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Killarney is a remote radio site on the shores of Georgian Bay in northern Ontario. The site is 40 miles southwest of Sudbury, 100 miles west of North Bay, 140 miles east of Sault Ste. Marie, 180 miles northwest of Toronto, 200 miles north of London, and 250 miles northeast of Detroit across a path consisting almost exclusively of water. The village is surrounded by Killarney Provincial Park and is part of the Sudbury District.
Killarney is somewhat difficult to access compared to most sites. Until the 1960s, it was accessible only by canoe or steamship. Today, only a single road – Route 637 – provides access to the village from Route 69 (Trans-Canada Highway), a 45-minute journey of 42 miles with few services or attractions aside from natural ones; hiking trails and lakes are numerous in this area. The village is an hour outside of Sudbury, the population center of this region.
When it comes to radio, Killarney is quite a fickle location from which to listen. George Island blocks the entirety of the village off from the open waters of Georgian Bay and Lake Huron, aside from accessing Killarney East Lighthouse outside of town, which even then only has access to open water to the south and southwest. Despite researching the area prior to arrival, I did not note the presence of this lighthouse and therefore did not listen from there, one of those costly mistakes after all the trouble of accessing and planning for such a remote location. Despite this, there were still plenty of signals to be heard from across the water here and the overall results were satisfactory with signals in excess of 300 miles. Reception was possible – with Manitoulin and Sudbury stations as locals – from Toronto, Barrie, and Owen Sound across Georgian Bay, and Northern Michigan and Sault Ste. Marie stations across the water from the west. Detroit, London, Cleveland, Green Bay, and Buffalo can all be expected from any visit, and because of the unique location of Killarney on the northern shore of the bay, it’s possible to hear numerous Ottawa stations as well, all of them with a water path hugging the shore from French River to Killarney at distances nearing 300 miles.
KILLARNEY, ONTARIO BANDSCAN
August 11, 2019 1210-1500 / 29°C, clear and sunny
Location: 45°58’09.0″N 81°30’18.6″W (Killarney Mountain Lodge)
Location: 45°58’14.0″N 81°30’50.4″W (Nancy Pitfield Mem. Park)
at lake level beside Killarney Channel
122 stations total / Average distance: 149 mi.
* station was received on seek
88.1 –
88.3 –
88.5 WIAB MI Mackinaw City / Classical IPR / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono (173 mi.)
88.5 CKDX ON Newmarket / Jewel 88.5 / 30kw / 3dBµ, mono (166 mi.)
88.7 CKAR ON Huntsville / Hunters Bay R. / 5.7kw / 5dBµ, mono (128 mi.)
88.9 –
89.1 CBFY QC Ville-Marie / Ici Première Rouyn-N. / 66.4kw / 10dBµ, m. (134 mi.)
89.1 CBLA-2 ON Paris / CBC R. 1 Kitchener / 10.4kw / 7dBµ, mono (194 mi.)
89.3 WTLI MI Bear Creek Twp. / Smile FM / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono, weak (166 mi.)
89.5 CIUT ON Toronto / Sound of Your City / 15kw / 5dBµ, mono (191 mi.)
89.5 CBSM ON Sault Ste. Marie / CBC R. 1 Sudbury / 46kw / 5dBµ, m., weak (139 mi.)
89.7 –
89.9 –
*90.1 CBBS ON Sudbury / CBC Music Sudbury / 50kw / RDS / 20dBµ, stereo (45 mi.)
90.3 CJBC ON Toronto / Ici Musique Toronto / 10kw / weak (191 mi.)
90.5 WPHN MI Gaylord / The Promise FM / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (141 mi.)
90.5 WKAR MI East Lansing / Public & Classical / 85kw / 3dBµ, mono (267 mi.)
90.7 WNFR MI Sandusky / Hope FM / 42kw / weak (200 mi.)
*90.9 CBBX ON Sudbury / Ici Musique Sudbury / 50kw / RDS / 20dBµ, st. (45 mi.)
