The Kettleby / Newmarket site is a rural radio site atop the Oak Ridges Moraine between Toronto and Barrie, Ontario and immediately outside the far north suburbs of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). The moraine, which spans from Peterborough in the east to the Niagara Escarpment in the west, includes land upwards of 1,000 feet above Lake Ontario. At 27 miles (43 km.) north of downtown Toronto, the north slopes of the moraine can be used to weaken otherwise strong Toronto locals.
The location lies between Lake Ontario and Lake Huron (Georgian Bay), so stations across both lakes are common, in addition to Detroit and Windsor area signals. The site can be influenced by both lakes but primarily relies on its higher elevation for superb reception.
This bandscan was conducted in May 2008 as I packed myself in the car with Toronto-based DXers Saul Chernos and Niel Wolfish. Saul utilized his MOSFET 50Wx4 radio connected to a dipole antenna, which he attaches to a pole topped by a squeegee for support, thus allowing for easy rotation. Much like myself, in addition to his home and cabin setups, he was a minimalist mobile DXer at the time improvising for the best reception. As I did not have control of the radio, some details in the scan may be missing. The scan includes as much detail as was possible to include with station specifications and information current as of the May 2008.
You can read Saul’s 1999 article “Obsessive Listening,” a great read for anyone wishing to be acquainted with the radio hobby, which he authored for the Financial Post.
It should be noted that while the bandscans were performed on the side of the road at night, the best location for listening is the small parking lot for The 99 Steps, the entrance to the Thornton Bales Conservation Area hiking trail at an elevation of 1175 feet (358 m.) and less than a mile to the east of the location of this scan. The coordinates of that lot are 44°01’37.3″N 79°31’09.1″W.
KETTLEBY – NEWMARKET, ONTARIO BANDSCAN (NIGHT)
May 3, 2008 2300 – 0030
Saul Chernos, Niel Wolfish, Chris Kadlec on
Saul’s Pioneer MOSFET 50Wx4 with extended dipole
Conditions: 8°C, drizzle to moderate rain (dead)
– Main Site: 44°01’23.7″N 79°32’11.7″W / King Twp.
(1030 ft. / 19th Sideroad btw. Dufferin and Keele)
1116 ft. hill 1/10 mi. to south drops to 924 ft. 1/4 mi. to west
– Secondary Site: 44°02’34.4″N 79°32’02.5″W / King Twp.
