[GreenKeys] SAQ VLF using 5-bit tape

[Richard Knoppow]

    There is a good deal of information about the alternator and 
its antenna in "Wireless Communication in the United States" by 
Thorn L. Mayes.
    RCA built twenty of these machines. Some were moved about 
from time to time. They were designed to work with a multiple 
download antenna, also designed by Alexanderson and partly 
responsible for the success of the machines. They proved to be 
extremely reliable, so much so that RCA decided that only two 
were necessary at "Radio Central" their enormous communication 
center on Long Island. Originally, it was intended to install 
twelve machines there, ten for regular service and two spares.
    The machine at Grimeton is the only one to survive.
    Because of their very low frequency and high power the 
signals could penetrate sea water and provide communication to 
submerged submarines. This use kept many of the machines in 
service long after they were made obsolete by vacuum tubes.
     While short wave provided long distance communication with 
much lower power than long waves required the long waves were 
sill more stable and reliable so their use persisted pretty much 
until satellites and fiber lines replaced radio. (Well, 
satellites are really radio).
     The Alexanderson alternator was the strongest reason for the 
formation of RCA, the Navy did not want American wireless 
communication to be controlled by foreign interests (like 
Marconi) and, since the government of the time did not want 
government ownership, as had been the virtual condition during 
WW-1, a legalized monopoly was formed. General Electric did not 
want to be in the communications business but wanted to be able 
to manufacture equipment so helped form RCA, which was originally 
supposed to serve three functions: 1, be a clearing house for the 
patents held by GE, Westinghouse, AT&T, Western Electric and a 
couple of smaller companies; 2, act as a distributor for 
equipment manufactured by its partners; 3, act as an operating 
company for the wireless telegraph services acquired from 
American Marconi, whom it supplanted. RCA management, much of 
which was from American Marconi and oriented to forming a 
monopoly, eventually made the company independent, GE selling its 
35% holding in about 1935. It is ironic, although perhaps not 
accidental, that RCA went back into the control of GE at its 
last, a sort of back to the womb action.
     There were other HF alternators but none that were as 
successful at the Alexanderson machines. Partly, this was due to 
the reliability of the machines and partly due to the 
Alexanderson-designed multiple down lead antennas which were part 
and parcel of the alternator installations.
    I should also mention the magnetic amplifier modulator 
designed by Alexanderson. While in principle these could be used 
for speech modulation they were mainly used as a method of keying 
the alternator. They give the alternators a capability of code 
transmission of several hundred words per minute.
    Another very good source of early wireless history and of the 
formation of RCA is "Communications-Electronics in the United 
States Navy" Howeth. This is available as a free download off the 
web.
    I've written more than I intended, I hope its of some interest.
    Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.

On 12/24/2021 8:32 AM, Duncan Brown wrote:
> The annual transmission from SAQ on the 17.2 Kc Alexanderson 
> Alternator was done this morning. You can watch  the startup and 
> transmission on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ecg2UrKvNr8
> 
> Alexanderson Alternators operating on around 17 Kc with an 
> antennas 2.5 Km long was the standard for commercial long 
> distance transmissions; until hams showed you could do it with 5 
> tubes and a 100ft antenna, 100 years ago this month.
> 
> Note that the Morse "wheel" to send the "VVV DE SAQ" was actually 
> done from a five bit teletypewriter tape. The machine then 
> converted it into Morse to key the transmitter.  Many radio 
> stations would receive news and telegrams by teletypewriter, but 
> transmit them by Morse. So there were mechanical machines to do 
> the translations, in both directions.
> 
> 
> 73 &Seasons greetings.
> 
> Duncan
> K2OEQ
> 
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-- 
Richard Knoppow
1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com
WB6KBL