The Ultimate AM DXing Base in Lapland
is Available for Rent

The Aihkiniemi DX base in November 2020 (click to enlarge photos)

Imagine spending a week in the middle of nowhere with 14 Beverage antennas — each roughly a kilometer in length and capable of hearing hundreds of rare stations. It's possible because we've made our famous AM DXpedition base in Aihkiniemi, Finland, available also for other DXers to rent. In 2020 both the premises and the antennas were upgraded, so DXing in Lapland has become easier than ever before.

Featured recently even on the BBC, Aihkiniemi became the first ever purpose-built AM DXpedition base in Scandinavia in 2010. Most of the construction work was done in the summer of 2010, but both the first cabin as well as the antennas have been improved continuously since then. The biggest upgrade took place in 2020 when a second building was added.

We want you to succeed and we'll do everything to make your DXpedition as comfortable and successful as possible. Visiting Aihkiniemi is as easy and as memorable as a DXpedition can be, because we've already made the investments and done the hard work for you. Forget the drudgery of spending days setting up the antennas and get right into the business of unforgettable AM DXing!

Antennas and Equipment

Below are the directions of each antenna and their intended target areas (updated in January 2023):

Antenna lengths vary from 800 to 1,200 meters. As you can imagine, Beverage antennas of this length are very directional on the AM band, so during good conditions you have to choose what you want to focus on. The same antennas can also be used for shortwave listening. Below is our aerial setup on a Great Circle Map (click for a larger version).

The antennas from 256° to 45° are spread out on the northwestern side of the main road on a flat but otherwise very challenging terrain with forest, dense brush vegetation, small lakes and swamps. The rest of the antennas are located on the southeastern side of the road in a bit hillier terrain where the forest is easier to walk in.

The antennas are hung a few meters off the ground.

The antennas hang 3–5 meters above the ground to prevent reindeer and moose from getting stuck in the wires. You should inspect all of the antennas at least once during your DXpedition week to clean them from snow and ice, and to make sure that the wires are sufficiently off the ground, and place additional sticks to lift low-lying wires, where necessary. Having a reindeer hanging in a low-lying wire would be a nightmare scenario, in terms of our community relations, something we need to avoid at all costs. We have a rowboat to take you over the tiny lake, or you can get to the other side using a small bridge a few hundred meters away downstream. In the winter we normally just walk across the ice, although it can be treacherous.

Once you've made a reservation, we'll email you a detailed manual, including a map of the antennas, and the surroundings of the cabin. We recommend downloading a map software in your cell phone to keep you from getting lost. Karttaselain is the best such software, and has a free version with limited features.

You'll also get more detailed information on the type of connectors used and answers to any housekeeping questions you may have. All antennas are grounded and fed into an impedance transformer, from which a coax cable leads into the cabin. Inside the cabin, all coax wires are HFX50, which is more resilient towards radio-frequency interference (RFI) than the common RG58. One of the antennas (321 degrees) is equipped with a toroid-based RF choke. Inside the cabin, you'll need to handle the coax connectors very gently. Rough handling and unnecessary plugging/unplugging of the cables can cause a major headache to the following crew.

Jim Solatie peeling copper for grounding.

Please note that this is wilderness and things happen. Although we work on it year-round, we can't guarantee that all of the antennas will be in working condition when you arrive. Bears, moose, reindeer and rabbits have all wreaked havoc with our antennas at some point (mostly cutting or damaging the coax cables on the ground). If you encounter problems, please let us know so that we can fix it as soon as one of us has an opportunity to travel north. Even if a couple of the antennas are out of service — and you can't find a way to fix them — there's still an abundant array of wires that will keep you busy DXing.

The cabin is equipped with an excellent ground wire that should be used to ground also the antenna switcher. There's also a grounding panel where all unused antennas can be attached to reduce interference.

To minimize RFI, there are currently several laboratory-grade power supplies for your laptop computers and external hard drives. However, using hard drives which are powered via USB is recommended to eliminate one potential source of RFI. Because the level of electromagnetic interference in Aihkiniemi is extremely low, you may notice that some of your own equipment cause RFI which you haven't been able to detect at home.

