SAQ this Christmas Eve?

Encouraging news from Sweden following the recent fire at SAQ (17.2kHz VLF):

"We are now planning for the traditional transmission with the Alexanderson 200 kW alternator on VLF 17.2 kHz on the morning of Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24. The message transmission will take place at 08:00 UTC and the transmitter will be tuned up from around 07:30 UTC.

Since the plant is old, there is always the risk that the transmission will be cancelled with short notice. An updated information will be published on our website www.alexander.n.se.

There will be activity on Amateur Radio Frequencies with the call SK6SAQ.
Frequencies: - 7,035 CW or 14,035 CW

QSL-reports on the SAQ transmission or SK6SAQ are kindly received via:
- E-mail to: info@alexander.n.se
- or via: SM bureau
- or direct by mail to:
Alexander - Grimeton Veteranradios Vaenner,
Radiostationen Grimeton 72
SE-432 98 GRIMETON
S W E D E N

The radio station will be open to visitors.

Welcome!

Yours
Lars SM6NM"

SAQ (VLF CW) Off Air

Apparently, SAQ (17.2kHz) had a fire caused by arcing and is off the air presently. I have no idea if they will be back in time for their usual transmission around Christmas. I am a proud owner of one of their QSL cards from several years ago.

See http://www.arrl.org/news/antenna-fire-puts-saq-alexanderson-alternator-station-off-the-air .

SAQ yesterday

Although I did not try to listen for SAQ (17.2kHz CW on VLF) yesterday I wonder who did? It was received in Russia and is a good test of your VLF system. Although they have a lot of power and big antennas it can be a challenge to receive them.

VLF SAQ 17.2kHz CW - a reminder

A reminder that SAQ will broadcast on July 3rd 2016.

See http://alexander.n.se/the-radio-station-saq-grimeton/saq-transmissions/?lang=en .

SAQ transmission

"Grimeton Radio Station was listed as a world heritage site because, its original equipment is an exceptionally well-preserved example of the development of communication technology. In fact, it is still in working order.
Grimeton (call sign SAQ) still transmits a message to the world twice a year: at the Alexanderson Day (Sunday at the end of June/beginning of July) and at Christmas Eve. The frequency is 17.2 kHz CW."

Next transmission is July 3rd 2016. I am lucky to have a QSL card for their VLF transmission some years ago.

See  http://alexander.n.se/?lang=en .

Reminder: Christmas Eve (Dec 24th) SAQ VLF test

See http://alexander.n.se/?lang=en .

The next SAQ transmission (17.2kHz CW) from Sweden will be on Christmas Eve, December 24th at 8:00 UTC (9:00 CET). It will also be broadcast live on their webpage (see link above).

Albert Einstein visited the New Jersey HF alternator TX. This is not SAQ of course!

 This image is located at http://gereports.cdnist.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/10165119/121442-Steinmetz-and-Einstein-uncropped1.jpg

SAQ VLF CW transmission

The next Grimeton SAQ transmission will be on Christmas Eve, December 24th 2015 at 8:00 UTC (9:00 CET). It will also be broadcast LIVE on their webpage.

See http://alexander.n.se/.
See http://alexander.n.se/the-radio-station-saq-grimeton/lyssna-pa-saq/?lang=en for ideas for suitable ways of receiving this 17.2kHz CW transmission.

SAQ VLF reminder

A chance to test your VLF system and get a very interesting QSL card.

REMINDER! 
We will remind you of the Grimeton Radio/SAQ transmission on VLF frequency 17.2 kHz, CW, with the Alexanderson 200 kW alternator on “ALEXANDERSON DAY”, Sunday, June 28th, at 09:00 UTC and 12:00 UTC (11:00 and 14:00 SVT). We will start tuning up some 30 minutes before the message. There. will be activity on amateur radio frequencies during the day with the call SK6SAQ. Frequencies: - 7,035 CW or 14,035 CW - 3,755 SSB - 145,700/145,100 VHF FM repeater (R-4/RV-56) QSL to SK6SAQ via SM bureau. QSL-reports on SAQ transmissions are kindly received: - E-mail to: info@alexander.n.se - or via: SM bureau - or direct by mail to: Alexander - Grimeton Veteranradios Vaenner, Radiostationen Grimeton 72 SE-432 98 GRIMETON Sweden The radio station will be open to visitors from 08:00 to 14:00 UTC (10:00 to 16:00 SVT). Welcome! 

Also read our web site: www.alexander.n.se

No SAQ transmission today after all

The famous SAQ 17.2kHz VLF transmitter was NOT in action today, October 24th 2014.  There was always some doubt whether today's transmission was to happen or not.

