Go back to the Lake Ontario bandscan series | Return to the coastal bandscans index 
Darlington Provincial Park is a radio site in Oshawa, in east suburban Toronto. The site is primarily an urban one with downtown Toronto just over 30 miles down the shore to the west, just far enough for some minor relief from local stations. But not so quick! Buffalo is 70 miles to the south, Rochester 75 miles to the southeast, Peterborough 35 miles to the northeast, and Barrie 55 miles to the northwest, providing ample assurance that Darlington is more or less blocked in from all sides, easily hearing all of those markets and any additional interference in the meantime.
DARLINGTON PROV. PARK / OSHAWA, ONTARIO BANDSCAN
August 1, 2019 1530-1710 / 24°C (25° inland), clear
Location: 43°52’12.9″N 78°47’00.5″W
255 feet (just above lake level in park)
125 stations total / Average distance: 68 mi.
* station was received on seek
87.75 –
*88.1 CIND ON Toronto / Indie 88 / 3.5kw / RDS / 40dBµ, stereo (34 mi.)
88.3 WCOU NY Attica / Family Life Network / 11kw / 25dBµ, stereo (78 mi.)
*88.5 CKDX ON Newmarket / Jewel 88.5 / 30kw / RDS / 20dBµ, stereo (38 mi.)
*88.5 WRUR NY Rochester / Different R. / 15.1kw / 20dBµ, mono (79 mi.)
*88.7 WBFO NY Buffalo / NPR Public / 50kw / 25dBµ, st., IBOC in null (60 mi.)
*88.9 CIRV ON Toronto / RED FM / 4.18kw / RDS / 35dBµ, stereo (34 mi.)
*89.1 WBSU NY Brockport / The Point / 7.3kw / 25dBµ, m., IBOC in null (62 mi.)
89.1 CKYY ON Welland / Country 89 / 4.25kw / 15dBµ, m., IBOC in null (63 mi.)
89.3 WCOM NY Silver Creek / Family Life Network / 8kw / 10dBµ, mono (90 mi.)
89.3 WMHN NY Webster / Mars Hill Network / 1kw / 10dBµ, mono (80 mi.)
*89.5 CIUT ON Toronto / Sound of Your City / 15kw / RDS / 50dBµ, st. (34 mi.)
89.7 CFWN ON Cobourg / Northumberland 89.7 FM / 700w / 10dBµ, m. weak, dom. (31 mi.)
89.7 WITR NY Henrietta / Rochester Inst. of Tech. / 910w / weak (78 mi.)
89.7 WNJA NY Jamestown / Classical 94.5 //94.5 / 6kw / weak (127 mi.)
89.9 WRVO NY Oswego / NPR Public / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono (116 mi.)
89.9 CJKX-1 ON Sunderland / KX96 //95.9 / 5kw / 5dBµ, mono (32 mi.)
90.1 WGMC NY Greece / Jazz90.1 / 15kw / 20dBµ, mono (70 mi.)
*90.3 CJBC ON Toronto / Ici Musique Toronto / 1.8kw / RDS / 30dBµ, st. (34 mi.)
90.5 IBOC (CJBC)
90.7 CHJJ ON Cobourg / UCB Canada / 250w / 3dBµ, mono, IBOC in null (30 mi.)
90.7 CBL-3 ON Orillia / CBC Music Tor. / 5.5kw / 5dBµ, m., IBOC in null (60 mi.)
90.9 WLNF NY Rapids / Lockport Comm. TV / 1.8kw / 10dBµ, m. + overload (54 mi.)
*91.1 CJRT ON Toronto / Jazz.FM91 / 40kw / RDS / 45dBµ, stereo (34 mi.)
91.3 WQLN PA Erie / NPR Public / 35kw / 15dBµ, mono + overload (142 mi.)
*91.5 WXXI NY Rochester / NPR Classical / 45kw / RDS / 25dBµ, stereo (79 mi.)
91.5 CKBT ON Kitchener / The Beat / 10kw / 5dBµ, mono (93 mi.)
*91.7 CIXL ON Welland / Giant FM / 50kw / RDS / 30dBµ, stereo (63 mi.)
91.9 CKLY ON Lindsay / Bob FM / 11.4kw / 15dBµ, mono (29 mi.)
91.9 CHIN-1 ON Toronto / Multicultural //1540 / 5kw / 5dBµ, mono (33 mi.)
*92.1 CKPC ON Brantford / Jewel 92 / 80kw / RDS / 25dBµ, stereo (87 mi.)
92.1 WZDV NY Amherst / Dove FM / 1.4kw / 10dBµ, mono in null (60 mi.)
92.3 IBOC (CKIS / WBEE)
*92.5 CKIS ON Toronto / KiSS 92.5 / 13kw / RDS / 40dBµ, stereo (34 mi.)
