ARLA/CLUSTER: Transglobe Events 2019 - Transglobe Expedition

[João Costa > CT1FBF]

Joanna Lumley to host 40th Anniversary event for Transglobe expedition -
powered by HF radio

Conceived by the Lady Ginnie Fiennes, wife of Sir Ranulph Fiennes, this
extraordinary surface travelling circumnavigation of the Globe via both
poles started in 1979 and concluded successfully in 1982.

The expedition planning took many years of the lives of the volunteers and
to date remains the only successful continual traverse of the globe
vertically via both North and South Poles. All team members were unpaid
volunteers, including Ships crew, the aviation unit, London support office
and Field party/base camp support group.

At the Royal Geographical Society, London, on the evening of September 2nd
2019, hosted by Joanna Lumley, Sir Ran Fiennes, surface team member Oliver
Shepard and Marine Coordinator Anton Bowing will tell stories (!)
(accompanied by photographs and film) about the expedition and each other -
many of which will be revelations never before heard in public. It promises
to be an eye-opener. Tickets are still available via the link
http://transglobe-expedition.org/2019/06/24/trust-evening

Transglobe Events 2019 - Transglobe Expedition

Trust Aims. To establish, develop and maintain a trust fund from the income
of which periodic grants will be made to humanitarian, scientific or
educational projects which, in the opinion of the trustees, reflect the
spirit, dedication and inspirational values of the Transglobe Expedition
and which would enable those benefiting from such grants to achieve
worthwhile ambitions and inspire ...

transglobe-expedition.org

HF radio was Big!

Sponsored by RACAL at the time, the expedition communications relied solely
on MF and HF communications for the field party group and back to
headquarters in London. Living and operating conditions were fairly
primitive and difficult; logistics and planning had to be spot on to deal
with remote locations which were - Hot, Cold, Wet and Parched - Power
generation, Static electricity, Dust, snow and Insects all poised
difficulties - let alone dealing with a difficult geomagnetic and
ionospheric conditions. Flexibility and experience in choosing the right
frequency at the right time was paramount. No jumping in the car or boat to
get a "spare"

Ginny was an excellent base commander and lead radio operator and also
conducted VLF research for a number of Universities and had daily HF links
with other Antarctic research bases, the expeditions Ship "the Benjamin
Bowring", and the supply Twin Otter (which is still flying in the
Caribbean) G-BDHC

Main over wintering bases were set up high up on the Antarctic plateau and
on the edge of the Arctic Ocean. Using 400W/1Kw Racal HF SSB/CW Wire Vees
and Rhombic arrays on 80ft Rohn 45 type towers - the wire antenna survived
well in appalling weather -

Whilst the expedition travelled thru Europe and Africa and the North West
territories HF mobile equipment provided links back to the UK and local
bases with Racal HF equipment installed in the expeditions Land Rovers and
small inflatable rafts/Boston Whaler for the Yukon river section.

HF links were successful back to the Royal Aircraft Establishment Long
Range HF station near Farnborough Hampshire using their wire Rhombic and
large Log periodic. Phone patch was available when conditions were good but
the Morse key was used at times.

Comms for this and subsequent Polar expeditions were also successful via
BTs Portishead radio, GKA which closed after 81 years of service in 2000,
and their excellent team including BTs station manager Larry Bennett G4HLN
and staff.

A typical black and White photograph was loaded onto a drum and took 20
mins to scan and send on the "Muirfax" - that's if the ionosphere allowed.

Field party comms used NVIS low dipoles or whips with counterpoises and
typically a Syncal 30 transceiver. Some early experimentation with HF
transmitting "Magnetic loops" were also conducted where physical or QRM
constraints existed.

There was no GPS, no Internet. No voice satellite comms - Navigation was by
the position of the sun and by using a sextant and artificial horizon
How things have changed!

Laurence Howell KL7L (G4DMA and VP8SB), an experienced radio officer and
coast station operator will be attending the event; Working at the time for
the Seconded from British Telecom International and contracted for 33
months for the British Antarctic Survey, on Adelaide Island and original
licensee of the VP8ADE 10m beacon, assisted with flight following and comms
relays in Antarctica and was invited to join the expedition by Ran,
supporting Ginny in the High Arctic section, operating MF/HF aviation,
travelling group and UK links out of their camps just North of Canadian
Forces station Alert, and remote field based at Tanquary Fiord, NWT
(Nunavut). Radio watches for Ran and Charlie on the shifting polar ice were
by necessity 24 hours long

Laurence was physically alone manning the remote radio station for some
weeks apart from visitations from an "interested" Wolf pack which appeared
to think he was on the menu

At the RGS there is also going to be an exhibit of a typical Antarctic camp
including tent, original Skidoo, and Syncal 30 HF field party equipment

Ran and Laurence and some of the original members of the Transglobe team
continue to develop and nuance expeditions and to raise money for charity.

Looking forward to being in the UK

73* Laurence KL7L*
Wasilla Alaska
-------------- próxima parte ----------
Um anexo em HTML foi limpo...
URL: http://radio-amador.net/pipermail/cluster/attachments/20190718/d719c987/attachment.htm