*Log* 14DA/CI Comtesse
October 25, 2009 by Darren
| PROG | DATE | GMT | CALLSIGN | NAME | FREQ | MODE | RST |
| 001 | 19/08/09 | 7H49 | 14W109 | Dany | 27.580 | USB | 3/0 |
| 002 | 19/08/09 | 7H50 | 14DA049 | Fred | 27.580 | USB | 3/0 |
| 003 | 19/08/09 | 7H52 | 14AT824 | Philippe | 27.580 | USB | 3/0 |
| 004 | 19/08/09 | 7H53 | 14AT118 | Jean Louis | 27.580 | USB | 5/9 +60 |
| 005 | 19/08/09 | 7H56 | 14IF5004 | Bernard | 27.580 | USB | 5/3 |
| 006 | 19/08/09 | 7H57 | 14SD049 | Christophe | 27.580 | USB | 5/0 |
| 007 | 19/08/09 | 7H59 | 14HD001 | Daniel | 27.580 | USB | 5/3 |
| 008 | 19/08/09 | 8H01 | 30IR046 | David | 27.580 | USB | 5/9 |
| 009 | 19/08/09 | 8H19 | 30ARP002 | — | 27.580 | USB | 5/5 |
| 010 | 19/08/09 | 8H22 | 14AT014 | Jean Pierre | 27.580 | USB | 4/0 |
| 011 | 19/08/09 | 8H23 | 14DA101 | Christian | 27.580 | USB | 5/1 |
| 012 | 19/08/09 | 9H13 | 165CM102 | Manuele | 27.580 | USB | 5/7 |
| 013 | 19/08/09 | 9H19 | 30ET374 | Paco | 27.580 | USB | 5/8 |
| 014 | 19/08/09 | 10H11 | 31FAT010 | Paolo | 27.605 | USB | 5/0 |
| 015 | 19/08/09 | 10H44 | 14DX181 | Marc | 27.605 | USB | 3/0 |
Welcome to 224DA010 Edward
September 25, 2009 by Darren
Reputable Oceania based DXer 224DA010 Edward is the Dx Adventure Radio Club’s most recent member from the remote north-central Pacific Ocean’s Gilbert Islands. Earlier known on the eleven meter band as 224ET001 and remaining a member of the Echo Tango Club through life membership, Edward’s QTH in 224 Division is picturesque Nonuiti Atoll (the third largest in the group).
38 km north of Tabiteuea and 250 km south of Tarawa Atolls, Edward’s remote island (which shares the IOTA reference number OC-017 with 16 other islands in 224 Division in accordance with the Radio Society of Great Britain’s IOTA program), is bow shaped with a half loop at each end and is made up of countless diminutive islets.
To the northwest of a central lagoon with blinding white beaches, for instance, lies the uninhabited Noumatong Islet.
“This islet is a protected nesting place and sanctuary for several sea bird species,” says Edward, a self-proclaimed nature enthusiast, “Such as brown noddy, brown booby, white tern, lesser frigatebird, great frigatebird, black-naped tern and sooty tern.”
The eastern area of the Nonouti atoll, though, is a continuous line of tiny islets — one of those ‘Abamakoro Islet’ being Edward’s peaceful home, as well as his parents’ home island for over 70 years.
A world away from the expensive amateur equipment used by DXers in developed countries, 224DA010 Edward’s simple IOTA station consists of a faithful Ranger RCI-2970 transceiver and a half-wave vertical antenna mounted on a coconut tree some 20 metres off the ground.
It might be straightforward but it sure is effective with a powerful signal often generated to other far-flung islands in the Pacific, including mainland 43 Division and the Americas.
Away from the radio communications hobby, the club’s newest member works for the Kiribati Government as a primary school teacher at the small Abamakoro Primary School.
“I achieved my 4 year teacher education degree on the capital Tarawa,” he explains. “And now I’ve been teaching for almost 10 years on my little home island Nonuiti.”
Happily married and with 6 children (4 girls and 2 boys), Edward’s family home is reportedly very close to the school — so close in fact that he encourages children in his class to visit and use his radio so that they can communicate with other students in other schools in the Gilberts on 27.335 MHz USB.
In addition to his work in the community, 224DA010 Edward also enjoys waking up early to go fishing in a canoe, diving for turtles and gardening. (Note: The name Nonouti means to “wake up early to go fishing hihi”). On the subject of his beloved vegetable garden which consists of among other veges… bright red tomatoes and big leafy cabbages…, Edward says it not only keeps him busy but, along with regular catches of fresh fish on the island’s reefs, also helps his family sustain a healthy lifestyle.