91.1 –
91.3 CHRZ ON Parry Island / Anishinabek Nation Rez 91 / 60w / weak (83 mi.)
91.5 WJOH MI Raco / Smile FM / 5.5kw / 5dBµ, mono (144 mi.)
*91.7 CICS ON Sudbury / Pure Country 91.7 / 50kw / RDS / 20dBµ, mono (45 mi.)
91.9 CKLY ON Lindsay / Bob FM / 11.4kw / 3dBµ, mono (180 mi.)
92.1 CKPC ON Brantford / Jewel 92 / 80kw / 5dBµ, mono (196 mi.)
92.3 CJOS ON Owen Sound / The Dock / 9.4kw / faint (104 mi.)
92.5 WFDX MI Atlanta / The Fox FM / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (153 mi.)
92.5 CBCD ON Pembroke / CBC R. 1 Ottawa / 100kw / 7dBµ, mono (213 mi.)
*92.7 CJRQ ON Sudbury / 92-7 Rock / 100kw / RDS / 40dBµ, stereo (43 mi.)
92.9 WJZQ MI Cadillac / Z93 / 100kw / weak (203 mi.)
93.1 CHAY ON Barrie / Fresh Radio 93.1 / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (142 mi.)
93.3 WKQZ MI Midland / Z-93 / 39kw / faint (194 mi.)
*93.5 CIGM ON Sudbury / Hot 93.5 / 100kw / RDS / 30dBµ, stereo (39 mi.)
93.7 CKYC ON Owen Sound / Country 93 / 22kw / 7dBµ, mono (104 mi.)
93.9 CKKL ON Ottawa / New Country 94 / 95kw / 10dBµ, mono (274 mi.)
*94.1 CKNR ON Elliot Lake / The Moose / 90kw / 50dBµ, stereo (23 mi.)
94.3 CBLU ON Huntsville / CBC R. 1 Toronto / 70kw / 10dBµ, mono (115 mi.)
94.5 CIBU ON Wingham / Cl. Rock 94-5 / 75kw / 15dBµ, mono (131 mi.)
94.5 WCEN MI Hemlock / The Moose / 100kw / 7dBµ, mono in null (217 mi.)
94.7 CHKX ON Hamilton / KX 94.7 / 100kw / 3dBµ, mono (210 mi.)
*94.9 CBON-7 ON Espanola / Ici Première Sudbury / 520w / 20dBµ, m. (28 mi.)
94.9 WKJZ MI Hillman / Hits FM / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono in null (134 mi.)
95.1 CBON-17 ON North Bay / Ici Première Sudbury / 100kw / 10dBµ, m. (103 mi.)
95.3 –
*95.5 CJTK ON Sudbury / KFM / 8.1kw / RDS / 20dBµ, stereo (45 mi.)
95.7 CFJB ON Barrie / Rock 95 / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (142 mi.)
95.7 WCMB MI Oscoda / CMU Public R. / 25kw / 7dBµ, mono (132 mi.)
*95.9 CFPL ON London / FM96 / 300kw / 15dBµ, mono (209 mi.)
96.1 WHNN MI Bay City / My 96.1 / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono, dominant (198 mi.)
96.1 CBCN ON North Bay / CBC R. 1 Sudbury / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (103 mi.)
96.3 WLXT MI Petoskey / Lite 96.3 / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (169 mi.)
96.3 CFMZ ON Toronto / New Classical 96.3 FM / 60kw / 5dBµ, mono (191 mi.)
96.5 CJBC-3 ON Penetanguishene / Ici Première Tor. / 15.3kw / 5dBµ, m. (111 mi.)
96.5 WAKS OH Akron / Kiss FM / 31kw / 5dBµ, mono (324 mi.)
96.7 WRGZ MI Rogers City / Country //99.3 / 42kw / 7dBµ, mono (118 mi.)
96.9 WWCM MI Standish / CMU Public R. / 3kw / 5dBµ, mono, weak (181 mi.)
97.1 CBL-4 ON Owen Sound / CBC Music Toronto / 20.22kw / 10dBµ, mono (90 mi.)
97.3 CHBM ON Toronto / Boom 97.3 / 28.9kw / 3dBµ, mono (191 mi.)
*97.5 CBCE ON Little Current / CBC R. 1 Sudbury / 21kw / 50dBµ, m. only (24 mi.)
