SAQ Grimeton Transmission on July 4th
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- Опубліковано 3 лип 2021
- The Alexanderson Alternator at World Heritage Grimeton Radio Station in Sweden is the only remaining, and still functional electro-mechanical radio transmitter from the era of the first Trans-Atlantic radio networks. It was installed in 1924, to create a wireless communication link between Sweden and the US. With a power of 200kW, its radio waves, with the call sign SAQ, will travel around the globe.
A metal disc, with a diameter of 1.6m, inside the Alexanderson alternator, is rotating in a strong magnetic field with 2115 rpm. The disc has 488 cut-outs in its periphery, which is creating a magnetic flux with the frequency 17200 Hz (488 x 2115/60) which is the transmission frequency of SAQ.
It is only sending morse code (CW). The magnetic flux is converted into morse code in the magnetic amplifier, a system which uses a relatively small DC current to control a relatively large AC current, firstly to block/reduce the amplification to the antenna, and secondly to alter the antenna resonance frequency, all controlled by the morse key.
The inventor was the Swedish born chief engineer at General Electric, later RCA, Ernst F.W. Alexanderson, 1878 - 1975.
See our website alexander.n.se for more information and for more videos.
Video information:
The first transmission on Alexanderson Day 2021 was initiated at 10.30 CET (08.30 UTC) with the startup and tuning of the Alexanderson alternator. A message was sent out at 11.00 CET (09.00 UTC).
The team from the Alexander association at the 11:00 transmission:
Superindendent & guide: Fredrik Wiklund
Operator: Anders Törblad
Telegraphist: Kai Sundberg
Mobile camera: Thomas Alexandersson
Video technician: Janne Severinsson
Mentor: Jan Steinbach
Assistants: Anders Börjesson and Jan-Åke Gylling - Наука та технологія
What a wonderful relic of technology so lovingly preserved and a tremendous bonus that it can apparently still operate without significant compromise of historical accuracy thanks to a dedicated team of volunteers. I had hoped to make a pilgrimage to SAQ on retirement but circulation problems make long flights out of the question... To others who appreciate the dedication and industry of the millions that have worked in all phases of communications technology for the last 200 years, I simply say don't pass-up an opportunity to visit SAQ while you can...
This has to be one of the most fascinating electro-mechanical machines I have heard about. Thanks to all of you for keeping it working. If and when I am in the area I must see it in person.
An amazing electromechanical radio transmitter and an extremely interesting tour. Never could have thought that functional Alexanderson transmitters still existed. Many thanks to you
25:55 The reports mentioned are called QSL cards. A listener would write a letter to the station noting their location and time they received the broadcast. They would note the quality of reception and any weather conditions. The various radio stations had card sized postcards called QSL cards, sent to the reporter, recognizing the authenticity of the recipients information. I collected these from all over the world. Some of the stations had distinctive and sometimes ornate graphics worth displaying.
Great Video'' I never seeing a Transmitter like this ever before. This is the very best video I found on UA-cam & I have been on UA-cam since 2007. Incredible video for sure. thank you for putting this on UA-cam.
Wow best video from SAQ and very good description of what was happening. I applaud all the volunteers at Alexander SAQ Grimeton Association great job and please keep up the Heritage Radio station. Sorry I don't have a receiver for that low a frequency.
What a fine machine! May it live forever! 73's.
That was made not far from where I live. That is one of the most amazing pieces of old electronics I have ever seen in my life. Awesome! I would love to see it in person!
Finally a full tour (in english) around the station. Thank you for that and for your *great job* and long live to SAQ !!!
Thank you very much Fredrik for giving the explanation about this incredible machine! Hope to visit it one day in the future. 😊
Fascinating insight into this rare and rather wonderful machine! Thank you 🙂
Thank you, absolutely fascinating and a credit to all of you for maintaining this piece of history!