Having worked many other Delta-Alfa members in the past from his island on the air station, Edward is tremendously excited at joining the club he has heard so much about from friends and looks forward to logging many contacts with his new Delta-Alfa callsign in the future.
On behalf of the HQ Team and all DA-RC members, welcome to the club 224DA010 Edward. It’s a privilege to have you in the team moving into the exciting times of Cycle 24.
Welcome 136DA001 Alain
June 22, 2009 by Darren
The delightful eastern Caribbean Sea island of Martinique (NA-107) is the abode for the Dx Adventure Radio Club’s most recent member who is 136DA001 Alain.
A former member of the Sugar Delta and Tharacian Rose DX Groups, an ultra experienced QSL manager and skilled designer, and one of the hobby’s most well known island based operators, 136DA001 Alain is regarded as one of the world’s elite DXers and so clearly satisfies the DA-RC membership entry requirements of the DX Hunter and DX Leadership categories respectively.
With a huge 269 DXCC entities to his credit and a similar number of IOTA triumphs achieved from his overseas French Department, Alain is undoubtedly one of the most successful eleven metre DXers in history, an achievement which sits well with the self proclaimed ‘King of Caribbean’ who takes his radio communications hobby very seriously.
In the stunning overseas French Department of NA-107, Alain has balanced his labours in the shack behind the microphone of his Icom 706 MKII with efforts as one of the hobby’s most reliable QSL Managers, in addition to a number of other significant leadership roles. The previous Manager of the entire 136, 143 (St. Lucia Island) (NA-108) and 194 (Dominica) (NA-101) Division teams, Alain has also acted as the West Indies Coordinator, French HQ Member and French Territories Representative (DOM-TOM) respectively.
Away from the demands of the hobby, 136DA001 Alain is interested in surfing the endless waves of the internet – more specifically the intricacies of web site design. (Please see Alain’s excellent personal webpage by visiting the Member’s Websites section at http://www.delta-alfa.com/qsl-gallery/member-websites/ )
DA-RC’s newest affiliate also claims a love of television and movies and spends his spare hours relaxing on the couch zoning out to contemporary or past screen classics. Apparently, Martinique was the main setting of the 1944 film To Have and Have Not starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. The island also featured in the 1999 remake of “The Thomas Crown Affair,” and in the movie “Sugar Cane Alley”.
In the outdoors, though, there are also plenty of other island attractions that keep 136DA001 Alain busy and entertained like jostling with tourists and visiting some of his island’s lush rainforests, active volcanoes and sandy beaches. Let’s just hope his time with DA-RC is equally as relaxing!
On behalf of all members, we look forward to meeting you on the air with your new callsign very soon, Alain. Welcome to the Dx Adventure Radio Club!
23DA/NA-097 Jamaica Island, Log, Part 2
May 23, 2009 by Darren
| PROG TX | DATE | GMT | CALLSIGN | NAME | FREQ | MODE | RST |
| 101 | 5.5.09 | 00:40 | 10FAT103 | ROBERT | 27.570 | USB | 5/5 |
| 102 | 6.5.09 | 21:05 | 30LO2562 | RUBEN | 27.580 | USB | 5/5 |
| 103 | 6.5.09 | 21:14 | 34AT035 | OSCAR | 27.580 | USB | 5/5 |
| 104 | 6.5.09 | 21:17 | 31CAT324 | JOSE | 27.580 | USB | 3/3 |
| 105 | 6.5.09 | 21:20 | 136SD001 | ALAN | 27.580 | USB | 5/5 |
