Virginia and I were given a tour of the studio building this morning.  Much of it is no longer used as almost all the programs now come in over the internet and are loaded into one computer (with a redundant computer for more reliable operation).  Quite a contrast from the continual taping and playing of programs nearly 24 hours per day in years now long past.  The studio and offices are now used for various other things, such as a private school and youth outreach ministries.

After lunch, Joe Barker took me to the transmitter site for a tour and introduction to the Nautel 100,000-watt medium wave (AM) transmitter and associated auxiliary equipment.  Joe went over a list of things that he would like to have done, in addition to my being on call for any broadcasting problems originating at the transmitter site.  The site can call my cell phone to let me know that the transmitter is coming on, then calls again if there is any problem during start up or throughout the broadcast schedule.  Not sure of the exact hours yet, but think it is on from about 5pm to 9am.

I know the priority work for me is to install a new UPS for the transmitter site and move the one that is there back to the studio where it came from. This will entail some rewiring because there are usually two UPSs at the studio on two different phases and some rewiring had been done to be ensure uninterrupted supply to vital circuits that were on the UPS that has been moved.  This move had been required to replace a UPS that had failed at the transmitter.  Since the replacement will not arrive for a couple more weeks, I will be looking at some other projects to reduce even further the need for trips to the transmitter, especially during the middle of the night.  Actually the transmitter itself is very reliable, but power supply problems seem to be the main source of failure.

Tomorrow we plan to be at the 8am devotions and from there we’ll see how the day proceeds.  Virginia will be receptionist on Tuesdays and Thursdays.