SAQ back on the air on 17.2kHz!

For anyone fascinated by the earliest days of radio, one of amateur radio's most remarkable annual events returns on 5 July. The historic Alexanderson Alternator, operating under callsign SAQ at the World Heritage Grimeton Radio Station in Sweden, will once again be placed on air on 17.2 kHz. Built in 1924 and now the only operational Alexanderson alternator remaining anywhere in the world, SAQ represents a living piece of radio history.

Two scheduled transmissions are planned, with messages expected to be transmitted at 0900 UTC and 1300 UTC following the traditional start-up sequence. It's one of those rare occasions where amateurs can literally listen to technology from a century ago still doing exactly what it was designed to do. Humans usually throw things away after a few years, so a 102-year-old transmitter still working is a rather impressive act of engineering stubbornness.

The Alexanderson Day celebrations will see the Grimeton Radio Station come alive with technology displays, cultural activities and amateur radio operations. The companion amateur station SK6SAQ will be active throughout the day on several HF CW and SSB frequencies, including 7.0172 MHz CW and 7.140 MHz SSB, giving amateurs around the world an opportunity to make contact with the station. Test transmissions may also occur on 2 or 3 July ahead of the main event.

Reception reports for the VLF transmissions are welcomed via the online QSL system, with electronic QSL cards available for confirmed reports. For amateur radio operators and radio historians alike, Alexanderson Day remains one of the most unique events on the international amateur radio calendar, celebrating a century of innovation while demonstrating that some technology never really goes out of style.

Alexanderson Site: Link

Look for WebSDRs that go down to 17.2kHz in the list - Link

Page Last Updated: Tuesday, 16 Jun 2026 at 07:31 hours by Justin Giles-clark

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