One hundred years ago, SAQ was put into service.
On December 1st 1924, SAQ was put into commercial operation. The transmitter was started at 09:50 and was turned off at 13:30, a short first day in service.
One hundred years later, on December 1st 2024, SAQ was started up to send a centennial message to the World. Many expectant visitors had come to witness this event in the transmitter hall at Grimeton radio station, several had traveled a long way.
The crew
Superintendent & host: Robert Petersson
Operator: Jan-Åke Gylling
Morse key operator: Kai Sundberg
Mobile camera: Thomas Alexandersson
Cameras assistant: Bengt Örnegren
YouTube production: Janne Severinsson
Visitor host and speaker (SE): Staffan Rudholm
Mentor: Fredrik Wiklund
YouTube Livestream
Some 1500 viewers followed the startup and transmission of a message via our YouTube channel – amazing! Thank You all viewers.
December 1st 2024 Centennial transmission message
This very special message was composed by Rik and Lauren Alexanderson, descendants of the great inventor Ernst F.W. Alexanderson.
Listener reports
A little bit over 24h after the transmission, we have already received almost 250 reports – amazing!
Please send us your report, if you heard SAQ, or not. You can issue your report here: https://forms.gle/TRZwGrvTMCcEpEvF8
We love to receive a QSL report from you when SAQ has been in the air!
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.
Interactive listener reports map
Explore our interactive map with all received listener reports from our recent transmissions.
Click the colored dots to display each received report.
Click here to view the map in full screen
Join the Alexander association
We welcome you as a member of the Alexander Grimeton Friendship Association, to support our non-profit activities in preserving, documenting and bringing to life the unique Alexanderson alternator from 1924.
As member, you have 10% discount on the World Heritage Grimeton Radio Station gift shop and café (not ice cream) and free entrance to 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Members also has access to our on-line library with lots of unique historical documents about SAQ and the Alexanderson alternator.
NEW! Our library now also includes several SAQ educational videos.
Alexander members also have free admission to the Radio Museum in Gothenburg.
Membership costs SEK 125 / year.