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Copper Harbor is a radio site on the northern tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The Keweenaw Peninsula juts out 35 miles beyond the average southern coastline of Lake Superior. Copper Harbor consists of two radio sites: the upper, including Brockway Mountain, 728 feet above the lake, and the lower, including both Astor Shipwreck Park (day) and Fort Wilkins State Park (night), at or just above the water level.
Because Lake Superior’s ducts are significantly higher in elevation than the other four lakes with warmer water temperatures, the two sites provide a valuable comparison of reception between lower and higher elevations in this area.
Copper Harbor is near the centre of the lake’s southern shore, 180 miles northwest of Sault Ste. Marie and 200 miles northeast of Duluth, as well as locally 85 miles southeast of Thunder Bay and 70 miles northwest of Marquette. Typical reception at this site includes Duluth, Minneapolis, Bemidji, International Falls, Thunder Bay, Marquette, Northern Michigan, and Northwoods Wisconsin.
COPPER HARBOR / BROCKWAY MTN., MICHIGAN BANDSCAN
July 29, 2018 1220-1500 / 69°F
Location: 47°27’51.1″N 87°58’10.6″W (West Bluff)
1328 feet (728 feet above lake level)
135 stations total / Average distance: 150 mi.
* station was received on seek
88.1 WHJL WI Merrill / V. of the Master / 63kw / 1dBµ, mono (166 mi.)
88.1 WHID WI Green Bay / WPR Ideas / 17kw / 1dBµ, mono (214 mi.)
*88.3 CBQT ON Thunder Bay / CBC R. 1 Thunder Bay / 23.73kw / 50dBµ, mono! (95 mi.)
88.3 WKPK MI Michigamme / Smile FM / 15kw / 35dBµ, mono (62 mi.)
88.5 WIAB MI Mackinaw City / Classical IPR //88.7 / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono (191 mi.)
88.5 WPVM WI Sturgeon Bay / V. of the Master / 15kw / 5dBµ, mono (179 mi.)
88.5 KCRB MN Bemidji / Classical MPR / 83kw / in null (304 mi.)
88.7 WIAA MI Interlochen / Classical IPR //88.5 / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (245 mi.)
88.7 WHPJ MN Hibbing / We Have This Hope R. / 6kw / 10dBµ, mono (232 mi.)
88.9 WCRR MI Manistique / K-Love / 24.5kw / 10dBµ, mono (125 mi.)
89.1 WGZS MN Cloquet / The Moon R. / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono / 10dBµ, mono (226 mi.)
89.1 WKEK MN Gunflint Lake / N. Shore Comm. R. //90.1 90.7 / 1kw / 5dBµ, mono (136 mi.)
*89.3 CBON-20 ON Thunder Bay / Ici Première / 16.5kw / 50dBµ, mono! (95 mi.)
89.3 WSHN MI Munising / K-Love / 100kw / 30dBµ, mono (62 mi.)
89.5 CBSM ON Sault Ste. Marie / CBC R. 1 Sudbury / 46kw / 3dBµ, mono (184 mi.)
*89.7 WLSN MN Grand Marais / MPR News / 6kw / 10dBµ, mono (113 mi.)
89.7 CBEB ON Manitouwadge / CBC R. 1 Thunder Bay / 4.78kw / 5dBµ, mono (152 mi.)
89.9 WHSA WI Brule / WPR News & Classical / 92kw / 3dBµ, mono (183 mi.)
*90.1 WNMU MI Marquette / Public R. 90 / 100kw / RDS / 40dBµ, stereo (77 mi.)
90.1 WGPO MN Grand Portage / N. Shore Comm. R. //89.1 90.7 / 1kw / 30dBµ, stereo (87 mi.)
90.3 WHBM WI Park Falls / WPR Ideas / 35kw / 10dBµ, mono (151 mi.)
90.5 WPFF WI Sturgeon Bay / K-Love / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (179 mi.)
90.5 WPHN MI Gaylord / The Promise FM / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (242 mi.)
90.5 KDNI MN Duluth / Faith Radio / 2kw / 5dBµ, mono (200 mi.)
*90.7 WTIP MN Grand Marais / N. Shore Comm. R. //89.1 90.1 / 25kw / RDS / 35dBµ, stereo (113 mi.)
90.9 WUWS WI Ashland / WPR Ideas / 24.5kw / 10dBµ, mono (147 mi.)
90.9 WUPJ MI Escanaba / Strong Tower R. / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (111 mi.)
*91.1 WGGL MI Houghton / Minnesota Public R. / 100kw / RDS / 60dBµ, stereo (45 mi.)
