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Detroit was the latest addition to the Great Lakes family of bandscans due to its heavily urbanized location, which is naturally best avoided. While the city itself isn’t along Lake Erie – it’s instead on the Detroit River near its mouth where it empties into Lake St. Clair – the city is within the circulation of Lake Erie, thus grouped accordingly. Belle Isle, a large island in the middle of the river just 1½ miles from downtown with a skyline view, is the home of this site, though actual listening takes place 4½ miles east of downtown at the island’s far eastern end. Only a few stations can be heard beyond 50 miles, most of them from Chatham, Flint, London, Toledo, and Cleveland, none of them exceptionally strong apart from Chatham. No stations can be heard beyond 100 miles from this urban location. This site near downtown greatly differs from suburban sites a short distance inland where many Windsor stations disappear and are replaced by inland Michigan stations. Water paths here are limited with only Chatham and Sarnia across Lake St. Clair. Chatham signals generally are received here as locals. With an average reception distance of 25 miles, this is the worst listening location of all 80 on the Great Lakes with only Duluth as a close rival.
DETROIT BELLE ISLE, MICHIGAN BANDSCAN
May 21, 2021 1855-2100 / 86-80°F, m. clear, humid
Location: 42°20’50.2″N 82°57’11.5″W
575 feet (at lake level by Livingston Lighthouse)
additional monitoring in Grosse Pointe on May 22
76 stations total / Average distance: 25 mi.
* station was received on seek
87.75 –
*87.9 PIRA MI Detroit / AWR Detroit AlphaDen R. (Pirate) / 25dBµ, stereo
88.1 CBEE ON Chatham / CBC R. 1 Windsor / 1.43kw / 10dBµ, mono (45 mi.)
88.1 WHPR MI Highland Park / Variety / 44w / 10dBµ, m., distorted (8 mi.)
*88.3 WDTE MI Grosse Pointe Sh. / Smile FM / 5.5kw / RDS / 30dBµ, m. only (9 mi.)
88.5 = 88.7
*88.7 CIMX ON Windsor / Pure Country 89 / 100kw / RDS / 50dBµ, stereo (12 mi.)
88.9 WDTR MI Imlay City / Smile FM / 7.4kw / 5dBµ, m. behind CIMX overload (34 mi.)
89.1 WPHS MI Warren / Exile Radio / 2kw / 15dBµ, mono (12 mi.)
89.1 WEMU MI Ypsilanti / NPR Jazz & Blues / 15.5kw / RDS / 10dBµ, m. (35 mi.)
*89.3 CKGW ON Chatham / UCB Canada / 18.7kw / RDS / 25dBµ, stereo (44 mi.)
89.3 WHFR MI Dearborn / Variety / 270w / 10dBµ, mono (15 mi.)
89.5 WDTP MI Huron Twp. / Smile FM / 50w / 10dBµ, mono (18 mi.)
89.5 WAHS MI Auburn Hills / Avondale Comm. R. / 2.4kw / 10dBµ, mono (24 mi.)
89.7 = 89.9
*89.9 CBE ON Windsor / CBC Music Windsor / 100kw / 50dBµ, stereo (13 mi.)
90.1 = 89.9
90.3 WCPN OH Cleveland / Public & Jazz / 47kw / 5dBµ, mono (93 mi.)
90.3 CBEG ON Sarnia / CBC R. 1 Windsor / 1.8kw / 5dBµ, mono (50 mi.)
90.3 KDTI MI Rochester Hills / K-Love 2000s / 38w / in null (24 mi.)
*90.5 CJAH ON Windsor / UCB Canada / 7.5kw / 40dBµ, stereo (5 mi.)
90.7 IBOC (WRCJ)
*90.9 WRCJ MI Detroit / Classical & Jazz / 22.5kw / RDS / 35dBµ, st. (13 mi.)
91.1 IBOC (WRCJ)
*91.3 WGTE OH Toledo / FM91 / 13.5kw / RDS / 15dBµ, mono (54 mi.)
91.5 WVMV MI China Twp. / Smile FM / 1.05kw / 15dBµ, mono (29 mi.)
*91.7 WUOM MI Ann Arbor / Michigan Radio / 93kw / RDS / 20dBµ, stereo (49 mi.)
*91.9 CBEW-1 ON Leamington / CBC R. 1 Windsor / 10.45kw / 20dBµ, m. only (22 mi.)
*92.1 IBOC (WMXD)
*92.3 WMXD MI Detroit / Mix 92.3 / 45kw / RDS / 55dBµ, stereo (5 mi.)
*92.5 IBOC (WMXD) + 92.3
*92.7 CJSP ON Leamington / Windsor’s Country //95.9 / 4kw / 15dBµ, st. (31 mi.)
