The Knight Patrol
International DX Group was founded by Jim KP76, in the spring of 1982.
The first 10 members were located in
"The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago" in the West Indies. After one year of
activity, the KP group totaled 65 members, most of whom were located throughout the
Caribbean Islands, with a few members in the U.S.A. and Europe. In the 3 years that
followed, members were added very slowly due to a sharp decline in propagation. However,
in the face of the 11 year bottom cycle, the Group managed 465 active members. Many of
these particular original members are responsible for Knight Patrol's early growth. KP629
Alice from Ohio, and KP281 "Arizona Jack" (both deceased) along with KP455
Warren from Long Island NY, were our first Directors, and were largely responsible for the
Group's popularity.
With propagation now
improving, operators all over the world were quick to recognize the friendly and courteous
manner in which KP members operated. Even today, the feeling of friendliness, and warmth
from the peoples of the Caribbean Area is the brightest shining light in all the world,
particularly in Trinidad and Tobago. Between 1986 and 1988, five hundred new members were
added. Most of these members were located in the United Kingdom and throughout Europe. By
1989 there were 1,000 active KP members world wide including several very special Maritime
and Aeronautical mobiles. At this point, available unit numbers (below 1000) were not to
be found. After a careful planning, the "Zone Prefix" , was conceived and
installed. KP members added after 1989 had a prefix to their call sign. The zone prefix
was chosen rather than the standard "country prefix" because Knight Patrol
simply had too many members located in rarely heard countries and small Islands in the
Caribbean area. The QSL card hunters would chew them to pieces with QRM if a "Country
Prefix" was heard. By 1993, Knight Patrol boasted 1600 "registered" members
(1300 truly active) world wide. This number has declined due to another 11 year bottom
cycle, However, membership is expected to reach 2,000 by the year 2002. Knight Patrol
headquarters is located in the USA merely for the convenience of handling funds and easy
shipment of KP material. Knight Patrol is not an "American DX Group". The true
home of Knight Patrol "The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago".
Interesting facts: The original KP
contact frequency was 27.445 LSB. In 1989 there were 5 KP members operating from
Aeronautical Mobiles. KP 666 Bill, still active today, works for Korean Air Lines, and is
the co-pilot of a Boeing 747. Also active, is KP 306 Julio who works for a popular Dutch
Air Line. KP 160 Kent in Trinidad is a helicopter pilot. KP 560 John is no longer active
but worked for Liat Air, and could be heard almost everyday while flying around the
Caribbean. KP 805 Mario is also no longer active. He worked for Vasp Air Lines in Brazil.
