A NORTH POLAR HOBBY

Evening Star, Issue 22974, 3 June 1938, Page 10

A NORTH POLAR HOBBY

Ernest Evenk el, the wireless, operator of the Russian expedition to the North Pole, developed during this expedition' a hobby begun during previous explorations, writes the Moscow correspondent of the ‘ Manchester Guardian.’ In the long months of the polar winter he has passed, many hours getting in touch with short wave wireless transmitters all over the world.

.Some years ago, while stationed at Franz Josef Land, he communicated on two days with “ Little America,” the base of Admiral Byrd’s Antarctic ox. pedition, thereby establishing a longdistance record for radio conversations. The reception was quite clear. Discussing his short wave experiences on the recent expedition in a ‘ Pravda ’ article, Krenkel remarks, that the absence of tramcars and electric lifts, the bane of wireless enthusiasts in a city, created ideal reception conditions, enabling him to keep in touch with the whole world with-a small 20-watt threetube set. After the expedition’s call word “ Upol ” had become widely known the moment Krenkel began transmitting answers came pouring in from all directions. _ The first, contact was established with a Norwegian, then Americans, Frenchmen, Dutchmen, Englishmen, Belgians, Irishmen, and Germans followed in rapid succession. On© of Krenkel’s short wave friends in Hawaii was constantly alarmed about the ice. Almost daily he would ask whether the ice was piling up at a terrible rate and whether the members of the expedition xvere scared. It was hard to reassure him. On three occasions Krenkel talked to Australian short wave stations. Krenkel says that the conversations usually lasted two or three minutes, which were.mostly taken up with expressing delight over establishing contact. ‘‘Only the stations of one country,” Krenkel significantly adds, “ failed to express delight at getting in touch with us. Our conversations with them were polite, but exceedingly 1 formal, and never lasted very long. “ Our closest ties,” Krenkel cs». tiuues, “ were with the Americana. When they started working the other was overcrowded. With their comparatively powerful sets they deafened ua so that it often became impossible to finish the conversation. On one occasion, when reception was good, in the course of three hours I got in touch with 11 Americans. They passed me orv from hand to hand. ‘Please call my friend, he hears you,’ one American would ask. I would do as told and establish a new contact. “ Before I had finished I heard three other stations calling me. Unfortunately there was no wind, and I had to save the batteries. Besides, it was already time for our morning cup of tea.”