(958 ft. / Glenview Hts. Ln. off Rt. 9 btw. Dufferin and Keele
1003 ft. hill 1/10 mi. to south drops to 879 ft. 2/10 mi. to north
and 755 ft. 1.4 miles to west
87.75 CIII ON Paris / Global TV / 10kw / good (69 mi.)
88.1 CFRH ON Penetanguishene / Vague FM / 4.493kw (50 mi.)
88.1 CKLN ON Toronto / Voice of the Underground / 225w (27 mi.)
88.3 WCOU NY Warsaw / Family Life Network / 11kw (106 mi.)
88.5 CKDX ON Newmarket / The Jewel / 30kw / perfect (1 mi.)
88.7 WBFO NY Buffalo / NPR Public / 50kw (80 mi.)
88.9 CIRV ON Toronto / Multicultural Super Mix / 4.18kw / perfect (27 mi.)
89.1 CBLA-2 ON Paris / CBC R. 1 Toronto //99.1 / 13.5kw / perfect (69 mi.)
89.1 WBSU NY Brockport / The Point / 7.3kw / perfect (97 mi.)
89.3 CJLF-2 ON Peterborough / Life 100.3 //100.3 / 500w (63 mi.)
89.5 CIUT ON Toronto / Univ. of Toronto / 15kw / perfect (27 mi.)
89.7 CBCM ON Penetanguishene / CBC R. 1 //99.1 / 2.8kw / perfect (56 mi.)
89.9 CJKX-1 ON Sunderland / KX-96 //95.9 / 5kw / perfect (29 mi.)
89.9 CJBC-2 ON Paris / Espace Musique //90.3 / 19kw / perfect (69 mi.)
90.1 = 95.7
90.3 CJBC ON Toronto / Espace Musique Toronto / 10kw / perfect (27 mi.)
90.5 WBER NY Rochester / Monroe One Schools / 2.5kw / perfect (126 mi.)
90.7 CBL-3 ON Orillia / CBC R. 2 Toronto //94.1 / 4.8kw / perfect (36 mi.)
90.9 CBBX ON Sudbury / Espace Musique Sudbury / 50kw / good (185 mi.)
90.9 WRCJ MI Detroit / Jazz & Classical / 42kw / in (213 mi.)
91.1 CJRT ON Toronto / Jazz.FM91 / 40kw / perfect (27 mi.)
91.3 WQLN PA Erie / Q-91.3 FM / 35kw / very good (139 mi.)
91.5 CBCO ON Orillia / CBC R. 1 Toronto //99.1 / 11.2kw / perfect (36 mi.)
91.7 CIXL ON Welland / Giant FM / 50kw / perfect (72 mi.)
91.9 CKLY ON Lindsay / Bob FM / 27.5kw / very good (45 mi.)
92.1 CKPC ON Brantford / FM 92.1 / 50kw / perfect (65 mi.)
92.3 –
92.5 CJAQ ON Toronto / Jack FM / 13kw / perfect (27 mi.)
92.7 CJBX ON London / BX93 / 50kw / very good (107 mi.)
92.7 CJRQ ON Sudbury / Q92 / 100kw (186 mi.)
92.9 = 93.1
93.1 CHAY ON Barrie / The New CHAY / 100kw / perfect (24 mi.)
93.3 = 93.1
93.5 CBCL ON London / CBC R. 1 London / 100kw / perfect (117 mi.)
93.5 CFXJ ON Toronto / The Flow / 3.706kw / good (27 mi.)
93.7 CKYC ON Owen Sound / Country 93 / 31.6kw / perfect (78 mi.)
93.7 WBLK NY Depew / The People’s Station / 47kw / perfect (85 mi.)
93.9 CIDR ON Windsor / The River / 100kw / very good (216 mi.)
94.1 CBL ON Toronto / CBC R. 2 Toronto / 38kw / perfect (27 mi.)
94.3 CBLU ON Huntsville / CBC R. 1 Toronto //99.1 / 70kw / perfect (97 mi.)
94.5 CIBU ON Wingham / The Bull / 100kw / perfect (83 mi.)
94.5 WNED NY Buffalo / Classical 94.5 / 105kw / perfect (103 mi.)
94.7 CIWV ON Hamilton / Wave 94.7 / 42.5kw / perfect (57 mi.)
94.9 CKGE ON Oshawa / The Rock / 50kw / perfect (37 mi.)
95.1 CKCB ON Collingwood / The Peak / 10kw / perfect (50 mi.)
95.3 CING ON Hamilton / Country 95.3 / 100kw / perfect (58 mi.)
95.5 CJOJ ON Belleville / Classic Hits 95-5 / 64kw / perfect (102 mi.)
95.5 WKQI MI Detroit / Channel 955 / 100kw / good (213 mi.)
95.7 CFJB ON Barrie / Rock 95 / 100kw / perfect (24 mi.)
95.9 CJKX ON Ajax / KX-96 //89.9 / 50kw / perfect (26 mi.)
95.9 CFPL ON London / FM96 / 300kw / very good (114 mi.)
96.1 CBCN ON North Bay / CBC R. 1 Sudbury / 100kw / perfect (158 mi.)
96.1 WJYE NY Buffalo / Joy 96 / 47kw / good (85 mi.)
96.3 CFMZ ON Toronto / The New Classical FM / 60kw / perfect (27 mi.)
96.5 CJBC-3 ON Penetanguishene / Première Chaîne / 15.3kw / perfect (56 mi.)
96.7 CHYM ON Kitchener / Adult Contemp. / 100kw / perfect (69 mi.)
96.9 WGRF NY Buffalo / 97 Rock / 24kw / very good (81 mi.)
97.1 CBL-4 ON Owen Sound / CBC R. 2 Toronto //94.1 / 17.5kw / perfect (84 mi.)
