Oswego, New York is home to Breitbeck Park. With a view of the West Pierhead Lighthouse, it is the primary radio site on the southeast shore of Lake Ontario. Oswego is an equal 50 miles from both Rochester and Kingston, close enough that signals from both are audible yet not overwhelming. In addition, it is 30 miles from inland Syracuse, where the few dozen stations and numerous translators scattered throughout Central New York put a dent in the hopes of carefree listening. Ottawa and Montréal are regulars here, as they are along most of these shores, and with daytime conditions, Toronto is a relatively easy catch.
OSWEGO HARBOR, NEW YORK BANDSCAN
August 28, 2018 1700 – 1950 / 89°F (95° inland) & clear
Location: 43°27’46.0″N 76°31’21.7″W
275 feet (32 feet above lake level)
153 stations total / Average distance: 77 mi.
* station was received on seek
87.75 CJOH-6 ON Deseronto / CTV Ottawa / 10kw / 2dBµ, mono (54 mi.)
88.1 WKEL NY Webster / K-Love / 15kw / 10dBµ, mono (39 mi.)
88.1 WSLZ NY Cape Vincent / NCPR / 2kw / 10dBµ, mono (46 mi.)
88.3 WAER NY Syracuse / NPR Public / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono (36 mi.)
88.5 WRUR NY Rochester / Different R. / 15.1kw / 10dBµ, mono (58 mi.)
88.7 CKYM ON Napanee / myFM / 11.1kw / 15dBµ, mono (54 mi.)
88.7 WTMI NY Fleming / Station of the Cross / 600w / 10dBµ, mono (46 mi.)
*88.9 WNYO NY Oswego / SUNY Oswego / 100w / 35dBµ, stereo (1 mi.)
89.1 WJPZ NY Syracuse / Z89 / 1kw / 5dBµ, mono (36 mi.)
89.1 WBSU ON Brockport / The Point / 7.3kw / 3dBµ, mono (74 mi.)
89.3 –
89.5 WCOF NY Arcade / Family Life Network / 1kw / 10dBµ, mono (114 mi.)
89.5 WUNY NY Utica / Classic FM / 6.3kw / 5dBµ, mono in null (71 mi.)
89.5 CIUT ON Toronto / Sound of Your City / 15kw / in null (144 mi.)
89.7 = 89.9
*89.9 WRVO NY Oswego / NPR Public //91.7 / 50kw / RDS / 70dBµ, stereo (3 mi.)
90.1 WKWV NY Watertown / K-Love / 400w / 20dBµ, mono + 89.9 (52 mi.)
90.3 – (interference or overload)
90.5 WBER NY Rochester / Monroe One Schools / 2.5kw / 5dBµ, mono (54 mi.)
*90.7 W214AR NY Oswego / CSN International / 24w / 20dBµ, stereo (4 mi.)
90.7 CBOF ON Ottawa / Ici Première Ottawa / 84kw / 10dBµ, mono (145 mi.)
*90.9 WJNY NY Watertown / Classic FM / 7.1kw / 15dBµ, mono (48 mi.)
91.1 CJRT ON Toronto / Jazz.FM91 / 40kw / 5dBµ, mono (144 mi.)
*91.3 WCNY NY Syracuse / Classic FM / 18.5kw / 20dBµ, stereo (44 mi.)
91.3 CJLX ON Belleville / 91X / 3.4kw / 10dBµ, mono in null (75 mi.)
*91.5 WXXI NY Rochester / Classical 91.5 / 45kw / RDS / 25dBµ, stereo (58 mi.)
91.7 WRVJ NY Watertown / NPR Public //89.9 / 1.6kw / 5dBµ, mono (48 mi.)
91.9 CKLY ON Lindsay / Bob FM / 11.4kw / 5dBµ, mono + IBOC (122 mi.)
*92.1 WOLF NY Baldwinsville / The Wolf / 25kw / RDS / 25dBµ, stereo (27 mi.)
92.3 CJET ON Smiths Falls / Jack 92.3 / 17kw / in null of IBOC (114 mi.)
*92.5 WBEE NY Rochester / Country / 50kw / 35dBµ, stereo (52 mi.)
