[Alan]

WiFi is available at Pole, but it's pretty spotty at McMurdo. In fact, internet access in general is spotty at McMurdo, as there is limited bandwidth, an awful lot of people during the summer, and a lot of science being done which gets priority for the limited bandwidth. You shouldn't have any trouble sending and receiving email or browsing the web, but you may have to compete for access to a computer terminal or a hookup for your laptop. There are plans to upgrade the system, but it won't be immediate.

In any case, I haven't messed around with iPods, but doesn't that WiFi connect to your computer's WiFi rather than to a larger network? I could be wrong.

And maybe I'll see you as I'm leaving, but in the confusion and chaos of arrival I won't bet on it. I'll be one of the handful of winterovers leaving on the 9th, though, all wearing our Big Red parkas - just like you will be - so who knows?