97.3 CJEZ ON Toronto / EZ Rock / 28.9kw / perfect (27 mi.)
97.5 CIQM ON London / London’s EZ Rock / 50kw / good (117 mi.)
97.5 WFRY NY Watertown / Froggy 97 / 97kw (183 mi.)
97.5 CBCE ON Little Current / CBC R. 1 Sudbury / 21kw / in (178 mi.)
97.7 CHTZ ON St. Catharines / HTZ-FM / 50kw / perfect (65 mi.)
97.7 CHMS ON Bancroft / The Moose / 50kw / very good (106 mi.)
97.9 WPXY NY Rochester / 98 PXY / 50kw / good (115 mi.)
97.9 WJLB MI Detroit / FM98 JLB / 50kw / good (212 mi.)
97.9 CFPS ON Port Elgin / The Beach / 8.95kw / in (101 mi.)
98.1 CHFI ON Toronto / Adult Contemp. / 44kw / perfect (27 mi.)
98.3 CFWP ON Bala / The Hawk (Wahta Mohawk) / 1.06kw / good (68 mi.)
98.5 WKSE NY Niagara Falls / Kiss 98-5 / 46kw / perfect (75 mi.)
98.5 CKWR ON Waterloo / Multicultural / 27kw / perfect (66 mi.)
98.7 CBCB ON Owen Sound / CBC R. 1 Toronto //99.1 / 100kw / very good (84 mi.)
98.7 CBCP ON Peterborough / CBC R. 1 Toronto //99.1 / 19.15kw / very good (70 mi.)
98.9 CHCD ON Simcoe / CD98.9 / 50kw / very good (96 mi.)
98.9 WBZA NY Rochester / The Buzz / 37kw / perfect (110 mi.)
99.1 CBLA ON Toronto / CBC R. 1 Toronto / 98kw / perfect (27 mi.)
99.3 CJBC-4 ON London / Première Chaîne / 22.5kw / very good (117 mi.)
99.5 CFBG ON Bracebridge / Moose FM / 12kw / perfect (71 mi.)
99.5 WDCX NY Buffalo / Christian / 110kw / perfect (103 mi.)
99.7 CKQB-1 ON Pembroke / The Bear / 45.2kw / good (165 mi.)
99.7 WUGN MI Midland / Family Life R. / 100kw / perfect (252 mi.)
99.9 CKFM ON Toronto / Mix FM / 40kw / perfect (27 mi.)
100.1 –
100.3 CJLF ON Barrie / Life 100.3 //89.3 / 40kw / perfect (36 mi.)
100.5 CBBL ON London / CBC R. 2 London / 22.5kw / good (117 mi.)
100.7 CHIN ON Toronto / International Radio / 8.5kw / very good (27 mi.)
100.9 CKHA ON Haliburton / Canoe FM / 3.4kw / perfect (91 mi.)
100.9 CBLA-3 ON Wingham / CBC R. 1 Toronto / 30kw / perfect (82 mi.)
101.1 CIQB ON Barrie / B101 / 7.5kw / perfect (24 mi.)
101.3 CKOT ON Tillsonburg / Easy 101 / 26kw / very good (95 mi.)
101.3 CKUN ON Christian Is. / Beausoleil First Nation / 900w / very good (63 mi.)
101.5 CKWF ON Peterborough / The Wolf / 15.2kw / very good (65 mi.)
101.5 CIOI ON Hamilton / C101.5 FM / 240w / in (57 mi.)
101.7 CKNX ON Wingham / The One / 100kw / perfect (83 mi.)
101.9 CKFX ON North Bay / 102FM The Fox / 100kw / perfect (158 mi.)
101.9 WDET MI Detroit / Public Variety / 48kw / very good (212 mi.)
102.1 CFNY ON Brampton / The Edge / 35.4kw / perfect (27 mi.)
102.3 CHST ON London / Bob FM / 12.1kw / very good (114 mi.)
102.5 WTSS NY Buffalo / Star 102.5 / 110kw / perfect (105 mi.)
102.5 CBLA-4 ON Shelburne / CBC R. 1 Toronto //99.1 / 6kw / perfect (39 mi.)
102.7 CHOP ON Newmarket / Pickering College R. / 5w / very good (5 mi.)
102.7 CFGM ON Caledon / Tourist Information / 50w / very good (17 mi.)
102.9 CKLH ON Hamilton / K-Lite / 40.3kw / perfect (50 mi.)
103.1 CFMX ON Cobourg / The New Classical FM / 86.7kw / perfect (69 mi.)
103.3 CKLP ON Parry Sound / Moose FM / 46.6kw / good (98 mi.)
103.5 CIDC ON Orangeville / Z103.5 / 30.7kw / perfect (21 mi.)
103.7 = 103.5
103.9 CKDK ON Woodstock / The Hawk / 52kw / very good (89 mi.)
103.9 CBBP ON Peterborough / CBC R. 2 Toronto //94.1 / 26kw / good (70 mi.)
104.1 CICZ ON Midland / The Dock / 20kw / perfect (36 mi.)
104.3 WOMC MI Detroit / Oldies 104.3 / 190kw / good (209 mi.)
104.3 CJQM ON Sault Ste. Marie / Q104 / 100kw / good (293 mi.)
104.5 CHUM ON Toronto / Hot AC / 40kw / perfect (27 mi.)
104.7 CIHR ON Woodstock / Heart FM / 6kw / very good (89 mi.)
104.9 CIMY ON Pembroke / MyFM / 2.57kw / in (168 mi.)
104.9 WKDL NY Brockport / K-Love / 6kw / very good (106 mi.)
105.1 CFLZ ON Niagara Falls / The River / 15kw / with CKQM (66 mi.)
