Aug. 27, 2010

Source: HCJB Global (written by John Adams and Harold Goerzen)

Two high-power HC100 (100,000-watt) shortwave radio transmitters designed and built at the HCJB Global Technology Center in Elkhart, Ind., have gone full circle.

After nearly 20 years of service in Ecuador, broadcasting the gospel around the world in more than a dozen languages, two of the units are back in Elkhart to be refurbished for HCJB Global-Australia's international broadcast facility in Kununurra.

"These complex pieces of electronic equipment have broadcast the gospel of Jesus Christ from Quito for thousands of hours," said Dan Anderson, senior engineer at the center. "Now that most Latin American radio listeners have switched to AM, FM and the Internet for Christian programming, these transmitters have been returned for refurbishment and redeployment to Australia."

The ministry shut down its shortwave site in Pifo, Ecuador, nearly a year ago, partly because of its proximity to Quito's new international airport and increased listenership to local stations and the Internet.

Both HC100s are destined for the site near Kununurra, a subtropical area near the northern tip of Western Australia. This is a popular tourism destination-especially during the annual dry season when the town's 7,000 population doubles-because of its rugged beauty and spectacular natural attractions.

"With its sizzling red soil, bright blue skies and rugged bush scenery, it's just an incredible place," said Dale Stagg, chief executive officer of HCJB Global-Australia. "The thing is, you may be right in the middle of the Australian outback, yet you're only a three-hour flight northeast of Perth, the capital of Western Australia."

How will the large HC100s be shipped to their new location? "Obviously, sea freight gets them to Australia, and once they're on land it's a long-haul freight ride to Kununurra," Stagg explained. "Our previous two transmitters arrived via Perth and Melbourne followed by a road trip of days, not hours. But it's possible that the two HC100s now in Elkhart may arrive via the port of Darwin which will mean a short eight-hour ride to Kununurra."

Transmissions have been emanating from HCJB Global-Australia's interim broadcast facility on its 200-acre property since January 2003. "Currently we operate two HC100 transmitters across three antennas, and that presents us with some restrictions," Stagg said.

However, the Australian team is in the process of completing a new permanent facility on an adjacent property leased from the government of Western Australia.
"The additional HC100s are part of this expansion 'out the back' as we say. Once we have them installed, they will give us the luxury of operating three transmitters across seven antennas while having a 'live' fourth transmitter as a backup," Stagg explained. "Three transmitters will allow us to expand our broadcast hours and provide a stronger, more consistent signal along with the option of introducing digital shortwave (DRM)."

Regardless of the equipment used, the station's task "remains the same," Stagg related. "We broadcast a message of hope in Christ to the people of the Asia Pacific Region. To reach those who have never heard and those who have limited access to the gospel is both our calling and our privilege.