Shortly after we passed through the border from South Africa into Swaziland, Larry’s cell phone rang. There seemed to be a problem at the transmitter site and we would be passing by the site on our way home. The chief engineer asked Larry to meet him there. It is a pleasant ride through the bush. There are 4 gates to open. The good thing is that they are remote controlled and one does not have to get out of the vehicle to open them or close them. Each gate can either be opened by a remote or by calling it using a cell phone.
We arrived at the site and it was determined that the problem was with the electric company and not the transmitters. The transmitters were running on the generators and God’s Word was going out. Of course while we were there I took a few pictures.
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- Transmitter Building and log periodic antennas from 1976
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- TWR Swaziland’s first 50,000-watt AM (medium wave) transmitter was in service for 30 years. Before TWR got it, it was used for a few months as a pirate radio station on a ship off the coasts of Great Britain and the Netherlands.
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- The 50,000-watt solid state medium wave AM transmitter on left was upgraded in Elkhart and installed about 4 years ago. In March 2016 a more powerful 100,000-watt medium wave transmitter (at right) became available. Larry is currently helping upgrade the medium wave (AM) antenna system to handle the full 100,000 watts.
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- This room, with the window, houses multiple computers that download and store the programs from a satellite link, then routes these programs, in over 30 languages, to the four different transmitters. The cabinets on the right automatically control the transmitters (frequency and power levels) and select the appropriate antennas.
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- Larry checking the HC100s — three 100,000-watt shortwave transmitters that were made at the technology center (now SonSet Solutions) in Elkhart.
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- One of the Swazi transmitter operators taking meter readings on one of the HC100s.
As we were leaving, I noticed the beautiful sunset and snapped a quick picture. The sunsets and sunrises seem to always be so colorful. As we drove on down the road we also saw the full moon coming up. I was not able to capture the gold tinge of the sky with the moon, but still a pretty picture.
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- TWR antennas at sunset.
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- The moon just coming up.
Sunday was a good day of worship and sermon from John 16:12-14. After church, we and the Pastor Deon Phillips and his wife, Berenice, joined Ruth Crowie for dinner. We enjoyed lasagne made by Berenice and roast chicken, potato salad, rice, fresh green beans and pudding that Ruth made. We had a very nice time of fellowship.
Monday was a normal working day for Larry and a stay at home day for me. Tuesday morning we had staff meeting with some of the top people with TWR Africa. Our Swazi staff sing so nicely. I could listen to them all day.
After staff meeting, Larry and the other men went to the site and I walked around town and caught a ride home with Ingrid Clarke at noon.
Thank you for sharing your nice photo’s