105.1 CHOQ ON Toronto / Energy 105 (French) / 1kw / good (19 mi.)
105.1 CKQM ON Peterborough / Country 105 / 50kw / with CFLZ (61 mi.)
105.3 CFCA ON Kitchener / Kool FM / 100kw / perfect (69 mi.)
105.5 CFBK ON Huntsville / Moose FM / 5kw / very good (94 mi.)
105.5 CHRY ON Toronto / York University / 250w (17 mi.)
105.7 CHRE ON St. Catharines / EZ Rock / 50kw / perfect (65 mi.)
105.9 CICX ON Orillia / KICX-FM / 50kw / perfect (36 mi.)
106.1 CIMJ ON Guelph / Magic 106.1 / 50kw / perfect (51 mi.)
106.3 CJBC-5 ON Peterborough / Première Chaîne / 13kw (70 mi.)
106.5 CIXK ON Owen Sound / Mix 106 / 100kw / very good (84 mi.)
106.7 CIKZ ON Waterloo / Kix Country / 5kw / perfect (66 mi.)
106.9 CBL-1 ON Huntsville / CBC R. 2 Toronto //94.1 / 70kw / perfect (97 mi.)
107.1 CILQ ON Toronto / Q107 / 40kw / perfect (27 mi.)
107.3 CJDL ON Tillsonburg / Country 107.3 / 7.8kw / perfect + others (95 mi.)
107.3 = 107.5
107.5 CKMB ON Barrie / Kool FM / 50kw / perfect (24 mi.)
107.7 CKDO-1 ON Oshawa / Classic Hits / 2kw / very good, mono (26 mi.)
107.9 CJXY ON Burlington / Y108 / 26.1kw / perfect (47 mi.)
Inconclusive stations: 99.3, 107.3, 107.3
seek and RDS were not monitored
Recommendations for this radio site: As this is not a primary site of my own, my advice for this site will follow that for any site that is strictly mobile: a little research goes a long way. While the locations given for this individual bandscan are superb for utilizing differing elevations, others may be suitable as well. Explore topographic maps and/or programs such as Google Earth for the best possibilities along the span of the Oak Ridges Moraine.
The area has numerous services in nearby Newmarket, including the Upper Canada Mall just a few miles away, while most services, including hotels, are clustered on the east side of town alongside the 404. Barrie is only a half hour to the north and Toronto a half hour to the south, both with plenty of attractions to keep one occupied for a day. Thornton Bales Conservation Area, literally beside the site on 19th Sideroad, offers peaceful hiking trails and its small roadside parking lot can be used for listening as well.
Location rating: There are numerous pros and cons to this site north of Toronto. There are two choices for listening here: park in the small lot at the Thornton Bales Conservation Area‘s 99 Steps entrance or alongside one of the dirt roads in wooded areas to the west of the lot. There is space for about 10 or 11 cars in the lot and as it’s in close proximity to urban areas, the lot can fill quickly on days. Plus, many in the hobby prefer to avoid the prying eyes of those unfamiliar with radio, so using a parking area can be quite disadvantageous unless one were to venture out into the woods (my primary listening site in Korea used this method). Alternatively, finding a quiet spot along the road to the west can be more beneficial. Such an arrangement occasionally piques the interest of area residents and is typically best avoided in most situations, but the area is quite rural and traffic is rather minimal and therefore less of a concern.
Services are just 3 miles to the east in Newmarket and Aurora, satellite cities just 15 minutes north of suburban Toronto. Because of the moraine, it is easy with some prior planning to find suitable locations with favourable elevation to weaken or strengthen target stations. In the past decade, the FM band has become increasingly more crowded in the GTA. Additional interference not noted in this scan will without a doubt be an issue, but signals from afar will continue to be heard here.
For these reasons, this is a location worthy of a visit if you find yourself in the area.