We learned this morning that the 50,000-watt transmitter for Swaziland will likely be packed in Elkhart yet this week into a 20 foot container brought by the shipping company. Two hours are allowed to pack it after which an hourly charge is assessed.

Virginia needed the car to do some shopping, so she took me to the site after lunch.

I began to trouble shoot the problem with the spare PA Module and found that one of the Modulation modules and the two RF modules that it supplies appeared to be shorted. [There are a total of four Modulation modules and eight RF modules in each PA module.] The interconnecting strap between the Mod and RF modules also showed a short. I disconnected the RF modules from this strap and the RF module short disappeared. I then unplugged the Modulation module and found that it still showed a short. Problem found!! Not so fast – I decided to measure the interconnection and found it to still be shorted. There is a filter board between the Modulation module and the RF modules. The FET used for this filter board for a crowbar protection circuit was also shorted. Will continue working on this tomorrow.

Before the time for the 100,000-watt AM transmitter to come on the air, I tested each of 16 PA Modules in the transmitter to ensure they were all performing properly. By inhibiting them one-at-a-time, it was determined that they were all OK. The power when each one was inhibited dropped the output about 11,000 watts. Calculations indicated that this was correct. Also, if ¼ of a PA Module failed, as is the case with the faulty one that is being repaired, a calculated loss of 3 kw compared to good RF Module would be expected and that is exactly what we had observed.

When I checked my email this evening, I learned the shipping container for the 50,000-watt AM transmitter will arrive at the Elkhart technology center first thing Friday morning.

We attended prayer time and devotions this morning and then I did a few things in the office while Larry did some computer work and studied the transmitter specs. While at the office, a man from customs arrived to have some papers signed. He mentioned his son attends a youth outreach that meets in one of the studios TWR no longer needs. That youth group has changed the hearts of severak young people and their families. One such person was a young man who spent his time robbing tourists. He had some issues with his father and through this outreach, came to know his Heavenly Father and then amends were made with his earthly father.

After taking Larry to the site, I went to the store and bought a few things. I had forgotten my bags, so picked up a box in the store for my purchases. Then I decided that it was time to do a load of laundry and clean house a bit. The washing machine is much like a simple one in the States. It just drains out on the ground, although there is a big plastic tub to catch the water. Unfortunately the tub has a drain hole in it but no plug. It is good here, where they distill all the water from the sea, to be as conservative as possible with water. The tub is to be used to catch the water for recycling. We used to use it to wash another load or to water the plants. Usually the soapy water on the plants, the rinse for the second load. It helped quite a bit with the water bill. So now I need to see if I can get another tub, or at least make the water not run right by the house. I used the ‘green’ dryer outside… the wind and sun. The gas dryer doesn’t work, but right now there is enough wind to dry things fairly quickly.
While my clothes were washing, I swept the floor and decided to work on an area where the ceramic tiles are discolored. I did manage to lighten the discoloration quite a bit, but will keep working on it while I am here. I took a before picture so I could compare the progress. I also damp mopped the house. They have a very big and heavy rag mop. I can’t squeeze it very well. I think I should have packed my steam mop!

I also tried to clean a couple of screens by brushing them and covered myself with salty dust. I thought it would help the outlook and air flow.. Then I walked around the yard

and took a few pictures of the plants around the house and a picture of a very big blue head lizard.

I went to pick Larry up at the transmitter site and whizzed right by my turn. Amazing how fast 25mph seems here! I then

took a different route and did not get lost.

We came home and had nasi goering, that I made, for dinner and then went for our evening swim. Larry took a few pictures of the sun that daily drops into the sea.

VIRGINIA

Not a very eventful day.  I sat in the office and worked on some cards.  Joe has some pictures he wants us to go through, but not sure I know many of the people. Will have Larry help me with that off and on.  He will probably know more that I do.

In our prayer time this morning we were encouraged by how the Lord is working in this area of the world.  Churches begun because of the broadcasts of TWR.  People hearing who have never heard. ‘Pastors’ who were saved through the broadcasts using the correspondence with the pastor on the radio, as well as literature that is included to form a library for the new converts.  Their only method of learning besides the radio.

