A Kenyan Canadian has put together a portable FM radio station that fits in
a briefcase that he hopes to use to reach remote parts of Africa.
Peter Onguti helped develop and is bringing to Africa the 18-kilo FM radio
kit that can be powered by solar, battery or conventional electricity
He got the idea for a portable radio station after Kenya's last election,
when violence erupted across the country. People in rural areas especially
were experiencing an information blackout.
Onguti turned to a Canadian friend and business partner to design a portable
radio station with good range.
*'It's just that I want people to have access to information.'**—Kenyan
Canadian Peter Onguti*
"I asked him — he's a telecommunication engineer — if he could come up with
something which was suitable for this market, especially Kenya and the rest
of Africa," Onguti told CBC News.
Then he used his own savings to build and market the portable radio
stations.
The government of South Sudan will be using about a dozen of the units to
educate rural voters in the upcoming referendum on separation from North
Sudan.
And dozens more are being used to broadcast health and education programming
in Western Africa.
Depending on the unit, the stations can broadcast anywhere from 30 to 100
kilometres.
"You can do a lot with this unit, not necessarily just focus on war and
violence and such," Onguti says.
He envisions his portable radio stations in use all over Africa. Radio is a
good choice for Africa, where many people are illiterate and cannot afford
television.
He has yet to turn a profit on sales, with units ranging from $10,000 to
$70,000, but that doesn't discourage him.
"It's not about the money actually — it's just about information, that is
the key drive for me. It's just that I want people to have access to
information.
Or See also
*A complete FM Radio Broadcast station contained in a single suitcase.
*
*Total cost of equipment ________ US$5,320.00*
*includes*
*Standard Equipment Package
1 - SBS-1 Suitcase Broadcast Station c/w 12 Watt FM Stereo transmitter,
stacked dipole antenna, 30m RG8/U Co-AX cable with all necessary connectors
and mounting hardware. US$3,610.00
Optional Recommended Equipment
1 - Extension Microphone c/w plastic prop stand holder US$55.00
1 - 115 or 230 Volt AC to 13.8 Volt DC Switching Power Supply, 15
Amp US$165.00
Cost
Sub Total Cost of Equipment FOB Winnipeg, Canada US$3,820.00
Estimated Shipping/Handling/Insurance for transportation
to (Africa/Asia/Pacific) via Courier US$1500.00
Total cost of equipment listed, CIF________ US$5,320.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In addition to the optional equipment listed above, each SBS-1 Standard
Broadcast Station shall contain the following:
2 - Commercial Quality CD Players
2 - Commercial Quality Tape Cassette Recorder/Players
1 - Audio Mixer, 6 Channel c/w Cue, Control and Audio Level Display
1 - Power distribution board c/w all required cabling
1 - Set Stereo Earphones - Light commercial quality
1 - Gooseneck deck mounted microphone
1 - Audio Input/Output Board c/w Telephone interconnection (Standard RJ11)
1 - 3 Channel Microphone Mixer Box
1 - Console Tray
1 - Microphone, Tape cassette, switchable for local recording
1 - Sony to Sony Edit Cord
1 - Suitcase, composition, foam packed
Audio interconnect cables, studio to transmitter
Power connecting cables, studio and transmitter
1 - Operations Training Manual (English) (French)
1 - Transmitter Technical Operating Manual (English) (French)
*
Contact Information *Telephone* 204-434-6423*FAX* 204-434-6442*Postal
address* P.O Box 89 Grunthal MB, CANADA , R0A 0R0*Business Address*169-D
Main Street, Grunthal MB, CANADA, R0A 0R0*Electronic mail* General
Information: * Company Info <info@wantokent.com>*Sales:
* Sales E- Mail <info@wantokent.com>* Customer
Support: * Support E-Mail <info@wantokent.com> *
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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