97.7 CHTZ ON St. Catharines / HTZ-FM / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono (227 mi.)
97.9 CFPS ON Port Elgin / The Beach / 8.95kw / 10dBµ, mono (115 mi.)
97.9 WIHC MI Newberry / Strong Tower R. / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono (175 mi.)
*98.1 CBON ON Sudbury / Ici Première Sudbury / 50kw / RDS / 20dBµ, m. (45 mi.)
98.1 CHFI ON Toronto / Adult Contemp. / 44kw / 3dBµ, mono in null (191 mi.)
98.3 WCMZ MI Sault Ste. Marie / CMU Public R. / 25kw / 5dBµ, mono (135 mi.)
98.5 WUPS MI Harrison / 98.5 UPS / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (196 mi.)
98.7 CBCB ON Owen Sound / CBC R. 1 Toronto / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (90 mi.)
98.9 CHYC ON Sudbury / Le Loup / 3.82kw / 15dBµ, mono (45 mi.)
98.9 WKLZ MI Petoskey / KLT The Rock Sta. / 100kw / 10dBµ, m. in null (170 mi.)
99.1 CBLA ON Toronto / CBC R. 1 Toronto / 98kw / 5dBµ, mono (191 mi.)
99.1 WFMK MI East Lansing / Adult Contemp. / 28kw / weak (271 mi.)
99.3 WATZ MI Alpena / Country //96.7 / 17kw / 7dBµ, mono (125 mi.)
99.3 CJJM ON Espanola / Moose FM / 1.41kw / weak in car (23 mi.)
99.5 CFBG ON Bracebridge / Moose FM / 12kw / 5dBµ, mono (127 mi.)
99.5 WDCX NY Buffalo / Christian / 110kw / 3dBµ, mono (267 mi.)
99.7 WUGN MI Midland / Family Life R. / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (226 mi.)
*99.9 CBCS ON Sudbury / CBC R. 1 Sudbury / 50kw / RDS / 25dBµ, m. only (45 mi.)
100.1 CHCQ ON Belleville / Cool 101.1 / 32kw / 3dBµ, mono (227 mi.)
100.3 CJMJ ON Ottawa / Majic 100.3 / 100kw / 3dBµ, mono (274 mi.)
100.3 WNCY WI Neenah-Menasha / Y100 / 45kw / 3dBµ, mono (347 mi.)
100.5 CHUR ON North Bay / KiSS 100.5 / 100kw / 7dBµ, mono (103 mi.)
100.5 CHAS ON Sault Ste. Marie / KiSS 100.5 / 13.9kw / weak in null (142 mi.)
*100.7 CFRM ON Little Current / Hits 100 / 27.5kw / RDS / 40dBµ, st. (21 mi.)
100.9 CIYM ON Brighton / Oldies 100.9 / 316w / faint (223 mi.)
101.1 CIQB ON Barrie / Big 101.1 / 7.5kw / good in car (142 mi.)
101.3 WSUE MI Sault Ste. Marie / Rock 101 / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (141 mi.)
101.5 WMJZ MI Gaylord / Eagle 101.5 / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono (155 mi.)
101.7 CBON-5 ON Elliot Lake / Ici Première Sudbury / 2.6kw / 10dBµ, m. (61 mi.)
101.7 CKNX ON Wingham / The One / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono in null (131 mi.)
101.9 CKFX ON North Bay / 101-9 Rock / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (103 mi.)
101.9 WLDR MI Traverse City / Adult Contemp. / 100kw / 5dBµ, m. in null (219 mi.)
*102.1 CJTK-2 ON Little Current / KFM / 1.3kw / 25dBµ, stereo (21 mi.)