| 106 | 6.5.09 | 21:22 | 34SD127 | JON | 27.580 | USB | 3/1 |
| 107 | 6.5.09 | 21:23 | 30AT416 | LOLO | 27.580 | USB | 5/3 |
| 108 | 6.5.09 | 21:29 | 30ET374 | PACO | 27.580 | USB | 3/3 |
| 109 | 6.5.09 | 23:50 | 2AT017 | JIM | 27.570 | USB | 5/9 |
| 110 | 6.5.09 | 00:15 | 2OT039 | TOM | 27.580 | USB | 4/3 |
| 111 | 7.5.09 | 22:20 | 158ST509 | FEDNER | 27.565 | USB | 5/7 |
| 112 | 9.5.09 | 17:50 | 175AT/DX | TAN | 27.640 | USB | 5/0 |
| 113 | 9.5.09 | 18:50 | 4FAT016 | EDWARD | 27.580 | USB | 5/2 |
| 114 | 11.5.09 | 21:45 | 1AT566 | CARMELO | 27.590 | USB | 3/1 |
| 115 | 11.5.09 | 21:50 | 31SD107 | ORLANDO | 27.590 | USB | 3/1 |
| 116 | 11.5.09 | 21:58 | 11SD011 | JOEL | 27.590 | USB | 2/1 |
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 118 | 11.5.09 | 22:14 | 196SD102 | ROBERT | 27.590 | USB | 5/9 |
| 119 | 13.5.09 | 22:50 | 53SD101 | WALTER | 27.530 | USB | 5/8 |
| 120 | 14.5.09 | 01:50 | 69BY175 | JIM | 27.580 | USB | 5/8 |
| 121 | 14.5.09 | 19:26 | 3SAB001 | MARCO | 27.580 | USB | 1/3 |
| 122 | 14.5.09 | 23:50 | 2AW321 | DAVID | 27.560 | USB | 5/9+5 |
| 123 | 15.5.09 | 20:31 | 1AT1160 | JOSEF | 27.640 | USB | 3/0 |
| 124 | 15.5.09 | 20:50 | 11SD119 | MIKE | 27.640 | USB | 5/5 |
| 125 | 15.5.09 | 20:57 | 34AT107 | ROBERT | 27.640 | USB | 5/8 |
| 126 | 15.5.09 | 21:00 | 1LR190 | CEARE | 27.640 | USB | 5/3 |
| 127 | 15.5.09 | 21:07 | 1AT1092 | MARCELLO | 27.640 | USB | 3/3 |
| 128 | 15.5.09 | 21:14 | 34LO3616 | ALVETTE | 27.640 | USB | 3/0 |
| 129 | 15.5.09 | 21:18 | 34ACT105 | DOMINGO | 27.640 | USB | 3/0 |
| 130 | 15.5.09 | 21:35 | 35AT160 | PETER | 27.540 | USB | 5/5 |
| 131 | 15.5.09 | 21:39 | 196RC001 | HARRY | 27.540 | USB | 5/6 |
| 132 | 15.5.09 | 21:46 | 14AP001 | NICOLAS | 27.540 | USB | 5/5 |
| 133 | 15.5.09 | 21:49 | 14FAT503 | GILLES | 27.540 | USB | 3/0 |
| 134 | 15.5.09 | 21:51 | 4AZ042 | ALBERTO | 27.540 | USB | 5/7 |
| 135 | 15.5.09 | 22:03 | 12RGC402 | BRUNO | 27.540 | USB | 5/4 |
| 136 | 15.5.09 | 22:05 | 11ET004 | ANGEL | 27.540 | USB | 5/5 |
| 137 | 15.5.09 | 22:14 | 30RC368 | AGOSTINO | 27.540 | USB | 5/5 |
| 138 | 15/5/09 | 23:14 | 127KP816 | KERRY | 27.545 | USB | 5/5 |
| 139 | 19/5/09 | 22:08 | 14AT158 | JEFF | 27.520 | USB | 5/5 |
| 140 | 19/5/09 | 22:18 | 14FR010 | SEB | 27.500 | USB | 5/5 |
| 141 | 19/5/09 | 22:24 | 29LD111 | MARK | 27.500 | USB | 4/5 |
| 142 | 19/5/09 | 22:24 | 47DX101 | JOHN | 27.500 | USB | 5/5 |
| 143 | 19/5/09 | 22:25 | 29WT200 | NICK | 27.500 | USB | 5/6 |
| 144 | 19/5/09 | 22:30 | 14KW142 | BRUNO | 27.500 | USB | 5/3 |
| 145 | 19/5/09 | 22:31 | 68DT464 | ROBERT | 27.500 | USB | 3/5 |
| 146 | 19/5/09 | 22:33 | 14DA101 | CHRISTIAN | 27.500 | USB | 3/3 |
| 147 | 19/5/09 | 22:36 | 14RI001 | JOSE | 27.500 | USB | 5/1 |
| 148 | 19/5/09 | 22:56 | 29SD134 | ALAN | 27.570 | USB | 3/3 |
| 149 | 19/5/09 | 23:03 | 29WW787 | JUSTIN | 27.570 | USB | 5/7 |
| 150 | 19/5/09 | 23:16 | 3AT101 | TONY | 27.570 | USB | 3/3 |
| 151 | 19/5/09 | 20:47 | 30DX401 | CHRISTIAN | 27.580 | USB | 5/5 |
| 152 | 19/5/09 | 21:17 | 14AT263 | BRUNO | 27.580 | USB | 3/3 |
| 153 | 19/5/09 | 21:23 | 14SD277 | PATRICE | 27.580 | USB | 5/5 |
| 154 | 19/5/09 | 21:27 | 14BCM035 | JEAN MICHEL | 27.580 | USB | 3/5 |
| 155 | 19/5/09 | 21:28 | 14RC065 | YVES | 27.580 | USB | 3/3 |
| 156 | 19/5/09 | 21:30 | 14AT120 | JOSE | 27.580 | USB | 5/6 |
| 157 | 20.5.09 | 21:31 | 14RX100 | — | 27.580 | USB | 5/6 |
| 158 | 20.5.09 | 21:33 | 14SD387 | DANIEL | 27.580 | USB | 5/7 |
| 159 | 20.5.09 | 21:37 | 14VL5011 | ROLAND | 27.580 | USB | 5/7 |