After Larry picked me up, we ate a light supper and went for our usual swim and watched the sun plop into the ocean.  Tomorrow it will pop out of the ocean on the other side of the island. 🙂

LARRY
After devotions this morning and rather than making two trips to the transmitter site, I spent the morning at the office/studio answering emails and studying the manual for the Nautel 100,000-watt transmitter.  I was planning on checking out the spare PA module that was suspected to have a problem and wanted to be more familiar with its operation before tackling any repair.

We came back to the guest house for a dinner of leftover curried chicken, rice, and bananas. I then took Virginia back to the office and went to the transmitter site.  First I wanted to verify that the suspect module was actually faulty.  This was done by removing one good module and noting that the power dropped about 7kw.  I then installed the suspect module and noted the power only dropped about 4kw when it was removed.  This definitely confirmed there was a problem.

While the transmitter was already turned on it was switched to the nondirectional pattern (it also has a north pattern to the Carribean or south pattern to South America) and it was noted the output power showed 105kw.  Last night the log showed that the transmitter had cut back power to 80kw for much of the early morning because the power had reached the max limit of 107kw.  Therefore we decided to reduce the 105kw to 103kw to see if we could avoid the cut back of power.

After returning the transmitter to remote operation so it could be controlled by the automation, I opened the PA module up.  I quickly observed that one of the four main 20 amp fuses was different than the other three.  An ohmmeter test showed that it was blown and none of the others were.  I looked for a spare fuse and found none.  Checked at Newark Electronics (~$24 each) and DigiKey (~$21 each), then decided to check Alan Sales [www.alan-sales.com] and found that they had six in stock at $6.90 each.  An order will likely be placed tomorrow.  Because the fuse was blown and it was different than the rest, I am guessing that this is at least the second time this fuse has blown and that I had better check further to see it there is a faulty device(s) that might be the cause. Something to do tomorrow.

Came back to the office at 4:30 to pick up Virginia.  I shared with Joe Barker my observations and we discussed the things required for me to take over sole monitoring of the transmitter while it is broadcasting from 5:30pm to 8:30am.  I had been given a cell phone that will ring, if there is a problem, and now I have a list of codes to help determine what is wrong and other codes to try to correct the problem remotely via the cell phone.  Joe wants to lend me a laptop that will show what is happening at a glance and allow corrective action by pushing a button on the computer screen.  The laptop can also show a log of the sequence of events which the phone can not do.

We came ‘home’ for a light dinner then went for our evening swim.

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.

We had a busy day again today.  We went to the office at 8:00 this morning for devotions and a tour.  I was given a password for the computer so I can use that one when I am “playing receptionist”. I don’t think they have  much in the way of phone calls or visitors, but there are a few other things where I can hopefully help a little.

After our tour and we were situated with computers, we went to the store to pick up a few groceries.  It was fun trying to figure out the labels on the packaging. Some were in English, some we could recognize from being in Swaziland, because of the similarity of Dutch and Afrikaans, and others we just guessed!  Everything seems very expensive here, probably due to the high influx of tourists.

After lunch, Ivan came over to repair our shower.  It has something worn out in it, so he changed the water so it runs through the hot water heater (it doesn’t heat)so now we can take a shower instead of using a pitcher! Nice!!

I wonder how long it will take before I remember that no matter how long I allow the water to run, it will be the same temperature?

After lunch, I did a few things around the house and then walked into town. I did have the car, but since it is stick shift and parking is limited and people drive a little crazy, I decided to walk.  It is about a half mile and I walked on the shady side of the street.  I visited several shops and picked up a few things that I wanted.  I walked home by the sea and stopped by the old fish market where they sell vegetables now.  I bought a hand of the little short, fat bananas that are so good. There are about 16 bananas on the hand I bought from the toothless little old man.

One thing that is nice,now is that we can use dollars to purchase items.  Usually we get dollars back, but the vegetable man gave me guilders.  So now I have a G1.75.

When I got home, I was hot!  So I made a big pitcher of ice tea and enjoyed several glasses as I sat in front of a fan with my feet up and read a book.  After I cooled off a bit, I started supper so it would be ready after our swim.

It was a lovely evening for a swim again, as it has been for every evening so far.  The beautiful silver sliver of moon and the bright stars (too bad I can’t see them without my contacts. I can see the moon and I am thankful for that!). We saw the sun slip into the ocean and it was gone.