See http://alexander.n.se/evenemang/extra-transmission/ .

Extra SAQ 17.2kHz VLF CW transmission on Oct 24th?

Message from SAQ (sic). There appears to be some confusion over the time. If I get clarification I'll let you know later.   The transmissions are CW from the World Heritage transmitter that dates from about 90 years ago. It is run up on special occasions only.

There will hopefully be a transmission with the Alexanderson alternator on 17.2 kHz on “United Nations Day” October 24, 2014 at 10:00 UTC. Start up and tuning from about 11:30 UTC.

There will be a message written by students in Denmark.

We are not hundred percent sure we have access to the antenna this day because of other organization using it.

SAQ - historic 17.2kHz CW transmission this Sunday.

A reminder that the historic alternator TX on 17.2kHz VLF will be sending a message this Sunday twice. They usually QSL via the amateur QSL bureaus. See http://alexander.n.se/in-english/saq-transmission/ for more details of this and other transmissions.

Some years ago I copied the transmission, QSLed and am the proud owner of one of their QSL cards. It is not hard to copy in Europe unless you have local noise problems. A small tuned loop is all the antenna needed. There are even a software receiver available free on the net capable of receiving the transmissions with a suitable antenna connected to the PC. The SM6LKM software receiver is excellent and covers 0-22kHz. It makes a very useful VLF receiver. I describe it on my YouTube Channel G3XBM.  See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDxRhQYg7lQ.

SAQ - CW on 17.2kHz

About twice a year this heritage VLF transmitter puts out CW test transmissions. Usually the will QSL via the amateur QSL bureaus too. This is a video clip of the transmitter and antennas. The TX is a 1920s alternator TX, one of the last, if not THE last, in the world. Antennas are huge. SAQ is usually decent copy in Europe and it is often copied in the USA and Canada. Some copy it on just a software RX and a small wire in the mic socket of a PC. Next tests are on Alexanderson Day (Sunday June 29th) and near Christmas.

See http://alexander.n.se/in-english/saq-transmission/ for details of future transmissions.

SAQ (17.2kHz VLF) transmission June 30th 2013

It is always fun to listen on 17.2kHz for the special test transmissions from the historic Grimeton alternator transmitter in Sweden.  Lars Kalland writes:

"We will remind you of the Grimeton Radio/SAQ transmissions on 17.2 kHz, CW, with the Alexanderson alternator on Sunday, June 30, 2013, “Alexanderson Day", at 09:00 UTC and 11:00 UTC.  We will start tuning up some 30 minutes before message. "

They welcome reception reports for these SAQ transmissions either via info@alexander.n.se , via the Swedish QSL bureau or direct to:

     Alexander-Grimeton Veteranradios Vaenner,
     Radiostationen
     Grimeton 72
     SE-432 98 GRIMETON,
     SWEDEN

(NB: new address)

The QSL card from SAQ is something quite special. I was lucky enough to receive one a few years ago.  Also see their website at www.alexander.n.se .

A suitable downloadable software receiver (needs a wire connected to the audio input of a PC sound card - add back-to-back diodes to prevent damage) is available at https://sites.google.com/site/sm6lkm/saqrx/. 

SAQ (17.2kHz) transmission Dec 24th

The following is from the SAQ (Sweden) website:

We plan for a traditional transmission on Christmas Eve Monday 24 December. We plan to start the transmitter at 07:30 UTC and will be on air a few minutes later. A message will be sent at 08:00 UTC. The frequency is 17.2 kHz CW.

 QSL-reports are kindly received:

 QSL reports can be given via:

- E-mail to: info@alexander.n.se
- or fax to: +46-340-674195
- or via SM bureau
- or direct by mail to: Alexander - Grimeton Veteranradios Vaenner, Radiostationen, Grimeton 72, S-432 98 Grimeton, SWEDEN

Note: SAQ is a member of the Swedish Amateur Association (SSA) and "QSL via bureau" is OK.

SAQ (17.2kHz) transmission Oct 24th

SAQ, the historic alternator transmitter on 17.2kHz CW VLF will be making a special transmission on United Nations Day next Wednesday Oct 24th 2012 starting at 1010 UTC with the message being sent at 1030 UTC.   Reports from this transmission will not be confirmed by QSL card (some test transmissions are  QSLed).  The transmission is a part of the celebration of the United Nations Day in Grimeton, see http://undayorg.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/unday-english1.pdf.