| 160 | 20.5.09 | 21:38 | 14TRC036 | PATRICK | 27.580 | USB | 5/5 |
| 161 | 20.5.09 | 21:39 | 14OF017 | FRED | 27.580 | USB | 5/3 |
| 162 | 20.5.09 | 21:41 | 14SD124 | FREDDY | 27.580 | USB | 3/0 |
| 163 | 20.5.09 | 00:12 | 9RD766 | JOHN | 27.590 | USB | 5/3 |
| 164 | 20.5.09 | 00:19 | 2WR858 | PETE | 27.590 | USB | 5/5 |
| 165 | 22.5.09 | 20:10 | 1AT1684 | SALVO | 27.610 | USB | 3/3 |
| 166 | 22.5.09 | 20:15 | 14AT375 | ALBIN | 27.610 | USB | 3/3 |
| 167 | 22.5.09 | 20:17 | 1ET109 | SEBASTIANO | 27.610 | USB | 5/6 |
| 168 | 22.5.09 | 20:22 | 14CF066 | JEAN MICHEL | 27.610 | USB | 3/3 |
| 169 | 22.5.09 | 20:24 | 1RGK053 | LUIGI | 27.610 | USB | 2/2 |
| 170 | 22.5.09 | 20:25 | 1ET054 | CORRALDO | 27.610 | USB | 5/6 |
| 171 | 22.5.09 | 20:36 | 1AT575 | JOSEPH | 27.610 | USB | 5/7 |
| 172 | 22.5.09 | 20:45 | 1SD171 | ANGELO | 27.610 | USB | 2/0 |
| 173 | 22.5.09 | 20:47 | 1SD169 | PAOLO | 27.610 | USB | 3/5 |
| 174 | 22.5.09 | 20:48 | 1LR081 | ROBERTO | 27.610 | USB | 3/5 |
| 175 | 22.5.09 | 21:08 | 30RC106, | VICTOR | 27.590 | USB | 3/3 |
| 176 | 22.5.09 | 21:12 | 30RC107 | IVAN | 27.590 | USB | 3/1 |
| 177 | 22.5.09 | 21:21 | 14SD153 | JACK | 27.590 | USB | 5/3 |
| 178 | 22.5.09 | 21:24 | 14SD038 | GERARD | 27.590 | USB | 5/7 |
| 179 | 22.5.09 | 21:27 | 14LL011 | PIERRE | 27.590 | USB | 5/7 |
| 180 | 22.5.09 | 21:28 | 4SD039 | DIEGO | 27.590 | USB | 2/0 |
| 181 | 22.5.09 | 21:30 | 1TDT03 | COSSIMO | 27.590 | USB | 3/0 |
| 182 | 22.5.09 | 21:40 | 14SD065 | DIDIER | 27.590 | USB | 3/5 |
| 183 | 22.5.09 | 21:45 | 14RC065 | YVES | 27.590 | USB | 3/5 |
| 184 | 22.5.09 | 20:42 | 4LD001 | JUAN | 27.610 | USB | 5/5 |
| 185 | 28/05/09 | 22:04 | 30RC148 | SANDRINO | 27.630 | USB | 5/4 |
| 186 | 28.05.09 | 21:55 | 104SD102 | SYL | 27.630 | USB | 2/1 |
| 187 | 30.05.09 | 23:06 | 14AT143 | FABRICE | 27.575 | USB | 5/5 |
| 188 | 31.05.09 | 18:37 | 4SAB193 | ALEXANDER | 27.530 | USB | 3/5 |
| 189 | 31.05.09 | 22:32 | 35SD002 | CHRIS | 27.535 | USB | 3/0 |
| 190 | 31.05.09 | 22:35 | 45SD123 | NEMO | 27.535 | USB | 5/5 |
| 191 | 31.05.09 | 22:39 | 35RC369 | LUIS | 27.535 | USB | 3/2 |
| 192 | 31.05.09 | 22:40 | 14AT119 | ERIC | 27.535 | USB | 3/0 |
| 193 | 31.05.09 | 22:41 | 14SD110 | ALAN | 27.535 | USB | 3/1 |
| 194 | 31.05.09 | 22:42 | 161SC074 | JACEK | 27.535 | USB | 2/3 |
| 195 | 2/06/09 | 21:02 | 30UM04 | FRANK | 27.630 | USB | 5/4 |
| 196 | 2/06/09 | 21:13 | 93SD101 | PHILLIPE | 27.630 | USB | 3/2 |
| 197 | 2/06/09 | 21:20 | 165AR5 | RICARDO | 27.630 | USB | 3/1 |
| 198 | 2/06/09 | 21:23 | 165CM102 | ALEXANDRO | 27.630 | USB | 2/1 |
| 199 | 2/06/09 | 21:48 | 5MU209 | ANGEL | 27.630 | USB | 3/1 |
| 200 | 3/06/09 | 20:10 | 11SD124 | PATRICE | 27.550 | USB | 5/7 |
Inland Water Islands (IWI)
May 9, 2009 by Darren
The term IWI is a much used acronym in the World Eleven Metres Community which refers to the geographic phenomena that are inland water islands. As the name suggests, an inland water island is defined as:
- A body of land completely surrounded by rivers; and/or
- A body of land which is found in the middle of a lake.
The IWI idiom is commonly used as a Freeband callsign suffix – one which follows the operator’s respective DXCC division number and his radio group initials – to indicate an inland water islands DX activity. The IWI ellipsis also precedes an IWI reference number which is attributed to an inland water island by:
- The DXpedition operator; or
- The DXpedition operator’s DX Group; or
