When you’ve spent almost 50 years chasing DX, worked an extraordinary 273 divisions and confirmed 271 of them, your reputation on 11m tends to arrive before your callsign does…
That’s certainly the case with DA-RC’s newest member, Roger!
The Dx Adventure Radio Club (DA-RC) is delighted to welcome this highly experienced European DXer to our club, with the allocation of 13DA077 for Germany and 30DA077 for his DX activities from Spain!
With almost five decades of experience on Freeband SSB, an exceptional DXCC record and a genuine desire to contribute to the future of the club, Roger brings an impressive combination of experience, enthusiasm and activity to DA-RC…
Roger’s Freeband story began back in 1977, when he first became active on SSB from Germany.
His connection with Spain followed soon afterwards, with Roger establishing a station at his family’s Spanish property in 1981.
This has allowed him to enjoy the hobby from both Germany and Spain for more than four decades.
Throughout his time on 11m, Roger has been known under several callsigns attached to some great clubs, including 13ST077, 13OT077 and 13LR076…
Now, the familiar 077 progressive will continue into the next chapter of his radio journey with DA-RC.
There’s little doubt about where Roger’s greatest radio passion lies.
He’s a dedicated DX Hunter.
Roger has worked an outstanding 273 DXCC divisions on 11m, with an equally impressive 271 already confirmed by QSL.
His recent operating numbers demonstrate that he’s far from resting on almost five decades of past achievements.
During 2025, Roger recorded approximately 4,500 DX contacts, followed by another 2,300 contacts during 2026 to date.
Those figures represent a serious amount of time behind the microphone and listening for openings!
Roger regularly monitors the International Call Frequency on 27.555 MHz USB, searching for new DX opportunities, unusual propagation and those increasingly difficult divisions still missing from the log…
His achievements and continued activity mean that Roger satisfies the membership requirements for a Delta-Alfa callsign on 11m through DA-RC’s DX Chaser category.
We’re therefore delighted to allocate Roger his German callsign: 13DA077
Roger’s long-standing connection with Spain is also an important part of his radio story…
With a family property and established station there, Spain isn’t simply an occasional holiday operating QTH.
Roger has been active from the country since 1981 and continues to undertake considerable DX work while there.
For this reason, DA-RC has also allocated Roger a second callsign for his Spanish operations: 30DA077
One area Roger is particularly interested in exploring is the World Beauties Award (WBA) program…
He plans to join 30DA010 Sergio’s WBA Team in Spain, giving him an opportunity to move beyond traditional home-station DXing and become involved in local portable activities and activations.
It’s exactly the type of new challenge Roger says he’s keen to embrace.
With an experienced DA-RC operator living nearby and a well-established Spanish station already available, we hope the 30DA077 callsign will become increasingly familiar to World Beauties Award hunters in the years ahead.
Roger also brings previous experience from the other side of the pile-up…
His past activities include 30OT/CF2002 — Century Fleet, where he participated as a pilot station, together with SES operations under 30OT/CV, 30OT/0 and 30LR/NC.
This background gives Roger an appreciation of DX from both perspectives — chasing wanted stations from home and understanding the demands involved in putting special or portable stations on the air.
With his planned involvement in WBA activities, there may well be more activations ahead.
As you’d expect from such an active DX Hunter, Roger has some excellent equipment available across his operating locations…
His Spanish station is built around an Icom IC-7300, complemented by an Icom SM-30 microphone, Heil ProSet Elite, MetroPower EQ equipment and an optional ACOM 2100 amplifier.
On the antenna side, the centerpiece is an impressive Vortex 4-element OWA Yagi — an excellent combination for serious long-distance DX work.
His other station includes a Yaesu FTDX-3000, Grundmann MD100 microphone and ACOM 1010 amplifier, with a Vortex 2-element Moxon and End-Fed/Windom covering 10–80 metres providing antenna options.
It’s a station lineup that reflects Roger’s long-standing commitment to radio and, particularly, his passion for hunting DX.
When he’s not operating from Spain, Roger calls Karlsruhe in south-west Germany home…
Karlsruhe is one of Germany’s more distinctive cities and is famously known as the “Fan-Shaped City” because of its unusual layout.
At the centre sits the magnificent Karlsruhe Palace, from which streets and avenues radiate outwards in a fan-like pattern. Dating back to the early 18th century, the palace remains one of the city’s defining landmarks.
Another recognisable feature is the Karlsruhe Pyramid in the Marktplatz, which serves as the mausoleum of the city’s founder, Margrave Karl III Wilhelm of Baden-Durlach.
The historic district of Durlach provides another side to the city, with its old streets and traditional market square…
Rising above it is Turmberg, a popular vantage point offering expansive views across Karlsruhe and the surrounding Rhine Plain.
The city is also recognised for its combination of culture, science and technology. The internationally known ZKM | Center for Art and Media is among its major attractions, alongside the Botanical Garden, Zoological City Garden, palace gardens and numerous cultural and historic sites.
Karlsruhe now also has another small place on the DA-RC map — as the home of 13DA077.
Roger retired in 2022 following an extensive professional career with Harman International Automotive, where he worked as Quality Lead Europe…
His position involved leading a European team across locations including Paris, Hungary, Munich and Stuttgart, together with the company’s German headquarters.
It’s a background involving leadership, teamwork, communication and working across different countries and cultures — qualities that should translate particularly well into an international organization such as DA-RC.
Retirement also provides Roger with more opportunities to enjoy the things important to him…
Away from the shack, he enjoys travelling with his wife and family, particularly taking city trips throughout Europe. His other interests include cars and gardening.
Radio, however, clearly remains a major passion — and DX remains firmly at the top of the list.
Almost 50 years of Freeband SSB, 273 DXCC divisions worked, 271 confirmed, thousands of recent DX contacts, previous portable activity and an appetite for new challenges make Roger an excellent addition to the DX Adventure Radio Club.
Just as importantly, his application demonstrates a desire to participate and contribute.
📌 Whether he’s hunting rare DX on 27.555 MHz USB, operating from his German station, chasing propagation from Spain or joining Sergio and the local team for a future World Beauties Award activation, Roger intends to remain an active member of the international 11m community…
We’re therefore very pleased to welcome Roger to the DX Adventure Radio Club and officially introduce his two new Delta-Alfa callsigns!
QSL INFORMATION
Roger Hertel, PO Box 31-1133, 76141 Karlsruhe, Germany
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