SAQ 17.2 kHz at 08:00 Z

[SM6OID]

Hej!

Once again, it's time for the traditional X-mas transmission from SAQ on 17.2 kHz.
The alternator will be turned on and tuned up at around 07:30 Z.
Message will be sent at 08:00 Z

Sorry for the late announcement of this message.

Merry Christmas
/Morgan

http://alexander.n.se/time-for-the-traditional-christmas-transmission/?lang=en

[AJ1G]

 %^**%%*£>>!!!! Missed it again. Had it in my head that it was going to be on the air during daylight on this side of the pond.  With all of the pre-Christmas running around did not check the SAQ website for the sked any sooner than just now.  Just got up to get ready and it's too late already.  Anyone on the side of the pond copy it?

[AJ1G]

Here's a link to  the YouTube video of the livestream of today's SAQ transmission from Grimeton:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcJ2I7h0v7g

Things start revving up (literally) at the 13 minute point.  VVV DE SAQ  calling starts at about the 19 minute point.  Message text transmission via straight key starts at about the 39 minute point.

Listening to all that iron winding up is pretty amazing.

[SM6OID]

I'm really sorry that I did not remind you earlier.
Next time I will try to give you an early warning.

Anyway, listened to the transmission, as expected, the signal were strong!
I'm located about 100 miles or so away from the transmitter site.

The H/W is really amazing, have seen it live a couple of times.

 

[Fred k2dx]

Thanks for posting the link. There was too much QRN here to copy with Racal 6778c and Pixel loop. 

[AJ1G]

Anyway, listened to the transmission, as expected, the signal were strong!
I'm located about 100 miles or so away from the transmitter site.

Not surprised that sigs so strong you are less than 10 wavelengths away!

[AJ1G]

Thanks for posting the link. There was too much QRN here to copy with Racal 6778c and Pixel loop. 

Natural background noise/static or power line EMI?  I take my Wandell and Goltermann AT611 out to an electrically quiet location in my Tacoma pickup and run it off a small 100 watt DC to AC Home Depot brand inverter off the truck battery with the engine off, noise levels are some 20 to 30 dB lower than at home, usually just limited by the receiver internal noise floor and atmospherics.  Have just used my mobile HF whips for an antenna and have very good results.  As I once previously posted on the subject, I had a nominal 20 dB enhancement on signals from NPM Oahu on 21.4 kHz when I was parked under a long section of de-energized power line in the middle of the woods in a state park.

Another thing I found that in increased signal levels in the AT611 when using HF antennas either at home or in the truck was to operate in bridged input mode vs 75 ohm terminated input mode.  This takes raises the signal level from the HF antenna at VLF b removing the low impedance termination resistor that pulls down the input voltage
from the antenna.

The little HD static inverter is pretty noisy at HF but very quiet at VLF frequencies.