- Past IWI operations from that same island; or
- Representatives of the Islands Base Online Team
For example, a member of the DX Adventure Radio Club (DA-RC) based in Indonesia (91 Division) activating the Samosir Island (pictured below), would use the reference number… 91 DA / IWI ***** where the ***** indicates the inland water island’s reference number.
IWI on Eleven Metres
As a form of DXing, the IWI concept has steadily grown in popularity over the past five years to become one of the most exciting and hotly sought after activities on the eleven metre band. So much so, in fact, that many DX groups have added the concept to their DX agenda!
Essentially, the origins of IWI are believed to have come from the Maidenhead grid squares concept – a popular offshoot of standardised DXing on the ham bands which represents a position on the earth based on points of latitude and longitude. IWI enthusiasts would argue, however, that the eleven metre community’s IWI concept is not only more challenging for those radio communications hobbyists concerned with hunting grid squares on ham bands, but it also correlates well with the Radio Society of Great Britain’s Islands On The Air (IOTA) program.
One of the first challenges a prospective IWI DXpeditioner faces is actually locating an inland water island. This exercise is commonly achieved through the use of an online satellite system such as Google Earth or map, by tracing the tributaries of river systems or studying the geographical composition of lakes and rivers, trying to pin point land masses surrounded by water.
To facilitate the IWI DXpedition concept, the Islands Online database contains details of 14679 inland water islands, a number set to grow as the concept develops even further.
While some IWI are in fact officially recognised as islands and carry a formal title incorporating the island tag, many if not most IWI exist in anonymity, nestled within the land locks of cities, towns, municipalities and suburbs, waiting to be stumbled upon and brought to life by Freeband field operations.
Some Famous IWI
As you would expect, the size of an inland water island can vary greatly. Some like the Island of Bananal, the world’s largest inland island, covers an area of about 7000 sq miles for instance; while others such as Australia’s Jabiru Island cover an area of only a couple of hundred metres sq.
Some of the world’s most famous inland water islands, and those which feature prominently on the hit list of many IWI enthusiasts, include:
- René-Levasseur Island, Canada
- Soisalo, Finland
- Sääminginsalo, Finland
- Olkhon, Russia
- Samosir, Indonesia
- Isle Royale, United States
- Ukerewe Island, Tanzania
- St. Joseph Island, Canada
- Drummond Island, United States
- Idjwi, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Ometepe Island, Nicaragua
- Marajo, Brazil
- Teresa Island, Canada
- Beaver Island, USA
- Monteisola Island, Italy
- Majuli Island, India
- Bananal Island, Brazil
- Monte Isola (or Montisola or Monteisola), Italy
- Monte Isola, Italy
- Gudfjellöya, Norway
- Woodford Island, Australia
IWI & D
A-RC
The Dx Adventure Radio Club (DA-RC) is fortunate to have some of the best known and most successful IWI DXpeditioners in its midst. Members such as 14DA028 Phil, for example, are considered experts in the IWI domain with extensive experience working in the field from European inland water islands; efforts which have helped define the DX activity in the contemporary Freeband world.