I congratulate all the staff at SAQ GRIMETON for yet another broadcast. I am proud to be a part as a member in maintaining this heritage of humanity. We must never forget these moments ! Many Thanks. Alencar Aldo Fossá - py3cej
Experience of today's transmission was that because and obviously by the weather conditions (humid air and I also suppose relatively warm inside) the alternator ran somewhat slower than usual resp. was difficult to tune to the point frequency - unless you really want to operate these "raise/lower speed" wheels to readjust it. Thermal tolerances and such. But.. it is a mechanical device, so there can be external impacts otherwise.
Very impressive to see how this transmitter works and has such a huge range!
Thank you very much for this interesting video.
Wow! Absolutely fabulous machinery great that it has been preserved , many thanks for uploading this
73. This is an excellent presentation and demonstration, and an inspiring example of the beauty of coding. I am encouraged and hopeful for humanity by your efforts towards PEACE. Michael Van Cleemput, K6WK, California, USA. 73.
Thanks Michael.
We are all very proud and humble to have this fantastic site in our neighbourhood. As you can see on the video, it's a rather complex piece of equipment and we spend a great deal of time to keep it operational. Become a team member at alexander.n.se and support our efforts.
Fredrik / Alexander assocation
Amazing that the transmitter is purely electromechanical and can transmit across the ocean. ❤
Thank you for letting me listen to your message and look how you produced it with this wonderful machine!
I find this youtube video very interesting i like to see all the old stuff working and not scrapped We have a station in the U.S. Its called WLW 500,000 watts and its on youtube K7AGE 500,000 watt transmitter love your video.😀👍👍
Fantastic piece of history! Thank you for sharing this with us
Love the sound of that motor spooling up.
I can smell the ozone from here
More elaborate than I would have expected. Fascinating technology history. In the US, broadcast AM radio is from 600 or so hkz, so this is over 100 times lower frequency. Makes sense for long range transmission.
Not quite. Lowest US AM frequency is 540KHz. Technically this station is ~31.4 times lower.
Awesome. Thank you for preserving and presenting this bit of history.
Excellent and amazing!
Hello, from Canada.... I love the old machines....cheers
wow, so cool that they keep this operating, not just a dusty display!😃😃😃 Sweden rocks!
What a privilege to see. I have only one word to describe this video and transmitter "AWESOME". 73 de GI8WFA.
Wonderful video. ! ☺
Dieser Beitrag hat mir sehr gefallen danke für so eine tolle führung.😊
What a great "fist" perfect CW for the actual message.
You noticed that too.
Thompson meters still working perfectly.
That was fascinating! Thankyou
Amazing!
Great stuff!!!
I was recently reading about transmitters like this and I didn’t realize there was a period of time when alternators were used. The understanding I got was that there is not tone being modulated onto a carrier but that depressing the key threw an inductor across the circuit in such a way as to detune it and so what’s happening at the antenna is a signal that is going up and down (but not off) in amplitude. I don’t understand, though, how that’s being received.
It's amazing how 100 years ago they used pure electric engineering for radio transmission without any electronic parts... Now doubt that this is a monument to human engineering... Would love to visit one day but unfortunately is quite far from were I live...
73 from CT1CVV (retired)
That really is a work of art!
Scary looking stuff !
"Thankyou for your purchase of the General Electric 1908 MKII coffee maker.
Built to last forever. It's like something you'd find in Fallout and have to figure out how to get it running.
The engineering the...the ideas . First on paper, then production of all the parts. Built, made to run, amazing. All the power in and back out as the code. End .
Tack för 20 meter QSOs - 04 July 2021. 73 de Brad, N9EN
This is a time machine😊
Wow! Been there but not seen it in operation!
25:22 Your grid leak is bigger than my grid leak . . . by about 200 lpm
WOW fantastic machinery😛😛😛
I will send a report for your 2nd transmission today. I will be using my Datong VLF converter and Yeasu FT-817nd with whip antenna from Eastbourne JO00DR. 73 G7HFS/PA3IKH
Amazing technology. 73
Thanks for the Transmission 73 de DF9XZ
What an evolution thanks to this machine we can send and receive information via internet and phone i did not know it took this much machinery to send out Morse code wooow
Communication has won wars as well as started many.
16:00 1 transmitter, 127 keying relays
What a complicated assembly and isn't this what " real " machines are supposed to look like ? :O)
That is a BIG Deal! So well maintained.
Thank you for a wonderful presentation! Robert, AI6ZG
Good copy of msg on 17.2kHz with ELK639 rcvr/30m wire up 8mtrs.73 es tks Fredrik! PA5V
The predecessor to the turbo encabulator! Or at least this is what I imagine that would look like.
Wow, able to transmit to submarines without the need to surface....now that is some power!
Breaker breaker us😅 any Smokies ahead. Had no idea took so much voltage for radio station, incredible
Turn everything on let's see it in action!
19:00 now I know why it's called a "tank coil"
Wow!!!
Was this station always CW only or was it converted to Amplitude Modulation at a later point?
Good copy in Manchester +25db above noise on 40m longwire. 73, M7MVF
I had a transistor radio when I was a kid
Unbelievable Horror Maschine👍👍👍👍👍👍
There is normally no steam but Steam Punk vibe is strong in this facility
Brilliant machine.
Is there a set of rotating cams that holds the message?
Paper tape loop.
Great and interesting doc. 73 de EA7HAA
I assume MAR's are used for the rectification?
Never seen any thing like this.
Why was it once forbidden to photograph the device?
It was protected as a safety object under law since it was important to the state. Same as why you might not get to photograph a military base or an embassy.
“Levers” indeed 😫
Haber si entendí? Se genera RF atravez de un alternador y nó electronica?
6:00 Real transmitters have valves, in this case 100mm gate valves
Good copy in southern germany. 73 de DC6FG
Heja Fredrik! Allt detta ryms i en typ mobiltelefon idag!
Conspicuously absent: Eye PPE for Arc Flash.
What turns generator or alternator ? A water turbine ?
Electricity powering an electric motor.
Fredrick - Swedish Dara O'Briain!
How is the modulation done?
The magnetic amplifiers or transductors are like a transformer but with a small iron core which can be saturated. The 17.2 KHz signal from the alternator is fed to the antenna via one if the windings. In this state the signal is blocked because the winding is acting as a choke. To turn on the signal (ie when pressing the morse key), a DC voltage is applied to the other winding. This saturates the iron core and since there is no inductance possible in the coil due to the core being saturated, it no longer acts as a choke and passes the alternator signal to the antenna. Hope that helps.
Great and interesting movie! 73 de IK1OUN
50 amps...assuming 50 ohms that's 125kW out into the base of the antenna.
They are limiting to 80 kW - used to be 200 kW in the heyday
wavelength is 17.4 km
If i were to build an electromechanical vlf transmitter i'd use a 3000 V DC Motor
by Alstom or Siemens and put the alternator in a vacuum capsule.
I guess that would be handy if every satellite in orbit would be destroyed
Don't they use fiber optics under the ocean ?
Impressive! But please tell the truth! This machine was built to ward off attack by Godzilla, and the monster of Frankenstein, right?
73 de OE3TBU
Poor Anders work is never done!
73 DE W4CSC W4CSC W4CSC K
在厉害国早就被毁灭啦
Meanwhile : I've send the construction plans of the latest thermonuclear war head, to my grandmother, and she made a PowerPoint presentation for her friends, for the afternoon tea hour....... All done with my smartphone and my smart watch 🙈😁
Still, Meanwhile : the station has send two Morse signals to the USA, successfully! There is only one nuclear power plant nessesery, to produce enough voltage for this little message 😂👍‼️
Would love to see a bit more detail on the rectifiers, are the mercury arc?
No, they weren’t invented then. It is simply an AC motor driving a DC generator.
@@alandixon7248 gosh what an imbecile I am! :D :D
@@nickjudd5188 Not at all my friend. There is no such thing as a silly question. You will never know if you don’t ask. Actually my reply wasn’t quite correct. They did exist in an experimental state but weren’t capable of handling the power required. “Rotary” rectifiers were the industry standard and very reliable although needed regular maintenance. They were still used in large broadcast transmitters using valves for quite some time, even when mercury arc rectifiers were capable.
Excellent job gents, thanks!
73's de ON4KNP/OT5Q