Posted: Sep 21, 2009 04:14 pm EST
(HumanEdgeTech.com) "We have the same requirements as last season for our expeditions," Operation manager of ALE and longtime manager of the Patriot Hill Base Camp Mike Sharp told ExplorersWeb a couple of weeks back.

When it comes to sat phones, only Iridium is available to Polar expeditions, still a big step up from the old short-wave radios and Argos transmitters. ALE require any expedition to carry two Iridium phones. This includes Last Degree expeditions.

Skiers and kiters

GPS, Satellite phone and VHF (Walkie-Talkie) are the most important safety tools these days. One difference between polar and climbing expeditions is that polar skiers must move in all weather. Kiting expeditions have to take advantage of prevailing wind no matter visibility and could get separated in a matter of hours in whiteout conditions. ALE is therefore suggesting that kiters individually carry a phone as well as hand held VHF and a personal beacon should they get knocked out.

"Fortunately I have not heard tales of the happening," Mike told ExWeb this year, "we have been looking at Yellow brick and Spider though and they both still need some development."

As for the ordinary EPIRBS, "we do not think much of them since for kiters we are not able to monitor them constantly, the call for help goes international and they do get turned on by mistake occasionally, Mike said. "However they are a back up system that is not Iridium. They are also in our aircraft with no problem."

Climbing expeditions

On Vinson, parties carry one Iridium and a VHF which they are able to use all over the popular part of the mountain via ALE's repeater.

VHF stands for “Very High Frequency” and operates on radio frequency from 30MHz to 300MHz. Not all VHF's are alike. The quality depends on the watts and it is therefore important to get good caliber gear.

The range is more or less line of sight. Stay away from Motorola Talkabouts (1Watt) and go for quality brands like ICOM and Yaesu. The Yaesu VX-150 is one popular 5W handheld VHF, often used on Everest and ideal for Vinson. Cost around $200.

VHF is a great way to communicate between climbers and expeditions on Vinson. While most skiing expeditions don't carry it, it could be a handy comms tool for kiting expeditions.

Last year, HumanEdgeTech also checked with Alpine Ascents Expedition Manager Garrett Madison: "We are using the Yeseu Vertex Standard radio on Vinson," he said. "Works great especially with the repeater ALE installed before last season!"

Everest guide and six time Everest summiter Luis Benitez told us: "We used small VHF's from ICOM or the Yaesu 150 which is virtually indestructible at both Everest and Vinson with great results. The Talkabouts stop working when you go around a corner and should be avoided."

GPS

GPS is required for all Antarctica skiing expeditions. A wide range is available and most work fine. One popular choice has been the Garmin eTrex, running on AA Lithium batteries.

Argos has previously been a great backup for positioning in spite of their expensive, brick size Beacon, but the company providing the units, CLS, has decided not to support the polar areas in the future.

Iridium buy or rent

As for other satellite systems, Inmarsat BGAN high speed systems will work in some coastal areas of Antarctica, but both Mt. Vinson and Patriot Hill are outside of the coverage. Thuraya and Globalstar cover neither of the Polar areas.

Down to only one sat phone choice, Iridium, the good news is that you only have two questions to decide on: which unit and plan to choose?

The new Iridium 9555 is considerably lighter and smaller than the previous three models but Mac, Unix and PDA's are not supported by it. 9555 does not support Windows 7, XP or VISTA 64bits, it requires a USB cable with a USB driver and doesn't work with Mobile platforms (can not be connected to a PDA).

The older 9505A with serial interface therefore remains a must for true ultra light data setups, leaving it overall a preferred expedition model (also the 9500 and 9505 will work well).

Calling plans offer cost/min for outgoing calls at $0.90 to $1:40 depending purchased quantity. Incoming calls are free to receive. Iridium rentals are around $200/month and airtime cost typically $1:80/min.

Beware the usual traps; low unit cost/high calling cost and vice versa.

High speed

With true global coverage and speeds up to 128kb/s Iridium OpenPort radically stretches polar possibilities, albeit with some important limitations.

The hardware runs $5000 and includes antenna, antenna cable, main unit and two phones. OP delivers 32kb/s as standard with higher bandwidth delivered on demand. 64kb/s comes at a fixed price of $125 per month and 128kb/s at $330/month.

The plan is VERY complicated but as a rule of thumb; a two month expedition using 200MB and aiming for the 128kb level should budget just under $2000 plus voice calls, which is in line with standard rates at $1 to $1.30 per minute.

OpenPort weighs in at some 13kg (29 lbs) so with a P50 battery, an ASUS EEE Expedition Laptop and solar power the expedition should be prepared to carry about 16kg (35 lbs).

OpenPort will allow live web cam updates and snippets of broadcast quality video but the weight and cost should be compared to HumanEdgeTech's polar package allowing web updates with images over standard Iridium at a total weight of less than 2 kg (4 lbs).

Laptop or PDA?

Since 2001, in addition to crossings and the "all-the-way" expeditions; gear from HumanEdgeTech is routinely used by Vinson climbers, last degree folks and scientists. Last year, US based Remote Medical used it for the first time, for their Vinson expedition.

"I field tested a unique communications kit from Human Edge Tech," wrote their test pilot. "The system came with an Iridium satellite phone (the only system that works in Antarctica), batteries, a solar panel charger, a PDA, cables and software that allowed me to upload photos, audio, text and video from my position in Antarctica directly to a hosted website for webcast or other utility."

"This system was challenged by the limitations of the Iridium network and keeping batteries charged in extreme cold. But the system worked and allowed me a clear line of communication with the telemedicine support, my Communications Specialist, and family and friends. My understanding of the utility of this system helps me expand the reach of Remote Medical ACCESS telemedicine service to virtually any corner of the globe."

Check the full debrief here.

Most of the polar skiing expeditions but also many Vinson climbing expeditions choose the CONTACT PDA solution. The advantage of the PDA is that it's lightweight, low on power consumption and has a fast start up time (5-10 sec). The extra versatility of a laptop is also of little gain with the slow Iridium connection.

If you still choose a laptop, try getting the new netbook from ASUS, HP or similar. These units use less power (around 20W) are lighter (around 1 kg/2 lbs) and start up faster than standard laptops due to solid state hard drives. HumanEdgeTech offers the ASUS EEE 901 with all software and satellite connections preconfigured.

You should bring 20-40 Watt of solar power for normal use of a UMPC and 60-100 Watt of power for a standard laptop. You can not charge a laptop straight from a solar panel; you must have the P50 battery in between.

Solar Power

Antarctica enjoys plenty of sun during the summer season. The best and most proven solar panel choices are the Solar Blazt Feather 10 or the Survivor 10 Solar panels.

The lightest panel on the market, Feather is used primarily by Vinson expeditions. A bit heavier, the rigid Survivor will survive a prolonged sled-ride best as it is waterproof and takes exposure very well.

The Iridium 9505A plugs straight into the solar panel and will be fully charged in 3-4 hours. A VHF will take 2-4 hours pending model.

Last season, Poppis (SP & NP, unsupported) explained about his solar and power system from HET:

"In fact, we have so much of it [power] that we only have the panel out during the day when we are on our skis. Thanks to all the sunshine, that’s enough to recharge the batteries and we don’t have to invest time and effort in setting up the panel next to the tent in the evenings.”

“We have a styrofoam recharging box in the other pulka. It fits the chargers and batteries and a plastic water bottle. We fill the bottle with warm water in the morning, put it in the box and it keeps the interior suitably warm for charging batteries all day. In the box there is a lithium-polymer battery, which we use overnight to recharge the batteries of the computer, camera and satellite phone."

Batteries

Even Antarctica will provide cloudy days and a battery is needed as a power reserve. The HET 2.5Amp Battery has been used by more than 100 Polar expeditions for its customized ability to charge down to -40C/F.

Last year, HumanEdgeTech also introduced the new P50, the "missing link" to charge a laptop straight from solar. This smart battery discharges down to -20C, is wildly popular with mountaineers and explorers, but must be protected during cold days.

Building a special case for it, Poppis tried it on his South Pole expedition and wrote, "we managed very well with the P50. It was used everyday. We charged it full during daytime (in our charge box) and recharged batteries inside the tent during nighttime. It was just the good size for our purposes, enough power, not too heavy. It was easy to use and it is good idea that we can charge all batteries with same accu."

"The USB contact was handy too, f. ex the battery of our wrist GPS watch SUUNTOx10 was empty after one day use (I carried it every day) so we could charge it every night. I wouldn’t leave on a big expedition anymore without that kind of system."

"One connector (as you know) was too weak, but we didn’t have any problem because of our self made protector. It's important to choose the right output voltage. We tried to charge batteries once with totally too high volts and after that one of our chargers went broken, so better to be more carefully with charge levels all the time."

Smart and easy but not fool proof

The CONTACT hardware is the easiest and smartest available on the ice today, as proved by all the hard core explorers having managed record performances while using the tech. But it's not fool proof:

In an interview about "stupid mistakes," a polar skier told HET: "The correct use of the solar panel; placing it 90 degrees to the sun to get the maximum power. Last season I remember xx's solar panel was covered with snow and he complained he couldn't charge his PDA :)"

In addition to making sure that you keep the panel free from snow and position it with the sun when in camp for maximum efficiency; don't forget to also tie it down - high winds can come on very suddenly on the ice. And no technology will withstand abuse such as leaving gear unprotected in freezing conditions or subject to repeated impacts.