92.5 WBLH NY Black River / Tunes 92.5 / 6kw / 10dBµ, mono in null (50 mi.)
92.7 WXUR NY Herkimer / The Drive / 6.4kw / 5dBµ, mono + IBOC (71 mi.)
92.9 CBBK ON Kingston / CBC Music Ottawa / 1.6kw / 15dBµ, mono (57 mi.)
92.9 W225AR NY Rochester / Sta. of the Cross //1460 / 250w / 5dBµ, m. in null (58 mi.)
*93.1 WNTQ NY Syracuse / 93Q / 97kw / RDS / 35dBµ, stereo (44 mi.)
93.3 WCIZ NY Watertown / Z93 / 6kw / 20dBµ, mono (48 mi.)
93.3 WFKL NY Fairport / Fickle 93.3 / 4.4kw / 15dBµ, mono in null (52 mi.)
93.5 CKXC ON Kingston / Country 93.5 / 7.5kw / 15dBµ, mono (56 mi.)
93.5 WARW NY Remsen / Air1 / 2.1kw / 2dBµ, mono in null (62 mi.)
93.7 WCIP NY Clyde / Family Life Network / 3.8kw / 10dBµ, mono (37 mi.)
93.9 CKKL ON Ottawa / New Country 94 / 95kw / 5dBµ, mono (145 mi.)
*94.1 WOTT NY Calcium / 94 Rock / 21.5kw / 20dBµ, stereo (50 mi.)
94.1 CBL ON Toronto / CBC Music Toronto / 38kw / 10dBµ, mono in null (144 mi.)
94.3 CJBC-1 ON Belleville / Ici Première //860 / 50kw / 15dBµ, mono (68 mi.)
*94.5 WYYY NY Syracuse / Y94 / 100kw / RDS / 35dBµ, stereo (41 mi.)
94.7 W234AZ NY Brighton / Family Life Network / 250w / 25dBµ, stereo (58 mi.)
94.9 WKLL NY Frankfort / K-Rock //100.9 106.5 / 34kw / 10dBµ, mono (71 mi.)
94.9 CIMF QC Gatineau / 94,9 Rouge FM / 84kw / 10dBµ, mono in null (145 mi.)
94.9 CKGE ON Oshawa / The Rock / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono in null (119 mi.)
95.1 WAIO NY Honeoye Falls / Radio 95.1 / 50kw / RDS / 20dBµ, stereo (54 mi.)
95.1 CBF QC Montréal / Ici Première Montréal / 100kw / 10dBµ, m. in null (202 mi.)
95.3 W237AY NY DeWitt / The Dinosaur //103.9 / 250w / 10dBµ, mono + IBOC (38 mi.)
95.3 CING ON Hamilton / Fresh Radio / 100kw / 3dBµ, mono in null (164 mi.)
95.3 WLFK NY Gouverneur / The Wolf / 6kw / 1dBµ, mono in null (82 mi.)
*95.5 CJOJ ON Belleville / Hits FM / 64kw / RDS / 25dBµ, stereo (74 mi.)
*95.7 WAQX NY Manlius / 95X / 25kw / RDS / 25dBµ, stereo (38 mi.)
95.9 CJKX ON Ajax / KX96 //89.9 / 50kw / 15dBµ, mono, dominant (130 mi.)
95.9 CJFM QC Montréal / Virgin Radio / 41.2kw / in null (202 mi.)
96.1 WODZ NY Rome / The Eagle / 7.4kw / 10dBµ, mono + IBOC (71 mi.)
96.1 WMSX NY Buffalo / Mix 96 / 47kw / 2dBµ, mono + IBOC (125 mi.)
96.1 WVLF NY Norwood / Mix 96.1 / 25kw / 5dBµ, mono + IBOC (128 mi.)
96.3 CFMK ON Kingston / Big FM / 28kw / RDS / 20dBµ, stereo (49 mi.)
96.3 CFMZ ON Toronto / New Classical 96.3 / 60kw / in null + IBOC (144 mi.)
*96.5 WCMF NY Rochester / Cl. Rock / 48kw / RDS / 20dBµ, stereo (58 mi.)
*96.7 WCIO NY Oswego / Family Life Network / 3.4kw / RDS / 55dBµ, stereo (7 mi.)
