A Retrospective of the SA-Mexico Bilateral Programme on Water Vapour Radiometry

Water vapour radiometers (WVRs) are critical to management of radio astronomy sites and for surveying proposed future sites. We report on the outcomes of a South Africa – Mexico bilateral project on improving local capacity to design, maintain and operate WVRs in both countries. These include refurbishment of existing tipping radiometers at the Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory and the Large Millimeter Telescope, as well as the development of a new low-cost site surveying instrument. We further report on the development of a broadband multi-purpose K-Q band receiver and early installation efforts in Tulancingo, Mexico.