Go back to the Lake Erie bandscan series | Return to the coastal bandscans index 
Evangola State Park is just 30 miles outside downtown Buffalo and with some of Buffalo’s strongest local stations only 20 miles away. So why include Evangola as a radio site when on paper it’s quite clearly a poor selection for an open band? Well, torrential downpours lead to a sudden change in my original plans which brought me to this site the following morning. It was a lucky break that I haven’t since regretted. Evangola isn’t the most beautiful location, but against all odds, it defined itself as a favourable location for listening.
EVANGOLA / LAKE ERIE BEACH, NEW YORK BANDSCAN
August 30, 2018 1015 – 1300
Conditions: 68-74°F, overcast to p. cloudy
Location: 42°36’36.6″N 79°06’42.3″W
590 feet (21 feet above lake level)
170 stations total / Average distance: 91 mi.
* station was received on seek
87.75 WLFM-LP OH Cleveland / La Mega / 3kw / 10dBµ, mono (158 mi.)
*88.1 WUBJ NY Jamestown / NPR Public //88.7 / 2.7kw / 25dBµ, stereo (32 mi.)
88.1 CIND ON Toronto / Indie 88 / 3.5kw / 10dBµ, mono (73 mi.)
*88.3 WCOU NY Attica / Family Life Network / 11kw / 15dBµ, mono (48 mi.)
88.3 CJIQ ON Paris / Tri-Cities Alt. / 8.22kw / 15dBµ, mono (81 mi.)
*88.5 W203AW NY Fredonia / RadioU / 19w / 25dBµ, mono (15 mi.)
*88.7 WBFO NY Buffalo / NPR Public //88.1 / 50kw / RDS / 40dBµ, stereo (32 mi.)
*88.9 WCVF NY Fredonia / Fredonia Radio / 130w / 30dBµ, stereo (16 mi.)
88.9 WYRR NY Lakewood / SonLife Radio / 420w / in null + IBOC (32 mi.)
*89.1 CKYY ON Welland / Country 89 / 4.25kw / RDS / 35dBµ, stereo (28 mi.)
89.1 CBLA-2 ON Paris / CBC R. 1 Kitchener / 10.4kw / 15dBµ, mono in null (81 mi.)
*89.3 WCOM NY Silver Creek / Family Life N. / 8kw / RDS / 50dBµ, stereo (8 mi.)
89.5 WCOF NY Arcade / Family Life Network / 1kw / 20dBµ, mono (42 mi.)
89.5 CIUT ON Toronto / Sound of Your City / 15kw / 15dBµ, mono (73 mi.)
*89.7 WNJA NY Jamestown / Classical 94.5 / 6kw / 20dBµ, mono (39 mi.)
89.7 WKSU OH Kent / NPR & Classical //89.1 / 12kw / 5dBµ, mono in null (167 mi.)
*89.9 WFBF NY Buffalo / Family Radio / 16kw / 30dBµ, stereo (19 mi.)
89.9 CJBC-2 ON Paris / Ici Musique Toronto / 14.8kw / 15dBµ, mono in null (81 mi.)
90.1 WPSX PA Kane / NPR Public / 17kw / 5dBµ, mono (70 mi.)
90.1 W211AE NY Mayville, etc. / NPR Public //91.3 / 3w / 5dBµ, mono (32 mi.)
90.3 CJBC ON Toronto / Ici Musique Toronto / 10kw / 15dBµ, mono (73 mi.)
90.3 WXXY NY Houghton / NPR Classical //91.5 / 6kw / 10dBµ, mono (50 mi.)
*90.5 CBLA-1 ON Crystal Beach / CBC R. 1 Tor. / 740w / RDS / 20dBµ, m., dom. (22 mi.)
