Cable television service at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni will be interrupted for up to a week between now and April 21 as Marines install a new amplification system and other upgrades.
The current main amplifier has degraded, causing screen static for more than a month.
“Right now we have very low signal quality. It’s really bad,” said Chief Warrant Officer Edward Cutshall, Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron ground electronics maintenance division officer in charge.
“We try to maintain the system the best we can,” he said Tuesday. “It’s a very small system and … we’re redesigning it to make it better for everyone.”
Iwakuni is the only Marine Corps post operating its own full-service, basewide cable system, officials said. The system broadcasts emergency command information, all the available American Forces Network channels and 30 cable channels for free.
Marines will begin installation of the new parts — which cost the base about $50,000 — and redesign of the system as soon as the parts arrive, Cutshall said.
After the components are installed, the new main amplifier will be aligned with 250 individual amplifiers, which carry the cable signal to the base.
While the work is being done, base residents can watch AFN Pacific by turning to channel 66 and using their television’s antenna to get the best possible picture, Cutshall said.
