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"Wavescan" is a weekly program for long distance radio hobbyists produced by Dr. Adrian M. Peterson, Coordinator of International Relations for Adventist World Radio. AWR carries the program over many of its stations (including shortwave). Adrian Peterson is a highly regarded DXer and radio historian, and often includes features on radio history in his program. We are reproducing those features below, with Dr. Peterson's permission and assistance.
Wavescan 421, January 19, 2003
Super Typhoon Pongsona and Trans World Radio KTWR
As you will remember, here in "Wavescan" last week we presented the story of Super Typhoon Pongsona, with its impact on the island of Guam, the damage that it caused to our AWR station KSDA on Guam, and the valiant recovery efforts that put KSDA back on the air once again. At the end of our program last week, we promised that we would tell you the story this week of the impact of Super Typhoon Pongsona on the other shortwave station on the island of Guam, Trans World Radio, KTWR. This is what happened.
The shortwave station KTWR is located almost against the hillside in a very picturesque location right towards the south end of the island of Guam. They are on the air with five transmitters at 100 kW and five curtain antennas. This station was launched in 1977 for shortwave coverage into Asia.
The Super Typhoon with the Korean name Pongsona also wreaked severe damage at the TWR shortwave station, completely destroying three of their curtain antennas and severely damaging the other two. The transmitter building also sustained a certain amount of damage, with salt water damage to two of their transmitters, KTWR2 and KTWR4.
Among the immediate results of the super strong typhoon winds was that the south roadway was covered with debris and made impassible, there was no water at the transmitter site, and no electricity. A local pastor reported that in his new home the winds sucked out doors and windows, and even the countertops in the kitchen.
The cost estimate for the damage sustained at the international airport on Guam is $100 million. The cost to the TWR shortwave station for all of their damage is at least $100,000 which is the deductive figure for their insurance policy.
Shortwave station KTWR was off the air for three days while antennas and feed lines were repaired. The first transmitter to be re-activated was KTWR5, feeding into curtain antenna 5. Towards the end of the same week, KTWR2 was re-activated, feeding into antenna 4.
The transmitters KTWR1 and KTWR3 were ready to go back on air, but it would take several weeks before new antenna parts arrived from the United States and the antennas were re-built. For the initial return to the air, the Trans World transmitters were energised with power from their emergency generators. During the interim period, before all five transmitters are on the air again through all five curtain antennas, station KTWR is broadcasting a modified schedule of composite programming, with major segments chosen from each of their language streams.
Incidentally, Trans World Radio established and operated for many years a mediumwave station on the island of Guam. This mediumwave unit was KTWG, with 10 kW on 801 kHz. However, the American monthly magazine, "Monitoring Times", stated recently that this station was sold towards the end of last year to a Christian businessman.
Over the years, many mediumwave DXers in Australia and New Zealand have received QSL cards from station KTWG, under the ownership of Trans World Radio. These cards are now accorded a real historic value.