Our Return (again) to Andahuylas and Chincheros (Day 2)

06 April 2017

In the morning Klaus makes a presentation to an Uripa church pastor who was interested in Diospi Suyana.  This was followed by another alternative site visit (so we had a fall back option and we did not have to return as we had to do on this trip).  But we soon realised that site had a number of access and ownership issues and we would not pursue it.

Back on the road and we returned to Andahuylas to drop off our site construction manager Juan, and reinspect the tower progress.  I was amazed at the progress.  Klaus reports this visit on the Diospi Suyana website (with some minor edits for clarification by me);

The difficult journeys to Andahuaylas during which we tried extremely hard to get the approval from Poltocsa’s village council have almost been forgotten.  Since yesterday Diospi Suyana’s FM aerial tower stands proudly on the Lasimarca Mountain just outside the city of Andahuaylas.  The Australian Chris Welch (centre of the photo) was seriously impressed by how quickly it was erected.  Doris Manco, head of our media centre, could also hardly believe her eyes and Dr John could not stop taking photos!

 Juan Talaverano (on the right) and his team worked quickly and thoroughly so that the foundations were laid in no time. 

Within ten days he could start working on Diospi Suyana’s third aerial tower in the Province Chincheros.  The metal construction was made by the company ICESE in Lima.

A few minutes after the above photo had been taken a German, a Peruvian and an Australian gave thanks to God in their respective mother tongues. 

The 36 m high free standing ICESE tower standing proud above the almost completed 3 m high compound brick wall. 

Two ICESE company riggers at the top of the tower add the final touches.

Here is the link to the original Diospi Suyana post (in English);

http://www.diospi-suyana.de/der-zweite-radioturm-von-diospi-suyana-steht/?lang=en

But then when Klaus, Doris and I are back in the car we receive news that the Uripa community purchase has again stagnated due to political factions and the requirement for over 2,000 signatures (being 75% of the community governing this parcel of hilltop land).  This was the deal breaker.

So at this point we decide it is no longer a viable option and that we should return to Chincheros whilst we are relatively near, as it is only a 2 hour drive back from Andahuylas (and one 4,300 meter high mountain pass).  This is in order to finalise the purchase of our yesterday visited alternate Casabamba FM site.

After a phone call to get the blessing of our amazing wives back home to be away another one or two more days, we return to Chincheros yet again and arrive in evening to our re-welcoming favourite Uripa hotel.

Regards,

Chris

Our Return (again) to Andahuylas and Chincheros (Day 1)

05 April 2017

The purpose of this trip is to firstly to inspect progress on Andahuylas tower construction and civil works.  Then onto Chincheros to finalise our purchase of a transmission site. 

Since our last visit things had stagnated with the purchase of our last preferred site from the Uripa community.  As good as that site was, it came with a high cost of a long power line run as our nearby site power pole with transformer was found to be privately owned by the adjacent tower operator and they would not share it with us.  So this trip was to make or break that deal with the Uripa community and investigate the site alternatives that I had by that time identified on my computer.

Following is a running chronology of the events in the day.

Firstly in Andahuylas we arrive to witness the commencement of the 36 m tower erection by the supplier ICESE.  Here below are some photos of the moment.

  

Here the first two tower legs are erected in place from their foundations to an awaiting Andahuylas city in the background.

Me onsite overseeing the commencement of tower construction.

Members laid out in readiness for our 36 m tower erection.

The ICESE 36 m tower plans printed in ready reference for the riggers.

Klaus and I, alongside the Casabamba community president and civil contractor Juan, approach our latest alternate site option – the grassy knoll in the top centre of the photo.

From our computer FM coverage modelling it services both Chincheros and Uripa townships surprisingly well (practically equal with our previously preferred site) including quite a few of the surrounding communities.  Also suitable power line is just 230 m away.  Casabamba is a small united and predominantly Christian community who want Diospi Suyana radio in their province.  Our site being located in their community also comes with the intrinsic advantage of site security.  This is our best option were our preferred Uripa community purchase to fall through.

At the summit of our named “Sitio 1b” in Casabamba community with Klaus is on the left, the Casabamba president centre and our civil contractor Juan on the right.

Then an unexpected delay with a flat tyre proving unusually difficult to replace.

When trying to replace the flat tyre our alloy wheel just did not budge after the nuts were removed as the alloy had corroded itself onto the hub.  This cost us valuable time making us late for our next community meeting.  Eventually with the aid of some farmer’s tools we were back on the road again.