102.3 CJMU ON Gravenhurst / Country 102 / 23kw / 10dBµ, mono (125 mi.)
102.3 WTHN MI Sault Ste. Marie / The Promise FM / 22.5kw / 3dBµ, mono (135 mi.)
102.5 WTSS NY Buffalo / Star 102.5 / 110kw / 15dBµ, mono (269 mi.)
102.5 CJTK-3 ON Elliot Lake / KFM / 117w / in null (61 mi.)
102.5 CBOX ON Ottawa / Ici Musique Ottawa / 94kw / in null (274 mi.)
102.5 WIOG MI Bay City / CHR / 86kw / perfect in car inland (207 mi.)
102.7 –
102.9 CFMO ON Collingwood / Classical 102.9 / 23kw / 5dBµ, mono (118 mi.)
102.9 WMKC MI Indian River / Big Country Hits / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (173 mi.)
*103.1 CHAW ON Manitoulin Is. / Country 103.1 / 27.5kw / RDS / 40dBµ, st. (21 mi.)
103.3 CKLP ON Parry Sound / Moose FM / 46.6kw / 10dBµ, mono (81 mi.)
103.5 WTCM MI Traverse City / Country / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (229 mi.)
103.7 CJPT ON Brockville / Bob FM / 100kw / 7dBµ, mono (290 mi.)
103.7 WCZE MI Harbor Beach / Positive Country / 43kw / 5dBµ, mono (174 mi.)
*103.9 CHNO ON Sudbury / Rewind 103.9 / 100kw / RDS / 30dBµ, stereo (39 mi.)
104.1 CICZ ON Midland / The Dock / 20kw / 3dBµ, mono, weak (134 mi.)
104.3 CJQM ON Sault Ste. Marie / Country 104.3 / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (142 mi.)
104.5 CHUM ON Toronto / Hot AC / 40kw / 3dBµ, mono (191 mi.)
104.7 WKJC MI Tawas City / Country / 50kw / 7dBµ, mono (149 mi.)
104.9 CFDC ON Shelburne / Country 105 / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono (134 mi.)
105.1 CKQM ON Peterborough / Pure Country 105 / 25kw / 5dBµ, mono (193 mi.)
105.1 WGFM MI Cheboygan / Rock 105 & 95.5 / 43kw / 5dBµ, mono, weak (166 mi.)
*105.3 CJMX ON Sudbury / KiSS 105.3 / 100kw / RDS / 30dBµ, stereo (43 mi.)
105.5 CFBK ON Huntsville / Moose FM / 43.4kw / 5dBµ, mono (130 mi.)
105.7 WZTK MI Alpena / News Talk Sports / 4.5kw / 10dBµ, mono (114 mi.)
105.9 WKHQ MI Charlevoix / Hits 106 KHQ / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (182 mi.)
105.9 CICX ON Orillia / Pure Country 106 / 20kw / 5dBµ, mono (134 mi.)
106.1 WTZM MI Tawas City / The Point / 25kw / 5dBµ, mono (157 mi.)
106.3 CFXN ON North Bay / Moose FM / 10kw / 3dBµ, mono (103 mi.)
106.5 CIXK ON Owen Sound / Mix 106.5 / 28kw / 5dBµ, mono (104 mi.)
106.7 WSRT MI Gaylord / ESPN N. Michigan / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (174 mi.)
106.7 WLLZ MI Detroit / Detroit’s Wheels / 61kw / weak (262 mi.)
106.9 CBL-1 ON Huntsville / CBC Music Toronto / 70kw / 5dBµ, mono (115 mi.)
106.9 CKQB ON Ottawa / Jump! 106.9 / 84kw / 3dBµ, mono (274 mi.)
107.1 CILQ ON Toronto / Q107 / 40kw / 5dBµ, mono (191 mi.)
107.3 –
107.5 CKMB ON Barrie / Kool FM / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono (142 mi.)
107.7 WHSB MI Alpena / The Bay / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (124 mi.)
107.9 CJXY ON Burlington / Y108 / 26.1kw / 5dBµ, mono (195 mi.)
Inconclusive signals: 89.7, 89.9, 98.7
Station notes:
99.5 WYSS MI Sault Ste. Marie is at 1.3kw from a backup tower instead of 100kw
105.5 WMKD MI Pickford is at 700w from a backup tower instead of 100kw
Recommendations for this radio site: Killarney is a tough site to plan for. Because it is remote in comparison to most areas further south along the shore, there are only so many places to stay and so many things to do. Most of this area is known for its wilderness; if a great nature outing is an ideal trip for you with radio on the side, this is a great place to be.
