Iridium Satellite to Supply Critical Communications
for Ham Radio
Antarctic "DXpedition"
Iridium Satellite is supplying mobile satellite phone
systems for an intrepid group of amateur “ham”
radio operators who are undertaking a “DXpedition”
this month. The purpose of the DXpedition is to establish
up to nine temporary radio stations on a remote uninhabited
ice-bound island near Antarctica.
The radio site will be operational on Peter I Island
for approximately two weeks in February. During that
time, ham radio operators all over the world will have
an opportunity to log calls to the station.
The Iridium satellite phones will allow the team to
stay in touch with home, obtain weather forecasts, provide
daily uploads of log information and updates from the
island. Updates will include photos and possibly video
clips, which the DXpedition group will post to their
website (www.peterone.com).
“The Iridium satellite phones will provide an
important margin of safety for the team during their
expedition to one of the most remote and inaccessible
islands in the world,” said Greg Ewert, executive
vice president, Iridium Satellite. “Iridium’s
unique constellation of low-earth orbit satellites ensures
reliable, uninterrupted communications in extreme polar
regions which are not covered by other mobile satellite
networks.”
Bob Allphin, expedition co-leader, explained: “In
amateur radio parlance, ‘DX’ is an abbreviation
for distance, and ‘DXing’ refers to the pursuit
of radio contacts, often under extremely difficult conditions,
with distant stations across the globe. The enthusiasm
of DXers is exemplified by the frequent DXpeditions
mounted by hams to remote locations to provide the worldwide
ham community with an opportunity to log calls to that
spot.”
Discovered by a Russian explorer in 1821, Peter I Island
is more than 450 km from the nearest land in West Antarctica.
It lies below the Antarctic Circle in the Bellinghausen
Sea and is surrounded by dense pack ice almost year
round. The DXpedition team will travel to the island
from Punta Arenas, Chile, by icebreaker and will be
transported ashore by helicopter.
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Archives: (2005 ) / (2006)
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Iridium
Supplies Critical Communications for Ham Radio Antartic
"DXpedition" |
