OULU, FINLAND (MARION COUNTY NOW)—In an extraordinary display of radio reception, Jari Ruohomäki, a 62-year-old biology and geography teacher from Oulu, Finland, reported picking up the signal of WBCO, an AM radio station based in Ohio, USA.
Ruohomäki, a dedicated radio enthusiast since 1973, used his specialized equipment to tune into the station’s broadcast on January 19, 2024, at 4:47 AM CST. The signal was received on the frequency 1540 AM, usually dominated by the Canadian powerhouse CHIN Toronto.
The Finnish teacher’s passion for radio extends beyond the classroom and his home in Oulu, the fifth-largest city in Finland. Each winter, Ruohomäki embarks on a listening expedition to Lapland, the northernmost region of Finland, where he says the conditions for radio reception are significantly better due to less interference from human activities and European AM stations.
During his expeditions, Ruohomäki utilizes a 3300-feet-long copper wire antenna directed towards North America, among other equipment. His receiver, an Italian-made Software-defined receiver (SDR) Perseus, played a crucial role in picking up WBCO’s signal.
Despite the interference from CHIN Radio, Ruohomäki was able to discern a country music station fading in under CHIN’s broadcast. He also heard an announcement given by Will Beard, with the phrase “on the website at WBCO dot com” clearly audible.
Ruohomäki has reached out to WBCO for verification of his reception, providing an audio recording as proof. He recommends checking the audio with headphones for clarity due to the interference from CHIN Radio.
WBCO 1540 2024-01-19 21’46’51utc
For more information about Oulu, visit the city’s official website at www.ouka.fi.