“An affordable satellite communication system is a priority in your tool set and it has to be simple, robust and reliable.”
In May 2008 the installation of the world’s highest ground automatic weather stations (AWS) took place on Everest’s South Col by the nonprofit association Ev-K2-CNR. Everest’s South Col is at the altitude that climbers refer to as the ‘Death Zone’, which is a point where the oxygen in the air cannot sustain human life for extended periods of time, so working in such an area is very risky without strong preparation and communications.
A complicated job in difficult environments
“It was a very complicated job, mostly because of the extreme conditions of South Col. A climber in a bivouac for just one night in an open field will most probably get severe frostbite, but if the wind blows hard, death from hypothermia and hypoxia conditions is a reality,” says Gian Pietro, Technical Manager and responsible for selecting the right technologies for the operating conditions.
“It is a difficult environment, with limited power and definitely no ground communications. In this case an affordable satellite communication system is a priority in your tool set and it has to be simple, robust and reliable.”
Absolute control needed
“Among many other things we needed to have absolute control of climber activity. Thus, video connection with the site using the EXPLORER 700 was very important. Secondary to this, but just as important to our organization, the EXPLORER 700 was able to provide video connection and interaction with the press and media in Italy during this complicated operation. And that kind of coverage is invaluable to us.”
“Our experience with Inmarsat services started more than 20 years ago. Parabolic antennas, 2 big suitcases weighing 70 kg, 300 watts AC power and analogue satellite connection. From that time, we went through all the evolution of Inmarsat services, into the digital connection, then into ISDN digital service, and now into BGAN. We can connect any kind of device through Inmarsat, medical equipment included, and we have always found excellent service, even considering our operating conditions: open air, low temperatures, high humidity, and low pressure.”
 The importance of the right tools
In these conditions, Ev-K2-CNR has to carefully choose the right tools for the job, to ensure continuous operation when both the safety of the team and the quality of the data counts on it. To this end, they currently have two EXPLORER 700 systems which they use for high-speed data transfer, Internet, live TV connection for broadcast, and Frontline Communicator data connection. There are two main uses for the organization’s EXPLORER 700s:
- Permanent installation for all of the services needed in Base Camp: Internet connection, file transfer of video, live broadcast TV.
- “On the way” connection, from Base Camp up the mountain: A specially made protective rucksack containing the EXPLORER 700, one spare battery, solar panel and the Frontline Communicator.This set is carried by a Sherpa together with the climbers, and can be used to establish a connection from anywhere on the mountain.
The ideal choice
“Inmarsat is a very effective and affordable service. For us, it has been ideal, even in rescues and life threatening situations, of which we have had many in the mountains. The choice of Thrane & Thrane hardware came out of our personal experience. Of course, we tried many brands, but Thrane & Thrane was the ideal choice for our requested degree of affordability,” says Gian Pietro.
“I was immediately confident in using the EXPLORER 700. It features strong sensitivity on the signal, so we could tolerate some bad antenna aiming done by the climbers, but, at the same time, we found a good autonomy even in the bad conditions found on Everest. We also found the wireless connection that eliminates cables and physical connection between the EXPLORER 700 and other equipment very convenient. In fact, it is so simple to use that non-technical, local staff like the Sherpas were able to set up the connection by themselves.”
“It is so simple to use that non-technical, local staff like the Sherpas were able to set up the connection by themselves.”
No assistance needed
“We prepared well with Telemar in Italy to ensure that immediate assistance would be available in case of a problem with the use of the EXPLORER systems, but I’m happy to report that no situations occurred in which we needed to request their assistance. The interaction during the preparation phase gave us great confidence with the system, and it has performed very well, especially in the critical moments.”
“You never know if you will just need to do a simple FTP, or to check your web mail, or to establish a video connection with a TV channel for a live broadcast or to manage a rescue, where helicopters are used, with climbers on the mountain and rescue teams in Base Camp, all in difficult weather conditions. In all these cases a satellite communication system cannot fail, which is why we use EXPLORER 700,” concludes Gian Petro.
“Thrane & Thrane was the ideal choice for our requested degree of affordability.” |