Good Morning, Norway

The Truth Radio Early Edition is taking a break while I enjoy a vacation. We'll be back on the air after the holidays.

Technically, as I write this, I'm only a handful of hours into my vacation. However, I received an email this week that I wanted to share. It was signed by a "Tore B Vik" of Mysen, Norway.

Here's how it reads, after a beautiful picture of the northern lights:

“In October, I and three other radio enthusiasts visited the north of Norway. We brought with us our radio receivers just to listen to North America and Pacific radio stations in the AM broadcast band. The north of Norway is a very favorable location with polar nights and a short cut route across the arctics.

“To pick up these very weak long-distance radio signals, we use very long antennas — up to 1,800 feet. On the 31st of October at 6:30 AM in Indiana, I managed to catch the signals from AM 1340 - WTRC. On the attached MP3 file you can listen to a short recording of WTRC as it was received in the north of Norway. Not exactly local quality — but ... the signal is quite weak and noisy so my advice is to use headphones when listening.”

Here's the audio he sent me: (turn your speakers down a little)

Vik continues: “I have made the following notes from the recording: Truth Radio 1340 and program ‘Early Edition’ — the weather this morning a cloudy sky and 30 degrees outside the studio. Local news with Tony —”

...that's close enough to Tommie, I suppose ...

“— and a program about Halloween was to be coming up later. I´m 76 years old — retired from my officer profession in the Norwegian Army Signal Corps. My last job was as commanding officer (major) of a technical workshop.

“As [I am] retired, I can use much more time to my radio hobby. I listen many hours each week — in sleepless nights and mornings, I do tune in to the AM broadcast band to listen, especially for radio stations in North America.

“As many others, I have a hobby — perhaps a very strange hobby (there are many of them). I do collect identifications of US radio stations in the AM Radio Band as they are heard on air here in Norway. To make the collection complete I do need a verification from the stations telling that the recording I enclosed is correct. So — a confirmation of my reception of AM 1340 WTRC from Elkhart really would make my day!”

So I wrote Mr. Vik this morning to confirm that yes, indeed, he had picked up our station on the northern ice of Norway near the top of the world. I also told him a little about the station's history, sent him a few photos and told him a little about the area.

I also wished him a Merry Christmas, as I do to you.

It's kind of neat to think that Santa, heading out from the North Polewith another load of gifts Wednesday night just might have picked up a little bit of our holiday programming on Truth Radio 1340.

Thank you so much for being a part of what we do on the Early Edition. That means you too, Major Vik.

Talk to you all in 2015!

— Tommie

From the Elkhart Truth