*92.5 WBEE NY Rochester / Country / 50kw / 30dBµ, stereo in null (81 mi.)
92.7 IBOC (CKIS / WBEE)
*92.9 WBUF NY Buffalo / Jack FM / 76kw / RDS / 20dBµ, mono (63 mi.)
92.9 CHTG ON Haldimand / The Grand / 10kw / 10dBµ, mono in null (83 mi.)
*93.1 CHAY ON Barrie / Fresh R. 93.1 / 100kw / RDS / 20dBµ, mono (56 mi.)
93.1 WNTQ NY Syracuse / 93Q / 97kw / 15dBµ, mono (152 mi.)
*93.3 WFKL NY Fairport / Fickle 93.3 / 4.4kw / 20dBµ, mono (81 mi.)
93.3 CKSG ON Cobourg / myFM / 15.5kw / RDS / 15dBµ, mono (35 mi.)
*93.5 CFXJ ON Toronto / Flow 93.5 / 3.706kw / RDS / 50dBµ, stereo (34 mi.)
*93.7 WBLK NY Depew / Power 93.7 / 47kw / RDS / 25dBµ, stereo (68 mi.)
93.9 WTWF PA Fairview / The Wolf / 6kw / 10dBµ, mono in IBOC null (144 mi.)
*94.1 CBL ON Toronto / CBC Music Toronto / 38kw / RDS / 60dBµ, st. (34 mi.)
94.3 CBLU ON Huntsville / CBC R. 1 Toronto / 70kw / behind 94.1 (109 mi.)
*94.5 WNED NY Buffalo / Classical 94.5 //89.7 / 94kw / RDS / 30dBµ, st. (85 mi.)
94.5 WYYY NY Syracuse / Y94 / 100kw / in null (148 mi.)
*94.7 CHKX ON Hamilton / KX 94.7 / 100kw / 30dBµ, mono + overload (66 mi.)
*94.9 CKGE ON Oshawa / The Rock / 50kw / RDS / 65dBµ, stereo (6 mi.)
95.1 WAIO NY Honeoye Falls / Radio 95.1 / 50kw / 25dBµ, m. + overload (89 mi.)
*95.3 CING ON Hamilton / Energy 95-3 / 100kw / RDS / 30dBµ, stereo (67 mi.)
95.5 CJOJ ON Belleville / Hits FM / 64kw / 10dBµ, m., IBOC in null (69 mi.)
95.7 W239BA NY Niagara Falls / Family Life N. / 250w / 15dBµ, m., IBOC in null (58 mi.)
*95.9 CJKX ON Ajax / KX96 //89.9 / 50kw / RDS / 50dBµ, stereo (14 mi.)
96.1 WMSX NY Buffalo / The Breeze / 47kw / 25dBµ, m. in IBOC null (68 mi.)
*96.3 CFMZ ON Toronto / New Classical 96.3 FM / 60kw / RDS / 50dBµ, st. (34 mi.)
96.5 WCMF NY Rochester / Cl. Rock / 48kw / 20dBµ, mono in IBOC null (79 mi.)
*96.7 CJWV ON Peterborough / Oldies 96.7 / 7kw / 20dBµ, m., dominant (40 mi.)
96.7 CHYM ON Kitchener / Adult Contemp. / 80kw / 15dBµ, mono in null (98 mi.)
*96.9 WGRF NY Buffalo / 97 Rock / 24kw / RDS / 20dBµ, stereo (63 mi.)
97.1 CIGL ON Belleville / Mix 97 / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono behind overload (72 mi.)
*97.3 CHBM ON Toronto / Boom 97.3 / 28.9kw / RDS / 55dBµ, stereo (34 mi.)
97.5 CIQM ON London / Virgin Radio / 50kw / 15dBµ, m. + 95.9 overload (144 mi.)
97.5 WFRY NY Watertown / Froggy 97 / 97kw / behind 95.9 overload (146 mi.)
*97.7 CHTZ ON St. Catharines / HTZ-FM / 50kw / RDS / 40dBµ, stereo (58 mi.)
97.9 WPXY NY Rochester / 98 PXY / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono (79 mi.)
97.9 CFPS ON Port Elgin / The Beach / 8.95kw / 5dBµ, mono (140 mi.)
*98.1 CHFI ON Toronto / Adult Contemp. / 44kw / RDS / 55dBµ, stereo (34 mi.)
