– December 12, 2021Posted in: Meet the Members

From the French Republic, in the North Atlantic ocean, experienced DXpeditioner and serious DX Hunter — 14DA011 Bruno — links with our Dx Adventure Radio Club in mid-December 2021.

A former member of the Sugar Delta and Alfa Tango clubs, Freeband DX Clusters confirm that 14DA011 Bruno is one of north-western Europe’s best known and most active ops.

With 289 countries worked and confirmed to his name, over a time span of some 35 years involvement in the hobby, 14DA011 Bruno is also one of the most prosperous operatives in our eleven meter DX community.

In addition to satisfying stringent DA-RC requirements in the DX Hunter section, 14DA011 Bruno also ticks boxes in the DXpeditioner category.

(See http://www.delta-alfa.com/about/membership/ )

In fact, 14DA011 Bruno has been QRV from many Inland Water Islands (IWI) and Castles and Fortresses On The Air (COTA) entities in the last few years, most often with a team of experienced guys from his local club.

It’s this passion for dx adventure that makes him such a valuable acquisition for the DA-RC as Cycle 25, and the responsibility of proving exceptional DX opportunities for the 11m DX Community, arrives!

The 2021 DA-RC Membership Directory lists 14DA011 Bruno’s home QTH as Thorrenc, a picturesque commune in the Ardèche department in southern France.

The town is said to be made up of the capital, three hamlets, Solore, Ozas, Revelardon and isolated dwellings.

Castles On The Air (COTA) entity — Thorrenc Castle — is a fascinating man made feature of the local area with a history dating back to at least 1025.

This charming fortification, seen pictured above, is made up of three towers, one of which contains a dungeon, used to imprison captives or enemies of the resident Lord, many hundreds of years ago.

A modern Icom IC-7300 transceiver, alongside a 1 kilowatt amplifier, takes centre stage of Bruno’s home shack.

Outside, a lightweight 2 element delta-loop antenna, seen pictured below, provides a perfect TX punch to all major DX markets.

In addition to radio communications, 14DA011 Bruno lists fishing as a one of his main recreational pastimes.

There are many nearby waterways teeming with fish to which he regularly visits.

Arising in the Alps and flowing west and south through Lake Geneva and southeastern France before discharging into the Mediterranean Sea, the Rhône River is one of his preferred fishing spots.

Here, zander, perch and giant catfish are his staple catch!

Lake de Vert, pictured below, is another.