SAQ Grimeton Radio Station ready for annual Alexanderson Day, on July 2nd, 2025

 

Grimeton Radio

The SAQ Grimeton Radio Station in Sweden is scheduled to perform its annual broadcast, also known as Alexanderson Day, on July 2nd, 2025. 

This year's broadcast is particularly significant as it marks the station's 100th anniversary. The station will celebrate the centennial of its official inauguration on July 2nd, 1925. 

Here is a summary of the planned activities for the SAQ Grimeton Radio Station on July 2nd, 2025:

The station will conduct two main transmissions. The first is scheduled to begin at 10:20 CEST (08:20 UTC) with a live YouTube broadcast, followed by the start-up of the Alexanderson Alternator at 10:30 CEST (08:30 UTC), and the transmission of a message at 11:00 CEST (09:00 UTC). The second transmission will follow a similar schedule, with the YouTube broadcast starting at 14:20 CEST (12:20 UTC), the alternator start-up at 14:30 CEST (12:30 UTC), and the transmission of an anniversary message at 15:00 CEST (13:00 UTC). 

Test transmissions are also planned for Tuesday, July 1st, between 13:00 and 16:00 CEST (11:00 - 14:00 UTC) for tuning, tests, and measurements. 

The transmissions will be on the Very Low Frequency (VLF) of 17.2 kHz CW, utilizing the historic Alexanderson alternator from 1924, which is a rare example of pre-electronic radio transmitter

You can view the events live on the World Heritage Grimeton Radio Station's YouTube Channel. If you are able to receive the transmission, you can submit a reception report online between July 2nd and July 27th. 

Please note that all transmissions are preliminary and may be cancelled. 

Previous testing has been observed as: 

Managed to hear two tests from SAQ on 17.2kHz this afternoon (1/7) 

The first between 1126 & 1207UTC and the second one between 1247 & 1255UTC. (In preparation for tomorrow's broadcasts celebrating 100 years of SAQ.)

 A mix of CW IDs, short and longer carrier bursts and pauses. Not sure if there was a third test.

A very good signal by 1255UTC, will send more details to MWL. 

(Nick Rank/BDXC)

SAQ slated for December 1 broadcast

 

SAQ Grimeton Radio Station

On December 1st, 1924, the VLF transmitter, with call sign “SAQ” at Grimeton Radio Station, was put into commercial operation, with transmissions across the Atlantic ocean, to the receiving station at Riverhead and the replying transmitter station at Rocky Point, both on Long Island, NY, USA.

On December 1st 2024, one hundred years later, SAQ will air to commemorate this event. The unique Alexanderson alternator from 1924, with the call sign SAQ, is scheduled for one transmission over the antenna on VLF 17.2 kHz CW.

Visitors are welcome to the transmitter hall at Grimeton radio station to experience an SAQ transmission.

Tickets can be purchased here: https://grimeton.entryevent.se/ticketshop/tickets/sandarstart

Program & transmission schedule:

10:00 CET (09:00 UTC) The doors to the transmitter hall will open

10:20 CET (09:20 UTC) Live YouTube broadcast begins.

10:30 CET (09:30 UTC) Start-up of the Alternator.

11:00 CET (10:00 UTC) Transmission of a message.

On December 1st, 1924, the VLF transmitter, with call sign “SAQ” at Grimeton Radio Station, was put into commercial operation, with transmissions across the Atlantic ocean, to the receiving station at Riverhead and the replying transmitter station at Rocky Point, both on Long Island, NY, USA.

On December 1st 2024, one hundred years later, SAQ will air to commemorate this event. The unique Alexanderson alternator from 1924, with the call sign SAQ, is scheduled for one transmission over the antenna on VLF 17.2 kHz CW.

Visitors are welcome to the transmitter hall at Grimeton radio station to experience an SAQ transmission.

Tickets can be purchased here: https://grimeton.entryevent.se/ticketshop/tickets/sandarstart

Program & transmission schedule:

10:00 CET (09:00 UTC) The doors to the transmitter hall will open

10:20 CET (09:20 UTC) Live YouTube broadcast begins.

10:30 CET (09:30 UTC) Start-up of the Alternator.

11:00 CET (10:00 UTC) Transmission of a message.

Live Video from World Heritage Grimeton Radio Station

The transmission event can be seen live on our YouTube Channel.

Test Transmissions

Test transmissions are scheduled for November 29th between 13:00 – 16:00 CET.