98.3 CFLY ON Kingston / FLY FM / 95.5kw / behind overload (113 mi.)
98.5 WKSE NY Niagara Falls / Kiss 98.5 / 46kw / RDS / 15dBµ, mono (62 mi.)
98.5 WGYI PA Oil City / Froggy 100.3 & 98.5 / 20kw / in null (176 mi.)
*98.7 CKFG ON Toronto / G 98.7 / 1kw / RDS / 25dBµ, stereo (34 mi.)
98.7 CBCP ON Peterborough / CBC R. 1 Toronto / 12.438kw / 15dBµ, mono (37 mi.)
*98.9 WBZA NY Rochester / The Buzz / 37kw / 10dBµ, mono (74 mi.)
98.9 CKLC ON Kingston / Pure Country 99 / 15kw / 7dBµ, mono in null (120 mi.)
*99.1 CBLA ON Toronto / CBC R. 1 Toronto / 98kw / RDS / 45dBµ, stereo (34 mi.)
99.3 WFLK NY Seneca Falls / Cl. Hits 99.3 / 5kw / 3dBµ, m. in IBOC null (114 mi.)
*99.5 WDCX NY Buffalo / Christian / 110kw / RDS / 30dBµ, stereo (85 mi.)
99.7 IBOC (CKFM)
*99.9 CKFM ON Toronto / Virgin Radio / 40kw / RDS / 45dBµ, stereo (34 mi.)
100.1 CHCQ ON Belleville / Cool 100.1 / 32kw / behind IBOC (69 mi.)
100.3 CJLF ON Barrie / Life 100.3 / 32.8kw / 5dBµ, mono (63 mi.)
100.3 CJMJ ON Ottawa / Majic 100.3 / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (183 mi.)
100.5 WDVI NY Rochester / Mix 100.5 / 50kw / RDS / 15dBµ, m. + overload (89 mi.)
100.5 CKRU ON Peterborough / Fresh R. 100.5 / 15kw / 15dBµ, m. + overload (36 mi.)
*100.7 CHIN ON Toronto / Multicultural / 8.5kw / RDS / 45dBµ, stereo (34 mi.)
100.9 CBLA-3 ON Wingham / CBC R. 1 Toronto / 30kw / 7dBµ, m. + overload (120 mi.)
101.1 CIQB ON Barrie / Big 101.1 / 7.5kw / 7dBµ, mono in IBOC null (56 mi.)
*101.3 CJSA ON Toronto / CMR Diversity FM / 850w / 35dBµ, stereo (34 mi.)
101.5 CKWF ON Peterborough / The Wolf / 15.2kw / 15dBµ, m. in IBOC null (40 mi.)
101.7 WLOF NY Elma / Station of the Cross / 2.8kw / 10dBµ, mono (77 mi.)
101.7 CKNX ON Wingham / The One / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (121 mi.)
101.9 = 102.1
*102.1 CFNY ON Brampton / The Edge / 35.4kw / RDS / 55dBµ, stereo (34 mi.)
102.3 = 102.1
*102.5 WTSS NY Buffalo / Star 102.5 / 110kw / RDS / 30dBµ, stereo (84 mi.)
*102.7 CJRK ON Scarborough / East FM / 1.2kw / 30dBµ, stereo (22 mi.)
*102.9 CKLH ON Hamilton / K-Lite / 40.3kw / RDS / 40dBµ, stereo (66 mi.)
*103.1 CFMX ON Cobourg / Classical 103.1 / 86.7kw / RDS / 25dBµ, st. (35 mi.)
*103.3 WEDG NY Buffalo / The Edge / 49kw / RDS / 25dBµ, stereo (65 mi.)
*103.5 CIDC ON Orangeville / Z 103-5 / 30.7kw / RDS / 30dBµ, stereo (57 mi.)
103.7 WRTS PA Erie / Star 104 / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono (136 mi.)
103.7 CFBU St. Catharines / Brock Student R. / 250w / 5dBµ, m. in null (57 mi.)
103.9 CIRR ON Toronto / Proud FM / 225w / 15dBµ, mono (34 mi.)
103.9 CBBP ON Peterborough / CBC Music Toronto / 26kw / 15dBµ, mono (36 mi.)
*104.1 WHTT NY Buffalo / Cl. Hits 104.1 / 50kw / RDS / 20dBµ, stereo (72 mi.)
104.3 WFRG NY Utica / Big Frog 104 / 100kw / 10dBµ, m., IBOC in null (178 mi.)
*104.5 CHUM ON Toronto / Hot AC / 40kw / RDS / 60dBµ, stereo (34 mi.)
104.7 WBBS NY Fulton / B-104.7 / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono + overload (128 mi.)
104.9 W285EZ NY Arcade / CJ Country //1140 / 250w / 10dBµ, mono, weak (90 mi.)
*105.1 CHOQ ON Toronto / R. des Francophones / 1kw / 20dBµ, m., dom. (32 mi.)
