– October 25, 2025Posted in: Meet the Members

If you spin your dial across 27.555 MHz USB on any given weekend, there’s a fair chance you’ll stumble upon 32DA114 John, his ICOM IC-7600 transceiver purring away somewhere in the heart of Santiago, Chile.

Linking with the Dx Adventure Radio Club in October, 2025, this guy’s warm signal and smooth style are unmistakable — the mark of someone who’s been at this game for a long time.

32DA114 John’s radio story stretches back to 1980, when the crackle of a CB rig first captured his imagination.

Decades later, that spark still burns bright.

An ex-Alfa Tango operator (32AT114) and proud ham radio callsign holder (CE3VTZ), John has logged over 100 DXCC entities and remains one of the most active 11m voices in Division 32.

In 11m DX work, 32DA114 John is a regular on 27.555 MHz USB, always with an ear open for distant calls or a rare Pacific flutter, via the reach of his delta-loop antenna, erected high above the streets of his home QTH.

On the ham bands, you’ll find him working 20, 15 and 10 metres, favoring SSB voice but not afraid to tinker with digital modes or portable activations when the opportunity arises.

From his base in Quinta Normal, just west of downtown Santiago, 32DA114 John enjoys a commanding take-off toward the Pacific — a dream for any DXer.

The Chilean capital, framed by the snow-capped Andes Mountains and the rolling Coastal Range, is more than just a beautiful city.

For operators like John, it’s an acoustically rich playground with quiet noise floors and clear propagation paths that stretch halfway around the world.

Quinta Normal itself is a lively, historic neighborhood full of attractions.

Residents and visitors enjoy the sprawling Parque Quinta Normal, home to museums such as the National Museum of Natural History and the Museum of Memory and Human Rights.

There are also cultural centres, botanical gardens, and charming cafés where locals gather.

For 32DA114 John, it’s the perfect mix of urban convenience and quiet corners, a neighborhood that inspires both his radio adventures and his leisure pursuits.

Of course, the same patience that makes 32DA114 John a skilled DX Hunter also serves him well beyond the shack.

By day, he works in the private transport industry, keeping people and goods moving smoothly through Santiago’s buzzing streets.

Logistics, timing, precision — it’s all part of the craft.

And perhaps it’s no coincidence that these same traits make him such a dependable voice on the bands.

When the mic is hung up and the logbook closed, you’ll often find John on Chile’s rugged Pacific coast, rod in hand, salt in the air.

He’s a dedicated sport fisherman, chasing local heavyweights like corvina (sea bass), reineta (pomfret), yellowtail amberjack, tuna, and the muscle-bound conger eel that lurk in the deep coastal channels near Valparaíso.

For 32DA114 John, there’s a similar thrill between radio and fishing — that quiet wait, the sudden strike, and the surge of excitement when the line tightens or a rare call sign crackles through the static.

Always drawn to adventure, 32DA114 John also harbors a deep passion for DXpedition work.

He thrives on the challenge of operating from remote or lesser-known locations, bringing rare contacts to eager hunters across the globe.

It’s this explorer’s heart that makes him a perfect fit for the Dx Adventure Radio Club, where curiosity and camaraderie meet the magic of the airwaves.

So if you hear a crisp signal from 32 Division rolling in from the south of the world, give a call — it might just be John in Santiago, reeling in another one for the log.