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Agawa Bay is a radio site on the eastern shore of Lake Superior. The site consists merely of the Agawa Scenic Lookout, a parking lot with two benches, overlooking Lake Superior from above, just across the Trans-Canada Highway. The lookout is 60 miles (95 km.) north of Sault Ste. Marie and 140 miles (225 km.) northeast of Marquette. Because of its location, it’s possible to receive Lake Huron lake tropo under the right conditions in addition to primary stations over Lake Superior. The lookout was right inside the lake duct on this day with massive local-strength signals in excess of 200 miles.
AGAWA BAY, ONTARIO BANDSCAN
July 24, 2018 1730-1830 / 20°C
Location: 47°21’45.5″N 84°40’14.7″W
910 feet (310 feet above lake level)
113 stations total / Average distance: 164 mi.
* station was received on seek
*88.1 CBON-18 ON Sault Ste. Marie / Ici Première / 3.59kw / 15dBµ, mono (56 mi.)
88.1 WBLW MI Gaylord / The Living Word FM / 5kw / 10dBµ, mono (151 mi.)
88.3 CBLJ ON Wawa / CBC R. 1 Sudbury / 4.807kw / 5dBµ, mono (46 mi.)
*88.5 WIAB MI Mackinaw City / Classical IPR //88.7 / 50kw / RDS / 30dBµ, stereo (125 mi.)
88.7 WIAA MI Interlochen / Classical IPR //88.5 / 100kw / RDS / 20dBµ, stereo (219 mi.)
*88.9 WCRR MI Manistique / K-Love / 24.5kw / RDS / 30dBµ, stereo (129 mi.)
89.1 –
*89.3 WSHN MI Munising / K-Love / 100kw / 20dBµ, mono (148 mi.)
89.3 WPNE WI Green Bay / WPR News & Classical / 97kw / 10dBµ, mono (259 mi.)
*89.5 CBSM ON Sault Ste. Marie / CBC R. 1 Sudbury / 46kw / 25dBµ, mono (56 mi.)
*89.7 WHND WI Sister Bay / WPR News & Classical / 22kw / 20dBµ, mono (187 mi.)
89.7 WJOJ MI Rust Twp. / Smile FM / 31kw / 15dBµ, mono (192 mi.)
*89.9 WLJN MI Traverse City / Christian //107.9 / 100kw / 25dBµ, mono (185 mi.)
*89.9 WHWG MI Trout Lake / Gospel Opportunities / 1kw / 20dBµ, mono (82 mi.)
*90.1 WNMU MI Marquette / Public R. 90 / 100kw / RDS / 20dBµ, stereo (166 mi.)
90.3 WBLV MI Twin Lake / Blue Lake Public R. / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (271 mi.)
*90.5 WPHN MI Gaylord / The Promise FM / 100kw / RDS / 25dBµ, stereo (156 mi.)
90.7 WMVM WI Goodman / V. of the Master //102.7 / 9.3kw / 10dBµ, mono (209 mi.)
*90.9 WTCK MI Charlevoix / Baraga R. / 5.5kw / RDS / 25dBµ, stereo (130 mi.)
*91.1 WGGL MI Houghton / Minnesota Public R. / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (190 mi.)
*91.3 WJOG MI Good Hart / Smile FM / 6kw / 25dBµ, mono (129 mi.)
*91.5 WJOH MI Raco / Smile FM / 5.5kw / RDS / 20dBµ, mono (68 mi.)
*91.7 WCML MI Alpena / CMU Public R. / 92kw / 25dBµ, stereo (156 mi.)
91.9 WHDI WI Sister Bay / WPR Ideas / 11kw / 10dBµ, mono (187 mi.)
92.1 WTWS MI Houghton Lake / The Twister / 920w / 4dBµ, mono, weak (212 mi.)
*92.3 WJPD MI Ishpeming / Big Country / 100kw / RDS / 25dBµ, stereo (145 mi.)
*92.5 WFDX MI Atlanta / The Fox FM //94.3 / 100kw / RDS / 20dBµ, stereo (163 mi.)
*92.7 WRPP MI Manistique / Cl. Rock / 51kw / RDS / 20dBµ, stereo (129 mi.)
*92.9 WJZQ MI Cadillac / Z93 / 100kw / RDS / 20dBµ, stereo (193 mi.)
