MONITORING ANTARCTIC STATIONS
some thread from the WUN Listserver
From: Caradoc
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 1999 05:46:59 +1000
Subject: [WUN] Re: Antarctic Mercy Flight
Simon Denneen wrote:
> G'Day Folks,
>
> 8998 [Antarctic mercy flight]: 2242 UTC USB wkg AUCKLAND w/ wx for
> MCMURDO also advised that primary freq is 8998 and secondary 8867. a/c
>
> also advised that t/o was 2200Z.
>
> Can't make out callsign but it didn't sound like POLAR 99, sounded
> more
> like (something) 11.
>
> Unfortunately I've had no joy with finding any SatCom allocation.
>
Hi Simon and all
I heard the "XXX_11" callsign too and also couldn't make out the prefix
.. however, I think this must have been the tanker, as POLAR 99 was on a
little earlier, and his callsign was clear .. and although it wasn't
clear enough to read properly, this was a different voice.
Also no luck on satcom here ..
Cheers
John
------
From: Simon Denneen
Date: Sun, 11 Jul 99 08:56:37 +1000
Subject: [WUN] Antarctic Mercy Flight
G'Day Folks,
8998 [Antarctic mercy flight]: 2242 UTC USB wkg AUCKLAND w/ wx for
MCMURDO also advised that primary freq is 8998 and secondary 8867. a/c
also advised that t/o was 2200Z.
Can't make out callsign but it didn't sound like POLAR 99, sounded more
like (something) 11.
Unfortunately I've had no joy with finding any SatCom allocation.
Cheers,
SIMON DENNEEN
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
------
From: "John Charlton"
Date: Sun, 11 Jul 1999 10:20:30 +1200
Subject: [WUN] South Pole air drop
POLAR 99 departed Christchurch 2150
Position ANOPA at 2212 on 8867
8998 now primary
John Charlton
Greymouth
NZ
------
From: Patricia Gibbons
Date: Fri, 09 Jul 1999 14:57:55 -0700
Subject: Re: [WUN] More on South Pole mercy flight
Bob Margolis wrote:
> Here's the latest word from the Associated Press as of 2100 UTC:
>
> Two planes are scheduled to leave Christchurch, New Zealand, at 10 a.m.
> Sunday for the 6,375-mile round trip — a Starlifter transport from
> McChord Air Force Base 40 miles south of Seattle and a KC-135 aerial
> refueling tanker from the Hawaii Air National Guard.
>
> Both planes arrived in New Zealand early this morning.
>
> Bob Margolis
>------
WOW.. this is going to be the most expensive house-call ever =:-0
and it the dead of winter at the south pole no less
Trish
Patricia E. Gibbons
------
From: Caradoc
Date: Wed, 07 Jul 1999 08:42:28 +1000
Subject: Re: [WUN] AERO: More on South Pole mercy flight
Bob Margolis wrote:
> A news item today in a local newspaper says that the air-dropped
> medical supplies will be from an U.S. Air Force C-141 jet flying from
> Tacoma, Wash. The parachuting at Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station
> will
> take place Monday.
> So far, communications about the medical emergency have taken place
>
> over a satellite link from the National Science Foundation station to
> the
> States.
Bob and list,
In the past, ICE flights and XD-xxx flights on this route have
consistently been heard on 261.525 MHz and 8998 kHz in contact with both
New Zealand and Antarctic stations. Could be worth a listen.
Cheers
John Batty VK4MBK RAAF (Rtd) http://members.xoom.com/caradoc/
Queensland Australia Posn 152E/26.6S
http://www.trsc.com/Radio_and_Communications/
------
From: Bob Margolis
Date: Wed, 07 Jul 1999 16:03:03 -0500
Subject: [WUN] AERO: More on South Pole mercy flight
A news item today in a local newspaper says that the air-dropped
medical supplies will be from an U.S. Air Force C-141 jet flying from
Tacoma, Wash. The parachuting at Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station will
take place Monday.
