At the LRS meeting on 23rd March 2010 Dave Burke GM6SZJ talked about “Operating VP8AQA from Faraday Base, Antarctica” and showed many slides of his three years there. Dave was electrician / boatman at Faraday Base from 1981 till 1984 with the British Antarctic Survey. He also doubled up as relief radio operator (presumably when not working the DX on the ham bands)! The following is a small selection from his slides.
Dave certainly conveyed his enthusiasm for his trip to Antarctica in his talk.
Faraday Base, named for its scientific purpose, is located on a small island off the Antarctica mainland.
The merry band of scientists and engineers at Faraday Base.
Dave on his dog-sleigh, waiting for a recreational trip to begin over the ice.
Dave showed many slides of amazing icebergs near Faraday Base.
Dave even explored inside some glaciers to see the wonderful ice formations.
Dave on duty in the main communications room at Faraday Base. Sadly, he became a relief radio officer after one of the principal radio officers was lost along with two other base personnel during a trip over the ice.
Communications were principally with Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands.
Dave’s amateur radio licence was issued with the minimum of formalities from Port Stanley, Falkland Islands.
Dave’s amateur radio station consisted of a Yaesu FT-101ZD and a linear amplifier. Operation was typically in DXpedition mode with large numbers of stations worked per hour before Dave had to retire, exhausted.
The antennas were mostly wire dipoles.
Dave showed his log books, very neatly kept and perfectly preserved, as well as a model of a dog-sleigh that he constructed in his leisure hours.
It may have been Antarctica, but the base members had a great time out of work hours.
… and let’s have no jokes about what’s worn under the kilt in Antarctica!