93.1 WIMK MI Iron Mountain / 93 Rock / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (192 mi.)
93.3 WKQZ MI Midland / Z-93 / 39kw / weak (244 mi.)
93.5 WBCM MI Boyne City / Country //103.5 / 14kw / 20dBµ, stereo (141 mi.)
93.7 WKAD MI Harrietta / The Ticket / 4.3kw / 10dBµ, mono (218 mi.)
*93.9 WNBY MI Newberry / Oldies 93 / 50kw / RDS / 55dBµ, stereo! (66 mi.)
94.1 WUPK MI Marquette / 94 Rock / 4.4kw / 20dBµ, mono (145 mi.)
94.1 CKNR ON Elliot Lake / Moose FM / 90kw / 10dBµ, mono (161 mi.)
94.3 WFCX MI Leland / The Fox FM //92.5 / 20.5kw / 15dBµ, mono (185 mi.)
*94.5 WYPV MI Mackinaw City / WJML News R. //1110 / 50kw / 20dBµ, mono (117 mi.)
94.7 –
*94.9 WUPZ MI Chocolay Twp. / The Bay / 100kw / 20dBµ, mono (145 mi.)
*94.9 WKJZ MI Hillman / Hits FM //103.3 / 50kw / 20dBµ, mono (166 mi.)
*95.1 WUPN MI Paradise / Eagle 95.1 / 25kw / 20dBµ, mono (62 mi.)
*95.3 WWSS MI Tuscarora Twp. / The Bear //98.1 / 17kw / RDS / 20dBµ, mono (139 mi.)
*95.5 WGFE MI Glen Arbor / Rock 105 & 95.5 //105.1 / 21kw / 15dBµ, mono (187 mi.)
*95.7 WHWL MI Marquette / Gospel Opportunities / 100kw / RDS / 25dBµ, stereo (143 mi.)
*95.9 WLJW MI Fife Lake / Fuel FM / 19kw / RDS / 15dBµ, mono (193 mi.)
96.1 –
*96.3 WLXT MI Petoskey / Lite 96.3 / 100kw / 30dBµ, stereo (141 mi.)
96.3 WSFQ WI Peshtigo / Hits 96 / 49kw / 10dBµ, mono (217 mi.)
96.5 WHOH WI Rhinelander / Sports R. 96.5 / 6.6kw / weak (245 mi.)
*96.7 WMJT MI McMillan / Eagle 96.7 / 50kw / 20dBµ, mono (72 mi.)
*96.7 WRGZ MI Rogers City / Country //99.3 / 42kw / 20dBµ, mono (145 mi.)
96.9 –
*97.1 WGLQ MI Escanaba / Magic 97 GLQ / 100kw / RDS / 25dBµ, stereo (137 mi.)
97.3 WHDG WI Rhinelander / Hodag Country / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (255 mi.)
97.3 WDEE MI Reed City / Sunny 97.3 / 2.85kw / in null (251 mi.)
*97.5 WKLT MI Kalkaska / KLT The Rock Sta. //98.9 / 32kw / 10dBµ, mono dom. (180 mi.)
97.5 W248BU MI Ishpeming / Good Time Oldies //WQKS HD-3 / 250w / 10dBµ, mono (148 mi.)
97.7 WCHY MI Cheboygan / Straits Country / 3.4kw / 15dBµ, mono (119 mi.)
97.7 WOLV MI Houghton / The Wolf / 6.5kw / 5dBµ, mono in null (183 mi.)
*97.9 WIHC MI Newberry / Strong Tower R. / 50kw / 55dBµ, stereo! (66 mi.)
98.1 WGFN MI Glen Arbor / The Bear //95.3 / 21kw / 15dBµ, mono (187 mi.)
*98.3 WCMZ MI Sault Ste. Marie / CMU Public R. / 25kw / RDS / 25dBµ, stereo (64 mi.)
98.5 WUPS MI Harrison / UPS 98.5 / 100kw / RDS / 20dBµ, mono (212 mi.)
*98.7 WGLI MI Hancock / The Rockin’ Eagle / 52kw / 10dBµ, mono (183 mi.)
*98.9 WKLZ MI Petoskey / KLT The Rock Sta. //97.5 / 100kw / RDS / 25dBµ, stereo (131 mi.)
*99.1 WIKB MI Iron River / True Country / 60kw / 10dBµ, mono (203 mi.)
