KTWR's home is on Guam, which makes for some interesting broadcasting
BY ELLE KEHRES
Published February 23, 2024, updated February 25, 2024
If you’re an avid Radio World reader, you know that we love to highlight unique radio facilities, whether they be local or abroad. If you happen to love that sort of content, you’re in luck!
Broadcasting since 1954, Trans World Radio, or TWR, is a Christian radio distributor that collaborates with U.S.-based radio stations to spread the gospel via local FMs, mediumwave or high-powered AMs, and shortwave transmitters.
According to its website, TWR’s programming is broadcast in 200-plus languages on air, online and on the ground in 190 countries. It is celebrating its 70th anniversary this month.
With such an extensive résumé, TWR was bound to have at least a few unique transmitter sites. One such site that we’ll share with you here can be found “Where America’s Day Begins,” floating just above the equator in the western Pacific Ocean.
In Micronesia, TWR’s shortwave member station on Guam, KTWR, serves listeners across most of Asia, spanning Siberia to India to Indonesia.
The KTWR site has three transmitters, one 100 kW HC100 and two 250 kW TSW2250Ds. The six TCI curtain antennas (one 2x2x1.5, one 2x3x.5 and four 4x4x1) were installed during various years from 1977 to 1998. Radio World is told that TWR installed the antennas and transmitters with its own personnel and volunteers.
Additional story at: http://tinyurl.com/5455exnd
(photo/Mike Sabine-TWR)