On May 1, for instance, 14DA028 Phil, 14DA012 Herve and 14DA024 Fabrice will commence an extensive IWI tour taking in eleven islands spread across two European DXCC entities. Most of these islands have never been activated before. (Please see http://www.delta-alfa.com/da-rc-activities/franco-belgium-iwi-tour-2009/ )
DA-RC’s Achievement Program offers a number of awards recognising the feats of IWI DX enthusiasts, such as the French IWI Team’s. These include IWI DXpeditioner Awards for 5, 10 and 15 inland water island operations, as well as IWI Hunter Awards for 25, 50, 75 and 100 inland water islands worked and confirmed.
Additionally, DA-RC caters for members and IWI enthusiasts in general by hosting an annual IWI event titled IWI-kend (Details of which will be announced soon in the DA-RC Activities section). Similar to the World Wide Radio organisation’s Islands Festival, IWI-kend will involve DA-RC members from all around the world activating as many inland water islands as possible over 1 weekend. Project Manager for this event is 14DA028 Phil.
If you would like more information on the IWI concept or any of the IWI initiatives listed above, please contact the DA-RC HQ Team.
73 de Darren 43DA010 World HQ TeamWelcome to 320DA011 Karl
March 29, 2009 by Darren
The Dx Adventure Radio Club (DA-RC) is pleased to introduce its latest member in the Pacific Ocean area…320DA011 Karl. Based on the secluded Micronesian isle of Banaba, Karl is a well known and respected Freeband DXer in the Oceania region who commutes between his homeland in Western Kiribati (224 Division) and neighbouring Banaba Island every few months for employment purposes. Therefore, Karl has also been issued with the callsign 224DA011.
One of the most remote and most wanted DXCC and IOTA entities in the world of radio communications, Banaba Island (also known as Ocean Island) is a solitary raised coral island west of the Gilbert Island chain, 300 km east of Nauru, 400 km south-west of Tarawa and just south of the equator. Referenced as OC-018 in accordance with the Radio Society of Great Britain’s IOTA program, Banaba Island is part of the Republic of Kiribati and has an area of 6.5 km².
DA-RC’s newest member 320DA011 Karl resides in the Village of Antreen (Tabiang) on the highest point of the island where he operates a modest Islands On The Air (IOTA) station and is active most days on the International Call frequency.
When he’s not behind the microphone chasing DX, Karl is committed to improving the lives of children on the unique island setting in his role as school teacher at the Banaba Island Elementary School. Specialising in Social Sciences (anthropology, communication, economics, geography, history, politics, psychology and sociology), Karl teaches children aged between 11 and 14 years in Forms 1, 2, 3 and 4 who travel to Antreen each day from Banaba’s other three villages: Umwa (Ooma, Uma), Tabewa (Tapiwa, Tabwewa) and Buakonikai.
Sadly, much of Karl’s QTH has been destroyed by phosphate mining which has left a weird landscape of stark coral pinnacles protruding from burning white rock, littered with rusted mining equipment. In some ways then, Karl’s work with the next generation of Banabans is an important part of the healing process.
On behalf of all members, welcome to the Club, 320DA011 Karl. We look forward to supporting your IOTA operations in any way we can and making many great radio contacts with you on 27 MHz in the future.
[Please note that a special IOTA QSL card is available to confirm contacts with Karl's DA station and this is available from 43DA001 who is the OC QSL Manager].
Welcome to 41DA105 Brian
March 25, 2009 by Darren
The Land of the Long White Cloud is home to DA-RC’s newest member in the South Pacific region with 41DA105 Brian joining the team. Formerly with the Alfa Tango DX Group as 41AT105 but working in the Oceania Contest more recently as 41NZ105, Brian is one of the most experienced Freeband DXers in New Zealand, forging a reputation as one of the North Island’s finest radio operators over a period of more than 15 years behind the mic.
41DA105 Brian’s home in OC-036 is the picturesque port city of Napier (Ahuriri in Māori) in Hawkes Bay, which doubles as the largest cross-bred wool centre in the Southern Hemisphere and one of the largest apple, pear and stone fruit producing areas in New Zealand.
