*MEET* 153DA012 Andre

South-east Asia big gun 153DA012 Andre is the newest addition to the ranks of the Dx Adventure Radio Club (DA-RC), becoming the first member from the Kingdom of Thailand (153 Division) since our club’s formation in July 2008.

Formerly known as Siam, 153DA012 Andre’s QTH is the world’s 51st-largest country, located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula. 

It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the west by the Andaman Sea and the southern extremity of Burma.

One of the most well-known and respected radio communications hobbyists in the 11m DX Community, Andre satisfies DA-RC requirements in each of our club’s 3 membership categories…DXpeditioner, DX Hunter and DX Leadership.

With the International Radio (IR) club, Andre has a resume second to none in dx adventure, embarking on successful radio missions to remote 153 division islands Koh Phangan and Koh Samui as 153IR/AS101/KP & KS, Crete Island as 90IR/D, Western Malaysia as 113IR/DXI, Brunei as 225IR0 and East Malaysia as 58IR/DX.  

He has also activated two lighthouses in his homeland of the Netherlands, where his two adult sons continue to reside.

A former member of the Alfa Tango and Sugar Delta DX groups, Andre has also contributed as team member to club station activities in the Netherlands (19 Division), Germany (13 Division) and France (14 Division) and performed an exciting Special Event Station (SES) as 113IR/JM010 commemorating the CB Jamboree on the air in Melaka Malaysia.

In the DX Hunter category, 153DA012 Andre has worked and confirmed 224 DXCC from his home/s in the Netherlands (19 Division) and Thailand (153 Division). 

He has also nailed a large number of islands on the air (IOTA) activities since beginning in the hobby back in 1980 with a basic 22 channel CB and Shakespeare vertical antenna and is always on the lookout for a new RSGB reference.

As a radio club administrator, 153DA012 Andre is a past headquarters’ member and country coordinator for IR.

“I like the DA-RC group as it is a ‘thinking’ dx group,” says Andre.  “Not too big like a couple of other dx groups, with nice info on the home pages and nice activities.”  

“This is important and the group is not sleeping as there is activity from members and more.”

In addition to undertaking DXpeditions to exotic DXstinations, contributing to the betterment of the 11m Community in various leadership capacities throughout the years and chasing DXCC, IOTA and LOTA behind the mic of his ICOM IC-706 transceiver, 153DA012 Andre enjoys exchanging QSL cards with radio mates and reading up on the latest antenna theories.

“The QSL cards are very nice from the DA-RC,” says Andre.  “Every time I see a nice new one!”

Away from the world of radio comms and Andre enjoys travelling the world, seeking unique cultural experiences and meeting new friends from different walks of life. 

153DA012 Andre’s home, for instance, a district in the eastern part of Bueng Kan Province, is close to famous Thailand landmarks such as Wat Phu Tok temple, Bung Khong Long (an emblematic lake which is a breeding ground for aquatic birds), the Phu Wua Wildlife Sanctuary (a protected natural area with forests and waterfalls) and Nam Tok Tat Kinari (a waterfall with pools of clear water). He also lists local beaches as a great spot to relax, in a community dominated by farmers.

Like many hobbyists, 153DA012 Andre also enjoys surfing the internet and reading up on the latest DX news, views and product reviews to make his experiences in the hobby all the more rewarding. 

He also uses the internet as a prime source of reconnaissance infos for future dx adventure!

To confirm your contact with 153DA012 Andre from the Kingdom of Thailand, please send your QSL card with standard contribution to: