Tag: Finland

QSL ZoomRock FM 1242 kHz

April 20, 2026 / Peter Reuderink / 1 Comment

ZoomRock FM is a new station broadcasting with 730 Watts only on 1242 kHz from Turku, Finland. Despite the fact that the provisional loop antenna that I use at our temporary house is directed east/west, which is not optimal, I was able to receive this station in the first two weeks of April, identify a couple of songs and record an ID. Harri was so kind to reward my reception with a nice QSL.
The station shares the frequency with the 200 kW strong Radio Sultanate of Oman. But after 2h UTC that station (listed 24h) is either off air or fades out (I don’t know). Between 2h and 2:30 h UTC ZoomRock FM is audible.

Below a MP3 clip with the “bassy” ZoomRock FM station ID. Poor reception quality. If you want to hear a better recording, you can find one at Hugo Matten’s site.

I had a nice email conversation with Harri, the man behind ZoomRock FM. He told me that he received 130 reports, my report was the 2nd from The Netherlands. On the Facebook page Harri shows his equipment. A neat transmitter, but also an impressive antenna set up as he is apparently allowed to hook up his 2×58 m dipole to a commercial antenna tower.

It also turns out that Harri is an avid DX-er. Using two virtual SDRs he is trying to receive Transatlantic FM signals. Two YouTube videos show the locations and the stunning scenery:

In Jurmo, SW Finland archipelago https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMmuC5fW5OY&t=21s
In Kilpisjärvi, Lappland https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xeinfzM3Mg&t=8s

QSL NDB MI-346 Mikkeli

February 27, 2025 / Peter Reuderink / 2 Comments

There are only 9 NDBs left in Finland. I heard 3 beacons for Kokkala-Pietarsaari airport in 2023, but my reception reports to Fintraffic remained unanswered.

Mikkeli Airport however is a small airport in the Finnish Lake District and they have their own local management. I sent my report to airport@mikkeli.fi .Mr. Sami Kahilakoski, FIS manager was so kind to confirm my report of my reception of MI on 346 kHz. And included a nice scan of the Instrument Approach Chart. That’s so nice, as I got these on paper in the 80s, but this is the first one I got since I resumed my hobby.

So this is my first NDB confirmed from Finland. As I said, Mikkeli is a small airport, with no regular flights. But it is popular for sport, gliding and parachute jumping activities.

QSL Realmix Radio 6195 kHz

August 22, 2024 / Peter Reuderink / 5 Comments

A QSL for Realmix Radio from southern Finland on 6195 kHz.
With the major broadcasters leaving shortwave there is a trend of smaller low power stations to step in. If only for the fun of it! The Netherlands seem to be leading with stations like Casanova, Delta, Veronica and Piepzender. But Finland is following with Scandinavian Weekend Radio, Piko, Realmix Radio and Radio Blacksmith Knoll (the latter one is a station I still have to receive).

I heard Realmix Radio around 18:30 UTC for a few minutes in reasonable quality SINPO23332, with the English presenter clearly understandable. Around 19:00 I was able to pick up a few song titles with Shazam. Their SSTV signal was also clearly audible, but did not result in a decent decode.
I sent my report to realmix.sw@gmail.com . Realmix Radio is on air during the weekend, check for the latest schedule on their Facebook page.

QSL Scandinavian Weekend Radio 11690 kHz

August 10, 2024 / Peter Reuderink / 0 Comments

An e QSL for Scandinavian Weekend Radio on 11690 kHz. According to their website this is the first Finnish legal radio station to broadcast on MW and SW. The 100 Watt transmitter is located in Virrat, some 80 kilometers north of Tampere in central Finland. True to their name they broadcast during the weekend on various frequencies.

You can also get a paper QSL for 5 Euros, 3 USD or 2 valid and properly stamped IRCs.

QSL Scandinavian Weekend Radio from Finland — e-QSL from Scandinavian Weekend Radio from Virrat, Finland

QSL Radio Piko 5980 kHz

July 10, 2024 / Peter Reuderink / 0 Comments

Radio Piko is a new legal LPAM station from Finland. It is broadcasting from Asikkala in the south of Finland with 10 Watts only. Despite a few efforts I couldn’t receive Radio Piko as well as Hugo Matten for example did, mainly because of higher noise levels.

But when I compared my recordings with what I heard on the WebSDR of the Finnish DX Association I discovered that the female station ID in English was clearly audible. With that typical pitch when pronouncing “Radio Piiiko”. Traces of 1940s music could also be picked up.

Radio Piko Asikkala Finland — e QSL from low power (10 W) station Radio Piko from Finland

I sent my report – which was basically just my MP3 recording – to pikofinland@gmail.com , and Jari – who is also an avid DX-er – was so kind to confirm my reception with the beautiful e-QSL card. Jari wrote that he didn’t expect perfect reception outside Nordic countries. With 10 watts carrier it is just for DX catch. 5980 kHz brings a solid signal in Nordic countries in evening. 49 and 75 metres antenna is a simple wire in forest.

Radio Piko is on air typically two hours on saturday and sunday evening, on 3990, 5980 or 9770 kHz. Most often they broadcast in LSB, with the occasional SSTV snippet as well. Check the Radio Piko website for the latest schedule information.

I admit, I had to look up where Asikkala was on the map: 1606 kms from my QTH.

QSL Mariehamn / Turku Radio 2187.5 kHz

April 10, 2023 / Peter Reuderink / 4 Comments

With centralization and the introduction of remote operation it is not always easy or even possible to identify what you actually heard. Sending DSC messages with MMSI 002301000 this station is referred to as Mariehamn Radio in the DSC community. The ITU list gives MRCC Turku as the station however, and Turku is definitely the control centre for operations in the western part of Finland. Helsinki seems to be the other main control centre.

Anyway, as QSL Mariehamn / Turku Radio for a reception of their DSC test message on 2187.5 kHz I got a short email from mrcc@raja.fi, which is the email address for the headoffice in Turku.

In the old days things were easier: I added the QSL I received in 1989 for my reception of Mariehamn Radio on 1852 kHz which definitely originated from the Aland Islands.

UPDATE:
A friendly Turku operator explained it all to me. Big thank you to this anonymous contributor to my blog:

Turku Radio does not carry DSC Safety watch on MF/HF. It is VHF only.
Turku Radio´s MMSI is 002300230.

MMSI numbers you provided belong to Finnish Border Guard which operates Maritime Rescue Centers in Finland:
002301000 MRCC Turku
002302000 MRSC Helsinki

ITU Database details of Turku Radio:
https://www.itu.int/mmsapp/coaststation/one/735?context=bzs2RCadTUz44b98w9OBV7bHPPGw50SC%2BHyDfrByh0Vw3sUPDkPwfTjoUh5b21fH8om1QCyssnIUSJkxS41cQ1B1g3wLF75ggoU6dbyVoK%2BuoHI5PWYeGM66A09tAYOp%2FyiXGRIICTWmyE95ACpPdA%3D%3D

Finnish Border Guard:
https://raja.fi/en/emergency-notices-and-maritime-radio-traffic

Fintraffic Vessel Traffic Services Ltd. (operates Turku Radio)
https://www.fintraffic.fi/en/maritime_traffic/maritime-traffic-services/maritime-safety-radio

Turku Radio VHF links on map:
https://www.fintraffic.fi/sites/default/files/2023-11/Turku%20radio%202023_0.png