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Lars Kålland, SM6NM, at the SAQ key. [Mats Gunnarsson Photo] |
The Alexanderson alternator at SAQ. [Swedish Government Bureau of Antiquities] |
The Alexanderson station at Grimeton, Sweden. [Swedish Government Bureau of Antiquities] |
SAQ's extensive antenna system. |
NEWINGTON, CT, Jan 11, 2007 -- A Christmas Eve CW transmission from the SAQ Alexanderson alternator site in Grimeton, Sweden, drew a raft of reports, most from Europe. SAQ's 200 kW signal on 17.2 kHz was barely readable in North America, however. The holiday transmission from the historic site on Sweden's west coast marked the 100th anniversary of Reginald Fessenden's landmark voice broadcast from Brant Rock, Massachusetts, on Christmas Eve 1906.
"The conditions this time were not the best," Lars Kålland, SM6NM, said of the December 24, 2006, transmission (see "Text of the December 24, 2006, SAQ Transmission"). "It was much better in the last winter transmission, 19th Feb 2006. The transmission was received in the USA, but very weak."
Six listeners in the US were able to copy all or part of SAQ's transmission. Jay Rusgrove, W1VD, gave SAQ an RST of 349 to 449 in Connecticut. Alan Douglas on Cape Cod reported a weak signal, while Bill Ashlock in Andover, Massachusetts, said he had "fairly good copy" of SAQ's very-low-frequency signal.
As expected, far better reports showed up from various points in Europe. Lubomir Bobalik, OK2BVG, reported that SAQ was 15 dB over S9 at his location in the Czech Republic. Jean-Pierre Godet, F5YG, reported "very, very strong signal" from his Le Vauroux, France, QTH. Outside of Sweden, listeners in Germany filed the highest number of successful reports -- 39.
Swedish-American engineer Ernst Alexanderson developed the radio transmitter that bears his name while working for RCA. The device is essentially a large high-frequency alternator (ie, an ac "generator") with a high-speed rotor connected directly to an antenna system. A similar station once operated on Long Island, New York. The circuit was used to transmit telegrams and messages between Europe and the US. Such systems were in use through World War II to provide international telecommunication.
Sweden's King Gustaf V presided at the station's 1925 inauguration and transmitted a message to US President Calvin Coolidge. The SAQ site houses the last working Alexanderson alternator and is home to Amateur Radio station SK6SAQ.
Several other Alexanderson alternators were in operation in the early days of wireless, including two at the RCA (formerly Marconi) site at Bolinas, California. One operated as NPG on about 24 kHz during World War II under contract to the Navy. The other was sold to the Navy and shipped to Guam following the island's liberation in World War II, but it remained in the crates and was never installed. The California unit was dismantled in the early 1950s by a salvage company for the copper it contained.
Kålland said SAQ would announce its next scheduled transmission. The Alexander-Grimeton Veteranradios Vänner (Friends) Association, which operates SAQ, has arranged twice-yearly transmissions from the vintage station over the past decade or so. He says SAQ is now a member of the Swedish Amateur Association (SSA), and listeners may QSL via the bureau.
Text of the December 24, 2006, SAQ Transmission
CQ CQ CQ DE SAQ SAQ SAQ =
THIS IS GRIMETON RADIO/SAQ IN A TRANSMISSION USING THE ALEXANDERSON 200 KW ALTERNATOR ON 17,2 KHZ.
TODAY WE CELEBRATE THE CENTENARY OF THE FIRST WIRELESS TELEPHONY TRANSMISSION IN THE WORLD, PERFORMED BY REGINALD A FESSENDEN FROM MASSACHUSETTS, USA.
WE WISH YOU ALL A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR.
SIGNED: THE ALEXANDER-GRIMETON VETERANRADIOS VAENNER ASSOCIATION
FOR QSL INFO PLEASE SEE OUR WEBSITE: WWW.ALEXANDER.N.SE
DE SAQ SAQ SAQ
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