This morning I woke with the feeling that jet lag might finally be over!

Hans Steve, and Klaus (front-to-back)

Today Klaus started to retighten all the connections to the SSM modules and, with additional help later from Hans and Steve, was about 3/4 done by the end of the day.  I installed the shims under the lower trim pieces, the trim pieces that go each side of the hallway and the cover plates and air filters for the air plenum (after making a correction in the way the air plenum pieces had been previously assembled).  Assembly is nearly done except for installing the doors and connecting the water lines to the auxiliary ‘radiators’.  This will wait until the transmission lines are completed to prevent damage to the doors from working

Salema and Bongani working on feedline

overhead and/or tripping over the water lines while the Swazi crew continues working on the transmission line duct. 

Impala

On the way to the site this morning we came across a ‘herd’ of at least eight impala on the road.  A day or so earlier we had seen a duiker in about the same location.  Steve pointed out later that the impala were on TWR property. 

Guinea Fowl

As we got closer to the site, we saw a large ‘flock’ of guinea fowl in the cleared area around the antennas.  Since the last 8.5 kilometers of road is gravel and runs through a ranch, we are always seeing cattle in the road (or evidence of them having been there!).  Dodging this evidence can be a real test of one’s driving skills!!

Work progressed well on the transmitter today.  Klaus finished virtually all the wiring.  Hans installed the tube, blocking capacitor, plate choke and B+ filtering components.  I spent a large portion of my day advising others in doing wiring and building the transmission line which has a rather complicated bend.  I also installed the balun capacitors (with some help lifting the assembly into position) and HV cable.  We are looking for the instructions for making the stress cone to finish the HV cable connection.

I decided to check the wiring on the SSM modules to see that the bellville washers were installed properly.  Its a good thing because, although the washers were OK, the connections we not as tight as they should have been.

Hopefully the shims under the bottom trim pieces will be done tomorrow as there was too much activity around the transmitter to get it done today.  Also, all 192 connections to the SSM modules will need to be tightened tomorrow — a big task.  Also hope to start installing the modulator doors, when the transmission line is completed.

Hans with HC100 beginning of Day 1

When I arrived at the transmitter site this morning, I was amazed at the progress already made by the TWR Swaziland staff and the Blosser crew from Sugar Grove Church.  The frames were together, the trim and some of the doors were already on.  All the transformers and inductors were installed and the wiring (all 192 connections) from the HV transformers to the 64 SSM modules was done.  The balun and VHF filter were on top of the transmitter and bolted into place.  All of the heat exchanger pieces, including the radiator, were bolted into place.  Unit 5 and the voltage regulator unit were in position and most of the wiring done.

Motor and air tubing installed

Today I installed all the motors and most of the plumbing.  Klaus did a lot of the wiring between the cabinets.  Hans and Steve installed the vacuum variable capacitors (excluding the balun ones) and the tube.  Two crew of Swazis were busy preparing transmission line ducting and installing the decorative fascia above the transmitter.

So far, only one thing needs to be redone — the bottom trims pieces were attached without their shims.

Today we attended church and Sunday School with Steve and Lorraine Stavropoulos. We quite enjoyed hearing the Swazi praise team.  They  were dressed with Swazi cloths tied around them as the Swazis used to dress.  They  sang and danced to many of the praise songs that we sing in church.

We did take some pictures and will hopefully be writing more and posting tne pictures.

James Burnett, Steve Stavropoulos and Larry

The Stravropouloses picked us up this morning for the trip to Swaziland.  The first half of the trip is through open county that is similar to the terrain and vegetation of central Kansas.  We then entered more hilly country with man made forest of gum (eucalyptus) trees, used for electric, telephone and other poles, and pine trees used for lumber.  There were newly planted areas and others of various sizes up to those ready for ‘harvest’.  The hills then became more mountainous, similar to mountains in the Appalachians.

We reached the Swaziland border in about three hours.  First passing through the South Afrian border post then the Swaziland one.  Big changes have occurred here.  No papers to fill out anymore!!  Passports are scanned by a computer now resulting in much faster processing.

We made two stops on the way to where we are staying.  First at the Ngwenya Glass Factory then a side trip to a new dam on the Komati River just off the road to Piggs Peak.  It is an earthen dam which has won engineering awards for design.  The Swaziland Electricity Board has a 20 megawatt turbine in operation there.

We are staying in a one room cottage with bathroom next to the Stavropoulos’ house and will be eating meals with them.