90.5 WERG PA Erie / Alternative / 2.75kw / 15dBµ, mono (63 mi.)
90.7 CBL-2 ON Paris / CBC Music Toronto / 8.23kw / 15dBµ, mono (81 mi.)
90.7 WNFR MI Sandusky / Hope FM / 42kw / 15dBµ, mono (181 mi.)
*90.9 WCOT NY Jamestown / Family Life Network / 12kw / RDS / 15dBµ, mono (42 mi.)
90.9 WRCJ MI Detroit / Classical & Jazz / 22.5kw / 10dBµ, mono (207 mi.)
*91.1 CJRT ON Toronto / Jazz.FM91 / 40kw / RDS / 25dBµ, stereo (73 mi.)
*91.3 WQLN PA Erie / NPR Public //90.1 / 35kw / RDS / 25dBµ, stereo (63 mi.)
91.3 WBNY NY Buffalo / Alternative / 1.15kw / in null (25 mi.)
91.5 WXXI NY Rochester / NPR Classical //90.3 / 45kw / 15dBµ, mono (85 mi.)
91.5 CBCO ON Orillia / CBC R. 1 Toronto / 13.52kw / 15dBµ, mono (136 mi.)
91.5 CKBT ON Kitchener / The Beat / 10kw / 10dBµ, mono (81 mi.)
*91.7 CIXL ON Welland / Giant FM / 50kw / RDS / 40dBµ, stereo (28 mi.)
91.9 CHIN-1 ON Toronto / Multicultural //1540 / 5kw / 10dBµ, mono + IBOC (81 mi.)
91.9 WVME PA Meadville / Moody R. / 4.4kw / 10dBµ, mono in null + IBOC (87 mi.)
*92.1 CKPC ON Brantford / Jewel 92 / 80kw / RDS / 30dBµ, stereo (75 mi.)
92.1 WZDV NY Amherst / Dove FM / 1.4kw / 15dBµ, mono in easy null (32 mi.)
92.3 WRRN PA Warren / 92 Gold / 50kw / RDS / 15dBµ, mono (55 mi.)
92.3 WMXD MI Detroit / Mix 92.3 / 45kw / 10dBµ, mono in null (201 mi.)
92.5 CKIS ON Toronto / KiSS 92.5 / 13kw / 15dBµ, mono (73 mi.)
92.5 WBEE NY Rochester / Country / 50kw / 15dBµ, mono (91 mi.)
*92.7 CJBX ON London / BX93 / 50kw / 20dBµ, mono w/ IBOC in null (102 mi.)
*92.9 WBUF NY Buffalo / Jack FM / 76kw / RDS / 40dBµ, stereo (27 mi.)
*93.1 CHAY ON Barrie / Fresh R. 93.1 / 100kw / 25dBµ, mono, IBOC in null (124 mi.)
*93.3 WWSE NY Jamestown / SE93 / 26.5kw / RDS / 35dBµ, stereo (37 mi.)
*93.5 CBCL ON London / CBC R. 1 London / 100kw / 25dBµ, mono, IBOC in null (116 mi.)
*93.7 WBLK NY Depew / Power 93.7 / 47kw / RDS / 40dBµ, stereo (23 mi.)
93.9 WTWF PA Fairview / The Wolf / 6kw / in null + IBOC (65 mi.)
93.9 CIDR ON Windsor / The River / 100kw / in null + IBOC (200 mi.)
*94.1 CBL ON Toronto / CBC Music Toronto / 38kw / RDS / 20dBµ, mono (73 mi.)
94.1 WHBC OH Canton / Mix 94.1 / 45kw / 15dBµ, mono in hard null (164 mi.)
94.3 WZOC IN Plymouth / Z94.3 / 11.5kw / 10dBµ, mono in hard IBOC null (374 mi.)
*94.5 WNED NY Buffalo / Classical 94.5 / 94kw / RDS / 60dBµ, stereo (18 mi.)
*94.7 CHKX ON Hamilton / KX 94.7 / 100kw / 25dBµ, mono in IBOC null (52 mi.)
