Major Detour

For the past several weeks, we had been working hard on the antenna switch matrix.  It would have been really helpful if we had that already in operation.  We were hoping to have part of the matrix operational in early May, so that we could increase the power for a TX7 broadcast.

Last week, ANT2A had one of its cable swage clamps fail.  This caused one end to fall to the ground.  This sort of thing tends to break many insulators and cables.  We had to use jumpers to connect TX7 to ANT3 and reconnect TX2 to ANT2B.  This allowed us to continue our normal broadcast schedule.  Without the matrix, we also had to do our Japanese DRM broadcast on TX6 and ANT1 instead of TX7 and ANT2A. 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The antenna has been reassembled and is now back up in the air.  We are still working on repairing the slew switch and its input transformer.  The slew switch is what controls the direction that the radio waves go when they leave the antenna on their way to the listeners.  The transformer is the set of wires needed to adapt the signal from the transmitter to the antenna system.

 

Once repairs are complete, we can resume work on the matrix hardware.  In the meantime, we do have a short-term visitor who is working on the control software.  We should have a usable software system by the end of the week. 

 



Progress

There have been various points of work these last couple weeks.

1) Fabrication and placement of Matrix complex. The 'feed line beam' (or hanger) has been constructed. This is a massive 40 foot beam that Jim has welded together.  This will be the beam where the feed lines from the building will come to and then be distributed to the matrix.

2) The PLC has been fabricated and tested with an antenna switcher. The micro switches and relays have been added. It was great to see a switching test - it took only 8 seconds for the switch to change from A to B. The seven switchers have been fit and are now on the pad.  There are three more switchers that will need the frames fabricated and then readied for the matrix. 

 

3) In preparation for the coming frequency period antenna two has to be fitted for transmitter seven.  This is pre-switcher matrix broadcasting.  Because of the amount of programming we are putting on TX 7 we need to use antenna two and the old A/B switch.  By the end of April the antenna matrix first stage will take the place of the A/B switch and switching between antenna two and three.

And on March 30, 2014 as the new season begins KTWR will be broadcasting it's first DRM broadcast - in Japanese.

Moving Right Along...

It's great to be able to show things coming together.

Paul has completed substantial work on the retaining wall of the pad.

We have seven switchers now that have been mounted to the stands.

The switch control box has been connected and we've been able to test the switch and establish a switching time. (There are still a couple microswitches to be installed and wiring to be completed.)

Four of the mounted switchers have been moved to the pad. Now we can show a good picture of the matrix coming together. 

Stay tuned...

Boxed In

The final delivery of the antenna switchers arrived at the site today. They were all crated and boxed up quite effectively by the HCJB team in Elkhart. There was no damage at all to the cargo.

Work continues with the switcher stands and mounting the switchers. We now have a good assembly line as switchers are mounted on the stands.  

Jim is even boxed in as he completes the rest of the stands.

Hmmmmm... do you have an idea of an upcoming project?

Arrival

Just a very quick update this week.  The antenna switchers arrived in port last week.  The first truck delivered the first six switchers today. Hopefully the rest will follow very soon.

Happy Days Are Here Again!

When dry season comes on Guam it is evident.  In just a few short days the switch to dry season was obvious.  The dry breeze along with very warm days and very cool nights has set in.  The ground has gone from 'smushy' to showing dry cracks in the soil.  It is quite amazing.

So FINALLY after 4 1/2 months we have been to get the concrete pad poured. The weather was perfect. Three trucks of concrete and nine volunteers showed up to help our site staff accomplish this task.

It was a joy to have everything come together. What an encouragement to have so many helping hands. What a joy to see this part of the project done with  such enthusiasm.

Rain Check

This update is L-O-N-G overdue.  To complicate things I had a browser issue... so now finally let's begin some updates! 

We have been catching up on a lot of things, but the hardest has been getting set up for the concrete pour!  Our storm season continued to drench us through the end of 2013.  Praise God we didn't have to deal with a typhoon!  And then when 2014 arrived, instead of the usual dry part of the season change, we received lots of rain.  We were within less than an inch of the all time record for rain in January.

                     So... at least other parts of the antenna switcher project continued.
In January Jim focused on welding, and with the construction team has produced  (now 7) of the switcher stands.

Also the antenna switcher units have all been completed at HCJB Engineering in Elkhart Indiana.  They were shipped out to Guam on Jan. 20.