50,000 Watts
By the 1950s, the shortwave bands were becoming crowded. For HCJB to be clearly heard around the world, it needed to increase the power of its radio signal. It was decided to add a 50,000-watt transmitter, which was very powerful at the time. HCJB engineers completed construction of this large unit in 1956. In later […]
Why don’t we get more letters?
HCJB’s first Japanese broadcasts used recorded programs sent from Japan by Kazuo Ozaki and the Pacific Broadcasting Association. Before long, it was discovered that some of those tapes were being played backwards. So Kazuo and Hisako Ozaki moved to Quito where they began making Japanese programs in May 1964. By the 1970s, the Ozakis were […]
Radio Program schedule – c.1943
After 1940, HCJB began to greatly expand its radio programming. Spanish and English were the primary languages on the schedule, but there were also regular broadcasts in Quichua, Russian, Swedish, French, Czech, Dutch and Yiddish.
Away from Family
Clarence Jones came to Ecuador in October of 1931 with Eric and Ann Williams to set up radio station HCJB. Clarence’s wife Katherine was due to give birth to their third child in December. So, Katherine and their two daughters remained in Chicago until the spring of 1932. This letter written from Clarence to his […]
The Voice of Quito
Clarence wanted a more powerful transmitter that would expand the station’s potential audience. Engineer Victoriano Salvador designed a 250-watt transmitter using parts of the original transmitter. However, as a devout Catholic, Victoriano refused to actually build it since HCJB was an evangelical radio station. Clarence became actively involved in building the redesigned transmitter, which they […]
Radio Station HCJB’s New Home
The city of Quito soon grew around HCJB’s original Quinta Corston property. Co-directors Clarence Jones and Reuben Larson realized that the station needed to be moved outside of the city limits to comply with the Ecuadorian broadcasting laws that Clarence had helped write. HCJB bought property north of the city in Iñaquito in 1938 and […]
Just as Important
Having reliable technicians and operators was critical for HCJB. Staff had to carefully monitor and maintain equipment as well as manually switch between studios or transmitters at the precise time. Ecuadorian Technician Néstor Zamora tunes one of HCJB’s transmitters broadcasting on the 31, 73 and 308 meter bands.
TV Evangelism
One of the primary purposes of HCJB-TV was to share the gospel with people in Quito. Many of HCJB’s staff were involved in making the live evening programs. Well-known evangelists like Hermano Pablo, Billy Graham and Luis Palau appeared on HCJB-TV. Opportunities were given for viewers to call in by telephone during TV programs to […]
Full Circle
Carlos Andrade Marín was working as a secretary for the president of Ecuador in 1930 when HCJB applied for a radio contract. The President initially left the contract unsigned. So Carlos placed it on top of the papers given to the president each morning until he finally signed it. Twenty-six years later, as Mayor of […]
A Changed Heart
Engineer Victoriano Salvador joined HCJB’s technical staff not long after the station started. He designed several of HCJB’s early transmitters and built this 1,000-watt unit that went on air in 1937. Victoriano was a religious man who worked diligently at the station for many years. Yet at the same time, he was reluctant to embrace […]