96.9 WOUR NY Utica / Cl. Rock / 19.5kw / 10dBµ, mono (71 mi.)
96.9 CKOI QC Verdun / CHR / 148kw / 15dBµ, mono in null (202 mi.)
97.1 CIGL ON Belleville / Mix 97 / 50kw / 20dBµ, stereo (67 mi.)
97.3 WYXL NY Ithaca / Lite Rock 97.3 / 26kw / 10dBµ, mono (69 mi.)
97.3 CHBM ON Toronto / Boom 97.3 / 28.9kw / 10dBµ, mono (144 mi.)
*97.5 WFRY NY Watertown / Froggy 97 / 97kw / 40dBµ, stereo (48 mi.)
97.7 CHMS ON Bancroft / Moose FM / 50kw / 15dBµ, mono (132 mi.)
97.7 CHTZ ON St. Catharines / HTZ-FM / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono (140 mi.)
97.7 CHGB ON Wasaga Beach / The Beach / 700w / 5dBµ, mono (187 mi.)
*97.9 WPXY NY Rochester / 98 PXY / 50kw / RDS / 25dBµ, stereo (58 mi.)
98.1 CHFI ON Toronto / Adult Contemp. / 44kw / 10dBµ, mono (144 mi.)
*98.3 CFLY ON Kingston / FLY FM / 95.5kw / RDS / 25dBµ, stereo (67 mi.)
98.3 W252AC NY Syracuse / Family Life Network / 250w / 20dBµ, m. in null (38 mi.)
98.5 WNYR NY Waterloo / Mix 98.5 / 3.2kw / 10dBµ, mono (48 mi.)
98.5 CHMP QC Longueuil / 98,5 FM / 100kw / 1dBµ, mono in null (202 mi.)
98.5 WKSE NY Niagara Falls / Kiss 98.5 / 46kw / 0dBµ, mono in null (127 mi.)
98.7 WLZW NY Utica / Lite 98.7 / 25kw / 10dBµ, mono (71 mi.)
98.7 CKFG ON Toronto / G 98.7 / 1kw / 10dBµ, mono (144 mi.)
98.7 CBCP ON Peterborough / CBC R. 1 Toronto / 12.438kw / 5dBµ, mono (92 mi.)
*98.9 CKLC ON Kingston / The Drive / 15kw / 20dBµ, mono (52 mi.)
98.9 WBZA NY Rochester / The Buzz / 37kw / 15dBµ, mono (61 mi.)
99.1 W256AC NY Solvay / TK99 //99.5 105.5 / 99w / 2dBµ, mono in IBOC null (33 mi.)
*99.3 WFLK NY Seneca Falls / Cl. Hits 99.3 / 5kw / 15dBµ, mono (37 mi.)
99.3 CJPE ON Prince Edward Co. / County FM / 3kw / 5dBµ, mono in null (48 mi.)
*99.5 WTKW NY Bridgeport / TK99 //99.1 105.5 / 5.7kw / RDS / 25dBµ, stereo (35 mi.)
99.5 CJBC-2 ON Kingston / Ici Première //860 / 1.56kw / 10dBµ, mono in null (57 mi.)
99.7 WZXV NY Palmyra / The Word //102.9 / 2.8kw / 10dBµ, mono (54 mi.)
99.9 CJGM ON Gananoque / myFM / 4.47kw / 5dBµ, mono (70 mi.)
99.9 WIII NY Cortland / I 100 / 26kw / 5dBµ, mono (65 mi.)
*100.1 W261AC NY Oswego / ESPN R. //1440 / 210w / 35dBµ, mono only (4 mi.)
100.1 CHCQ ON Belleville / Cool 101.1 / 32kw / 20dBµ, mono in hard null (74 mi.)
100.3 WMVN NY Sylvan Beach / 96.5 & 100.3 The Beat / 6kw / 5dBµ, mono (40 mi.)
100.3 CJMJ ON Ottawa / Majic 100.3 / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (145 mi.)
*100.5 WDVI NY Rochester / Mix 100.5 / 50kw / RDS / 15dBµ, mono (54 mi.)
100.5 CKRU ON Peterborough / Fresh Radio / 15kw / 0dBµ, mono in null (108 mi.)
*100.7 WEFX NY Henderson / The Eagle / 6kw / 35dBµ, stereo (33 mi.)
