Tag Archives: Brother Stair

Radio Waves: “No Power” Transmitter, Paid Subscriptions, OTA Still Important, Kyrgyz Radio Shutdown, Rti on WRD, and Brother Stair Still on the Air

Radio Waves:  Stories Making Waves in the World of Radio

Welcome to the SWLing Post’s Radio Waves, a collection of links to interesting stories making waves in the world of radio. Enjoy!

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributors Ron Chester, David Iurescia, and Dennis Dura for the following tips:


Device transmits radio waves with almost no power—without violating the laws of physics (Tech Xplore)

A new ultra-low-power method of communication at first glance seems to violate the laws of physics. It is possible to wirelessly transmit information simply by opening and closing a switch that connects a resistor to an antenna. No need to send power to the antenna.

Our system, combined with techniques for harvesting energy from the environment, could lead to all manner of devices that transmit data, including tiny sensors and implanted medical devices, without needing batteries or other power sources. These include sensors for smart agriculture, electronics implanted in the body that never need battery changes, better contactless credit cards and maybe even new ways for satellites to communicate.

Apart from the energy needed to flip the switch, no other energy is needed to transmit the information. In our case, the switch is a transistor, an electrically controlled switch with no moving parts that consumes a minuscule amount of power. [Continue reading…]

A Threat Even Bigger Than No Car Radio (Radio World)

It’s about paid subscriptions — to the manufacturer, not the radio station

Apps for everything from optional equipment to entertainment is a big attraction for auto manufacturers.

For AM or even FM radio in cars, the solution could be worse than the problem: When manufacturers stop including radio as an in-console function, the workarounds make radio less local and face unimaginable competition, but what will roll out next is even more concerning.

The straight scoop
AM interference in electric vehicles, leaving radio out of the entertainment center, making radio more difficult to access — these are the real problems that the radio industry now faces.

Fact: Electromagnetic fields generated in non-gasoline engines make AM virtually unlistenable, spurring manufacturers to leave it out.

FM is more resistant to electromagnetic fields so for the present it survives.

Ford’s popular F-150 Lightning, Tesla, Volvo, Porsche and Audi have removed AM from their electric cars.

Tesla will sell consumers an app to get radio or satellite radio for a rental fee through internet delivery that gets around the electromagnetic interference. [Continue reading…]

Help Farm Radio Fight for Radio (Radio World)

We need to show carmakers that free OTA radio is still wanted and needed

his is one in a series of occasional commentaries produced through the National Association of Farm Broadcasting. Continue reading

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Brother Stair of Overcomer Ministry has passed away

Photo: RGStair.com

(Source: WSCS)

Colleton County pastor Ralph Stair dies

CANADYS, S.C. (WCSC) – The Colleton County coroner said an evangelist who founded the Overcomer Ministry in the county has died.

Ralph G. Stair died of heart failure at his home, according to Coroner Richard Harvey. Harvey said Stair had been under hospice care.

His age was not immediately clear.

The coroner’s office listed Stair as 84, but Stair’s Overcomer Ministry, which announced his passing on its website, listed his age as 87 and his time of death as 11:17 p.m. Saturday.

At the time of his death, Stair was awaiting trial after being accused of sexually assaulting several women and children at the ministry.

Stair was arrested on Dec. 18, 2017, by Colleton County deputies and agents from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security, the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office said. Stair was arrested on eight warrants and agents also executed a search warrant at Overcomer Ministry.

The charges from that arrest included three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, one count of assault with the intent to commit criminal sexual conduct first degree, one count of kidnapping, one count of first-degree burglary, one count of second-degree assault and one count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor.[]

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Yes, Brother Stair is back on the air

SWLing Post readers may have already heard Brother Stair back on the air this past weekend.

Stair was released on January 24 with a $750,000 bail.

Click here to read the story at The Post and Courier.

In truth, Brother Stair never really left the shortwaves. WBCQ (and others?) replayed archived Overcomer Ministry shows while Brother Stair was incarcerated.

In fact, shortly after Stair was taken into custody last month, WBCQ’s Allan Weiner–a friend of Brother Stair–shared his thoughts on the air. Overcomer Ministry still has this audio available on their website:

Screenshot taken from the Overcomer Ministry website.

Click here to listen to Alan Weiner’s recorded show.

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Overcomer Ministry to halt radio broadcasting in 2018

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Larry W, who points out the following announcement on the Overcomer Ministry website:
Since Overcomer Ministry leader, “Brother Stair” was arrested on multiple charges including sexual assault, I think many of us assumed his on air programming would soon come to an end.

A number of private broadcasters had already pulled his programming after his arrest last Monday. Now that Overcomer has announced the halt of all radio broadcasting–and the voice of Overcomer, Brother Stair, is in jail–their satellite and online feeds will likely replay old content.

While I’ll certainly not miss Overcomer programming on shortwave, the numerous private broadcasters who had Overcomer as a primary client will feel the loss of revenue in no insignificant way. Indeed, I believe this could even lead to the closure of some private broadcasters this year.

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Brother Stair taken into custody on eight criminal charges, waves rights to a bond hearing

Update: Stair has waved his rights to a bond hearing. See details and video at bottom of page.

I’m sure many–if not a majority of–shortwave listeners have heard the Overcomer Ministry on the air via various private broadcasters.  Ralph G. Stair, the leader and voice of Overcomer was taken into custody this morning on eight criminal charges.  I’m personally not a fan of Overcomer and I don’t typically post this sort of news content, but if Overcomer is eventually shut down, private broadcasters will certainly notice the loss of income stream. Could be profound to smaller stations.

For details and commenting, check out the story on the Waterboro Live website:

Update | Arrest of Brother Ralph Stair confirmed on multiple charges | News | The Press and Standard

(Photo source: Overcomer Ministries)

Colleton County Sheriff’s Office personnel arrived at the Overcomer Ministry at 12680 Augusta Highway early Monday morning to take Ralph G. Stair, the leader of the religious compound, into custody on eight criminal charges.

Lt. Tyger Benton, public information officer of the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office said a large contingent of law enforcement officers arrived at the church compound Monday at approximately 7:30 a.m. to take Stair, 84, into custody.

The charges, all filed by the sheriff’s office investigators, include three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and single counts of assault with the intent to commit criminal sexual conduct, kidnapping, second-degree assault, first-degree burglary, and third-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor.

Stair was transported to the Colleton County Detention Center on the charges and is expected to have a bond hearing Monday afternoon.

The sheriff’s office personnel arriving enmass at the compound were joined by agents of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations.[…]

Click here to continue reading the full story.

Update:

(Source: Live 5 News)

Live5News.com | Charleston, SC | News, Weather, Sports

Alleged Colleton Co. cult preacher charged with 8 counts waives bond hearing

COLLETON COUNTY, SC (WCSC) –
The accused leader of a cult in Colleton County facing eight criminal counts waived his right to a bond hearing Monday afternoon.

Ralph Stair, 84, has been charged with a total of eight charges. The charges include three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, one count of assault with intent to commit first-degree criminal sexual conduct, one count of kidnapping, one count of burglary, one count of second-degree assault and one count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor.

Stair was arrested Monday morning two months after a Live 5 News investigation.

Agents with the State Law Enforcement Division and the FBI, and Colleton County Sheriff’s deputies worked together to make the arrest at 7:48 a.m. Monday at the Overcomer Ministry on Augusta Highway in Walterboro, according to Colleton Co. Sheriff’s Lt. Tyger Benton.

A search warrant for the property was also executed, he said.

Stair was located on the property and taken into custody without incident, Benton said.[…]

Click here to read the full story at Live 5 News.

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