The idea of a Christian radio station serving the area around Saraguro was born as long ago as 1977. It appears to have become a real project between 1984 and 1990 through an association between Asociacion Cristiana de Indigenas Saraguros (ACIS) and OMS International.
At a meeting in 1991 the station was given a name - El Buen Pastor - Good Shepherd Radio.
The inauguration broadcast was made on July 15th 1995 operating on the shortwave frequency of 4830kHz. On September 4th 1996 this frequency was changed to 4815kHz because of interference to reception by Radio Tachira in Venezuela. It is understood that the station also operates on vhf/fm but no details are held of this.
The station broadcasts for 18 hours daily. The following schedule has been noted by one website but cannot be confirmed as up to date:
1200- 1400 & 2100-2300 in Quichua
1400-1600 & 2300-0100 in Spanish
In 2003 the station staff was augmented by George and Joan Owens from Scotland (pictured left and originally broadcasters with Caleb Radio).
The station's studio is located in Saraguro village at 03.37.05S 79.14.19W and at an altitude of 2530m above sea level.
The short wave transmitter site is located at 03.32.-53S 79.10.40W at Loma de Carbocillo, which is 3030m sea level.
Equipment used is understood to be a CCA Electronics 1kW transmitter feeding a half-wave dipole antenna. The studio output is beamed on 223.1MHz with a CCA Electronics 10W transmitter and 6 element yagi antennas.
Prayer Requests - dateline November 2003
Recently Good Shepherd Radio have been experiencing concerted opposition to their operations.
- since February the Mayor of Saraguro has been trying to get his hands on the OMS property in which the radio station is based, thus far without success
- three weeks ago the dog of Mark Vogan (OMS Missionary from Ireland) was killed with poison, so the guard dog for the OMS compound is now gone
- A man called Pepe who works at the radio station was recently arrested by the police. The charge? He lost a cheque when he worked at the local school as Assistant Head some 26 years ago!. Pepe has been held now for 6 days, and the authorities are asking for $2,000 for his release !!
- On Tuesday Nov 4th, the radio stations vhf output was off the air. Five members of the station staff climbed up to the transmitter site on Mt Puglla (3,000 Feet) where they found that the door to the transmitter had been forced open and the STL receiver stolen, nothing else. The line conditioner, power strip and transmitter were all there. It would appear that the motive was simply to put Good Shepherd Radio off air!
- There has also been a trumphed-up charge made against the radio station! It would appear that someone had phoned the station with a dedication from a person declaring their love for another person ......... The original person has now contacted the police and made an official complaint against the Radio Station
- On 6th November it appeared that the thieves have struck again up on Mt Puglla, since the stations Short Wave service for the surrounding jungles areas was found to be off air.
The radio station staff report that they are all fine, but ask for concerted prayer for the ongoing situations they are presently experiencing.
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