At the beginning of each research project's field season, the Mac Ops coordinator meets with the project members to set up a radio communications plan. This plan includes establishing the radio call sign, the radio frequency assignment, and the daily health and safety check-in schedule. VHF radios are unable to transmit through any solid barriers such as land formations or metal building walls. Currently, repeaters are located throughout the Antarctic Dry Valleys and at various sites on Ross Island. Researchers can obtain specific information about repeater locations by contacting the Field Party Communications Shop Supervisor year-round and also Mac Ops personnel and Field Safety Training Program personnel during the austral summer season in Antarctica.
Headsets are particularly useful for radio communications during snowmobile trips.
The batteries used in the VHF radios do not function well in the cold. Users are advised to keep the batteries as warm and dry as possible by keeping them in coat pockets when not in use. The batteries weigh about 1.5 - 2.0 pounds. Both solar battery chargers and AC battery chargers can be used to recharge the VHF radio batteries. However, to use an AC charger, an AC power source would be required at the field location.