We present results of the first plasma-line measurement of the incoher
ent spectrum using the alternating-code technique with the EISCAT VHF
radar. This technique, which has earlier mostly been used to measure h
igh-resolution E-region ion-line spectra, turned out to be a very good
alternative to other techniques for plasma-line measurements. The exp
eriment provides simultaneous measurement of the ion line and downshif
ted and upshifted plasma-line spectra with an altitude resolution of 3
km and a temporal resolution of 10 s. The measurements are taken arou
nd the peak of the F region, but not necessarily at the peak itself, a
s is the case with the long-pulse technique. The condition for success
is that the scale height should be large enough such that the backsca
ttered signal from the range extent of one gate falls inside the recei
ver filter. The data are analyzed and the results are combined with th
e results of the ion-line data analysis to estimate electron mean drif
t velocity and thereafter electric currents along the line of sight of
the radar using both the standard dispersion relation assuming a Maxw
ellian electron velocity distribution and the more recent model includ
ing a heat-flow correction term.