92.7 W224CC MI Detroit / FaithTalk 1500 / 99w / 3dBµ, mono in null (13 mi.)
92.9 CFCO-1 ON Chatham / Country 92-9 //630 / 250w / 5dBµ, m. + IBOC (39 mi.)
*93.1 WDRQ MI Detroit / New Country 93-1 / 26.5kw / RDS / 40dBµ, stereo (15 mi.)
93.3 IBOC (WDRQ)
*93.5 W228CJ MI Detroit / Praise Network //98.3 99.9 / 99w / 20dBµ, st. (13 mi.)
93.5 CBCL ON London / CBC R. 1 London / 100kw / 3dBµ, mono in null (91 mi.)
93.7 = 93.9
*93.9 CIDR ON Windsor / Virgin Radio / 100kw / RDS / 50dBµ, stereo (12 mi.)
94.1 = 93.9
*94.3 CKSY ON Chatham / Adult Contemp. / 50kw / 25dBµ, stereo (44 mi.)
94.3 W232CA MI Detroit / Family Life R. //103.1 / 99w / 3dBµ, m. in null (13 mi.)
94.5 IBOC (WCSX)
*94.7 WCSX MI Birmingham / Classic Rock / 13.5kw / RDS / 45dBµ, stereo (13 mi.)
*94.9 IBOC (WCSX)
*95.1 CKUE ON Chatham / Cool FM //100.7 / 42kw / RDS / 30dBµ, stereo (44 mi.)
95.1 WFBE MI Flint / B95 / 34kw / 2dBµ, mono in null (56 mi.)
95.3 IBOC (WKQI)
*95.5 WKQI MI Detroit / Channel 955 / 100kw / RDS / 45dBµ, stereo (15 mi.)
95.7 IBOC (WKQI) + 95.9
*95.9 CJWF ON Windsor / Windsor’s Country //92.7 / 11.8kw / RDS / 45dBµ, st. (12 mi.)
96.1 IBOC (WDVD)
*96.3 WDVD MI Detroit / Hot AC / 20kw / RDS / 45dBµ, stereo (13 mi.)
96.5 IBOC (WDVD)
*96.7 CHYR ON Leamington / Mix 96.7 / 27kw / RDS / 45dBµ, stereo (18 mi.)
96.9 IBOC (WXYT) + 96.7
*97.1 WXYT MI Detroit / The Ticket / 15kw / RDS / 45dBµ, stereo (16 mi.)
*97.3 IBOC (WXYT)
*97.5 CBEW ON Windsor / CBC R. 1 Windsor / 19kw / RDS / 40dBµ, stereo (13 mi.)
*97.7 IBOC (WJLB)
*97.9 WJLB MI Detroit / Urban / 50kw / RDS / 50dBµ, stereo (9 mi.)
*98.1 IBOC (WJLB) + 97.9
*98.3 W252BX MI Detroit / Praise N. //93.5 99.9 / 115w / RDS / 40dBµ, st. (5 mi.)
*98.5 IBOC (WDZH)
*98.7 WDZH MI Detroit / Alt 98-7 / 50kw / RDS / 50dBµ, stereo (11 mi.)
98.9 IBOC (WDZH)
*99.1 CJAM ON Windsor / Variety / 2.084kw / RDS / 35dBµ, stereo (7 mi.)
99.3 IBOC (WYCD)
*99.5 WYCD MI Detroit / Country / 17.5kw / RDS / 45dBµ, stereo (13 mi.)
*99.7 IBOC (WYCD)
*99.9 W260CB MI Detroit / Praise Network //93.5 98.3 / 250w / 20dBµ, st. (13 mi.)
99.9 WKKO OH Toledo / K100 / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono in null (53 mi.)
99.9 CFGX ON Sarnia / The Fox / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono in null (46 mi.)
*100.1 IBOC (WNIC)
*100.3 WNIC MI Dearborn / Adult Contemp. / 32kw / RDS / 45dBµ, stereo (10 mi.)
100.5 IBOC (WNIC) + 100.7
*100.7 CKUE-1 ON Windsor / Cool FM //95.1 / 9kw / RDS / 70dBµ, stereo (1 mi.)
100.9 IBOC (WRIF) + 100.7
*101.1 WRIF MI Detroit / The Riff / 27kw / RDS / 45dBµ, stereo (17 mi.)
101.3 IBOC (WRIF)
*101.5 WRVF OH Toledo / The River / 33kw / 10dBµ, mono (52 mi.)
101.5 W268CN MI Detroit / The Patriot //1400 / 99w / 5dBµ, mono (13 mi.)
101.7 IBOC (WDET)
*101.9 WDET MI Detroit / Public Variety / 48kw / RDS / 55dBµ, stereo (6 mi.)
102.1 WDOK OH Cleveland / Star 102 / 12kw / 5dBµ, m., dom. in IBOC null (93 mi.)
*102.3 CINA ON Windsor / Arabic / 5kw / 40dBµ, stereo (5 mi.)
