Why we were of the air . . .

TBN Namibia has been off the air since 09:45 on Monday the 4th of July.! Our phones ring non-stop and even though we are off the air and the sms'es have decreased drastically, we still receive between
250 – 350 sms'es per day, where people ask when the signal will come back on again?

The unit that encodes the TBN signal before the signal is sent to the satellite from Swakopmund has failed, preventing anyone from receiving our signal in Namibia and the over 40 nations the satellite footprint that the C-Band covers.
The encoder failed around 09:45 on Monday morning the 4th of July and has been down ever since.

Although TBN Namibia experienced a series of outages since the beginning of this year in; Windhoek, Oshakati, Keetmanshoop Walvis Bay and Swakopmund, the problems did not affect the entire nation but it only effected the immediate local area. That was different from the current situation which has created a total BLACKOUT everywhere.

Some of the earlier problems were:

A. Oshakati: The air-conditioner that must keep the equipment cool failed on the site we rent and caused the power supply of the transmitter to break down.

B. Windhoek: Our UPS broke down and while being sent for repair, there were several power dips that cause the power supplies in the amplifier to perish.

C. Swakopmund & Walvis Bay: The high rust factor caused the pieces of the antennas to simply drop from the towers.

Herewith the flow diagram of the TBN signal in order to understand the problem better. Follow the simplified pathway that can be tracked on the enclosed image.

1. The signal we transmit first enters an encoder in our Swakopmund Final Control Centre before it exits to the satellite dish→

2. Then goes up to the satellite →

3. down to satellite dishes across several towns in Namibia that receive the signal → then via a decoder → amplifier → transmitter → and out through an antenna on the tower in those various towns.

We transmit via either VHF or UHF frequency, depending on the type of transmitter in the various towns, meaning in some towns you can receive our signal with a similar antenna to the way you receive the NBC signal (VHF) while in other towns it will be the same as picking up the One Africa (UHF) signal.

Here at TBN Namibia we have received sms'es from over 40 000 unique cell numbers. We receive during regular transmission days, depending on events and days of the week, anything from 300 to 1,200 sms'es per day, of which many are either a prayer request or a report back as to how prayer has been answered . We receive on average 7 500 people per year asking the question: What must I do to become a Christian?

Although the cumulative cost to date for all the technical repairs this year is over N$ 500 000, we praise our God for His provision and we look forward to being soon back on the air again.

We would like to share some of the sms messages we received:

1. Pls do something I like watching TBN but still now no signal in Otjiwarongo pls help me I cannot stand it

2. No signal Oshakati

3. What’s wrong with signal

4. No Signal Swakopmund for 2 days now, is there a problem?

5. Hi there. I would like to know if TBN will be back on the air or will we never see it again?

6. Why cant we receive TBN in WHK. Whats the problem xxx from Pioneers Park

7. Why is TBN not working

8. Why is TBN off – love is patient and kind

9. Please tell us why TBN is of since Monday the 4th we really want to watch TBN God bless

10. This is not a prayer request this is a information signal request for Walvis Bay I thank you

11. Good morning TBN is not connecting on my TV for days now, do you know what is wrong??

12. AFTERNOON CHANNEL TO THE GLORY OF THE ALMIGHTY GOD I HAVE LOST MY GOSPEL CHANNEL OR TBN IS NO LONGER FIXTURES ON OUR SCREEN OR TV PLZ AND WER TBN COUPLES FAITHFUL LISTENER BUT IS NOW CLOSE. STILL WONDERING WHEN IT WILL COME BACK AND START PLAYING, THIS IS OUR UTMOST CRY PLZ HELP FROM WHK THANX AMEN

13. Afternun wer waiting for the TBN re-opening with prayers URGENTLY GOD BLESS ITS NETWORK INDEED AMEN!

14. Morn are you aware that TBN is off in Gbu

From the above information you can see we are very well watched and appreciated.

In closing; To all our many partners and viewers; We see from all the sms'es we have received from you that you have greatly missed watching TBN while we have been off the air. So many of the sms'es we have received, made us realise what an inspiration TBN is to this nation. Well done to all those who have saved our number on their phones for prayer requests in times of need and still continue to contact us for prayer. Please take note we still continue to pray with you and for you daily as we trust God to meet your needs and the needs of this great nation. The directors and staff would like to thank our viewers and partners for their amazing support and want you to know we are doing everything possible to get our signal back on the air as soon as possible.

We could not find any stock of such encoders in Namibia but we have managed to source a loan unit from South Africa while we have ordered replacement parts from America. We believe we will be back on the air soon.  We will keep you updates.

Warm TBN greetings

Coenie & Edna Botha