224DA010 Edward

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.