*94.9 W235BP NY Dunkirk / Classic Hits //1410 / 200w / RDS / 45dBµ, stereo (22 mi.)
94.9 WQMX OH Medina / Country / 16kw / 15dBµ, mono in hard null (167 mi.)
95.1 WYLE PA Grove City / Willie 95.1 / 19kw / 15dBµ, mono (114 mi.)
95.1 WAIO NY Honeoye Falls / Radio 95-1 / 50kw / in null of IBOC (90 mi.)
*95.3 CING ON Hamilton / Fresh R. 95.3 / 100kw / RDS / 35dBµ, stereo (53 mi.)
95.3 WLKW NY Celoron / K-Love / 900w / in null + IBOC (36 mi.)
95.5 WFHM OH Cleveland / The Fish / 31kw / 10dBµ, mono + IBOC (146 mi.)
95.5 WKQI MI Detroit / Channel 955 / 100kw / in null + IBOC (208 mi.)
95.7 WPIG NY Olean / The Pig / 43kw / 20dBµ, mono (52 mi.)
95.7 W239BA NY Niagara Falls / Family Life Network / 250w / 20dBµ, mono (31 mi.)
95.9 WLTM NY Mina / Lite FM / 820w / 25dBµ, mono (43 mi.)
95.9 CFPL ON London / FM96 / 300kw / 20dBµ, mono (112 mi.)
*96.1 WMSX NY Buffalo / Mix 96 / 47kw / RDS / 45dBµ, stereo (23 mi.)
96.3 CFMZ ON Toronto / New Classical 96.3 / 60kw / 15dBµ, mono, echo (73 mi.)
96.3 WDVD MI Detroit / Hot AC / 20kw / in null of IBOC (206 mi.)
*96.5 WBKX NY Fredonia / Kix Country / 1.4kw / RDS / 50dBµ, stereo (22 mi.)
96.7 CHYR ON Leamington / Mix 96.7 / 27kw / 15dBµ, mono, dominant (189 mi.)
96.7 CHYM ON Kitchener / Adult Contemp. / 80kw / 10dBµ, mono (94 mi.)
*96.9 WGRF NY Buffalo / 97 Rock / 24kw / RDS / 45dBµ, stereo (27 mi.)
97.1 WREO OH Ashtabula / Mix 97.1 / 50kw / 20dBµ, mono, dominant (101 mi.)
97.1 WXYT MI Detroit / The Ticket / 15kw / 10dBµ, mono (208 mi.)
*97.3 CHBM ON Toronto / Boom 97.3 / 28.9kw / RDS / 30dBµ, stereo (73 mi.)
97.3 WMJO MI Essexville / Joe FM / 3kw / in null (243 mi.)
*97.5 CIQM ON London / Virgin Radio / 50kw / 35dBµ, stereo (116 mi.)
97.5 WDDH PA St. Marys / The Hound / 19.5kw / 15dBµ, mono in null (70 mi.)
*97.7 CHTZ ON St. Catharines / HTZ-FM / 50kw / RDS / 35dBµ, stereo (35 mi.)
97.9 WXTA PA Edinboro / Nash FM / 10kw / 15dBµ, mono (68 mi.)
97.9 WPXY NY Rochester / 98 PXY / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono in null (85 mi.)
97.9 WJLB MI Detroit / Urban / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono in null (204 mi.)
*98.1 CHFI ON Toronto / Adult Contemp. / 44kw / RDS / 30dBµ, stereo (73 mi.)
98.1 WKCQ MI Saginaw / 98-KCQ / 50kw / 15dBµ, mono in null (249 mi.)
98.3 WYBL OH Ashtabula / The Bull / 4.7kw / 15dBµ, mono in IBOC null (96 mi.)
*98.5 WKSE NY Niagara Falls / Kiss 98.5 / 23kw / RDS / 40dBµ, stereo (27 mi.)