So far, communications about the medical emergency have taken place
over a satellite link from the National Science Foundation station to the
States.
Cheers,
Bob Margolis
------
From: "John Charlton"
Subject: [WUN] logged in the last few days
Date: Sun, 14 Dec 1997 19:13:35 +1300
4675 1759 Iceland...weak
ANTARCTICA
8998 INDIA 2000 from Terra Nova Bay dest Christchurch wkg McMurdo
XD-03 advising Siple Dome they will be on deck in less than an hour
XD-07 off deck report to McMurdo destination South Pole
Skier 92 working Mac Centre postion Pole One
South Pole advises Mac Centre XD-07 off deck McMurdo 0758, 180/330,
est Kalva 0846, est Christchurch 1530, 9+48, cargo 2388lb, mail 0, pax
25,crew 10, est PSR 1225, est ETP 1148, est 60° South 1200
South Pole often has to relay to Mac Centre.
Elevation of South Pole is 9,301 feet
Roald Amundsen, December 14 1911
"So we arrived and were able to plant our flag at the Geographical South
Pole"
John Charlton, Greymouth, New Zealand
------
From: "John Charlton"
Subject: [WUN] Vostok Station
Date: Sun, 23 Nov 1997 21:19:25 +1300
Re Ian Julian hearing Vostok on ODF frequency...
Vostok comes up on ODF frequencies usually when asking about flights from
McMurdo to Vostok. On 17 November, they were giving Vostok wx to McMurdo
every hour from at least 0000 on 11553 and asking about their flight which
was Navy XD-02, scheduled to take a party of Russians McMurdo/Vostok but
delayed each hour due mechanical problem. I had to pull the plugs at 0415
because
of a local electrical storm and they hadn't left by then.
Sometimes when there are Russian personel at McMurdo or South Pole Station,
they talk to Vostok in RR on the Deep Freeze frequencies.
Also monitored on these frequencies in past seasons...Palmer Station,
Rothera, Patriot Hills, the NSF vessel "Nathaniel B. Palmer", "Greenwave",
Coast Guard ice breakers and of course, the QANTAS Antarctic flights.
While on the subject, other Antarctic news. Helen Thayer, a 60 year old
solo skier is heading for the Pole as are three Australians, three
Icelanders and two Belgians who have had a problem with a broken sled. They
dont all fly in to the Pole!!!!
John Charlton
------
Date: Sat, 22 Nov 1997 15:09:38 +1300
From: Ian Julian
Subject: [WUN] logs for the last week
Hi everywun,
here are the logs for the last week.
SSB
11553 Vostok Base Antarctica 0535 UTC USB 2 OMs in EE & RR one of them
sounded like he could have been in a plane judging by the back ground
noise. ( This was rather unusual considering this is the US Freq. Maybe
it's also now being used for liaison purposes with other bases. First
time I have logged Russian Antarctic SSB Comms.)
14940 Durmont d'Urville Antarctica 0405 UTC LSB OM in FF with OK OK,
AFFIRMATIVE & TERMINIE ( This came on just after 14940.7 the ARQ-E3
circuit had stopped TXing. Maybe it's used for talkback purposes to
confirm if all the data got through?)
CW & DIGITAL
14940.7 FJY3 DISTA Durmont d'Urville Antarctica 0340 UTC ARQ-E3 96
Bd/400 with Msgs RETRANSMISSION D'UN MESSAGE AVONS RECEPTIONNE MATERIELS
22656.5 UFL Vladivostok Radio Russia 2340 UTC RTTY 50 Bd/170 with Msgs
one was about International exchange rates to the rouble
Cheers for now everywun Ian Julian ZL1TBM
Location Hamilton New Zealand
ZKST Christchurch
------
From: John Morrison
Date: Fri, 31 Oct 1997 15:42:13 GMT,BST
Subject: [WUN] Horizon(BBC)
The BBC Horizon series are running a special on the scientists at
McMurdo base in Antarctica. Mac ops was the callsign used when the
base was calling a Hercules XD07. It showed lots of hand-held radios
too, VHF/UHF I guess.
