[TWIAR] Iridium To Supply Communications For Ham Radio Antarctic "Dxpedition"

[Greg Williams]

Iridium To Supply Communications For Ham Radio Antarctic "Dxpedition"

by Staff Writers
Bethesda MD (SPX) Jan 20, 2006
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.

"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.