There is also a separate power supply to provide 5V DC for a total of four Perseus receivers. Several old laptops are available for DXing, but they must NOT be connected to the Internet. If you're using the internet or wish to use your favorite pre-installed SDR software, bring your own laptop(s) with power cords.

You will also find a MiniVNA which you can use to analyze antenna performance. Additionally, we have splitters to give both listeners access to the full array of antennas, but you should bring your own preamp if you wish to use one. Preamps are recommended, because there are very few AM stations in northern Europe, and you can usually boost the signal without overloading a decent communications receiver.

What can you expect to hear?

If you've never experienced a DXpedition in Lapland before, the AM band may initially sound confusing. It's very different from Central Europe, for instance. You're likely to enjoy a very undisturbed band and be impressed by the multitude of far-away stations both in the morning and afternoon. On the other hand, a location in the far north means that the AM band can become almost dead silent during a solar storm. In any case, you're in for a lot of surprises, and conditions are likely to change from day to day. A week should provide enough time to overcome a solar storm and still enjoy some decent conditions at some point of the week, which is why we wouldn't recommend going through the trouble of traveling up there for only a weekend or so.

The DXing room has enough space for two DXers at a time.

The main target areas in this Arctic location are the Americas, the Pacific, the Far East and Southeast Asia, but of course hundreds of AM stations from Europe and the Middle East are also audible. The following is a review of what you can expect to hear during a typical 24-hour cycle under average conditions.

Most listeners travel to Lapland taking the overnight train, so a new crew normally arrives in Aihkiniemi at the earliest around 2 p.m. (on a Saturday which is when a weekly reservation begins and ends), by which time the previous crew has already left to catch the evening train. Setting up your gear will take some time, but during the first day you'll still have time to get a taste of the Eastern Hemisphere.

From November to February, the first stations from the Far East can appear as early as 0900–1000 UTC, and Asian stations can be enjoyed until around 1400–1700 UTC, when stations from the Middle East and Europe gradually take over the AM band. Be alert for local breaks, such as NHK2 station identifications at closing time (often at 1540 UTC). Indian stations can be best identified around sign-off time at 1740 UTC or after 0023 UTC sign-on.

Sub-Saharan AM stations are notoriously difficult catches because Central European stations tend to dominate the same frequencies. Our extensive antenna farm is not very helpful because European stations are in the same direction, so don't count on getting many African stations, except in the case of solar storms. Your best shot to catch sub-Saharan African stations is to watch for Ethiopian stations signing off after 2100 UTC; Nigerian, Mozambican and others signing off around 2000–2300 UTC, and stations from Mozambique, Sudan and Ethiopia signing on around 0300 UTC. Nigerian stations can also be heard on the 207-degree wire when they sign on around 0400–0500 UTC.

Jim is hunting for new AM stations.

The first signals from the Americas appear around 2000–2200 UTC. They're usually from Newfoundland, Venezuela or northeastern Brazil, depending on the direction of the conditions. Gradually targets from further west appear on the dial. Overnight conditions vary a lot, but the peak listening time to the Western Hemisphere falls after sunrise Finnish time, around 0600–1000 UTC. If conditions are good, stations can be heard at almost every 10 kHz throughout the AM band. A true feast! Even during poor conditions there's usually a short peak in conditions at daybreak.

In midwinter, the sun remains below the horizon, but DXing conditions are similar. During good conditions, North American stations from the West Coast can be heard until 1500–1600 UTC, and Alaskan stations even later. Strong signals from Alaska will give you chills (see a video of a bandscan of Alaskan and Hawaiian stations).

Around midday Finnish time is the best time to hunt for stations in the Pacific, which tend to be overcome by Asian stations later in the afternoon. Southern Pacific is on the opposite side of the world, so it is a rare treat, with Tonga on 1017 kHz being the most common catch.

During less than ideal conditions, the AM band can be completely silent for hours during daylight hours. Take it as a good opportunity to get some exercise, check the antennas and enjoy the Arctic nature. On Mika's YouTube channel you can find drone videos of the landscape around Aihkiniemi. During very severe solar storms, transatlantic signals can become inaudible for days.