100.9 WKRL NY N. Syracuse / K-Rock //94.9 106.5/ 6kw / 15dBµ, mono (29 mi.)
100.9 CIYM ON Brighton / Oldies 100.9 / 316w / 5dBµ, mono in null (76 mi.)
101.1 CKBY ON Smiths Falls / Country 101.1 / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (114 mi.)
*101.3 WRMM NY Rochester / Warm 101.3 / 27kw / RDS / 20dBµ, stereo (61 mi.)
101.5 CKWF ON Peterborough / The Wolf / 15.2kw / 5dBµ, mono (107 mi.)
101.5 WRCD NY Canton / The Fox / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono (117 mi.)
*101.7 WGKV NY Pulaski / K-Love / 5kw / 45dBµ, stereo (29 mi.)
101.9 CFRC ON Kingston / Queen’s University / 3kw / 25dBµ, mono (57 mi.)
102.1 WZUN NY Phoenix / Sunny 102 //106.1 / 6kw / RDS / 15dBµ, mono (28 mi.)
*102.3 CKJJ ON Belleville / UCB Canada / 15kw / 20dBµ, stereo (68 mi.)
102.3 WVOR NY Canandaigua / Sunny 102.3 / 3.4kw / 5dBµ, mono in null (58 mi.)
*102.5 WUMX NY Rome / Mix 102.5 / 27kw / RDS / 15dBµ, stereo (62 mi.)
102.5 CBOX ON Ottawa / Ici Musique Ottawa / 94kw / 2dBµ, mono per. in null (145 mi.)
*102.7 WLYK NY Cape Vincent / Kiss 102.7 / 6kw / 25dBµ, stereo (46 mi.)
102.7 WLGZ NY Webster / Legends 102.7 / 6kw / 15dBµ, mono (61 mi.)
*102.9 WMHR NY Syracuse / Mars Hill Network / 20kw / RDS / 35dBµ, stereo (38 mi.)
*103.1 WTOJ NY Carthage / Magic 103.1 / 1.8kw / RDS / 20dBµ, stereo (52 mi.)
103.1 CFMX ON Cobourg / Classical 103.1 / 86.7kw / 10dBµ, mono in null (91 mi.)
103.3 CBOQ ON Ottawa / CBC Music Ottawa / 84kw / 5dBµ, mono (145 mi.)
*103.5 WUUF NY Sodus / Big Dog Country / 6kw / RDS / 30dBµ, stereo (35 mi.)
103.5 CIDC ON Orangeville / Z 103-5 / 30.7kw / in null (173 mi.)
103.7 WQNY NY Ithaca / Q Country 103.7 / 16.5kw / RDS / 10dBµ, mono (75 mi.)
103.7 CJPT ON Brockville / Bob FM / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono in null (70 mi.)
*103.9 WSEN NY Mexico / The Dinosaur //95.3 / 3kw / 35dBµ, stereo (31 mi.)
104.1 WHTT NY Buffalo / Cl. Hits 104.1 / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono (123 mi.)
104.1 CKTF QC Gatineau / Énergie 104,1 / 19kw / 0dBµ, mono + IBOC (145 mi.)
*104.3 WFRG NY Utica / Big Frog 104 / 100kw / RDS / 20dBµ, stereo (62 mi.)
104.3 CKWS ON Kingston / Fresh Radio / 8kw / 15dBµ, mono (49 mi.)
104.5 CHUM ON Toronto / Hot AC / 40kw / 10dBµ, mono (144 mi.)
104.5 WTMM NY Mechanicville / ESPN The Team / 5kw / in null + IBOC (140 mi.)
*104.7 WBBS NY Fulton / B-104.7 / 50kw / RDS / 50dBµ, stereo (18 mi.)
104.9 WKDL NY Brockport / K-Love / 6kw / 5dBµ, mono (67 mi.)
104.9 CFJR ON Brockville / JR FM / 7.7kw / in null + IBOC (87 mi.)
*105.1 WCIS NY DeRuyter / Family Life Network / 33kw / RDS / 25dBµ, stereo (57 mi.)
105.1 CKQM ON Peterborough / Country 105 / 25kw / 0dBµ, mono in null (107 mi.)
105.3 CISS ON Ottawa / KiSS 105.3 / 84kw / 10dBµ, mono muted (145 mi.)
105.3 WKPQ NY Hornell / Kickin’ Country / 43kw / 5dBµ, mono muted (100 mi.)
*105.5 WTKV NY Minetto / TK99 //99.1 99.5 / 4kw / RDS / 50dBµ, stereo (4 mi.)