Improved Software VLF Receiver

SWL Roland's enhanced SM6LKM software VLF receiver

An SWL called Roland from Germany has produced an enhanced version of SM6KLM's software VLF receiver, originally designed to allow reception of SAQ on 17.2kHz CW. The new version has:

•  44.1k/48k/88.2k/96k/176.4k/192k sample rate support
• More CW filters, SSB filter and AM filter added
• Spectrum display for audio frequency
• File-I/O for *.wav format (16bit)
• Left/Right channel select
• RMS signal level bar for audio level
• Muting (M) key
• Time+Date display, UTC or local time

This now makes the "enhanced" SM6KLM software receiver a superb tool for VLF use. Information and downloads are available at Roland's website https://sites.google.com/site/swljo30tb/

To use the receiver all that is needed is a VLF signal feeding into the mic input of the PC. Be sure you know what you are doing: the usual safe thing to do is to put a couple of back-to-back diodes across the DC isolated VLF input to prevent damage to the sound card. With an E-field probe antenna this receiver is capable of receiving many VLF transmitters from around the world. I shall be using it in future to monitor my 8.97kHz earth-mode CW beacon when out in the field testing.  

SAQ VLF tests today

SAQ, the very old alternator TX on 17.2kHz VLF, was transmitting today and was copied as far away a North America. Here are some recordings made in Germany by Stefan DK7FC.

Dear VLF group,

Today the S/N of SAQ was much weaker here in Heidelberg/JN49IK, probably due to the high QRN levels.

I extracted a wav file containing the full message and tests. Can be used for reprocessing if of interest for someone: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/19882028/VLF/SAQ/SAQ_afternoon01Jul2012.WAV (117 MB)

And here is a mp3 file for listening in a normal player (first 2/3 is a test procedure, then the mesage comes): https://dl.dropbox.com/u/19882028/VLF/SAQ/SAQ_afternoon01Jul2012.mp3 (24 MB)

73, Stefan/DK7FC

SAQ transmission on 17.2kHz on July 1st

From the SAQ website:

Transmissions on Alexanderson Day
We plan for transmissions on Alexanderson Day Sunday 1st July. If we are allowed to use the antenna we start the machine transmitter at 8.30 UTC and a message is sent at 9.00 UTC. Second start of the transmitter at 11.30 UTC and a message is sent at 12.00 UTC. The frequency is 17.2 kHz CW.

 QSL-reports are kindly received:

 QSL reports can be given via:

- E-mail to: info@alexander.n.se

- or fax to: +46-340-674195

- or via SM bureau

- or direct by mail to: Alexander - Grimeton Veteranradios Vaenner, Radiostationen, Grimeton 72, S-432 98 Grimeton, SWEDEN

Note: SAQ is a member of the Swedish Amateur Association (SSA) and "QSL via bureau" is OK.

Optical receiver noise floor measurements

A PC with some simple free software makes a very useful piece of test gear.

For example, today I wanted to check the noise floor of my optical receiver head between 0-20kHz in total darkness and in daylight and compare this with the noisefloor of the PC with the head turned off. SM6LKM's excellent little software receiver designed to listen to SAQ's transmissions on 17.2kHz was ideal. This tunes from 0-22kHz. Here are the results (see plots) which show noise goes up by about 5dB in the daylight, although noise at 0-2kHz seems to go down in sunlight. By connecting the optical receiver head to the PC I was able to use this little package to see the noise floor changes.  G4JNT thinks the FET is possibly being biassed to a less optimum position, or it is saturating, in daylight. By changing the bias I may be able to get a lower noisefloor and better sensitivity. That I shall try tomorrow.

SAQ VLF 17.2kHz test 10.1.12

The historic Grimeton VLF transmission over Christmas on 17.2kHz had to be abandoned because of an equipment failure but Lars (SM6NM) says they are planning another test tomorrow (Tuesday Jan 10th) at 1330UTC.  The sequence will be "VVV VVV VVV DE SAQ SAQ SAQ" running for about 30 minutes and no message. No QSL cards will be issued this time. More details see www.alexander.n.se.  One possible receiver to use is SM6LKM's simple VLF SDR that can be downloaded from http://sites.google.com/site/sm6lkm/saqrx .

This was what they said about the Christmas failure:
 
"The reason for the trouble with SAQ on Christmas Eve was most probably a damaged fuse in the excitation circuit for the 500 V DC generator. The fuse was not completely blown but measured a very high resistance (150 ohm). When we lost the excitation current to the DC generator, we also lost the control current to the choke coils in the conductors to the main motor, and thereby the speed control of the alternator was lost.  It was confusing that the problem occurred exactly when we connected the running alternator to the antenna. We were actually on air a few seconds with decreasing frequency until the antenna was disconnected by the protection circuit in the speed control."