98.7 W254AJ PA Erie / Family Life N. / 250w / 10dBµ, mono in IBOC null (60 mi.)
98.7 WDZH MI Detroit / Amp Radio / 50kw / 15dBµ, mono in IBOC null (206 mi.)
98.9 CHCD ON Simcoe / myFM / 50kw / 20dBµ, mono (62 mi.)
98.9 WBYR IN Woodburn / The Bear / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono in null (318 mi.)
98.9 WBZA NY Rochester / The Buzz / 37kw / in null (82 mi.)
*99.1 CBLA ON Toronto / CBC R. 1 Toronto / 98kw / RDS / 25dBµ, mono only (73 mi.)
99.1 W256BS NY Olean / Eagle C. Throwbacks //WVTT / 99w / in null (52 mi.)
99.3 CJBC-4 ON London / Ici Musique Tor. / 15.34kw / 15dBµ, mono in null (116 mi.)
99.5 WDCX NY Buffalo / Christian / 110kw / RDS / 60dBµ, stereo (18 mi.)
99.7 CKNC ON Simcoe / Oldies 99.7 / 18kw / 15dBµ, mono, hard IBOC null (64 mi.)
99.7 WUGN MI Midland / Family Life R. / 100kw / in hard null (281 mi.)
*99.9 CKFM ON Toronto / Virgin Radio / 12.8kw / RDS / 30dBµ, stereo (73 mi.)
99.9 WXKC PA Erie / Classy 100 / 50kw / 20dBµ, mono (56 mi.)
100.1 WBRR PA Bradford / The Hero / 1.65kw / 10dBµ, mono in IBOC null (49 mi.)
100.3 CKRZ ON Ohsweken / Voice of the Grand / 5kw / 10dBµ, mono, dom. (60 mi.)
100.3 WGYY PA Meadville / Froggy 100.3 & 98.5 / 20kw / 15dBµ, mono (87 mi.)
*100.5 W263CN NY Dunkirk / Family Life Network / 150w / RDS / 30dBµ, stereo (14 mi.)
100.5 CBBL ON London / CBC Music Toronto / 15.34kw / 20dBµ, mono (116 mi.)
100.5 W263DC NY Tonawanda / Oldies //102.9 1230 / 220w / v. good car null (31 mi.)
100.7 CHIN ON Toronto / International R. / 8.5kw / 20dBµ, mono (73 mi.)
100.7 WMMS OH Cleveland / Rock / 34kw / 15dBµ, mono (157 mi.)
100.9 CBLA-3 ON Wingham / CBC R. 1 Toronto / 30kw / 10dBµ, mono (143 mi.)
*101.1 CFLZ ON Fort Erie / More FM / 50kw / RDS / 40dBµ, stereo (22 mi.)
101.3 CKOT ON Tillsonburg / Easy 101.3 / 26kw / 20dBµ, mono (92 mi.)
101.5 WRVF OH Toledo / The River / 33kw / 5dBµ, mono (230 mi.)
101.5 CKWF ON Peterborough / The Wolf / 15.2kw / 5dBµ, mono (125 mi.)
101.5 WORD PA Pittsburgh / Word FM / 43kw / 5dBµ, mono (154 mi.)
101.5 CBEF-3 ON Sarnia / Ici Première Windsor / 1.886kw / 5dBµ, mono (165 mi.)
*101.7 WLOF NY Elma / Station of the Cross / 2.8kw / 25dBµ, mono only (35 mi.)
101.9 WHUG NY Jamestown / My Country / 6kw / 10dBµ, mono (34 mi.)
101.9 WDET MI Detroit / Public Variety / 48kw / 10dBµ, mono (202 mi.)
*102.1 CFNY ON Brampton / The Edge / 35.4kw / RDS / 20dBµ, stereo (73 mi.)
