*MEET* 22DA010 Olivier

An overseas region of France on the northern Atlantic coast of South America, French Guiana is home to new Dx Adventure Radio Club (DA-RC) member and high regarded DX operative 22DA010 Olivier who links with our club in May 2021.

Formerly recognised on 27 MHz frequencies as 22AO001, 22DA010 Olivier (See pictured right) satisfies DA-RC membership targets in the DX Hunter category, with fantastic results achieved in a hobby career spanning more than 35 years.



Situated deep in equatorial South America, French Guiana (also known as “Guyane”) is a department of France bordering Brazil (3 Division) to the east, Suriname (73 Division) to the west, and the Atlantic.

It’s a land where old abuts new in striking incongruity.

Dense rainforests shelter centuries-old indigenous villages, while rockets zoom overhead, launched from the country’s lucrative Space Centre which is pictured right.

This important facility is situated southwest of Dégrad des Cannes.

98.9% of 22DA010 Olivier’s country is covered by forests, a large part of which is primeval rainforest.

The Guiana Amazonian Park, for example, covers 41% of French Guiana’s territory.



With much unspoiled wilderness, 22DA010 Olivier’s country, French Guiana, is home to an astounding diversity of wildlife.

Along the coast, for example, nature lovers can explore bird-rich marshes, where caimans lurk, and Atlantic beaches, where turtles nest in droves.

Inland, vast savanna stretches to lushly cloaked mountains, and rivers slice through steamy jungle.



22DA010 Olivier resides in the country’s capital, Cayenne, the préfecture and largest city of French Guiana.

His suburb, Matoury, is located in the southern part of the city and it’s where the international airport is found.

Matoury is regarded affectionately as a melting pot of French, Asian, African, and Brazilian cultures.

It’s also home to fascinating remains of the past…

One such place is the Trio Fort which is situated in the Levée location.

This possible Castles & Fortresses On The Air (COTA) dxstination was used to protect the Cayenne Isle, conjointly with the Cépérou and Diamant forts.



As the pictures above show, 22DA010 Olivier’s shack is well-established for 11m band DX-success from both his home QTH and vehicle.

For portable propagation work from his van pictured right, Yaesu FT-891 and FT-707 rigs deliver punch to all corners of the globe from vantage points in his local area.


At home, an ICOM IC-7300 is 22DA010 Olivier’s DX weapon of choice and, outside, a number of antennas provide superb versatility, depending on the band conditions.

One is the Maco Alpha V58 which is a highly efficient 5/8 wave commercial antenna that offers outstanding base station performance.

According to the product specs, this vertical is field tuneable from 26-33 MHz, has 1200-watt power handling capability and offers 5 dB gain.



Top of the food chain though is an 8 element Maco Shooting Star which has a gain of 18 dB, 2kW power handling capability and boasts an incredible 28X power multiplication.

This enormous power-house antenna ensures Olivier’s TX signal is one of the best heard in South America.



Away from the radio communications hobby and 22DA010 Olivier is employed in a variety of different trades.

He’s a V8 car mechanic, qualified electrician and pool and spa manufacturer.



For DX downtime, 22DA010 Olivier likes to chill out by playing bass guitar, tinkering with old cars, cycling and performing air brush painting.


Like most DA-RC Members who are QRV on the 11m band, 22DA010 Olivier monitors the bustling international call frequency, 27.555 MHz USB, where he’s keen to log rare DXCC and IOTA contacts.

He’s always available for a rag-chew as well, when propagation permits.

Contacts with his station are confirmable, with standard contribution and an SAE, via the QSLM co-ordinations below!



QSL INFOS

Via DA-RC HQ Oceania, PO Box 3140, Browns Plains LPO, QLD, Australia, 4118