Christmas Carols in Antarctica

[WB2UZR]

McMurdo Station, Antarctica. (Source: USAP.gov)

Many thanks to Mark Phillips (via the SWL Fest group) and Sheldon Harvey (via the International Radio Report) for sharing the following message from Nathaniel Frissell (KC4/W2NAF) who is stationed at the McMurdo Station, Antarctica:

Hi, everyone. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and any other holidaysyou may celebrate!

Things are going well down here (Antarctica), and I’m glad to have worked some of you on the air. I apologize for any weak signals, but there has been a lot of space weather activity recently and the station here is rather modest.

Each year, the residents of McMurdo Station, Antarctica celebrate Christmas by singing Christmas Carols to the remote, Antarctic field camps on the HF radio. This year, we are asking ham radio operators (and shortwave listeners) around the world to listen in and e-mail short wave listening reports telling us how far away the carols are heard. Listen on 7995 kHz USB on 24 December 2014 2300z and e-mail reports to w2naf@arrl.net.

For a Christmas in Antarctica SWL QSL card, please send an SASE to my Blacksburg address. NATHANIEL A FRISSELL, 1412 North Main Street, Blacksburg, VA 24060 United States Special cards will be made for this event.

Please share this information with as many hams and SWLs as possible. It would be really interesting to know how far we are heard. I believe we will be running about 1000 W for this.

Merry Christmas!
73,
Nathaniel, KC4/W2NAF

 

[zl2taw]

I am going to listen for this

 

[WB2UZR]

Let me know how you make out, Doug. I am going to try and listen on the Twente remote SDR. Should be interesting.

Scott/WB2UZR

 

[n0nhp]

Just for the fun of it,
I helped install the transmitters they will use. First shot is the Cubic 1KW transmitters
Second is the antenna farm
Third is the old Harris transmitters they replaced

 

[WB2UZR]

Thanks for those shots, Bruce, very nice!

Scott/WB2UZR

 

[SCPD]

Not hearing anything yet. Is there a twitter account for status updates?

 

[zl2taw]

nothing heard here in VK4

Merry Christmas all

 

[WB2UZR]

Thanks Doug, nothing on the Dutch SDR either so far.

Merry Christmas to you as well.

Scott/WB2UZR

 

[Thunderknight]

Tried a few remote receivers plus my local and nothing heard.

 

[n0nhp]

My guess is that 1KW into a Vertical Conical Monopole at 8Megs, didn't make if much north of 70° South.
Fun exercise though.
Bruce

 

[kilokat7]

I was out tonight but had the SDR recording. No modulation heard here but I had a lot of intermittent carriers on 7995 khz, as if someone was tuning up beginning at 2300 UTC and throughout my recording. Anyone else notice this? The carriers were quite strong, so I assume it was just someone messing around on the frequency disrupting things.

 

[KB7MIB]

I was listening with a Grundig Yacht Boy 400 PE, from shortly after 2300Z (4pm local time) until 0000Z (5pm local) but heard nothing.

John
Peoria, AZ

 

[SCPD]

No modulation heard here but I had a lot of intermittent carriers on 7995 khz, as if someone was tuning up beginning at 2300 UTC and throughout my recording. Anyone else notice this?

Yes they were heard by several people.

 

[WB2UZR]

Report From Antarctica

A report from Antarctica | The SWLing Post