SAQ 100 Year Anniversary Transmission July 2nd 2025

Celebrate SAQ 100 years

The unique Alexanderson alternator from 1924, with the call sign SAQ, is scheduled for two transmissions over the antenna on VLF 17.2 kHz CW on july 2nd

Anniversary 100 Years

On July 2nd, 1925, Grimeton Radio Station was officially inaugurated. The radio traffic did already start on December 1st the year before, but now it was time the official ceremony. The king of Sweden, Gustav V, the inventor of the amazing 200kW Alternator and the massive six tower antenna, Ernst F.W. Alexanderson, as well as the leader of Radio Corporation of America, David Sarnoff was there, together with several other prominent guests. The large and shiny Alexanderson Alternator was put to life and a message to the American president Calvin Coolidge was transmitted to the receiving station at Riverhead, Long Island NY, USA. The american president replied and assessed the new radio installations as crucial for relations between Sweden and the USA.

Installing my VLF Loop

I started installing the loop, the loop amplifier and the frequency converter, when I came home at 13:15 CEST. The transmission would start at 15;00 CEST. After building, I tested testing the loop, by running the loop amplifier into oscillation. 

Listening to my audio generator at 17.2 kHz in the shack, I noticed that the loop was not so sensitive as before.

By accident a wire that connects an extra capacitor, to tune the loop, had come loose.

Without the extra capacitor the loop was not properly tuned.

So I did not hear SAQ, when the transmission was already started around 14:30 CEST. Oops. 

 The band width of the loop,can be smootly adjusted,
with the ten turn potmeter

By accident I notice, the loose wire. After connecting the wire, I immediately heard SAQ. 

vvvv vvvv vvvv de SAQ SAQ SAQ

The RST was now 558. Not loud, but readable. Without the wire, the signal was deep in the noise.
With 5 minutes to go to 15:00 CEST, I was on time. Luckely, hi.