If you're interested in European stations, the morning hours around 0500–0800 UTC are best for Spain and the U.K., which have loads of local stations. They can also be heard in the evening hours.

So when do you sleep if interesting stations are heard 24/7? We usually sleep from around midnight (2200 UTC) to around 07:00 local time (0500 UTC). In the SDR era it is easy to let automated recordings take care of the overnight period, but you still need to choose carefully which antennas to use, depending on the propagation conditions. The most interesting DX sessions are after sunrise and before sunset, which need to be monitored carefully. Midday tends to be very rewarding at midwinter.

The bedroom of the old cabin sleeps two comfortably, but the new cabin also has one bed.

How many new AM stations are you going to catch during one week in Aihkiniemi? It is difficult to predict, as it all depends on your experience, persistence, equipment, the solar weather, and pure luck. We'd say that if you haven't visited a Scandinavian DXpedition base before, if you are equipped with an SDR receiver capable of recording the entire AM band, and your week happens to be average in terms of reception conditions, you can expect to record hundreds of new stations. Even though we've been on dozens of DXpeditions in Lapland, we'd still expect an average week in Aihkiniemi to yield around 50–100 AM stations that we have never heard before. For examples of what can be heard in Aihkiniemi, check out reports of recent DXpeditions in Aihkiniemi (links can be found in the upper right corrner of this page).

Accommodation and Amenities

Kitchenette in the main cabin

For the first ten years the Aihkiniemi DX base consisted of one 30 m² building, which has two rooms: one for sleeping and the other for cooking and DXing. There are two beds, so the cabin was comfortably able to accommodate two DXers at a time. Back then Aihkiniemi didn't have a water supply, which was a bit problematic, as we had to drive to a nearby motel or a camping area for a shower — and had to pay extra for it. This is now history.

The first cabin is still the DX headquarters. However, in August 2020 a second 20 m² cabin was added. This building consists of a sauna (with an electric stove), a kitchenette, a small dining area, and a bunk bed (from fall of 2022) for sleeping. A well was built just outside the cabin, so now you can take a shower in the sauna, and we don't need to rely on outside services anymore. Having the second building makes sleeping arrangements easier as well. An ideal crew consists of two DXers, and now both can have private sleeping quarters. No more issues with snoring. Up to four people can stay overnight, if necessary, but the DX room only has space for two listeners.

Between the two rooms of the main cabin there is an indoor composting toilet, which is odorless. Two doors separate the bedroom and DXing room, so any DXing/cooking activities will not disturb the sleepier one too much, although earplugs are still a good idea.

The old kitchenette includes some closet space, a microwave oven, a coffee maker, a water heater, a fridge with a freezer compartment.

The newer building has a second small kitchenette, with more table space and a larger fridge, so you can easily store food for two people to last a one or two-week DXpedition. Both cabins have electrical heating and are warm even when it's extremely cold outside.

Composting toilet

The well water has been professionally analyzed in 2020, and was found to be good drinking water.

If you need a break from DXing or a change of scenery, there's a modest motel called Matkapaikka Jounila (5 km to the southwest), which offers lodge-type accommodation. For an off-season fee of 15 euros/person/visit you can take a shower, wash your dishes, and watch TV, but not stay overnight. Then again, all of this can be done at our cabin, so why pay for it. Another alternative is to drive a bit longer up the road towards the Norwegian border. Reino Fofonoff, the owner of Nitsijärvi Cabins, can arrange for a hot shower or a lakeside sauna during the fall. Nitsijärvi Cabins has an English-language website with detailed instructions on how to get there.

The old Aihkiniemi cabin has a smoke detector and a fire extinguisher. Please make sure that they are never needed. Smoking inside is strictly forbidden. Please, no pets.

There's no closet space for your stuff, so you'll have to pile most of it on the floor and tables, or just keep it in your luggage.

