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Old 4th Jun 2021, 11:22 am   #1
mickm3for
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Default SAQ Grimeton Transmission on July 4th

Hi this years SAQ TX The annual transmission event on the Alexanderson Day with the Alexanderson Alternator from 1924, on VLF 17.2 kHz CW with the call sign SAQ, is scheduled for Sunday, July 4th, 2021.
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Old 4th Jun 2021, 12:41 pm   #2
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Default Re: SAQ Grimeton Transmission on July 4th

Would you believe I've got a big felt-tip marker sign stuck to the fridge to remind me? It's also in my log book on the day before and the day of the transmission. I really need NOT to forget it this time as I have a new LF loop to test.
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Old 4th Jun 2021, 1:46 pm   #3
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Default Re: SAQ Grimeton Transmission on July 4th

Thanks for the advanced Warning.

Hopefully it will give me Time to dig out my VLF
converter and use it in anger for the first Time!

What Time and for how long will the Transmission be?

17.2 Khz is quite low, so will be nice to test it out
with a known scheduled Transmission.

No idea what Antenna to use, so time to read up on VLF.


Ian
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Old 4th Jun 2021, 2:03 pm   #4
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Default Re: SAQ Grimeton Transmission on July 4th

You can get times and more information in the Alexanderson site

https://alexander.n.se/alexanderson-day-2021/?lang=en

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Old 5th Jun 2021, 10:50 am   #5
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Default Re: SAQ Grimeton Transmission on July 4th

Thanks for the link.

For those to lazy to look up the Schedule, like I was trying to be

I have copied and pasted the schedule here:

Transmission schedule:
1. Startup and tuning at 10:30 CET (08:30 UTC) with a transmission of a message at 11:00 CET (09:00 UTC)
2. Startup and tuning at 13:30 CET (11:30 UTC) with a transmission of a message at 14:00 CET (12:00 UTC)




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Old 5th Jun 2021, 2:27 pm   #6
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Default Re: SAQ Grimeton Transmission on July 4th

I try and listen every time they do it, it is interesting to hear the frequency droop (or rise, depending on which side of the carrier the BFO is) when keying. I would love to plug a modern SDR (software defined radio) into their aerial!
 
Old 14th Jun 2021, 11:26 am   #7
kellymarie
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Default Re: SAQ Grimeton Transmission on July 4th

I got my VLF convertor working again ready for the event whilst tuning around in the longwave broadcast band I came across an unusual signal its a series of rapid pips transmitting on 175 kilocycles at first I thought it was an image frequency or breakthrough at the IF but no it appears to be really there any thoughts on what it mite be? Seems an odd place for it in the broadcast band
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Old 14th Jun 2021, 1:01 pm   #8
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Default Re: SAQ Grimeton Transmission on July 4th

Kellymarie, I took a look for the pips and there they were on 175 kc/s as you said. Attached is a waterfall of them. I couldn't get a reliable null on my loop antenna so it's either coming in on skywave or it's something on the mains wiring and coming from all directions.
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Old 15th Jun 2021, 1:28 pm   #9
kellymarie
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Default Re: SAQ Grimeton Transmission on July 4th

Thanks Andrew its good to I they are really there and not some weird mixing product they are very weak here I wonder what sort of strength you hear them at?
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Old 15th Jun 2021, 1:59 pm   #10
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Default Re: SAQ Grimeton Transmission on July 4th

Quote:
Originally Posted by kellymarie View Post
Thanks Andrew its good to I they are really there and not some weird mixing product they are very weak here I wonder what sort of strength you hear them at?
Pretty weakish, probably wouldn't notice them if I was casually tuning around in 6k-wide AM. I have to go to SSB to really hear them.
They changed a bit later on as night time came in. I think the two sets of pips were joined by a third.
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Old 15th Jun 2021, 2:39 pm   #11
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Default Re: SAQ Grimeton Transmission on July 4th

Interesting I only here one set of pips the fact you here 2 or 3 mite mean your closer to them or could be just your receive setup is better than mine I have a dating VLF converter fed by around 10 feet of wire about 6 feet above ground level am using the HF station earth as well helps to tame the noise a bit
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Old 15th Jun 2021, 3:18 pm   #12
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Default Re: SAQ Grimeton Transmission on July 4th

Ah. Are you listening in AM mode or SSB/CW? In AM it may sound like just one set of pips, but in SSB you can hear two different tones. This assumes we are listening to the same thing of course.
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Old 15th Jun 2021, 3:27 pm   #13
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Default Re: SAQ Grimeton Transmission on July 4th

I wonder if my Palomar Engineers VLF converter would be good enough for the transmission it does say 10 to 500KHz. My antenna would be my 20 m dipole with inner and outer strapped as a single point, I do have an internal loft wire around 11 metres long as an alternative. Tests need to be done.

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Old 15th Jun 2021, 4:37 pm   #14
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Default Re: SAQ Grimeton Transmission on July 4th

I use an upconverter to 10 MHz, and got rather noisy results on a wire. Then I tried my
28 MHz delta loop in the loft. Although it's not resonant of course the reduction in noise
was considerable and I have heard SAQ every time. (28 MHz delta loop, an equilateral
triangle with each side ca 3.5 metres. Coax feeder to one of the angles)
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Old 15th Jun 2021, 6:15 pm   #15
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Default Re: SAQ Grimeton Transmission on July 4th

I am listening in sideband mode and I've tried in CW mode as well I will listen again to check how many strings of pips I can here. I can't here anything of it in AM mode
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Old 15th Jun 2021, 7:20 pm   #16
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Default Re: SAQ Grimeton Transmission on July 4th

OK Kellymarie, the strings are spaced only about 200 Hz apart but the difference in pitch is noticeable.
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Old 4th Jul 2021, 10:21 am   #17
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Default Re: SAQ Grimeton Transmission on July 4th

Did anybody hear anything of the 10:30 CEST Transmission ?

I heard absolutely nothing !

I'm guessing my Antenna wasn't good enough !




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Old 4th Jul 2021, 10:47 am   #18
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Default Re: SAQ Grimeton Transmission on July 4th

Yes, transmission heard here in Malvern using a Wellbrook loop and a R&S ESHS 10 measurement receiver. Interesting to watch the live stream on YouTube at the same time!

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Old 4th Jul 2021, 10:48 am   #19
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Default Re: SAQ Grimeton Transmission on July 4th

Hi Ian,

Well, I just managed to hear the callsign repeated two or three times at the end of the main transmission, and I could hear the odd character during the start up and main transmission, but I am fighting a losing battle with noise at over S9!

Using a Datong VLF converter feeding a Yaesu FT857 in the narrow CW position with the DNR engaged, and a 25 foot or so wire antenna indoors suspended from end to end of the bungalow! (My tenancy agreement doesn't allow external aerials). I really must make up a loop for VLF.

Located on the east coast of Norfolk, near Gt Yarmouth, so a bit closer than you!

Kind regards
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Old 4th Jul 2021, 10:58 am   #20
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Default Re: SAQ Grimeton Transmission on July 4th

I'm running a similar set up.

A Datong VLF Convertor Clone feeding a Kenwood R2000

My Antenna is clearly not long enough, only about 5m and indoors.

Absolutely nothing at all on the Receiver.

Watching it Live instead on the Alexanderson Website.

So complete failure for me unfortunately.
I really thought I would receive this.

Might try another antenna for the Transmission later.


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