[Fists] Isla de Cabras PR

[Hector E. Perez]

Good morning to all my FIST friends.  Just to let you know that this last Friday, April 18, a group of local amateur radio operators had the chance to put Isla de Cabras (Puerto Rico Islands) on the air. The idea was to qualify this small island and beach complex as part of the US Islands Program.

 

Much of the credit must be given to WP3GW  Angel Santana our Puerto Rico Public Relations rep for the ARRL.

 

What went into plan within cups of coffee at a local coffee shop ended with very nice results.  More than 400 contacts were made.

 

Isla de Cabras, is a small but lovely beach and picnic area located across the harbor in San Juan. It is open to public on almost a daily basis with available parking. It also holds the local Puerto Rico Police Polygon and is also the home of the San Juan Fishing Club (for those using either a fishing rod or just a soda can and a hook attached to a nylon cord).

 

A complete remodeling has been done to the area and to my surprise I found the small island and its surroundings on mint conditions. 

 

Operation was centered mostly on 15,10,20 and 40 meters both phone and cw.

 

The call sing used was KP4DJ  

 

Apart from its main goal, interesting facts within the operation of this very nice activity was that, among the hams that actively took part on the activity working CW, there were some members of our FIST community present.  These were : Danny Ponce WP4F FIST # 10940,  Dr. Julio Medina NP3CW also FIST member and myself NP4FW # 2531.

 

Guess what?  the callsign  used KP4DJ  is also a FIST Member as,  Club Station KP4DJ  FIST #  13300 for the Puerto Rico Telegraphy Club.

 

KP4DJ used to be the one of former Willie Werner (SK) also a FIST Member. Wille was a long time cw operator and a very respected gentleman whom I had the honor to know in person.

 

Permit to use this Isla de Cabras facility was granted until late that evening only so operation was cut off  by night and everyone went home very happy.

 

If any of you had a chance to work this station, please qsl and feel free to know that a card will be mailed within a short time.

 

73s

 

Hector NP4FW