102.5 IBOC (WDKL)
*102.7 WDKL MI Mt. Clemens / K-Love / 50kw / RDS / 40dBµ, stereo (15 mi.)
102.9 WWWW MI Ann Arbor / 4W Country / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono in IBOC null (46 mi.)
103.1 CBEF-1 ON Leamington / Ici Première / 1kw / 15dBµ, mono only (22 mi.)
103.1 W276DB MI Roch. Hills / FLR //94.3 / 250w / 0dBµ, m., good in null (22 mi.)
103.3 IBOC (WMUZ)
*103.5 WMUZ MI Detroit / The Light / 50kw / RDS / 45dBµ, stereo (15 mi.)
*103.7 IBOC (WMUZ)
*103.9 CJBC-1 ON Windsor / Ici Musique Tor. / 6kw / RDS / 30dBµ, stereo (5 mi.)
*104.1 IBOC (WOMC)
*104.3 WOMC MI Detroit / Classic Hits / 190kw / RDS / 45dBµ, stereo (12 mi.)
*104.5 IBOC (WOMC)
104.7 WIOT OH Toledo / Rock / 50kw / 15dBµ, mono (52 mi.)
*104.9 IBOC (WMGC)
*105.1 WMGC MI Detroit / The Bounce / 50kw / RDS / 35dBµ, stereo (13 mi.)
105.3 IBOC (WMGC)
*105.5 CBEF-2 ON Windsor / Ici Première / 2.4kw / 35dBµ, mono only (5 mi.)
*105.7 IBOC (WDMK)
*105.9 WDMK MI Detroit / Kiss-FM / 20kw / RDS / 40dBµ, stereo (15 mi.)
*106.1 IBOC (WDMK)
106.3 CHKS ON Sarnia / Cool 106.3 / 50kw / 15dBµ, mono, dominant (46 mi.)
106.3 W292DK MI Westland / Air1 //102.7 HD2 107.1 / 99w / 7dBµ, mono (13 mi.)
*106.5 IBOC (WLLZ)
*106.7 WLLZ MI Detroit / Detroit’s Wheels / 61kw / RDS / 65dBµ, stereo (5 mi.)
*106.9 IBOC (WLLZ) + 106.7
107.1 W296CG MI Detroit / Air1 //102.7 HD2 106.3 / 250w / 15dBµ, m. (11 mi.)
107.1 WSAQ MI Port Huron / Q Country 107 / 6kw / 3dBµ, mono (50 mi.)
*107.3 IBOC (WGPR)
*107.5 WGPR MI Detroit / Hot 107.5 / 50kw / RDS / 55dBµ, stereo (6 mi.)
107.7 IBOC (WGPR)
107.9 W300DI MI Dearborn / La Z1310 //1310 / 85w / 10dBµ, mono (10 mi.)
107.9 WCRZ MI Flint / Cars 108 / 50kw / 3dBµ, mono (54 mi.)
Station notes:
95.9 CJWF ON Windsor RDS was not received at Belle Isle, but was elsewhere
96.7 CHYR ON Leamington RDS was not received at Belle Isle, but was elsewhere
99.1 CKXS ON Wallaceburg was received (with RDS) from Grosse Pointe and north
Recommendations for this radio site: Belle Isle is a great place to take a break from the urban environment that surrounds it. On evenings and weekends, it can be difficult to find a parking spot, traffic can be heavy, and people omnipresent. Traffic is largely one-way circling the island with limited opportunities to turn around, leading cars into a loop in excess of five miles. The center of the island is sometimes blocked off for the Detroit Grand Prix, even when the race isn’t scheduled to run. Radio listening is best done on the far east point of the island where one can park in a dirt lot near the William Livingstone Memorial Lighthouse, still in operation to warn boats of the island as they enter the river. Traffic on this end of the island is light and while it may be difficult to entirely avoid people, there is ample privacy here as compared to anywhere else on the island or near downtown Detroit. Restrooms, while non-existent at this particular site itself, are just down the road at various shelters. However, note that traffic is one-way and returning to the site may be difficult; once you miss your turn, there is no choice but to continue onward.
This site is just 2,000 feet from Canada and the opposite end of the island, called Sunset Point, is merely 1 1/2 miles from downtown, providing great skyline views after dark. Due to the lack of non-local signals, the best recommendation is frankly to enjoy the scenery, take a walk, watch the freighters go by, and leave the radio in the car. It may not be worth the time. Nonetheless, to get to Belle Isle, simply take Jefferson Avenue east out of downtown and take a right onto the MacArthur Bridge with ample signage to the island. Keep to the right upon arrival and follow the one-way road around.
Location rating: While this site provides a relaxing getaway from the city surrounding it, nothing on the radio here should lead you to take a listen aside from boredom. Shy of exceptional tropospheric conditions, don’t expect much to penetrate the wall of locals here, and even the locals interfere with themselves to the point RDS is hard to decode on some.