99.3 WATZ MI Alpena / Country //96.7 / 17kw / 10dBµ, mono (181 mi.)
99.5 WNGE MI Negaunee / Oldies 99.5 / 3.6kw / 25dBµ, stereo (145 mi.)
99.5 WYSS MI Sault Ste. Marie / Yes FM / 1.3kw / 5dBµ, mono in null (64 mi.)
*99.7 WUGN MI Midland / Family Life R. / 100kw / 20dBµ, mono (266 mi.)
99.7 WDKF WI Sturgeon Bay / Duke FM / 46kw / very good in car (236 mi.)
*99.9 WHAK MI Rogers City / The Wave / 50kw / 20dBµ, mono (140 mi.)
100.1 WRHN WI Rhinelander / Jack FM / 100kw / 3dBµ, mono, faint (254 mi.)
*100.3 WUPT MI Gwinn / The Point / 100kw / 35dBµ, stereo (145 mi.)
*100.5 CHAS ON Sault Ste. Marie / KiSS 100.5 / 13.9kw / 15dBµ, mono (55 mi.)
100.7 WOBE MI Crystal Falls / Radio Now / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (192 mi.)
100.9 WQHN MI East Jordan / The Promise FM / 2.8kw / 10dBµ, mono (152 mi.)
101.1 WGRY MI Roscommon / Y-101 / 3.4kw / 5dBµ, mono (193 mi.)
*101.3 WSUE MI Sault Ste. Marie / Rock 101 / 100kw / 20dBµ, mono (65 mi.)
*101.5 WMJZ MI Gaylord / Eagle 101-5 / 50kw / 25dBµ, stereo (162 mi.)
101.7 CKNX ON Wingham / The One / 100kw / 3dBµ, mono (281 mi.)
*101.9 WLDR MI Traverse City / The Bay / ↓100kw / 10dBµ, mono (186 mi.)
102.1 WLEW MI Bad Axe / Cruise 102.1 / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono (251 mi.)
*102.3 WTHN MI Sault Ste. Marie / The Promise FM / 22.5kw / 20dBµ, mono (64 mi.)
102.3 WHKB MI Houghton / K-Bear 102 / 6kw / very good null in car (183 mi.)
*102.5 WCMM MI Gulliver / The Moose / 60kw / RDS / 30dBµ, stereo (129 mi.)
102.7 WRVM WI Suring / V. of the Master //90.7 / 98kw / 5dBµ, mono (242 mi.)
*102.9 WMKC MI Indian River / Big Country Hits / 100kw / RDS / 25dBµ, stereo (130 mi.)
103.1 CHAW ON Manitoulin Island / Country 103 / 27.5kw / 5dBµ, mono (162 mi.)
103.3 WFXD MI Marquette / 103-FXD / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (148 mi.)
103.3 WQLB MI Tawas City / Hits FM //94.9 / 15kw / 5dBµ, mono (210 mi.)
*103.5 WTCM MI Traverse City / Country //93.5 / 100kw / RDS / 20dBµ, stereo (207 mi.)
103.7 WHYB MI Menominee / Cl. Hits 103.7 / 13kw / weak (214 mi.)
*103.9 WCMW MI Harbor Springs / CMU Public R. / 12kw / RDS / 25dBµ, stereo (130 mi.)
104.1 WRLU WI Algoma / Cl. Country / 2.4kw / good in car (225 mi.)
*104.3 CJQM ON Sault Ste. Marie / Country 104.3 / 100kw / RDS / 15dBµ, mono (55 mi.)
104.3 WVCN MI Baraga / VCY America / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (181 mi.)
*104.5 WZTC MI Traverse City / Bob FM / 1.75kw / 10dBµ, mono (185 mi.)
*104.7 WYKX MI Escanaba / Kix Country / 100kw / 20dBµ, stereo (158 mi.)
104.9 –
*105.1 WGFM MI Cheboygan / Rock 105 & 95.5 //95.5 / 43kw / RDS / 30dBµ, stereo (151 mi.)
105.3 –
105.5 WSRJ MI Honor / ESPN N. Michigan //106.7 / 17kw / RDS / 20dBµ, mono (194 mi.)
105.7 WAPL WI Appleton / Cl. Rock / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (262 mi.)
105.7 WZTK MI Alpena / News Talk Sports / 4.5kw / 5dBµ, mono (168 mi.)
*105.9 WKHQ MI Charlevoix / 106 KHQ / 100kw / RDS / 25dBµ, stereo (152 mi.)
