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Blog post: The importance of testing communications equipment before an expedition to Greenland

It is Wednesday evening and I am sitting here in Utrecht testing my satellite phone. Through the company KSC in Eindhoven, we received this phone, which we always use for our satellite communications. It is very important to test all means of communication from the Netherlands before going on an expedition to Greenland. This way we can solve any problems before we are completely on our own.

Testing the satellite phone and tracker

The satellite phone we are using is the InReach, and I am happy to report that it is working properly. So when you hear this message, you can assume that the phone is functioning properly. We also tested the tracker, which shows where we are on our website. If you bike to the location in Holland, you’ll even come to my house for coffee!

CO meter and Iridium Go

Another important communication tool we tested is the CO meter. It is essential to know if it is working properly since we will be staying at high altitudes and may be exposed to carbon monoxide. Fortunately, the CO meter is functioning properly. In addition, today we received the Iridium Go, a wifi hotspot that we can use in the tent. We are still going to test these extensively, as they will also allow us to send images from the ice cap towards our blog.

Testing to perfection

We take testing our communication tools very seriously. We have also tested the GPS extensively and it works properly. This always goes with us on our trips because we need to be able to rely on it to determine our location. We go through all the equipment in detail to make sure everything is working properly before we get on the plane to Greenland.

Left to our own devices

Once we arrive in Greenland and on the ice sheet, we are completely on our own. We have to take care of everything ourselves and avoid any problems that we could have seen coming. It is very important to be well prepared and to ensure that all communication tools work optimally. We don’t want to encounter surprises we could have avoided.

Consultation with Basecamp

Tonight I consulted with Basecamp to go over all communications again and test them. In this way, we get another step closer to our expedition to Greenland. The countdown has begun and Monday is the day. I am very excited and grateful for all the support we have received.

Conclusion

Testing communications equipment for an expedition to Greenland is critical. We want to make sure everything is working properly before we are on our own. By testing our satellite phone, tracker, CO meter, Iridium Go and GPS, we can solve and prevent any problems. We are well prepared and can travel confidently towards Greenland. The countdown has begun and we can’t wait to share our adventures with you. Until the next update!