"It's not true I had nothing on, I had the radio on" - Marilyn Monroe

Tag: Finland

QSL Radio Blacksmith Knoll 6120 kHz

A nice e-QSL for Radio Blacksmith Knoll, a legal low power station from Pori, Finland, broadcasting with 100 Watt on 6120 kHz. I sent my report to rbsk6120@rbsk6120.radio.am.

Below the reply by operator “Mac” at Radio Blacksmith Knoll (and of course a little delay in reply is never a problem):

Hello, and thank you very much for your message!

First, please accept my sincere apologies for the delay in replying. We’ve been occupied with work-related tasks, and due to challenges with the workload, it has been difficult to find time for these reports a thing we are constantly trying to fix.

Thank you for your detailed reception report and your careful analysis of both the program and the signal. As it was received with your own equipment, which we truly value, we have prepared a special Radio Blacksmith Knoll eQSL e-card for you as a small token of thanks.

Radio Blacksmith Knoll is a one-man hobby project. Our programming spans nearly a century, from the roaring 1920s to today swing, jazz, blues, vintage radio drama, and the crackling voices of the past. Every now and then, the operator drifts toward more contemporary sounds: electronic, ambient, and dance-floor tracks. The aim is always to keep the mix imaginative and, at times, quietly reflective of the world around us. 

The station operates with a professional AM transmitter running 100 watts, paired with high-quality audio processing that helps us make the most of our modest power. The antenna is a half-wave dipole precisely tuned to 6120 kHz , with a radiation pattern that slightly favors the west from our site in Pori (KP01tn) . The carrier frequency typically drifts between 30 and 80 Hz due to thermal variation in the transmitter a small imperfection we like to think of as the station’s fingerprint. It even helps us stand apart from the major broadcasters, mainly Chinese stations, that share the same frequency. You may have noticed a small offset in your equipment.

It is our genuine pleasure to confirm your reception. Please find your eQSL card attached for your collection.

Kind regards

Marco “Mac” Johansson

The Operator

Vappu Weekend at Radio Blacksmith Knoll (photo: RBSK)

I listened to a 3 day program around Vappu Weekend when the Finnish people celebrate the end of winter. Unfortunately in The Netherlands a beautiful april came to an end at the same time with some thunderstorms producing a bit of noise. And while I was hoping to pick up an ID on the hour, a utility station took over the frequency right on the hour. So this song “Kaunis on maa” by Raappana was the best part of my reception.

Following QSLs for Radio Piko, Scandinavian Weekend Radio, Realmix Radio on shortwave and Zoomrock FM on mediumwave I thought Radio Blacksmith Knoll was the final one I hadn’t received yet. But it seems there is also a station named Radio Ambience on 6095 kHz although they are only testing for now. We’ll see. For over 34 years the only Finnish QSLs in my collection were Yle on shortwave and Mariehamn Radio… Since I picked up my hobby in 2023 I have been able to add another 8!

QSL YleX Posio/Susivaara 91.5 MHz

In addition to Yle Radio Yksi I also received another staton from Finland: YleX on 91.5, 91.9 and 93.2 MHz. My report was confirmed by Tekninen neuvonta department but also by Hanne Kautto, programme manager of YleX.

It is so nice that the head of a broadcaster still recognizes the avid listener via the airwaves. In my view it is still important to ensure that people are interested in the technology behind the broadcast. A big thank you to Hanne and her team!

YleX’s program manager Hanne Kauto and music manager 
Tapio Hakanen

I listened to a mixed music/news program and I picked up the word “Grill” in the oh so difficult Finnish language in the second clip below. It turned out that the news was about an elderly couple using a grill at a balcony and the whole apartment building burned down. The first clip is not the best quality, but I included it as i think you hear the ID YleX in it, just before the song “Maailma on mun” by Minttu starts:

(Jari Lehtinen confirmed the story on the grill and thanks to him I finally spelled the Radio Yksi station name correctly. Apparently this particular letter combination triggers my dyslexia).

QSL Yle Radio Yksi 88.2 MHz

May 24th was one of the first days of Sporadic E propagation this season, and it featured a nice opening to Finland. A country that I had not received on the FM band yet. I heard both Yle Radio Yksi and YleX on a couple of frequencies.

Yle Radio Yksi is Yle Radio 1 (Yksi is 1 in Finnish). My report to yleinfo(at)yle.fi on my reception of Radio Yksi on 88.2 MHz was confirmed by the Tekninen neuvonta department:

All DX colleagues reported the 88.2 MHz reception as originating from the 60 kW transmitter in Lapua. The other transmitter on this frequency is situated in Rovaniemi with 30 kW. One is more in the general direction of the opening, the other one is more in line with SpE propagation distance. I don’t know how to distinguish these two, but if you know how, just let me know in the comments.

I listened to a program discussing Finnish politics:

QSL ZoomRock FM 1242 kHz

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.

ZoomRock FM transmitter
ZoomRock FM dipole antenna


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:

QSL NDB MI-346 Mikkeli

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

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

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

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

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

QSL Turku Radio
QSL email from Mariehamn / Turku Radio
QSL Mariehamn Radio 1989 Aland Islands
The QSL I received in 1989 definitely confirmed reception of Mariehamn Radio, Aland Islands, Finland.

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