In addition to meeting DA-RC’s membership requirements in the DX Chaser category (See http://www.delta-alfa.com/about/become-a-member/ ), Brian’s skills and expertise in radio communications also extend to Short Wave Listening (SWL), a hobby in which he has achieved considerable success in many of the world’s premier ham DX Contests with the advantage of his prized Kenwood R2000 Receiver.
What’s more, Brian is also a member of the Shortwave Amateur Radio Listeners Group (SWARL) and is certain to be a valuable source of information for DA-RC moving forward as we develop our own professional SWL program.
When he’s not in the shack chasing DX as a dedicated Freeband or Short Wave Listener (SWL), though, 41DA105 Brian gets pleasure from the quiet side of life, collecting and studying rare postage stamps and related objects, such as covers (envelopes or packages with stamps on them) (Also known as Philately). He also enjoys relaxing at home with a cold beer or a glass of fine wine from one of Napier’s important grape growing and wine production areas around Metropolitan Hastings.
A self-confessed ICOM fan whose shack’s bench top is festooned with the IC-720a, as well as the IC-290a for 2m use, Brian looks forward to the arrival of Cycle 24 and re-establishing his lonely Oceanic DXCC as one of the premier DXstinations on the planet.
On behalf of everyone associated with the Dx Adventure Radio Club (DA-RC), welcome to the team, Brian. We look forward to sharing your hobby successes in the future and working your station when propagation permits.
Welcome to 14DA024 Fabrice
February 22, 2009 by Darren
The Dx Adventure Radio Club is proud to introduce to you its most recent membership newcomer…14DA024 Fabrice. Fabrice’s home QTH is Boulogne-sur-Mer, a delightful city in northern France and a sub-prefecture of the department of Pas-de-Calais (Dpt 62).
Formerly with the Sugar Delta DX Group as 14SD504 and maintaining an association with the International Radio and Alfa Romeo DX Clubs respectively, Fabrice is regarded as one of the finest Freeband DXers in continental Europe with a resume of ‘Everest like’ hobby achievements second to none.
Active in radio communications since 1979 when he was just 13 years old, Fabrice has forged a reputation as a prominent DXpeditioner, undertaking an extraordinary number of Islands On the Air (IOTA), Lighthouses On The Air (LOTA) and Windmills (MILL) activities in his Freeband career to date.
A passionate Islands traveller with a fascination of maritime seascapes, Fabrice has activated Wight Island in Southern England as 26IR/EU-120, Brehat island (EU-074) as 14IR/MA-012, Ar Morbic Island (EU-074) as 14IR/MA-051 and Sheppey island as 26IR/EU005.
On the LOTA front, Fabrice has conducted activities from many of France’s famous coastal beacons; such as Cape Gris Nez I Lighthouse as 14IR/FRA-086, Calais Lighthouse as 14IR/FRA-004, Cape d’Alprech I/Le Portel Lighthouse as 14IR/FRA-158, Berck I Lighthouse as 14IR/FRA-159, Lighthouse of Brighton as 14IR/FRA-232 and also Belgium’s Nieuwpoort Head Main Lighthouse as 16IR/BEL-004.
14DA024 Fabrice’s love of the outdoors bides well for his fondness of portable dx adventure. In point of fact, Fabrice was part of the team which operated as 14IR/FD001 during one of the World Wide Radio organisation’s World Wide Field Days. He also enjoys taking to nearby Le Portel’s spectacular white cliffs and chasing DX, far above sea level and away from the QRM hustle and bustle of his local community.
“I like expeditions with radio friends,” DA-RC’s newest member says. “One week end in the fields….camping….we spent good time together.”
In addition to his classic feats on the DXpedition world stage, 14DA024 Fabrice also lays claim to being one of the most successful DX Hunters in the modern-day Freeband World with 260 DXCC worked and confirmed and a similar number of the world’s islands to his credit. Many of these achievements, including an impressive photo gallery, can be seen on his personal website at http://www.freewebs.com/14ir106/index.htm .
In addition to a love of DXpedition work and portable field operations, Fabrice has also compiled an impressive list of Special Event activities which include 14TRC/D-Day and 14SA/D-Day marking the Invasion of Normandy, as well as 14SA/OF, 14AR/OCT and 14AR/FB. These SES say much about=the diversity of his skill-set in the communications hobby.
Since accepting his invitation with DA-RC, Fabrice has already announced that he will be undertaking a series of IOTA, and Inland Water Island (IWI) activations as the propagation potential of Cycle 24 becomes more visible. Like most members, he has also pledged his involvement in the 2009 WWRO Islands Festival, adding to DA-RC’s already impressive IOTA Team line-up.
