MAC OPS: Communications Center

This is what I call the Hot Seat; the primary Operators seat. We monitor 9 VHF channels, 4 HF Channels and have several phone lines, including an iridium. Everything that happens in the hot seat is recorded, which is very useful when it is busy and you have missed a detail.

Here is the official description of our duties here in Mac Ops:

The McMurdo Station Communications Operations Group, or Mac Ops, coordinates the radio communications for McMurdo Station and area U.S. Antarctic Program operations.
Mac Ops monitors communications equipment and HF propagation, tracks field and operational-support parties travel for health and safety purposes, and operates as a critical support mechanism to ensure continuous communications for field parties, vessels, and aircraft.

The Communications Operator utilizes radio, satellite, and other communications equipment to support communications needs for United States Antarctic Program participants (including grantees and support personnel) by tracking field party activity, responding to distress calls, and keeping accurate documentation of events.

Basically, we talk a lot! We monitor every person who travels out of town; whether to a field camp or out on the sea ice. We are in a constant state of emergency prepardness as we would run all the communications for any Search and Rescue.