DX Ham Radio Link between Banaba and Kiribati

[Stacey King]

Welcome to 320DA011 Karl
DX Adventurer Radio Club
March 29, 2009 by darren

The Dx Adventure Radio Club (DA-RC) is pleased to introduce its latest member in the Pacific Ocean area…320DA011 Karl. Based on the secluded Micronesian isle of Banaba, Karl is a well known and respected Freeband DXer in the Oceania region who commutes between his homeland in Western Kiribati (224 Division) and neighbouring Banaba Island every few months for employment purposes. Therefore, Karl has also been issued with the callsign 224DA011.

One of the most remote and most wanted DXCC and IOTA entities in the world of radio communications, Banaba Island (also known as Ocean Island) is a solitary raised coral island west of the Gilbert Island chain, 300 km east of Nauru, 400 km south-west of Tarawa and just south of the equator. Referenced as OC-018 in accordance with the Radio Society of Great Britain’s IOTA program, Banaba Island is part of the Republic of Kiribati and has an area of 6.5 km².

DA-RC’s newest member 320DA011 Karl resides in the Village of Antreen (Tabiang) on the highest point of the island where he operates a modest Islands On The Air (IOTA) station and is active most days on the International Call frequency.

When he’s not behind the microphone chasing DX, Karl is committed to improving the lives of children on the unique island setting in his role as school teacher at the Banaba Island Elementary School. Specialising in Social Sciences (anthropology, communication, economics, geography, history, politics, psychology and sociology), Karl teaches children aged between 11 and 14 years in Forms 1, 2, 3 and 4 who travel to Antreen each day from Banaba’s other three villages: Umwa (Ooma, Uma), Tabewa (Tapiwa, Tabwewa) and Buakonikai.

Sadly, much of Karl’s QTH has been destroyed by phosphate mining which has left a weird landscape of stark coral pinnacles protruding from burning white rock, littered with rusted mining equipment. In some ways then, Karl’s work with the next generation of Banabans is an important part of the healing process.

On behalf of all members, welcome to the Club, 320DA011 Karl. We look forward to supporting your IOTA operations in any way we can and making many great radio contacts with you on 27 MHz in the future.

[Please note that a special IOTA QSL card is available to confirm contacts with Karl's DA station and this is available from 43DA001 who is the OC QSL Manager].