Finland - Radio Delta AM

Harri from Oulu, in North Finland. Tunes in every weekend, with pleasure so grand. A loyal fan of our program, ‘Finnish Request’. Sending us beautiful songs, our hearts are impressed.

We spin his records on our Finnish hour, on 12.030 kHz, with music in power. Weekends filled with WhatsApp chats, so we building a special bond, year after year.

Harri’s passion for cooking, Mexican cuisine, his favorite flavors, a culinary dream. As he listens on Kiwi SDR receivers, or his own world radio, with loop antennas as believers.

We’re grateful for the friendship, so strong, for all those years, where our connection thronged. Even while x-country skiing, Harri’s delight, Radio Delta plays on, keeping his spirits bright.

Harri, we wish you years of joy and delight, with Radio Delta, our virtual team member, so right. Thank you for your loyalty, the friendship we’ve found, together, we make radio waves resound.

So, let the shortwave carry our words afar, to Harri in Oulu, where radio stars are. Tuning in, with love and cheer, Radio Delta, forever, we hold you dear.

In this post, we delve into the fascinating world of radio through the experiences of Risto, a passionate radio enthusiast from Raisio, southwestern Finland. From his childhood memories to his own broadcasting endeavors, Risto’s journey showcases the allure and power of this timeless medium.

Risto’s love for radio began during his childhood in the 1950s. He vividly remembers listening to the longwave station from Lahti and cherishes the memories of his father attempting to catch broadcasts from the Melbourne Olympics on shortwave. These early encounters sparked Risto’s interest in the world of radio.

As the 60s rolled in, Risto’s fascination with radio expanded to the realm of pop music. Radio Luxembourg quickly became his favorite station, delivering the latest hits and fueling his passion for music. Additionally, he found joy in tuning in to Radio Sweden’s Saturday Show program, further immersing himself in the wonders of radio.

Risto’s interest in radio took an adventurous turn when he discovered the realm of sea pirates. Stations like Radio North Sea and Radio Caroline captured his imagination, and he regularly tuned in to their captivating broadcasts. These offshore stations offered a unique and rebellious charm to the world of radio.

With the dawn of the 70s, Risto’s curiosity expanded to landbased pirates. He started exploring these renegade broadcasters and eventually became determined to try broadcasting himself. Constructing transmitters with power ranging from 8 to 100 Watts, Risto launched his own station, Radio Meteor, alongside its sister station Scanwood, in 1980. This venture proved to be a creative outlet for his passion for radio.

Despite the end of his pirate broadcasting days due to a raid in 1995, Risto’s enthusiasm for radio has not waned. He continues to enjoy listening to landbased pirates, as well as exploring other radio stations. One of his current joys is the increasingly good reception of Radio Delta on his receivers. Not only that, but Risto has remote listening sites in Raisio, Paimio, and Korpilahti, and his Kiwi receivers are frequently online. To keep up with his radio adventures, you can visit Risto’s pirate log page at pirateradiolog.blogspot.com

Risto’s story is a testament to the enduring allure and impact of radio. From his childhood fascination to his own broadcasting endeavors, his passion for this medium has shaped his journey. The world of radio, with its diverse programming and ability to connect people across distances, continues to captivate both Risto and countless others worldwide. So, let us join Risto in extending warm greetings to all Radio Delta listeners from Finland and celebrate the magic of radio together.

My name is Pekka and I have been a radio enthusiast for over 50 years now.

I was born in the summer of 1964. I spent my early years dismantling all the radios in the house and “adjusting” them, trying to get foreign radio stations to sound better. Usually, it did not go well and daddy had to buy a new radio. That happened many times.

I remember as a little boy (around 10 years old), carrying a Sankyo radio-cassette recorder with me, and when the evening darkened, I tried to show and tell my friends how unbelievable it is that Radio Luxembourg plays rock music, and the station can be heard all the way here in Finland. I don’t remember anyone getting excited about it, which I didn’t understand at all.

So, I started the hobby of dx-listening as a young boy. First came listening to foreign service radio stations and sending reception reports to them. It already very early felt like hearing a new country was “the thing.” Gradually, on medium wave (MW), the Brits caught my interest and have been close to my heart ever since. North American radio seemed very difficult to hear in the early years, but slowly they accumulated too. There are also QSL treasures from the medium wave Afro stations – in a shoebox where I keep the QSL cards from the early years.

I stopped dxing for a little while (35 years!) when I went to study and work to a different town. Then suddenly I had got myself couple of kids and a lovely wife and years went by. We are still happily married but children are all grown up now and moved away from their childhood home. That is why I now have more spare time and I discovered radios and dxing again.

I love to build different kind of antennas and experiment with them. Today’s dx-listening is not just listening to radio but also fighting against radio frequency interference (RFI) and I am proud to say that I am highly skilled in that field by experience. I read and learn from the internet all kinds of things in that matter and I can’t wait to test something new.

Remotely controlled KiwiSDR receivers are also my passion. I have set up half a dozen of them for others to enjoy. It is a radio receiver that you can listen to via internet. You only need a computer with internet and a browser, no other software. In terms of education, I am an IT technician. It also helps.

Radio Delta has become my favorite radio station. I listen to it every Saturday and Sunday if I am not at work. Radio Delta has gathered voluminous and keen fan club with members all around the world. In Finland we have a Whats App -group with 34 members from which many listen to Radio Delta at weekends. We chat with Mr. Delta during the broadcast and send music requests to the studio. Many of them we can hear on Sunday’s “The Finnish Hour” which is exceptional and very unique radio program in the history of short wave radio.

From me to you, A Very Merry Christmas and A Prosperous New Year.

Pekka, Kotka from Finland.

In the town of Lahti, Kari resides, we connect every week through WhatsApp, side by side. Kari shares tales of the Lahti longwave transmitter, a historical site, now a museum, it once transmitted with splendor.

Towers high, reaching for the sky, broadcasting on 252 kHz, never shy. From 1927 till ’93, it served with pride, now a place where memories reside.

Our dear friend Kari, a loyal listener, tunes in every week to Radio Delta, a true winner. With various SDRs in Finland and sometimes in Sweden, he explores the airwaves, his passion unhidden.

A key player in Finnish Request, he takes part, sharing music that touches our hearts. Kari’s enthusiasm shines bright, his passion for radio, a guiding light.

And so, we send special greetings today the 3rd of December 2023, to our good radio friend Kari, we say, from Elburg to Lahti, our connection strong. In the world of radio, notes of friendship belong.

Picture taken by Teuvo Kanerva, Teuvo, 1980 Museovirasto
Museovirasto Museum Agency

Radio Poem: Harri from Oulu

Exploring the World of Radio: Risto’s Story

Radio Story: Pekka from Kotka

Radio Poem: Kari from Lahti in Finland