Hablemos, Tele

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KP4P – Biography

Greetings from Richmond, Texas!

My name is Tele, though many of my long-time friends still call me Junior or Jr., a nickname from my early days in this hobby.

I retired in September 2019 after a rewarding career as an EHS Manager for “Tren Urbano” (Urban Train), the automated rapid transit system in Puerto Rico. Now, I split my time between Texas and my beautiful island of Puerto Rico. I am the proud father of two daughters and a son, and a grandfather to seven girls and two boys. Recently, I even became a great-grandfather. Retirement has finally allowed me to fully enjoy my lifelong passion: Amateur Radio.

Radio Journey & History

My interest began early by observing my father’s radio repair shop. I was fascinated by the shortwave bands and local hams like KP4FJ (Felo) and KP4PQ (Pichi). Thanks to my “Elmers” and my oldest brother, KP4AYD (Wil), the rest is history.

  • 1958: Licensed as WP4APB (Novice) in Ponce, PR.
  • 1959: Upgraded to General Class (KP4APB).
  • 1980s: Upgraded to Extra Class and received KP4P.
  • Service: Served as trustee for the KP4BFJ UCCI Radio Club.

Those first fifteen years were “golden ones,” experimenting with homemade radios, antennas, and field days. I built my career around the fascinating “dit-dah, dit-dah” of CW.

The Shack & Operating Style

At my current QTH in Richmond, I work the bands with “stealth” wires—a SkyLoop and a ZS6BKW—thanks to HOA restrictions. I truly miss my beams!.

Current Equipment:

  • Yaesu FT-dx10, FT-1000MP, and FT-897D.
  • Heathkit SB-220 Linear Amplifier.

Goals: I’m diving into Contests and POTA, and working to upgrade my DXCC numbers on the 160-meter band.

Memberships & Achievements

I am a proud member of the ARRL and several specialized CW groups:

  • DXCC Honor Roll (356/340 entities worked).
  • FOC (#1594), CWops (#490), FISTS (#19998), SKCC (#9098), and TBDXC (#1148).
  • CW Advocacy: I am a firm believer that Real CW is Forever. I do not use decoders; CW is art made for the ears.

The Hurricane María Chapter

On September 20, 2017, Hurricane María devastated Puerto Rico. While my Rohn 25G tower survived, my antennas were destroyed. The ham community did a fantastic job providing emergency communications when the grid failed.

QSL Information & Special Project

“A QSL card is the final courtesy of a QSO.”. I strive for 100% QSLing via LoTW, Direct, or the KP4 Bureau (thanks to Luis, KP4WI).

  • The “P” Suffix Project: For many years, I have been collecting QSL cards from stations with the suffix “P”, just like mine. It is a challenging but rewarding task!.

Personal Interests & Philosophy

When I’m not on the air, I enjoy Stamp Collecting, Photography, and staying active at the Gym.

My Favorite Quotes:

  1. Amateur Radio is not a hobby; it’s a Lifestyle.
  2. CW Forever.
  3. “If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up someplace else.” (Yogi Berra)

Thank you for visiting my page. Keep CW alive!

73 de KP4P

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