105.7 CIKR ON Kingston / K-Rock / 50kw / RDS / 25dBµ, stereo + 105.5 (49 mi.)
105.9 WXTL NY Syracuse / The Rebel / 4kw / RDS / 15dBµ, mono (33 mi.)
105.9 CICX ON Orillia / KICX 106 / 20kw / 5dBµ, mono in null (173 mi.)
*106.1 W291BU NY Fulton / Sunny 102 //102.1 / 250w / RDS / 40dBµ, stereo (4 mi.)
106.3 WCIT NY Oneida / Family Life Network / 1.75kw / 15dBµ, mono (62 mi.)
106.3 CJBC-5 ON Peterborough / Ici Première Tor. / 12.438kw / 5dBµ, m. in null (92 mi.)
*106.5 WKRH NY Fair Haven / K-Rock //94.9 100.9 / 6kw / RDS / 55dBµ, stereo (4 mi.)
*106.7 WBDR NY Copenhagen / The Border / 1.8kw / RDS / 30dBµ, stereo (49 mi.)
*106.9 WSYR NY Solvay / Newsradio 570 / 9kw / RDS / 20dBµ, stereo (36 mi.)
107.1 CJTN ON Trenton / Rock 107 / 15kw / 15dBµ, mono (73 mi.)
107.1 CILQ ON Toronto / Q107 / 40kw / 10dBµ, mono in null + IBOC (144 mi.)
107.3 WNBL NY S. Bristol Twp. / The Bull / 650w / 15dBµ, stereo (67 mi.)
107.3 WKVU NY Utica / K-Love / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono in null (71 mi.)
*107.5 CBCK ON Kingston / CBC R. 1 Ottawa / 100kw / RDS / 25dBµ, mono only (57 mi.)
107.7 CKDO-1 ON Oshawa / Cl. Hits //1580 / 2kw / 5dBµ, mono in IBOC null (130 mi.)
*107.9 WWHT NY Syracuse / Hot 107.9 / 50kw / RDS / 30dBµ, stereo (41 mi.)
Inconclusive signals: 95.9
Recommendations for this radio site: While Oswego isn’t much of a tourist town but instead more of a college town, it’s still worthy of a visit if you happen to be in the area. Breitbeck Park is just outside of downtown and it’s actually a pretty nice place to relax or take a walk. While nearby downtown isn’t greatly interesting and the lakeshore of the town isn’t that beautiful either – Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station towers over it just east of town and Oswego Harbor Power is on the west side of town – the shoreline orientation of the park is perfect for a nice evening sunset.
In addition to the park, Fort Ontario is just on the opposite side of downtown across the river. The star-shaped fort dates to the mid-1800s and has been the site of multiple forts before it. Admission is only a few dollars, though hours are rather limited even at the peak of summer. The Oswego River is part of the New York State Canal System connected to the Erie Canal, so it may be possible to spy a barge while in town. In the radio off-season, i.e. the winter months, like many of the Great Lakes radio sites, Oswego regularly gets dumped on with lake-effect snow, sometimes totaling as much as 300″ (7+ metres) per season.
Location rating: Overall, despite the nuisance of the many scattered local full-power and translator stations in the area, Oswego still performs quite well as a radio site. Furthermore, Breitbeck Park, one of two potential sites that had been planned in town, turned out to be a great choice. Not only was it a pretty park on a beautiful summer evening, but the park has numerous benches and picnic tables fit for a city-wide festival if one were to arrive. There are bathrooms on the west side of the park as well and plenty of trees for ample shade on a hot day. I was met with a beautiful sunset to end the evening, so count that too among its perks.
With cross-lake targets in mind, Rochester locals 50 miles to the west were audible but could typically be overcome without much trouble. Local Kingston signals were strong but left enough opening for other possibilities. Toronto performed much better than had been expected at this site, especially with the sites being at opposite ends of the lake. Plus, both Ottawa and Montréal across the far eastern expanse of the lake were at exceptional levels.
Oswego is certainly worth a visit if you have a few extra hours in the area. Just a 45-minute drive off the Thruway, it’s not specifically on the way to anywhere aside from itself, so make a day of it and enjoy Oswego.