Camping at Killarney is a mix of backcountry sites accessible by hiking or canoe and a full-service campground at Lake George, 6 miles outside of town. Because Killarney is a popular wilderness getaway and there are only so many campsites, these campgrounds can be mostly or entirely booked well in advance. There are other accommodations in the area, though they too are limited in choice. The most popular for those with a few extra dollars to spend is the Killarney Mountain Lodge right on the water. The resort is a mix of affordable rooms for those passing through town and expensive suites for those wishing for a full experience. Whether you’re staying here or not, Killarney Mountain Lodge is worth a visit even if only to walk around. Not only did I walk around here, it served as one of my listening sites and is the start of the open waters of Georgian Bay. A second popular option is the Sportsman’s Inn and Resort down the road alongside the marinas.
Alternatively, Pitfield Park right along the marinas on Channel Street, was another radio site. The park is tiny and privacy on any summer day will be extremely hard to come by. It overlooks the Sportsman’s Inn and a few marinas. There are various eateries in this area and a few souvenir shops, though most of the activity in town surprisingly comes from those in kayaks, boats, and canoes passing through or docking along Killarney Channel.
Services here are rather limited. Pitfield’s General Store, built in the 1800s and still looking like it, lies along the channel beside Killarney Mountain Lodge. Hours are limited as the store typically closes at 6 p.m. Killarney Outfitters just two miles outside of town is popular for canoe and kayak supplies and rentals. Other services are scattered around town though primarily lying along the channel. Full services can be found in Sudbury, one hour away, where nearly anything you need you will find.
To truly experience Killarney, hook yourself up with a kayak or canoe and stay at one of the two larger resort properties along the water where you will have ample assistance in exploring this area. Join those who traverse Killarney Channel and stop across the channel at George Island for some wilderness hiking, especially along George Island Trail, a moderately difficult trail that will provide better listening opportunities escaping the terrain shadow that weakens signals in town. While many of the island properties along the channel here are private, it’s still possible to access this area. Both Killarney Mountain Lodge and Sportsman’s Inn – assuming you are staying at either – will typically ferry you across the channel for no more than a few dollars.
To access the Killarney East Lighthouse listening site: take Ontario Street (three blocks north of the channel) east just past the airport and stay to the right at the curve, then following Lighthouse Road (unmarked) to its end. There is no parking here, but you can park your car at the end of the road and take a short hike up to the lighthouse. A tall communications tower is nearby the lighthouse.
Location rating: Killarney has a number of pros and cons and all of them depend on your travel and recreation preferences. Do you enjoy the wilderness, hiking, canoeing, and kayaking? Killarney will be an awesome place for you and I would highly recommend it. Do you instead prefer an easy in-and-out area in which to listen where you may not want to pay for accommodations (personally, I camp at Mine Mill Local 598 Campground south of Sudbury and take the hour drive to Killarney and then head back later in the day) and wish for more services for an easier life? Then Killarney may not be your cup of tea.
Either way, this village along Georgian Bay has some great scenery if you truly have the time to get out there and explore it. As a short day trip in and out, the village itself won’t be a great visit aside from to say you’ve been there.
When it comes to radio reception, George Island stands in the way of what could be far better signals. Both the lighthouse and points along Lake George Trail are in better positions to receive additional and enhanced signals, though Killarney is still rather close to the Sudbury market. Tuning in at George Lake Campground, in the event you can find a site, could also be beneficial in addition to listening along the water as the added elevation made it easy to hear both 102.5 Buffalo and Bay City fighting it out, as well as other signals being enhanced. Reception patterns here are somewhat similar to Blind River along the North Channel to the west, where distant signals aren’t strong but they do come in, and 300+ miles is to be expected almost for any visit.