The Arecibo Observatory Amateur Radio Club (KP4AO) is setting up a new Amateur Radio station in the facility’s Angel Ramos Visitor Center exhibition. Club President Angel Vazquez, WP3R, said the new station will offer an opportunity to showcase ham radio to the thousands who visit the observatory each year. The announcement came during a behind-the-scenes tour of the deep-space radiotelescope campus, held in conjunction with the recent ARRL Puerto Rico Section Convention in Hatillo.

On behalf of Yaesu, Dennis Motschenbacher, K7BV, donated a new FTdx1200 transceiver to the new KP4AO station, while the Caribbean Amateur Radio Group presented the club with a banner for the new station.

Among those on hand to spin the dial on the new transceiver were ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN; Southeastern Division Director Doug Rehman, K4AC; Southeastern Division Assistant Director Jose Vicens, NP4G; Pacific Division Assistant Director John Bigley, N7UR; Puerto Rico Section Manage Rene Fonseca, NP3O, and others on the tour. The ARRL contingent presented the observatory station with a Centennial edition of The ARRL Handbook for Radiocommunication.

As for the convention, “Wow, what a weekend we had!” was the reaction of Angel Luis Santana, WP3GW, ARRL Public Information Coordinator for the Puerto Rico Section. “A great success!”

The Arecibo Observatory recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, and KP4AO hosted a special event for the occasion. The new KP4AO station is expected to be completed in about 3 months.