Component |
Photo |
Manufacturer |
Description |
Status |
Mt. Erebus Serial Radio Repeater |
|
FreeWave and
Pacific Wireless TR-900H-120-12
|
Powered by solar panels and gel cell batteries. Allows data retrieval from remote sites to McMurdo Station and Scott Base. Covers 120 degree swath of Transantarctic Mountains from Cape Roberts to Minna Bluff. |
Operational since 2004 at Mt. Erebus Truncated Cones site. Serves GPS stations at Mount Fleming (FLM5) and Cape Roberts (ROB4), and Cape Roberts Tide Gauge. Uses FreeWave serial radio modem and Pacific Wireless horizontally polarized sector antenna. |
Serial Radio Modem |
|
FreeWave |
900 MHz line-of-sight serial communications, used for links over 100km, suited for sites near research stations (with on-site download computer). Average power draw is ~1.0 Watt. |
Operational since 2000. Normally deployed with Yagi antennas. Communications tested successfully in Antarctica with Trimble R7 receiver. Currently deployed at Mount Fleming (FLM5) and Cape Roberts (ROB4) GPS stations, and Cape Roberts Tide Gauge (in conjunction with Land Information New Zealand). |
Ethernet Bridge Radio Modem |
|
Intuicom |
900 MHz line-of-sight ethernet communications, used for links over 100km, suited for sites near research stations (internet access points). Average power draw is ~1.0 Watt. |
Operational since 2004. Normally deployed with Yagi antennas. Communications tested successfully in Antarctica with Trimble NetRS receiver. Currently deployed in EarthScope PBO network, and Antarctic permanent stations CONZ, MACZ, COTE, and WAIS. |
Yagi Antenna |
|
Bluewave |
900 MHz line-of-sight serial communications, used for links over 100km, suited for sites near research stations. 7-element 10dB model is typical, however antenna selection is site-specific. |
Functional point-to-point radio link of 100 miles achieved with similar Yagi antenna (Mt. Fleming to Mt. Erebus repeater). |
Iridium Data Modem (remote) |
|
NAL Research
A3LA-SA
|
Iridium allows up to 2400bps, suitable for GPS data downloads. Only communications system with global coverage, suited for the most remote sites where no other communications options are practical. Purchase with audio board disabled. Use SYN-DC-936 DC-DC power converter with serial connection and 20 gauge power wires.
Average power draw is ~1.0 Watt when downloading ~1MB data per day.
Iridium modem is sensitive to antenna cable losses; keep overall cable loss between modem and antenna < 3dB.
|
Operational since 2005 with Trimble NetRS receiver. Currently deployed in 50+ locations in Antarctica and Greenland for POLENET project, UNAVCO/PASSCAL Remote Stations MRI project, and several other PI projects. At present, Iridium/NetRS system must incorporate a timer switch (see below). |
Iridium Antenna (remote) |
|
NAL Research
SAF5350-A
|
Quad-helix design. Robust radome and mounting arrangement. |
Replacement for SAF5350-C and SAF2040B; stronger design than SAF5350-C and better performance than SAF2040-B. Currently deployed at several test sites, to be installed in Greenland in 2009. |
Iridium Data Modem (base) |
|
NAL Research
A3LA-MPT
|
Same as A3LA-SA but with larger case and internal watchdog programming to reboot modem in case of hardware lockup. Purchase with audio board disabled. Use SAF5350C antenna, MTR2 antenna mount, and HRC-24-7A AC-DC power converter with serial connection. |
Robust and modular download software allows excellent data retrieval capability. Hub is expandable to download up to 150+ remote sites. |