Worth a watch if your into comms
Regards
John
------
Date: Wed, 08 Oct 1997 16:39:37 +1300
From: Noel Jones
Subject: [WUN] 8998
Antarctic weather report at 0330GMT from Ice07 to Auckland
FL337 McMurdo 0255, wind 070 degrees 21knots, visiblity 10Km, cloud 2000
broken... 2800 overcast..., temperature -12...
------
Noel Jones, Auckland, New Zealand
http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~njones
Date: Wed, 08 Oct 1997 13:10:39 +1100
From: Simon Denneen
Subject: [WUN] ICE Callsigns on HF
G'Day,
At 0246Z and 0252Z today (081097) ICE OPS was calling ICE ZERO SEVEN on 11.255MHz USB.
This was described as the secondary frequency. The primary frequency is 8.998MHz USB.
If you have the equipment and location, they can also be heard on 261.525MHz FM.
Good Listening.
SIMON DENNEEN
------
Date: Wed, 08 Oct 1997 13:53:02 +1300
From: Noel Jones
Subject: [WUN] 8998
7 October 2230 GMT
Auckland calling Mac center?, relaying request for Ice07 to change to 11175 company
frequency
2347GMT
Mac Relay Mac Relay Ice Ops HF radio check 8998 upper how copy [...no reply]
Mac Control Mac Control Ice Ops Ice Ops HF radio check 8998 upper how copy
[...no reply]
Noel Jones, Auckland, New Zealand
http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~njones
------
From: "John Charlton"
Date: Tue, 7 Oct 1997 15:36:59 +1300
I'm new to the Internet, new to WUN but I have had a few years of Utility
DXing and I want everyone to know that AT LAST I have logged MORONI on 8879.
For anyone who might be interested, Operation Deep Freeze 1997/98 is now
under way with USAF missions callsign ICE. Yesterday Monday 6, Ice 06 flew
Christchurch/McMurdo/Christchurch. The schedule shows 21 flights but that
could change. VXE-6 Hercs from Point Mugu will arrive Christchurch soon,
callsign XD plus two numbers and NYANG, callsign SKIER will also be active
so there will be plenty to monitor.
Frequencies Christchurch to 60 South 5643, 8867 13261 (Auckland) 60 South
to Antarctica 8998 11255 (Mac Centre, Mac Ops, Ice Ops, Mac Weather, South Pole)
John Charlton
Greymouth
New Zealand
------
Date: Tue, 15 Apr 1997 16:14:43 -0700
From: Ian julian
Subject: Re ANTARCTIC FREQS
NPX SOUTH POLE HAS DAILY METEO REPORTS AT 0700UTC on 10639 USB
they also use 7995 along with NGD MacMURDO as secondary field party and
point-to-point freq this is in addittion to 11553.
RE ADVENTURE NETWORK INTERNATIONAL PATRIOT Hills ANTARCTICA and PUNTAS
ARENAS CHILE FREQS ARE 8992,11228, 13026 (this not a mistake) and 15026.
HEARD them mention additional 15 and 17 Mhz FREQS.
RE BRISTISH ANTARCTIC station FARADAY this has now become the UKRAINIAN
ANTARCTIC STATION.
