SAQ Grimeton to Transmit CW Message

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On 1st December 1924, the 200kW Alexanderson alternator with the call sign "SAQ" was put into commercial operation with telegram traffic from Sweden to the United States. 101 years later, the transmitter is the only remaining electromechanical transmitter from this era and is still in running condition. On Christmas Eve morning, Wednesday 24th December 2025, the transmitter is scheduled* to spread the traditional Christmas message to the whole World, on 17.2 kHz CW.

Transmission Schedule

  • 08:20 CET (07:20 UTC): Live stream on YouTube begins.

  • 08:30 CET (07:30 UTC): Startup and tuning of the Alexanderson Alternator SAQ.

  • 09:00 CET (08:00 UTC): Transmission of a Christmas message from SAQ.

  • 08:00 CET (07:00 UTC): The transmitter hall at World Heritage Grimeton is opened for visitors.

E-QSL reports may be submitted online - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScKqX1aVtxLn9Ua44UKTsc6hD5ArhnOtprJ7HGQGazTC8ucng/viewform

Pirate Radio Broadcaster Agrees To $7,200 Payment

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The US Federal Communications Commission has announced that the government will be collecting a payment from an unlicensed radio operator in Massachusetts, settling an enforcement case from last year. The operator of a pirate radio station in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, has agreed to pay $7,200 to the US Treasury as part of a consent decree with the FCC.

The FCC said that the radio operator, Robert Bellinger, had been broadcasting on 93.1 FM without a license. The payment, which is part of his consent decree, was substantially reduced from the agency's original proposed forfeiture of $40,000 which it sought in 2024 in a notice of apparent liability. Bellinger responded to the notice at the time and told the FCC he was not able to pay the amount.

An FCC review of his finances resulted in an alternative solution -- a consent decree in which Bellinger admitted to his illegal broadcasts and a commitment to make the voluntary contribution specified.

Opinion: futureGEO is the Most Important Amateur Radio Initiative of this Decade. Why is no one Talking About it?→

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Opinion: futureGEO is the Most Important Amateur Radio Initiative of this Decade. Why is no one Talking About it?

You might not know it, but plans are currently in progress to launch a geostationary amateur radio satellite that would provide multi-mode communications coverage to Europe and most of North America. Led by ESA and AMSAT, the project is currently called futureGEO and would be the pinnacle of achievement for the amateur radio hobby.

futureGEO is likely to be very similar to the QO-100 satellite that covers Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and a large portion of Asia. The major difference of course would be the inclusion of North America within FutureGEO's footprint, opening up geostationary satellite ops to one of the largest ham radio populations in the world.

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