Another evening Diospi Suyana presentation to a Quechua community leaders in Uripa who were all very supportive of our radio proposal.

We now wait to see what tomorrow brings…

Regards,

Chris

Our Site Selection Trip to Puerto Maldonado (Day 2)

31 March 2017

A most successful outcome was realised with the straight forward purchase of a good transmission site for our FM transmission to cover this fast growing city now approaching 200,000 people.

Here are comments from a Diospi Suyana post by Klaus (includes some edits by me as thought necessary);

It is like Piccadilly Circus.  After several days of preparations via email and telephone, countless measurements on a computer and strategic considerations, the big moment has now finally come: Sra. Margarita Malaga Pacaya and Dr Klaus John sign the sales contract.

Udo, Doris and Klaus approach Garcia Medina Notaria (centre building) in downtown Puerto Maldonado.

Our signed legal instrument in the Notary assigning our new transmission site to Diospi Suyana.

During it all a TV on the wall is running at full volume.  If anyone needs a proof how urgently a Christian TV programme is needed, here you have it.  Left on the screen a new age magician / astrologer leads the spectators to be believe in the wonderful life of money, sex and power, which an attractive woman in a swimsuit on the right hand side of the screen underlines – all during children’s morning viewing hours!  There is no classification system in Perú.

In a couple of months, when the satellite connection is in place, Diospi Suyana will be able to reach hundreds of thousands with the best message around: God is real and he loves us.  Our life consists of more than money, sex and power.  We need to be at peace with God, have a fulfilled life and a perspective after death.

We then embark on our 11 hour return journey home to Curahuasi, arriving just before midnight.

 

We battle through the traffic of Puerto Maldonado heading out of town.

Again we are passing some beautiful “suva” countryside as we head home.

And the fresh fruit here available in roadside stalls is amazing and in plentiful supply (albeit unfortunately there was no time to stop on our trip home).

A not uncommon sight is laundry time and bath time all in one on the side of the Panamericana highway. 

Regards,

Chris

Our Site Selection Trip to Puerto Maldonado (Day 1)

30 March 2017

Our site selection team sets off again on another car journey – this time to Puerto Maldonado which is about 590km from Curahuasi and takes us some 11 hours.  This road takes us over a 4,725 meter highest mountain pass (Abra Pirhuayani) on the Panamericana highway in Peru, having seemingly countless hairpin bends before descending to 180 meters above sea level and completely flat terrain at the edge of the Amazon rainforest where temperatures are typically 30°C and 75% humidity.

Below is a picture montage with descriptions of our journey;

 

There is commonly snow, ice and/or heavy mist at these high altitudes making Abra Pirhuayani one of the most dangerous passes in Peru.

Amazing mountain vistas at over 4,500m in the South American Cordillera range on the road to Puerto Maldonado.

Some of the many roadside Catholic monuments to fatalities on this highway.

We drive nearby 5,500 meter permanently snow-capped mountain peaks and two glaciers.

Here we are descending from the mountains and into the "selva" (jungle) region of Perú as we approach the Amazon – about 840m above sea level and some 250 km from Puerto Maldonado.

Toll gates 241 km before Puerto Maldonado.

A not uncommon sight in Perú as a semi-trailer load is lost on a corner (due to a lack of standards and/or lack of enforcement).

We finally cross into the state of Madre de Dios – we are about 400 m above sea level and about 180 km from Puerto Maldonado at this point.

Gender equality at work in Perú 😏

We refuel before Puerto Maldonado – I put this photo in for my father in law Eric! 😁

The geography has changed substantially from the mountains as we approach the jungle region – here is a typical roadside house with still water frontage.

A typical orange painted Peru suspension bridge – this is just outside of Puerto Maldonado.

You see so much rubbish dumped on either side of these roads in these parts. 😢

We finally arrive in Puerto Maldonado at 5pm to observe the most common mode of transport here (sadly including the lack of rider safety!).

We then locate the proposed site owner (formerly a patient of Diospi Suyana hospital and so sympathetic to our cause) who we have been dealing with in advance.  We then head off to the transmitter site which is located on his property at the edge of town and so happens to be in the zone designated for radio towers in Puerto Maldonado.  It is also close to three phase power transformer and due to the flat terrain, has uncompromised coverage of the region for our 50 meter tower.  Bingo!

 

 A main street of Puerto Maldonado heading toward the proposed FM transmitter property.

Here we are marking out the property behind the landowners farm pig shed.

Some adjacent broadcast towers observed as the sun sets.