------
Date: Tue, 15 Apr 1997 06:45:15 -0700
From: Noel Jones
Subject: [WUN] Antarctic
old frequency list, have not verified below information
ANTARCTIC 2.8300 USB SCOTT BASE (WINTER COMMS)
ANTARCTIC
ANTARCTIC 3.1020 USB AIR TO SHIP LINK ANTARCTIC
ANTARCTIC 3.2370 USB SHIPPING ANTARCTIC ANTARCTIC
ANTARCTIC 4.0340 USB SCOTT BASE ANTARCTIC
ANTARCTIC 4.7180 USB AIR/GND (LONG RANGE) ANTARCTIC
ANTARCTIC 4.7700 USB FIELD PARTIES SCHEDULES ANTARCTIC
ANTARCTIC 5.0785 USB CHRISTCHURCH TO McMURDO CHRISTCHURCH
ANTARCTIC 5.0800 USB CHRISTCHURCH TO McMURDO CHRISTCHURCH
ANTARCTIC 5.1400 USB McMURDO TO CHRISTCHURCH McMURDO STATION
ANTARCTIC 5.3850 USB McMURDO TO CHRISTCHURCH McMURDO STATION
ANTARCTIC 5.7850 USB SCOTT BASE - NZ COMMS SCOTT BASE
ANTARCTIC 12.0550 USB TELECOM NEW ZEALAND McMURDO STATION
ANTARCTIC 13.3900 USB TELECOM SCOTT BASE ANTARCTIC
ANTARCTIC 13.9400 USB TELECOM NEW ZEALAND McMURDO STATION
ANTARCTIC 14.6650 USB TELECOM SCOTT BASE SCOTT BASE
--
Noel Jones
Auckland, New Zealand
------
Date: Mon, 14 Apr 1997 10:24:02 -0700
From: Noel Jones
Subject: Re: [WUN] Antarctica
Richard T. Mills wrote:
} On the final episode of Michael Palin's Pole to Pole
} trip on BBC television two nights ago, they showed a
} brief close up of the HF radio at the Met station at
} Punto Arenas airport in southern Argentina when
} contacting the Patriot Hills base in Antarctica on
} 11.228 for a weather update before flying out.
}
} I missed the year of the film, but I wonder if this
} frequency is still valid ?
}
} Richard.
I think most communication is now by satellite links, HF maintained and
operational for emergencies only.
--
Noel Jones
Auckland, New Zealand
------
Date: Wed, 19 Feb 97 18:05:34 UT
From: "Ian Baxter"
Subject: RE: [WUN] MAR-Antarctic freq.?
hi Rob,
you wrote recently
}} Heard an interesting conversation on 9106 - Two english
}}speaking people discussing the progress of one (on board a ship?)
}}crossing the ice flow and making a speed of 13kts.The Ice at present
}}13ft thick and no whales sighted today !!Then gave an observation
}}report starting with ZDLG following by 5 figure groups,presumably
}}metars.Also mentioned destination of Nimor ?? (not sure if this is
}}correct.)
>>Is it possible that one was Rothera Base ??
ZDLG is the RRS Bransfield British Antarctica Survey Supply Ship, it supplies
the BAS Stations annually. I think there`s another ship, not sure --
(anyone?-- is it the `James Clark Ross`??). You may have heard Rothera Base,
but there`s also Signy Base (on South Orkney), Bird Island (on South
Georgia), Faraday (Antarctic Peninsula), Halley V (Antarctic Mainland).
Faraday is near the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula.
Keep listening on this freq, conditions permitting you should catch some
positive ID`s. If you heard ZDLG - thats a fine catch, I logged this vessel
back in 1992, and was successful in a QSL along with a super b/w photo of the
ship against the Antarctic Mainland. For a QSL one should try:
British Antarctic Survey,
High Cross Madingley Road.
Cambridge CB3 0ET ENGLAND.
Whilst I`m here below I`ll give the exact co-ordinates of the BAS Stations:
Bird Island. 54.00`S // 38.03`W
Signy. 60.43`S // 45.36`W
Faraday. 65.15`S // 64.16`W
Rothera. 67.34`S // 68.07`W
Halley V 75.35`S // 26.15`W.
and there you have it. Any loggings of these and other Antarctic stations,
should definately be posted! Keep listening.
best regards de ian.
ps // to RD, hope these Co-ordinates are ok, & tnks fr info.
Ian Baxter
QTH: Blackburn, Lancashire. ENGLAND.
Rob Davies Northwich Cheshire UK
------
From: Rob Davies
Subject: [WUN] MAR-Antarctica freq.?