CONTACT dispatch system

The Iridium phone is by itself capable of voice calls and 160 character text messages, but what about email and other forms of communication?

By connecting a data modem and a cable to the Iridium phone you can use it as a modem, hooked up to a laptop or a PDA. At 2.4kb/s the data speed is extremely slow though which means that a 10 kilo byte image would take one minute to upload.

The phone will allow sending and receiving emails as well as uploading dispatches with pictures to a website - if certain conditions are met.

In the past four seasons, the absolute majority of successful South Pole expeditions used CONTACT including Rune on his record breaking kite crossing (who called the system "a revolution"), Hannah McKeand on her speed record, Matty McNair on the first polar return trip and most of the guys last year.

Named after Carl Sagan's book, CONTACT speeds up connection time and increases transfer speed up to 40% compared to email.

Three parts

CONTACT is a dispatch system consisting of three parts; the software that runs on the explorers PDA or Laptop, a server software sitting on a server in Texas, and the display system for the viewers on the web.

The software is created to be very easy to operate. Users with little experience of satellite communication are most often up and running within 30 minutes. The server is scaled down to a minimum. This allows for a fast connection with undisturbed and fast transmissions cutting expensive airtime and keeping timeouts at bay.

The display system showed can be adjusted with few restrictions to your web design. The ready to go setup comes with all the bells and whistles for a successful website; a zoomable Flash map showing the expedition position, a mini website for Mobile phones and other small screen devices, an Ajax system showing dispatches instantly without reloads, and an alert system designed to notify journalists, families and friends immediately by email when a new dispatch is posted.

The map

There are simply no online Antarctica maps with positions available; if you try Google you'll only find a grey blob. Using Mercato projections; Google works well for most places - except where we go: Altitude, Oceans, Arctic and Antarctica.

So what to do if you want to do automated, live positions in extreme places?

For Antarctica, HumanEdgeTech used stereographic projections to accommodate longitudes merging at the poles. The result: truly interactive polar maps allowing automated positioning made by the expedition on the ice, while the audience can zoom in on camp and positions, follow the route and switch on and off different layers of information.

As usual, inter-connected with the map are daily dispatches with pics, sound and video - in a one page user experience with seamless transitions between information layers, built with Ajax technology for equally seamless transitions between present and historic dispatches.

The choice of Ajax allows for fast loading time and no webpage reloads. For the same reason (fast loading) use of Flash is restricted only to flash superior features in interactive movies. The result is an intelligent, interactive communication system that's fast, easy and cheap to use over slow satellite connections and in addition - it loads quickly on the internet.

The complete Polar comms package

The CONTACT polar packages come in two versions - North Pole and South Pole. The main difference is the power solution. The NP version is based on non-reusable batteries due to the lack of sun, the SP version on reusable solar that will also work great for Greenland.

The package is delivered in a Pelican case for transportation and ready-to-go. The South Pole package weighs 2.5kg (5.5lbs) including PDA, Digital camera, Battery, Solar power and cables. The power solution can be used to charge iPOD, Video camera and other small tech.

The PDA is pre-installed with Contact software, backup, email and other software needed such as photo editing, word and excel. A keyboard can be added for easier input on the PDA. The Polar package can be adjusted to your specific need. If you already have a digital camera for instance, chances are it will work fine.

Best of all - a lightweight and power-efficient set-up of PDA, sat phone and solar panel is still all it takes to go live from the ice.

You can buy the complete package or parts separately. HumanEdgeTech has supplied more than 1000 expeditions and work with single customers as well as with US and foreign governments. With its unique experience; team HET will assist you to find a solution for your specific needs.

HumanEdgeTech is a unique, no-nonsense virtual expedition tech warehouse for satellite communications and edge technology. Created by explorers for explorers, the store is user-friendly with no-hassle pricing, expedition-tested gear, expedition-ready hardware, fast delivery and payments. HumanEdgeTech.com accepts most international credit cards, and delivers worldwide within 72 hours.

Previous polar tech stories:
HumanEdgeTech review: Iridium 9555
Consumer reviews of P50 and HEAT
Polar technology: the complete package
HumanEdgeTech proudly presents: P50 - the missing link
It's an iPhone? It's an iPAQ? It's...an 8000+ solid-state laptop!
Contact 4.0 GEO Antarctica recap
North Pole video history: NASA Mike, "our first was in 1999"

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