The owner provides us with some star fruit produce from his farm orchard as the sun is going down and the mosquitoes are coming in to bite us.  After such a long day the fruit is delicious and we pocket another for tomorrow.

In the evening after dinner, Klaus presents the Diospi Suyana story to a prospective building contractor for our transmission site (i.e. on top of our already 11 hour drive and site visit). 

The building contractor (second from the right) listens to the story of Diospi Suyana.  In the previous few days Doris Manco (left), head of our media centre, had dialled so many numbers on her phone that her fingers were sore.  Building engineer Udo Klemenz explains the foundation work.  Dr Klaus John (right) relaxes after having driven all day.

Despite the hot humid night in Puerto Maldonado with no air conditioning in the hotel – we all sleep well! J

Regards,

Chris

A Brief Update on Andahuylas Site Construction

28 March 2017

Our Andahuylas FM transmission FM transmission site construction is progressing nicely – here is a brief photo report.

All the civil foundations have been poured into place, backfilled and levelled off.

The backfilled tower foundations in Andahuaylas – these are 2 meters deep underground.

The enclosing wall is now almost complete and if everything goes according to plan, the 36 meter free standing tower itself will start to be built next Monday by the Lima based supplier ICESE.

Conventional clinker bricks are used for the compound wall (as opposed to concrete blocks).

Regards,

Chris

My Remote Monitoring and Control Proposal

27 March 2017

Apologies in advance, as this post is a bit technically slanted and intended for those with knowledge about such communication systems.

I complete and send out my Request for Proposal (RFP) for a remote monitoring and control (telemetry) system for our transmission sites.  This telemetry system is necessary to have accurate and timely information about the integrity of our remote FM transmission equipment and our sites including security.

My proposed system makes use of our satellite links to return site data back to our studios in Curahuasi.  All our remote dish antennas were intentionally purchased as transmit and receive capable for this to be possible.

 

Our General Dynamics 2.4m C-Band receive and transmit satellite antennas.

This equipment includes equipment from;

• ·         ND Satcom SKYWAN modems for the satellite link (from ND Satcom in Germany) utilising a single TDMA carrier to save an appreciable amount of money on satellite bandwidth
• ·         T-Box LT2 telemetry data gathering units for the sites and the T-Box central monitoring solution (from Maximation in Australia)

Our ND Satcom SKYWAN solution using a single TDMA carrier technology.

 

The T-Box LT2 unit used for collecting site data.

Most importantly when operational this solution will save many unnecessary (viz. long and hazardous) journeys to our most distant remote sites and with very few staff to attend to transmission matters (i.e. right now it’s only me!).  Not to mention unnecessary time away from the family.  And also to deploy local security personnel in the event that a break in has been committed as we are in some cases at least 12 hours away (if not more considering the need for daytime travel) from responding to our furthest sites.

I now hope that this new telemetry equipment can be quoted to Diospi Suyana at the right price to enable us to implement this most important solution.  Otherwise we will be essentially running blind at our remote sites.

Regards,

Chris

Another Miraculous Recovery for Me

22 March 2017

My Emergency British Passport issued for my access into Rio, Brazil

Continuing on with my passport thread from my last blog post…

The week after I returned from Rio de Janeiro, I followed up with Her Majesties Passport Office (known as the HMPO) to see if there was any possibility of reactivating my British Passport after I was told in Lima that it was cancelled and I would have to reapply for a new one.  I had my original passport returned from Cusco and in my hands by this time (as it never made a flight to Lima).  This renewal process would cost me time and money – including the usual delays and sometimes missing mail in the Peru postal system.

So on the Tuesday I initially email and then call to speak to a nice natured customer support person who with a thick Irish accent told me this was a highly unlikely outcome as he had never heard of this happening before.  However at my insistence he would follow up internally to ask in any case.

I had no answer by the following day – Wednesday, and so I called the HMPO again.  I got a different customer representative this time and as requested I again provided my two relevant passport numbers.  But to my surprise upon the agent verifying these numbers, I receive the incredible news that my original British passport was active and my Emergency Passport was cancelled despite being stamped “Date of Expiry: 21 September 2017”!!!

As this is highly irregular, it is one I can only put down to another miraculous recovery in answer to prayer (not unlike my wallet recovery in Lima – see my 2016 blog post: http://welchesinperu.blogspot.pe/2016/06/a-miraculous-recovery-in-lima.html).

Be encouraged by this, as we read Psalm 57:10 “For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.”

Bendiciones,

Chris