106.1 WTZM MI Tawas City / The Point / 25kw / 5dBµ, mono (219 mi.)
106.3 WWMK MI Onaway / Mac FM / 31kw / 20dBµ, mono (119 mi.)
106.3 WGMV MI Stephenson / Maverick 106 / 50kw / 20dBµ, mono (175 mi.)
106.5 CJTK-8 ON Sault Ste. Marie / KFM / 2kw / faint (60 mi.)
*106.7 WSRT MI Gaylord / ESPN N. Michigan //105.5 / 100kw / RDS / 25dBµ, stereo (160 mi.)
106.9 WOOD MI Muskegon / NewsRadio 106.9 & 1300 / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono (293 mi.)
107.1 WCKC MI Cadillac / The Drive / 2.75kw / 3dBµ, mono (223 mi.)
*107.3 WUPF MI Powers / Eagle 107.3 / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono (171 mi.)
107.5 WCCW MI Traverse City / The 70’s Station / 50kw / RDS / 20dBµ, stereo (186 mi.)
*107.7 WMQT MI Ishpeming / Q107 / 98kw / 25dBµ, mono (152 mi.)
*107.7 WHSB MI Alpena / The Bay / 100kw / 20dBµ, mono (165 mi.)
107.9 WLJD MI Charlevoix / Christian //89.9 / 5kw / 10dBµ, mono (143 mi.)
Inconclusive signals: 103.7
Station notes:
95.3 WVVE MN Grand Marais is off the air with future sign-on in August //106.7
96.7 WUPG MI Republic is at 800w instead of the licensed 50kw
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
106.7 KZJZ MN Babbitt is off the air with future sign-on in August //95.3
Recommendations for this radio site: Agawa Bay is, like much of Northern Ontario, a sparsely populated rural locale along the coast of Lake Superior. This site is best paired with the scenic Agawa Bay Pictographs attraction a mere mile up the road, which is well worth a short visit. In fact, it can also be used as an additional radio site, though its lack of elevation will often hamper efforts along this lake primarily with higher ducts. Aside from the pictographs, there is Sand River Falls a short distance to the north and the amazing drive through Montreal River Harbour to the south. The surrounding area, in addition to the site itself, is part of the massive Lake Superior Provincial Park.
Accommodations and services tend to be quite distant in this region. For those who enjoy camping, the Agawa Bay Campground is 4 miles to the south beside the Agawa Bay Visitors Centre. The campground, which has 147 sites and modern facilities, is typically open from mid-May to mid-October and is one of few in the area. Limited services can be found at Agawa Crafts, 45 minutes to the south, with more services available 50 minutes to the north in Michipicoten and Wawa. Wawa is home to a handful of motels, one of very few Tim Horton’s on the north shore (the next is found 4 hours to the west in Nipigon; both are 24 hours), groceries, and additional services. The nearest location with full services, such as shopping centers, is 1 ½ hours to the south in Sault Ste. Marie.
Location rating: Though Agawa Scenic Lookout is quite remote, many of the locations along the shores of Lake Superior are just that. Agawa Bay is about 45 miles from the nearest local station and even that is obstructed by high terrain, meaning its remote location is beneficial. In addition, the lookout is more than 300 feet above Lake Superior, putting it smack in the middle of the typical cross-lake ducts that form, and nearby Agawa Rocks Pictographs at water level provides ample opportunities to compare reception.
Due to the shape of the Superior coastline it lies upon, the site is also within range of Lake Huron stations, which few Lake Superior sites are. Northern Michigan stations tend to be quite rampant here, which is one of the few disadvantages, along with the fact that with just two benches beside the otherwise wide open lot, it’s not possible to avoid the people who may come and go. Despite this fact, most visitors to the lot indeed just come and go as facilities here are so few and the view is the only attraction, so the distraction is still somewhat minimal.
This site is rather superb for those passing through the area or staying at Agawa Bay Campground down the road. While there are no bathrooms on site, the campground and visitor centre includes such facilities. Note as well that the lookout lot, unlike many of the provincial park-owned lots in the area that require a day fee of approximately $14 to use, is entirely free. To top it off, the view is quite stunning, though still rather basic.
If you’re looking for a functional site that simply gets the job done and has a nice view, Agawa Scenic Lookout is certainly on a list of sites to visit.