102.1 WDOK OH Cleveland / Star 102 / 12kw / 5dBµ, mono in null (158 mi.)
102.3 WQHZ PA Erie / Z102.3 / 1.7kw / 15dBµ, mono (63 mi.)
102.3 CHST ON London / Jack 102.3 / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (112 mi.)
*102.5 WTSS NY Buffalo / Star 102.5 / 110kw / RDS / 55dBµ, stereo (25 mi.)
102.7 WCGM PA Wattsburg / Family Life N. / 3.5kw / 15dBµ, mono + 102.5 (52 mi.)
*102.9 W275BB NY Cheektowaga / Oldies //100.5 1230 / 220w / RDS / 25dBµ, st. (22 mi.)
102.9 CKLH ON Hamilton / K-Lite / 40.3kw / 15dBµ, mono (63 mi.)
103.1 CFHK ON St. Thomas / Fresh R. 103.1 / 60kw / 20dBµ, stereo (105 mi.)
103.1 WQFX PA Russell / The Fox / 2.5kw / 15dBµ, mono (45 mi.)
*103.3 WEDG NY Buffalo / The Edge / 49kw / RDS / 45dBµ, stereo (26 mi.)
103.5 CIDC ON Orangeville / Z103-5 / 30.7kw / 20dBµ, mono (99 mi.)
103.5 WMUZ MI Detroit / The Light / 50kw / 15dBµ, mono (211 mi.)
*103.7 WRTS PA Erie / Star 104 / 50kw / 20dBµ, mono (56 mi.)
103.7 CFBU St. Catharines / Brock Student R. / 250w / 5dBµ, mono in null (36 mi.)
*103.9 CKDK ON Woodstock / Country 104 / 51kw / 15dBµ, stereo (91 mi.)
*104.1 WHTT NY Buffalo / Cl. Hits 104.1 / 50kw / 45dBµ, stereo (22 mi.)
104.3 WOMC MI Detroit / Classic Hits / 190kw / 10dBµ, mono (204 mi.)
104.3 WKNB PA Sheffield / Kinzua Country / 4.7kw / 5dBµ, mono (55 mi.)
*104.5 CHUM ON Toronto / Hot AC / 12.7kw / RDS / 25dBµ, stereo (73 mi.)
104.7 W284AP NY Buffalo / Alt. Buffalo //107.7 / 250w / 10dBµ, mono, dom. (27 mi.)
104.7 CIHR ON Woodstock / Heart FM / 20kw / 15dBµ, mono (91 mi.)
104.7 WKKY OH Geneva / Country / 6kw / 10dBµ, mono (116 mi.)
104.9 WRKT PA North East / Rocket 105 / 4.5kw / 15dBµ, mono (56 mi.)
104.9 W285EZ NY Arcade / CJ Country //1140 / 250w / 10dBµ, mono (42 mi.)
*105.1 CJED ON Niagara Falls / The River / 15kw / RDS / 35dBµ, stereo (34 mi.)
105.1 WQXK OH Salem / K-105 / 88kw / 15dBµ, mono in null (148 mi.)
105.3 CFCA ON Kitchener / Virgin Radio / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (94 mi.)
105.3 WYHT OH Mansfield / Y105 / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono in null (218 mi.)
105.5 WGOJ OH Conneaut / Religious / 6kw / 15dBµ, mono (88 mi.)
*105.7 CHRE ON St. Catharines / EZ Rock / 50kw / RDS / 35dBµ, stereo (35 mi.)
*105.9 WGWE NY Little Valley / Classic Hits / 7kw / RDS / 25dBµ, stereo (31 mi.)
105.9 WDMK MI Detroit / Kiss-FM / 20kw / in null (208 mi.)
*106.1 W291CN NY Buffalo / Family Life Network / 250w / 20dBµ, stereo (27 mi.)
106.1 CIMJ ON Guelph / Magic 106.1 / 50kw / 20dBµ, mono (83 mi.)
106.3 WXMT PA Smethport / Mountain / 1.03kw / 15dBµ, mono in IBOC null (67 mi.)
*106.5 WYRK NY Buffalo / Country 106.5 / 50kw / RDS / 45dBµ, stereo (23 mi.)