You may find it surprising, but there's good cell phone coverage even in the middle of nowhere. Carry your cell phone when checking the antennas or walking in the forest in case you get lost or hurt yourself. Be sure to check that your cell phone operator has roaming agreements with the major Finnish operators, or get a prepaid SIM card on arrival in Finland. Airtime and data are very cheap in Finland. We also have a fast internet connection over a Wi-fi network in the cabin, with speeds up to 50 Mbps, free for you to use.

Instructions for obtaining the key will be given to you after reservation.

Directions

Road number 971 near Aihkiniemi

We recommend that you fly first to Helsinki and then to Ivalo. From there, you can rent a car and drive to Aihkiniemi in two hours. Alternatively, if you don't mind the extra driving, you can fly to Kittilä (a ski resort in northwestern Lapland), Rovaniemi (on the Arctic Circle) or Oulu (an IT industry boomtown further south) and drive from there. Finnair is currently the only airliner with daily flights to these destinations. Norwegian flies less often from Helsinki to Rovaniemi and Kittilä, but has no flights to Ivalo.

All COVID-19 restrictions are now (in January 2023) history in Finland, so tests or vaccination certificates are no longer required on arrival. If the pandemic situation changes, check out what the Finnish Foreign Ministry instructs about entering Finland.

If you have more stuff than you can take along in a plane, and you have more time, you can take an overnight train from Helsinki to either Rovaniemi or Kolari (the northernmost railroad stations), and rent a car for the rest of the journey. You can check the schedules and purchase tickets from the national railroad operator VR online. Of the two northern destinations, driving time from Rovaniemi is shorter and also the road is better than from Kolari.

The Ivalo airport is located 8 kilometers south from Ivalo downtown. Ivalo is the best place to shop for groceries, for winter clothing if you need it, and the last point where you can find a liquor store (Alko).

At this intersection you leave the main road (4/E75), and turn right on road 971. Still 43 kilometers to Aihkiniemi.

From Ivalo, drive north along highway 4 (also known as E75), through Inari until almost Kaamanen. After 63 kilometers, you'll come to an intersection pointing to Kirkkoniemi, Näätämö and Sevettijärvi. Turn right on the road "Sevettijärventie" (road number 971). From this point on there are no services, so be sure you have all the food and gas that you need. The road becomes narrower, and you'll need to be very careful with oncoming traffic. You will get more detailed driving instructions after your reservation.

In case you've ever wondered why many signs in Finland have two versions of each place name: the one on top is in the dominant language spoken in the area — most often Finnish — and the one on the bottom is the minority language. In southern coastal areas, it's often Swedish. In Lapland, it's one of the three dialects of Sami, which is the native language for a few thousand people in Finland.

Wild encounters

If you arrive in winter, there'll be some snow on the driveway of the cabin, so drive carefully. The main road is kept in good driving condition throughout the winter.

You're guaranteed to see reindeer on the road at some point, so drive with caution. Hitting a reindeer is only lethal to the reindeer, but there are also tall moose, which can come through the windshield if you happen to drive into one. All public roads in Lapland are open throughout the winter and are well kept, but they will still be icy and snowy.

What do you need to bring along?

While we have the antennas, you'll need to bring your own receiver(s), power cables and other cables, an antenna selector, and a preamp/amplifier. A splitter without an amplifier is available in the cabin. You'll probably also need earphones, and loads of external hard drives to store your catches.

A compass and a GPS, USB wires, etc. can come in handy. It wouldn't hurt to have basic tools to fix coax connections and antennas, although some tools can be found in the cabin. The environment is largely free of interference, and the most likely sources of unwanted sounds on the dial will be your own power sources.

Check out the Finnish plugs beforehand, because you may need to bring along shape adapters or even voltage transformers (for 230V). You won't find them in the grocery stores in Lapland.

The small lake next to the cabin may look like it's frozen, but it is essentially a slow-moving river, so find a narrow and shallow part to cross, look for the most solid ice, or use a bridge further downstream. We have a rowboat that can be used until October.

