficult conditions is something we all get used to, working carefully and safely.
As part of our repairs and maintenance duties here at Davis station we have been going from huts to ‘apples’ and ‘melons’ (all names for different huts), making sure the communications equipment at each site is fully functional for regular usage by field parties. Should an emergency situation arise we make sure everything works as well as possible. Peoples lives could be at risk!
The items replaced regularly are the batteries, which deteriorate due to the extreme cold, and lack of charge during the winter when there is no sun to charge them via their roof-mounted solar panels for six weeks or so. Other failure points are the antenna and feedlines connecting the VHF radio to the outside world. We also swap over the VHF radios with ones that have been aligned in the workshop.
Travelling to these huts and other accommodation pods is either by walking during summer, or travelling over the sea ice in Hägglunds during winter, once the ice is thick enough to safely drive on. Winter is when the heavy parts replacements are done and antenna works have been completed.
On some recent trips we have been installing Iridium Satphone external antennas on the roof of the huts. Satellite phones don’t work from inside metal-roofed buildings so these antennas really are a necessity. It was highlighted to me when out on a hike to a far-flung hut when the weather changed and we had to stay an extra night until conditions improved. It was a challenge, having to call from outside the hut but also staying out of the wind and blowing snow while also maintaining a clear view of the sky in order to make the phone work. At −20°C with a beany and hooded jacket, you can’t hear a thing being said!
Now that external antennas are installed, we can sit inside the hut by the heater in a comfy chair and use the phone, not only for operational matters, but for expeditioner and family wellbeing talking to our loved ones back home.
The peace and quiet of overnight stays in field huts cannot be overstated, as they bring such happiness and safety to our expeditioners. The noises of the station are replaced by the sounds of the hut. The winds outside, the gentle sound of a boiling kettle on the stove ready to make a hot drink, VHF radio evening scheduled contact with the station, playing a round of cards on the table after dinner and the gentle snoring from fellow expeditioners during the night.
Walking outside and looking up at the Milky Way, seeing an amazing aurora and watching meteors and satellites fly over, with no artificial light anywhere to affect your night vision.
The silence, when the wind drops, is awesome. Broken only by the occasional crack from the ice heaped up on a tide crack off the shoreline of a fjord. Such an amazing place to live and work, amongst a diverse group of people on the bottom of the planet.
Dave Scott
Senior Communications Technical Officer.
