Instalation of two MX921 Low Current Repeaters .
One repeater was installed at 4000 metres
near the summit Mt. Vinson, Antarctica's highest mountain. This
provided full radio coverage between the advance camp and the
climbing route.
The other repeater was installed at 2000
metres near the base camp & aircraft ski-way at Patriot Hills,
some 200 km away & 800 km from the South Pole.
Both MX921's performed well in temperatures
as low as minus 40 for the entire summer season (Nov. to Jan)
and gave a range of over 200km at 25 W output into 9dBi collinear.
The repeaters, plus associated solar panels
/ batteries first had to be man-carried up the mountains by a
relay team of several mountaineers.
Because of the difficulty & manpower required to transport
them, it was decided to leave the installations in situ over the
Antarctic winter.
Winter temperatures go down to minus 60 or 70, with several months
of little or no daylight.
Photos and text courtesy of: Alan Cheshire,
Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions
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