Date: Tue, 18 Feb 1997 23:32:18 GMT
Hi All,
Heard an interesting conversation on 9106 - Two english
speaking people discussing the progress of one (on board a ship?)
crossing the ice flow and making a speed of 13kts.The Ice at present
13ft thick and no whales sighted today !!Then gave an observation
report starting with ZDLG following by 5 figure groups,presumably
metars.Also mentioned destination of Nimor ?? (not sure if this is
correct.)
I would appreciate any help with this as it is extremely rare
that I listen to anything other than Aero related.Is it possible that
one was Rothera Base ??
Rob Davies Northwich Cheshire UK
------
Date: Sun, 16 Feb 97 08:46:52 UT
From: "Ian Baxter"
Subject: [WUN] Antarctica Halley V
Hi everyWUN,
Just a quickie for now, here`s a nice one:
9106 kHz BAS Halley V. 0002: USB: Calling Rothera Base (no reply)
Halley V came in very well here at my QTH, he called Rothera twice, but
no reply came back. Had a tentative logging of Signy Base but was very
weak - he`s on South Orkney.
If conditions are right and anyone has not logged these or some of these
stations, my tip is to try around 2345 UTC onwards. Good luck, and don`t
forget to post your logs!
73 to all,
Ian Baxter
QTH: Blackburn, Lancashire. ENGLAND.
------
From: JSteph
Date: Sat, 4 Jan 1997 22:28:14 -0500
Subject: Re: [WUN] Req. Antarctic Base Info.
Palmer base can still be heard on 11.558, and MacMurdo station
uses 8.867 and 8.998 - all frequencies USB.
73 -- J.D. Stephens (WUN)
------
Date: Sat, 4 Jan 97 17:54:47 UT
From: "Richard Baker"
Subject: RE: [WUN] Req. Antarctic Base Info.
} Anyone have any frequencies and skedules for the Antarctic Bases?
Remember, by international treaty there is no military agenda
in Antarctica, so they are 'stations' rather than 'bases'. I found
this out when I wrote the NSF for information back in 1994.
We have had some recent logs on HF. The move to satellite
has been underway for many years, but I think one can still
find HF traffic. Here are some of the WUN logs:
*11570.00 ZLQ 24 Scott Base, Antarctica has been logged
most often, but not recently.
7890 VJM: Macquarie Island (Antarctica) 0715 USB
pp to Sydney. (AW)(09/95)
8294.0 R/V Polar Duke 2045 USB wkg Palmer Station Antarctica. R/V
Nathaniel B.Palmer 2045 USB also wkg Palmer
Station after QSY from 11553. (RKA)(09/95)
Note 8294 is a maritime simplex frequency and both of these
U.S. NSF ships turned up here heard by Reinhard in Germany.
11553 Palmer Station Antarctica 2200 USB wkg R/V
Nathaniel B. Palmer & R/V Polar Duke (RKA)(09/95)
8998 MAC CENTER (McMurdo Sta, Antarctica) 0727
USB wkg KILO BRAVO ROMEO. Then begin wkg "ICE 13". MAC CENTER asks ICE 13 if
they have comms w/Auckland. Another
UNID a/c wkg MAC CENTER, sounds like O'HARE, or OSHKOSH
during EAA! At 0738Z McMurdo now gives freqs for "ICE 13" to
contact Auckland - primary 5643, secondary 8867. (DF)(11/95)
9106 ZHF44 2338 USB Faraday Station,
ANTARCTICA wkg unid w/talk of current conditions at the
station...also passed frequency of 11453.1 if needed. (TBx) (11/95)
11553 Palmer Station, Antarctica 0224 USB wkg
another operator at Siple Station. MAC WEATHER 0223 USB
w/msg to South Pole Stn giving visibility as 7 miles, temp -25C,
winds 220 at 5, runways good/good. PALMER STATION 2350 USB
wkg SOUTH POLE testing a new satellite comm set that South Pole
had just installed...at 2358 SOUTH POLE wkg MAC OPS w/0000Z synopsis...temp
was -49C...had tried previously on 10639 Khz....all
stas booming in here in VA. (TBx)(11/95)
11553 NPX: South Pole Station, Antarctica, 0450 USB
wkg McMurdo. (JP) NBY: Byrd Surface Camp, Antarctica, 0420
USB wkg Mac Ops (JP) (12/95)
I think Dan Fischer up in Wisconsin has had some luck
with Antarctic logs in 1996, but otherwise, I didn't find any
from WUN in 1996.