On behalf of everyone associated with the Dx Adventure Radio Club, I’d like to extend a warm welcome to 14DA024 Fabrice. We trust you will enjoy your membership and the experiences and friendships that will come.
Welcome to 14DA028 Phil
February 18, 2009 by Darren
The Dx Adventure Radio Club extends a kind greeting to our latest member from France…14DA028 Philippe who hails from Department 59 (Locator is JO10KM). Formerly 14IR128, Phil is regarded as the world’s expert in Inland Water Island DX operations, having conducted many of his own IWI adventures in the past few years.
“My goal is to discover and to activate the internal islands (Inland Water Islands) of my region the North Pas-de-Calais D59 & 62),” says the dedicated ICOM fan. ”With Hervé and Fabrice (Now also DA-RC) we are friends since 1999 and we are a DXpedition Team very active and already many ideas for 2009…!”
In addition to pioneering exciting IWI Tours and being acknowledged as an authority in the IWI field, Phil has undertaken extensive Islands On The Air (IOTA) DX work during his 20 years in radio communications, with two of his most prominent activations being as 14IR/MA-012 from Brehat island (See below) and MA-051 from Ar Morbic Island – both falling under the RSGB reference number of EU-074.
Essentially, 14DA028 Phil’s contribution to the orb of DX adventure is not limited to IWI and IOTA, as well as the occasional functioning as a Special Event Station (SES) – even the design of special QSL cards for other DXpeditioners. History tells that he has also played a part in the growth of Castles and Fortresses On The Air (COTA) ventures, capturing the Freeband community’s imagination with 14IR/CF-59020 and 14IR/CF-62222 for the International Radio Group in 2007.
In addition to meeting DA-RC’s criteria for membership in the DXpeditioner Classification, 14DA028 Phil can lay claim to being a first class DXCC and IOTA Hunter as well, with almost 200 DXCC and 300 island contacts to his credit. Many of these confirmations can be seen on his personal website at http://14ir128.blog4ever.com .
A father of two boys, a husband, and also one of the Freeband world’s most complete DX hobbyists, Phil has already confirmed plans to embark on dx adventure to both French and Belgium islands under the banner of his new club in the near future.
On behalf of the World HQ team and all DA-RC members, welcome to the Club, 14DA028 Phil. We all look forward to sharing your dazzling tales of adventure, secured through numerous DXpeditions in the future.
Welcome to 224DA101 Taakei
January 9, 2009 by Darren
The Dx Adventure Radio Club (DA-RC) is pleased to welcome its second member from the isolated west-central Pacific Ocean nation of Western Kiribati (Gilbert Islands), 224DA101 Taakei.
Formerly with the International Radio Club as 224IR027, Taakei lives on a small coral atoll named Butaritari (previously known as Makin, Pitt Island, Taritari Island or Touching Island) which has a total land area of just 13.5 square kilometres. The Kuma Village, in which Taakei lives, is one of five small settlements on the island which include Butaritari, Keuea, Tanimaiaki and Tekabetete.
Possessing a population of about 3,280 people, the island itself comprises a central lagoon 18 km wide ringed by small islets. Most of the islanders, says Taakei, live on two main islets, Butaritari and Kuma. The central lagoon provides a good deep anchorage for large ships with three narrow passages to the open sea. History tells that this also made it an attractive port for the invading Japanese forces during World War II who occupied the atoll from 1941 to 1943.
Outside of the radio communications hobby, Taakei is a Minister of Religion with the Kiribati Protestant Church (K.P.C.) and his work on the island in areas such as youth work and Sunday School have a powerful impact on the lives of local islanders.
According to Taakei, his Church has its own transport infrastructure, its own communications infrastructure, its own Department of Education, its own press, its own industries or projects, and even its own national public holiday. Despite these developments, the Church in Kuma Village has few, if any, resources and this is one of the confronting challenges which drives Taakei in his everyday life.
In addition to his passion for the Church, Taakei has a love of radio communications and spends much of his spare time DXing or enjoying QSOs with friends and colleagues on islands such as Banaba, Makin, Tab-North, Tarawa, Marakei, Samoa and Tonga. One of the most well known DXers in 224 Division and a participant in the 2009 Oceania Contest, Taakei has an impressive island station with a Ranger RCI-2970-DX 150w transceiver, as well as an Antron 99 vertical antenna by Solarcon and a SY-3 yagi antenna by Syrio.
On behalf of the World Headquarters Team and all DA-RC members, welcome to the Dx Adventure Radio Club, 224DA101 Taakai. We look forward to working your rare IOTA station in the near future and hearing stories of your fantastic Ministerial work on the island.
