Thursday, June 19, 2008

Annual VLF Alternator Transmission Coming Up

The Alexanderson Alternator was the first continuous-wave CW transmitter. It is literally a large electric motor-generator that makes RF. A global network of these huge stations was rapidly replacing "King Spark" for maritime coastal radio, when vacuum tubes replaced both.

A working example is at SAQ, Grimeton Radio. RF power is on the order of 200 kW, but the frequency is so low (17.2 kHz, not MHz) as to make it a real catch in North America. From the web site in Sweden:


GRIMETON RADIO/SAQ TRANSMISSION

The annual transmission on "Alexanderson Day" with the Alexanderson alternator on VLF 17.2 kHz will take place Sunday 29th June 2008 at 09:00 UTC (tuning up from after 08:00 UTC) and will be repeated at 13:00 UTC (tuning up from after 12:00 UTC).

The station will be open to visitors.

Amateur Radio Station with special event call "SK6SAQ" will be QRV 09:15 -12:00 UTC on the following frequencies:

- 14.035 kHz CW
- 14.215 kHz SSB

>From 07:00 UTC also on:

- 3.755 kHz SSB.

QSL via SK6DK or direct to address below.

QSL-reports to SAQ and SK6SAQ are kindly received:

- 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
SE-430 16 ROLFSTORP
S W E D E N