The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) runs the United
States Antarctic Program, and by far the best two freqs to
try there are 8998 and 11553. Another way to log a ute related
to Antarctica is by logging the USCG cutter deployed on the
annual Operation Deep Freeze mission, which starts mid-late
October each year. Operation Deep Freeze is the annual
re-supply of McMurdo Station (and some of the other NSF
sites) with the CG polar-icebreakers USCGC Polar Sea or
USCG Polar Star. Polar Sea has the duty for Deep Freeze '97.
I have logged them on the normal CG SCN freqs
(4426/4134 6501/6200, 8764/8240, 13089/12242, )
CommSta/Cutter most often used.
One point to remember is that these stations are most
active during Antarctic summer (winter in the northern
hemisphere). Only a small staff 'winter over' each year in
the year-around stations. So now is the time....
Good hunting
Rick "RD" Baker
------
Date: 04 Jan 97 05:04:20 EST
From: Marius Rensen
Subject: [WUN] Req. Antarctic Base Info.
This is a list actually published for the Marek Kaminski - SoloTransantarctica
Station Operator VHF HF
Marambio Argentina 4490 and 8864 KHz
General Belgrano II Argentina 4, 5 and 6
Esperanza Argentina 4, 5 and 6
Jubany Argentina 156.025 MHz 162.025 MHz
Base Naval Orcadas Argentina 156.800 MHz 158.500 MHz
General San Martin Argentina 4, 5 and 6
Casey Australia 6, 8 and 16 5400 KHz
Davis Australia 6 and 7 5400 KHz
Mawson Australia 6 and 7 5400 KHz
Comandante Ferraz Brazil 16 2128 and 500 KHz
Fildes Chile 16
Frei Chile
Carvajal Chile
O'Higgins Chile 155.4 MHz 156.2 MHz
Risopatron Chile 154.7 MHz 156.8 MHz
Great Wall China 156.8 MHz 156.6 MHz 13158 KHz
Aboa Finland 6 4119 KHz 6264 KHz
Dumont D'Urville France 6
Neumeyer Germany 9 and 16 6264 KHz
Maitri India
Terra Nova Bay Italy 11 and 16
Syowa Japan
Scott Base New Zealand 1, 4 and 16 2773 KHz 5400 KHz
Svartthammaren Norway 156.3 MHz 156.8 MHz
Troll Norway 156.3 MHz 156.8 NHz
Arctowski Poland 8, 9,12,14 and 16
King Sejong Prep. of Korea
Molodezhnaya Russia 16 7665 KHz 13385KHz
Mirny Russia 16 7665 KHz 13385KHz
Vostok Russia 126.425 MHz 7665 KHz 13385KHz
Novolazarevskaya Russia 126.425 MHz 7665 KHz 13385KHz
Bellingshausen Russia 16 7665 KHz 13385KHz
Juan Carlos I Spain 13 and 16
Wasa Sweden
Rothera U.K. 16 5080 KHz (LSB) 7775 KHz (USB)
Faraday U.K. 16 and 8 4067 KHz (USB)
Halley U.K. 16 and 6
Signy U.K. 6
McMurdo USA 16 4242 Khz
Palmer USA 16 and 27 4.067 MHz (USB)4.125 MHz (USB) 11.553 MHz (USB)
Regards,
Marius Rensen
------
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