*105.1 CJED ON Niagara Falls / The River / 15kw / 20dBµ, stereo (58 mi.)
105.3 CFCA ON Kitchener / Virgin Radio / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (98 mi.)
105.3 W287CV NY Lockport / Hometown 1340 AM / 250w / 15dBµ, mono (48 mi.)
*105.5 CIUX ON Uxbridge / Hits FM / 900w / 25dBµ, stereo (24 mi.)
*105.7 CHRE ON St. Catharines / EZ Rock / 50kw / RDS / 30dBµ, st. (58 mi.)
105.9 CFMS ON Markham / The Region / 3kw / 15dBµ, mono (33 mi.)
105.9 CICX ON Orillia / Pure Country 106 / 20kw / 3dBµ, mono (63 mi.)
*106.1 CIMJ ON Guelph / Magic 106 / 50kw / 20dBµ, stereo (78 mi.)
106.1 W291CN NY Buffalo / Family Life N. / 250w / good behind in car (64 mi.)
106.3 CJBC-5 ON Peterb. / Ici Première / 12.438kw / 10dBµ, m., IBOC in null (37 mi.)
*106.5 CFPT ON Toronto / Elmnt FM / 2.6kw / RDS / 30dBµ, stereo (34 mi.)
*106.5 WYRK NY Buffalo / Country / 50kw / 25dBµ, mono (68 mi.)
106.7 WKGS NY Irondequoit / Kiss 106.7 / 4.6kw / 5dBµ, m. in IBOC null (79 mi.)
106.9 = 107.1
*107.1 CILQ ON Toronto / Q107 / 40kw / RDS / 60dBµ, stereo (34 mi.)
107.3 W297AB NY Williamsville / Cl. R&B 107.3 & 1400 / 73w / behind 107.1 (67 mi.)
107.5 CKMB ON Barrie / Kool FM / 50kw / 15dBµ, mono (56 mi.)
*107.7 CKDO-1 ON Oshawa / Cl. Hits //1580 / 2kw / RDS / 40dBµ, stereo (14 mi.)
*107.9 CJXY ON Burlington / Y108 / 26.1kw / 30dBµ, stereo (64 mi.)
*107.9 CHUC ON Cobourg / Cl. Rock 107.9 / 20kw / RDS / 20dBµ, mono (35 mi.)
Inconclusive signals: None
Recommendations for this radio site: While Darlington can provide a relaxing weekend of camping for those residing in the nearby cities, it is not suitable for day use due to its daily fee of more than $20 per car. A camping trip even for a night would run only about twice that cost, making a trip to Darlington far more worth the time and money. There are some hiking trails, fishing spots, and picnic tables along with other minor attractions. Furthermore, because the park is larger, it is possible to find a relatively private spot to listen to the radio here, though never entirely private. There is a small beach at the park, though it is quite rocky, but rather comparable to other Lake Ontario beaches along this stretch of shore. Downtown Oshawa as well as plenty of services are all about five miles down the highway to the west.
With that said, a fair conclusion is that Darlington is best avoided. Despite the aforementioned downfalls though, there are two options to somewhat resolve these issues:
1.) Take the Harmony Rd. / Bloor St. exit (exit 419) off the 401 and take Farewell Street south to Colonel Sam Dr., taking the latter eastward to its end in an undeveloped area just after General Motors, which is part of the McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve. The Waterfront Trail on the east side of the road (43°52’33″N 78°48’00″W), where one can simply park on the side of the road, leads directly into Darlington Provincial Park without having to pay the day use fee. It’s nearly a one-mile walk to the developed section of the park, but can be well worth the savings if this is a location you are set upon.
2.) Save all the time and trouble and relocate your plans entirely to the opposite side of the nuclear plant, 6 miles down the shore to the east at Port Darlington East Beach Park in Bowmanville, just off the Liberty Street exit (exit 432). The park has free entry and parking, beach access, washrooms, a playground, and even a splash pad. While privacy is harder to come by due to its smaller nature, the number of problems solved by instead using this park make it far more worthwhile and it is generally quieter as well. You’re also just that much further from local Toronto stations.
Location rating: Darlington is a rather urbanized area blocked in by Toronto, Buffalo, Rochester, Peterborough, and Barrie, leaving little open space for more distant reception. Despite this fact, signals do still manage to sneak between them all and there is still potential for smaller signals, such as translators from across the water on occasion. While the park is best avoided due to its high day use fees, camping here would be a feasible option. One would be better off at East Beach Park, though the reception may not improve much.