106.7 CIKZ ON Kitchener / Country 106.7 / 5kw / 10dBµ, mono in IBOC null (95 mi.)
106.7 WAOB PA Beaver Falls / We Are One Body / 37kw / 10dBµ, m., IBOC null (146 mi.)
106.9 WKZA NY Lakewood / Kiss FM / 5.1kw / 20dBµ, mono (46 mi.)
*107.1 CILQ ON Toronto / Q107 / 40kw / RDS / 30dBµ, stereo (73 mi.)
107.1 WSAQ MI Port Huron / Q Country 107 / 6kw / 10dBµ, mono in null (172 mi.)
107.3 CJDL ON Tillsonburg / Country 107.3 / 7.8kw / 10dBµ, mono (92 mi.)
107.3 WNWV OH Elyria / The Wave / 20kw / 10dBµ, mono (175 mi.)
107.5 WFXJ OH N. Kingsville / The Fox / 3.6kw / 10dBµ, mono (93 mi.)
107.5 WGPR MI Detroit / Hot 107.5 / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono (202 mi.)
107.7 WLKK NY Wethersfield Twp. / Alt. Buff. //104.7 / 17kw / RDS / 20dBµ, m. (42 mi.)
107.7 CHGK ON Stratford / 2day FM / 6kw / 10dBµ, mono in null (108 mi.)
*107.9 CJXY ON Burlington / Y108 / 26.1kw / RDS / 30dBµ, stereo (66 mi.)
107.9 WENZ OH Cleveland / Z 107.9 / 16kw / 15dBµ, mono in null (137 mi.)
Inconclusive stations: None
Recommendations for this radio site: Evangola State Park is a suitable site for those staying in and around the Buffalo metro area, especially in the Southtowns (south suburbs). With tent camping here as cheap as $20 a night (just $15 for NYS residents) and yurt reservations available as well, it could be a smart idea to set up camp here (literally) for the night instead of paying extra for a nearby hotel. Services are close though quite spread out along the shore, including chain restaurants such as Tim Horton’s and a Tops supermarket. For larger stores, Evangola lies halfway between two Wal-Mart locations, one in suburban Hamburg and another to the south in Fredonia.
The state park’s shoreline isn’t especially long, but as a shoreline park with a beach, there are out-of-the-way spots if you don’t mind people nearby. At beach level, there are short shale cliffs, and although I didn’t utilize them, they can be helpful in seeking out distant stations by weakening Buffalo and Toronto locals; the park lies atop these cliffs giving an extra 15+ feet of height that can be quite valuable for radio purposes. Bathrooms are readily available in the center of the park along with a shelter that can be used during poor weather conditions. The entrance fee for state parks in New York is fair – $6 for day use and $7 on days that the beach is open, which doesn’t seem to be all that often.
Location rating: I put a lot of effort into choosing suitable locations for radio listening. In fact, I follow rather strict guidelines based on multiple factors to best utilize the opportunity for shoreline propagation. This site seemed to go against all my instincts, hence it not being included in my original plans. Instead, I was surprised to find that it surpassed my expectations even as a makeshift site when my plans changed.
Because of its shoreline orientation being uniquely almost east-west, it sets up cross-lake signals for far better reception. Local Buffalo and Toronto signals are still present and strong, but local stations are not so overwhelming as they are in Erie to the southwest. Michigan stations were surprisingly audible for a location just outside Buffalo and its location takes advantage of the long fetch of Lake Erie straight across the water to pick up the most common South Bend and Fort Wayne stations 300-400 miles to the west.
Additionally, the centrally-located bathrooms, shale cliffs that allow for additional height or weakening of locals, camping opportunities, rather easy access to nearby services, proximity to Buffalo, and not to forget a shoreline orientation favourable for a beautiful sunset while listening to the radio, all make this site worthwhile of a visit.