The decline of medium wave radio is a slow but inexorable process in much of the world. Outside America, however, there is a parallel story unfolding a few hundred kilohertz further down the spectrum. The long wave band is around 200 kHz and has traditionally carried nationwide programming due to its greater reach. Like medium wave, it is in decline due to competition from FM, digital and online services, and one by one the stations that once crowded this band are falling silent. In the midst of all this, then, it is a surprise that a new long wave station is in the works in the 2020s that bucks all contemporary broadcasting trends. Arctic 252 is based in Finland, its programming is destined for the entire Arctic region, and is scheduled to begin testing in September.

The trick here is that it offers the possibility of low frequency DXing and given its arctic location it would be extremely interesting to hear how far it reaches across the North Pole into the northern part of North America. The 252 kHz frequency is shared with a station in North Africa which might affect reception for some Europeans but anyone with good memories of north-western Europe will find it quite empty as it has been vacated in that region by the Irish station that used to use it.

So if you have a receiver that can pick up longwave and you think you’re within range, give it a listen. Closer to where this article is being written, longwave transmitters are being turned off.

Harris & Ewing, photographer, Public domain.