60ant – DQ60ANT

Mittweida University of Applied Sciences, where Dr Volker Strecke, DL8JDX, studied and completed his doctorate, has a special relationship with Antarctica. From the club station DK0MIT (former call sign Y32ZN), many interesting connections to research stations on the southern ice continent were made using the powerful 2-element quad antenna on building 2 of the university, starting in the 1980s.

From 1988 to 1994, Volker DL8JDX took part in three wintering expeditions to the Antarctic:
Y88POL 23 March 1988 – 15 Feb. 1989 Georg Forster Station
Y88POL 12 Nov. 1990 – 5 March 1992 Georg Forster Station
DP0GVN 20 Dec. 1992 – 23 Feb. 1994 Neumayer II Station

During these activities, the Mittweida club station DK0MIT regularly established connections with Volker in Antarctica to transmit QSL data and greetings. Siegfried Gedel DL1JCW acted as QSL manager for Y88POL and DP0GVN on three occasions. A large number of radio amateurs from all over the world were able to enjoy QSOs and QSLs from the Georg Forster and Neumayer II stations.

These and many other research stations from 29 nations now carry out scientific activities in the Antarctic as part of the International Antarctic Treaty. After many research activities took place on the Antarctic continent in the International Geophysical Year (IGY) 1957-1958, which was also a year of the maximum of the 11-year solar activity cycles, this treaty was signed on 1 December 1959 in Washington, USA by 12 countries:
Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Chile, France, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, Russia, the UK and the USA. After ratification by all signatory states, the treaty came into force on 23 June 1961.

The International Antarctic Treaty, which is a prime example of successful diplomatic co-operation, especially during the Cold War, stipulates that Antarctica may only be used for peaceful purposes and only for scientific activities. All activities in Antarctica are subject to the premise of freedom of scientific research and international co-operation in Antarctica, as practised during the IGY 1957-1958 and the subsequent IGY.

The topic of communication, in particular the maintenance of radio links via shortwave and satellites, is of particular importance in all activities. Research results, measured values, protocols and many other data and information are transmitted daily to the respective countries and also to other research stations via these (super)vital connections. The flexibility of amateur radio connections has already enabled expedition members to be rescued in several emergency operations. Internationally, amateur radio contributes to increasing the attractiveness and intensifying communication about the important research activities on the southern ice continent.

Volker Strecke, DL8JDX
1988-1989 Y88POL Georg Forster Station
1990-1992 Y88POL Georg Forster Station
1992-1994 DP0GVN Neumayer II Station