Standby Freeband IOTA Hunters with the arrival of some new IOTA possibilities for 2021 from the West Indies!

Pictured below, late December 2020 sees the exciting arrival of 23DA1963 Garth, from the picturesque island of Jamaica, to the Dx Adventure Radio Club (DA-RC) ranks.

In the Caribbean sea region, Garth is regarded as a serious 11m operator indeed; a guy with 30 years’ experience in the hobby of radio comms and a widely held rep as one of Jamaica’s most distinguished eleven meter band DXers.

Furthermore, with the DA-RC behind him in Solar Cycle 25 and supporting his dx adventure efforts, this status is certain to grow on the global stage!

Referenced by the World IOTA Program as NA-097 (See: https://www.iota-world.org/islands-on-the-air/iota-groups-islands/group/612.html), 23DA1963 Garth’s island is the third largest island of the Greater Antilles and Caribbean (after Cuba and Hispaniola); one that always attracts huge interest from keen island chasers.

Islands Base Online confirms that there are several small islands off Jamaica’s coast which share the NA-097 reference; most notably those in Portland Bight such as Pigeon Island, Salt Island, Dolphin Island, Long Island, Great Goat Island and Little Goat Island, and also Lime Cay located further east.

Much further out — some 50–80 km off the south coast — lie the very small Morant Cays and Pedro Cays (Pictured below).

It’s hoped these island dxstinations, never before active on 11m, will be targeted by Garth sometime in the future for some breathtaking Islands On The Air (IOTA) action!

Jamaica (23 Division) is one of the most unique locations on the planet.

It’s known to be the birthplace of reggae, the world’s fastest sprinters such as Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake, Blue Mountain coffee, Red Stripe beer which is brewed by Desnoes & Geddes, full-bodied Jamaican rum, beautiful beaches such as Sevin Miles, Sandals and Bloody Bay, jerk dishes, luxurious all-inclusive resorts and majestic waterfalls.

Pictured below, Jamaica’s Carnival (Bacchanal) is a spectacle of shimmering sequin costumes, vivacious dancers and delectable Soca sounds, culminating in the most friendly and vibrant festival of the year.

23DA1963 Garth’s town is called ‘Mandeville’, the capital and largest town in the parish of Manchester in the county of Middlesex.

According to the atlas, Mandeville is located on an inland plateau at an altitude of 628 m, 103 km west of Kingston.

Interestingly, it’s the only parish capital of Jamaica not located on the coast, or on a major river.

Mandeville has a town square, parish church and clock tower, and many large, elegant early 19th-century houses line the winding streets in the town centre.

It’s reportedly a major commercial centre, and the location of Northern Caribbean University, a Seventh-day Adventist institution of higher learning where 23DA1963 Garth studied.

The lush gardens, waterfalls & exotic wildlife of Turtle River Falls and Gardens (See pictured above), the High Mountain Coffee Factory, Mrs Stephenson’s Garden and the Manchester Golf Club & Course (See left) are just a few of the area’s major tourist attractions.

As the pictures show, 23DA1963 Garth’s success as a Freeband DX Hunter is facilitated by a world class station…

An Icom IC-7300 HF/50 MHz Base Transceiver with Touch Screen innovation is a compelling new feature of his radio shack bench top, alongside a vintage Maco 300 tube amplifier and other dx-cessories.

Outside his island home QTH, high above his rooftop, is a monster 7 element horizontally polarized yagi.

This ensures his 27 MHz transmissions always command plenty of attention on the international call frequency, 27.555 MHz USB, where he’s QRV frequently.

Away from the hobby of radio comms, 23DA1963 Garth lists watching movies, surfing the Internet, and listening to music as his favourite pastimes.

Tunes from Jamaican dancehall reggae artists Busy Signal and Grace Latoya Hamilton (aka Spice), legendary reggae artist Bob Marley (See pictured above), and Kingston born singer/songwriter Mikey Spice.

Like most West Indians, Garth is a chilled customer and he looks forward to cruising in the hobby with his Delta-Alfa callsign for many years to come.

QSL INFOS

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