During the tests, SAQ will be on air shorter periods of time, when we will be carrying out tuning, tests and measurements. Your comments are welcome to info@....se.

QSL Reports to SAQ

QSL reports to SAQ are most welcome and appreciated!

For guaranteed E-QSL from us, please report using our ONLINE FORM.

Our confirmation of reports by Email / mail / bureau is not guaranteed.

The online form will be open from December 1st until December 20th, 2024.

Amateur Radio Station SK6SAQ

The Amateur Radio Station with the call “SK6SAQ” will be QRV during the morning on the following frequencies:

– 3 517.2 kHz CW

– 7.017.2 kHz CW

– 14.017.2 KHz CW

– 3.755 kHz SSB

– 7.140 kHz SSB

QSL-reports to SK6SAQ (NOT SAQ) are kindly received via:

– Email to info@....se

– or via: SM bureau

– or direct by postal mail (link to address here)

Two stations will be on the air most of the time.

https://alexander.n.se/saq-to-air-on-dec-1st-anniversary/

(Mike Terry/BDXC)

SAQ Grimeton Radio Station scheduled for Christmas Eve programming

 

 

On Christmas Eve morning, Sunday December 24th 2023, SAQ Grimeton is scheduled* to be on the air, to send out the traditional Christmas message to the whole world, using the 200kW Alexanderson alternator from 1924, on 17.2 kHz CW.  

Program and transmission schedule:

08:00 CET (07:00 UTC: The transmitter hall at World Heritage Grimeton is opened for visitors.

Transmission & YouTube Live stream:

08:25 CET (07:25 UTC): Live stream on YouTube begins.

08:30 CET (07:30 UTC): Startup and tuning of the Alexanderson Alternator SAQ.

09:00 CET (08:00 UTC): Transmission of a message from SAQ.

Test transmissions

We are planning to carry our some test transmissions on Friday, December 22nd, approximately between 13:00 CET (12:00 UTC) and 16:00 CET (15:00 UTC). SAQ will be on the air shorter periods of time during this interval, when we will be carrying out some tests and measurements. Your comments are welcome to info@alexander.n.se.

Live Video from World Heritage Grimeton Radio Station

The event can be seen live on our YouTube Channel or by following the link below.

Live Video Stream from World Heritage Grimeton Radio Station. 

Scheduled at 08:25 CET (07:25 UTC) on Dec 24th, 2023 

QSL reports to SAQ are most welcome and appreciated!

For guaranteed E-QSL from us,

please report using our 

ONLINE QSL FORM.

We can not guarantee that reports by Email /  bureau will be confirmed.

The online form will be open from October 24th until January 14th, 2024.

Amateur Radio Station SK6SAQ

The Amateur Radio Station with the call “SK6SAQ” will be QRV on the following frequencies:

– 3517.2 kHz CW

– 7017.2 kHz CW

– 14017.2 KHz CW

– 3755 kHz SSB

– 7140 kHz SSB

QSL-reports to SK6SAQ (NOT SAQ) are kindly received via:

- Email to info@alexander.n.se

- or via: SM bureau

- or direct by postal mail (link to address here)

Two stations will be on the air most of the time.

Visiting World Heritage Grimeton Radio Station

Visitors are most welcome to World Heritage Grimeton Radio Station on Christmas morning, Dec 24th. The doors to the transmitter hall will open at 08:00 CET.

Pre-booking is recommend. Get your free entrance ticket here.

We will offer all visitors free coffee with Christmas buns and ginger snaps.

Read more about the event on World Heritage Grimeton Radio Station Facebook page.

Join the Alexander Team!

We welcome you as a member of the Alexander SAQ Grimeton Friendship Association, to support our non-profit activities in preserving, documenting and bringing to life the unique Alexanderson alternator from 1924. 

As a member, you have 10% discount on the World Heritage Grimeton Radio Station gift shop and café (not ice cream) and free entrance to the evening tours and the Alexanderson Day event, by showing your membership card. Four times per year, you will receive our online magazine “Alternatorn”, exclusively available only to our members.

Members also get access to our online library with lots of unique historical documents about SAQ and the Alexanderson alternator. 

NEW! Our library now also includes several SAQ educational videos. 

Membership costs SEK 125 / year.

APPLY FOR MEMBERSHIP 

Help us to keep SAQ Grimeton operational.

Just a small donation will be of great help to us, in our work to keep SAQ in operational condition. Your donation will go to the work of maintaining, displaying and running the historical Alexanderson alternator, as well as passing on knowledge to current and future generations.

(BDXC)