Although you'll find mattresses, pillows and blankets in the cabin, you'll need to bring your own sheets, pillow cases and towels. There's also a vacuum cleaner. You're expected to clean after yourself, unless maybe you're traveling with your mother... no maid service within at least 100 kilometers ;)

There'll be snow — lots of it. And it'll be cold. In terms of outdoor clothing, be prepared for any kind of weather. The temperature can vary between freezing point and minus 40 degrees, even lower. Rubber boots or other water-resistant winter boots are a good idea unless you visit in February when everything is frozen solid.

Power outages are rare and short, but bringing a headlamp is still a good idea, because it will be dark outside most of the time. Two UPS units with four power outlets each are available in the cabin to enable you to continue DXing even in case the power goes out. Plan carefully in advance for what you might need. Remember, it's a long drive to the nearest store, especially for toilet paper — which is why we store a lot of it in the cabin.

Supermarkets in Ivalo are large, well-equipped and accept major credit cards. There are smaller grocery stores in Inari and a tiny one in Kaamanen. ATMs can be found both in Ivalo and Inari. The nearest library with free Internet access is in Inari.

If you have used any of the pans, pots or kitchen utensils, please boil water and do the dishes before you leave. It can be a bit cumbersome. Alternatively, you can buy paper plates, cups, and utensils on your way to the cabin. In any case, please clean the kitchenettes. When you leave, please take all your trash with you. You can drop it off at large roadside bins, the nearest one of which is located in Käyräniemi close to Matkapaikka Jounila.

Reservations

Half of the original Aihkiniemi team, from left to right Jari, Lauri, Jarmo and Olli.

Most likely September and October are booked solid by us, and openings can generally be found from mid-November. Contact Mika Mäkeläinen to ask about availability. If you haven't been to Aihkiniemi before, we require that during your first week you're accompanied by someone who has previous experience DXing in Aihkiniemi. This is to ensure that everyone knows exactly how things operate, that mainentance standards are upheld, and that you learn how to get the most out of your DXing with the resources we have.

The rent for the cabin and antennas is 800 euros a week. If there are two DXers, it comes to 400 euros per person. The rent must be paid in advance: The first 200 euros at the time of the reservation into our association's bank account, and the rest one month before your DXpedition. Your reservation is confirmed once we have received your first payment.

What to do in addition to DXing?

You might want to consider combining your DXpedition with a more traditional vacation trip in Finland. Saariselkä, one of the largest ski resorts in Finland, is located just south of the Ivalo airport. So, if propagation conditions happen to be exceptionally poor, you can take advantage of the slopes, relax in a spa, or enjoy after-ski partying. For something cheaper, but equally impressive, you can watch the aurora borealis, the northern lights! Further south, you can meet Santa Claus in Rovaniemi or cruise on an icebreaker in Kemi.

This is what Saariselkä looks like in the winter, so don't spend all of your trip just DXing.

For more information about visiting Finland, check out the Finnish Tourist Board website, especially about Lapland. Compared to most destinations, Finland is very safe, clean and organized, so even if midwinter is weather-wise not the ideal time to come over, it is still an opportunity not to be missed. The capital, Helsinki, has loads of sights that you can experience year-round, from modern architecture, opera and dozens of museums, to nightlife and gourmet dining.

In case you happen to be traveling in Lapland during the summer, you can rent the Aihkiniemi cabin for any period of time for 50 euros per night. It's a good base for exploring Lapland, and in the summer you can enjoy 24 hours of daylight, which is an experience in itself. There are ample opportunities for fishing, hiking, and picking wild berries as well as mushrooms (which you can do even without landowner's permission). In Lapland you can even try your luck in gold-panning.

Weather permitting, northern lights can usually be seen several times each week. This shot is from Aihkiniemi.

We own fishing rights in some areas of the surrounding wilderness, so when you rent the cabin, you can fish in these areas. And we have lots of coveted cloudberries in and around our property in early August. As for your luggage — add mosquito repellent and forget your radio equipment; there's not much to listen to on the AM band in mid-summer. The AM season extends from early September to April, but in the future there will also be an FM antenna in Aihkiniemi. More about this later.

In Finland most people understand English well enough to be able to help you, so getting around and finding what you need is easy. Be in touch if there's anything more that we can help you with in preparing your DX vacation of a lifetime. Welcome to our paradise!