91.3 KUWS WI Superior / WPR Ideas / 83kw / 10dBµ, mono + 91.5 (200 mi.)
*91.5 CKPR ON Thunder Bay / Hot AC / 100kw / RDS / 55dBµ, stereo! (90 mi.)
91.7 WXPR WI Rhinelander / Public R. / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (131 mi.)
91.7 KAXE MN Grand Rapids / Comm. Public / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono in null (256 mi.)
*91.9 WMTU MI Houghton / Michigan Tech Univ. / 4.4kw / RDS / 40dBµ, stereo (35 mi.)
92.1 WWAX MN Hermantown / The Fan / 5.4kw / weak (200 mi.)
*92.3 WJPD MI Ishpeming / Big Country / 100kw / RDS / 30dBµ, stereo (69 mi.)
92.5 WIRN MN Buhl / MPR News / 26kw / 10dBµ, mono (225 mi.)
92.7 W224AW MI Bergland / Gospel Opportunities / 10w / 15dBµ, mono (93 mi.)
92.9 WSCD MN Duluth / Classical MPR / 70kw / 10dBµ, mono (200 mi.)
92.9 WJZQ MI Cadillac / Z93 / 100kw / weak in null (239 mi.)
*93.1 CFNO ON Marathon / Hometown Sound //107.1 / 50kw / RDS / 30dBµ, stereo! (110 mi.)
93.1 WIMK MI Iron Mountain / 93 Rock / 100kw / in hard null (114 mi.)
93.3 W227CJ MI Marquette / ESPN UP //970 / 250w / 15dBµ, mono (70 mi.)
93.3 WBSZ WI Ashland / Z93 / 71kw / 10dBµ, mono in null (150 mi.)
*93.5 WKMJ MI Hancock / Mix 93.5 / 25kw / 50dBµ, stereo (38 mi.)
93.7 WCYE WI Three Lakes / Coyote 93.7 / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (131 mi.)
93.7 KXXR MN Minneapolis / 93X / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (297 mi.)
93.9 WNBY MI Newberry / Oldies 93 / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono (152 mi.)
*94.1 WUPK MI Marquette / 94 Rock / 4.4kw / RDS / 20dBµ, mono (69 mi.)
*94.3 CJSD ON Thunder Bay / Rock 94 / 90kw / RDS / 60dBµ, stereo!! (90 mi.)
94.5 WELY MN Ely / End of the Road R. / 6kw / 15dBµ, mono + 94.3 (183 mi.)
94.5 WRJO WI Eagle River / Cl. Hits / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono + 94.3 (111 mi.)
94.7 –
*94.9 WUPZ MI Chocolay Twp. / The Bay / 100kw / 40dBµ, stereo (70 mi.)
95.1 CJOA ON Thunder Bay / UCB Canada / 250w / 15dBµ, mono (90 mi.)
95.1 WLST WI Marinette / Cat Country / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (166 mi.)
95.3 WGMO WI Spooner / 95 GMO / 7.1kw / faint in car (227 mi.)
95.5 WIFC WI Wausau / CHR / 98.6kw / 10dBµ, mono (194 mi.)
95.5 KKZY MN Bemidji / KZY-FM / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (323 mi.)
*95.7 WHWL MI Marquette / Gospel Opportunities / 100kw / RDS / 50dBµ, stereo (72 mi.)
95.9 WKSZ WI De Pere / Kiss FM / 4.5kw / 10dBµ, mono (214 mi.)
95.9 WMQA WI Minocqua / Kool 95.9 / 22kw / 5dBµ, mono (141 mi.)
96.1 WJMC WI Rice Lake / Country / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono (220 mi.)
96.1 WDKE MN Coleraine / Duke FM / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (248 mi.)
96.1 WXYM WI Tomah / Mix 96 / 44kw / 5dBµ, mono (274 mi.)
96.3 WLXT MI Petoskey / Lite 96.3 / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (209 mi.)
96.3 WSFQ WI Peshtigo / Hits 96 / 49kw / 5dBµ, mono (162 mi.)
96.5 WKLK MN Cloquet / K96.5 / 36kw / 5dBµ, mono (215 mi.)
96.7 WUPG MI Republic / Maverick 96.7 / 800w / 15dBµ, mono (66 mi.)
96.7 WMJT MI McMillan / Eagle 96.7 / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono (129 mi.)
96.9 KMFY MN Grand Rapids / Adult Cont. / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (256 mi.)
*97.1 WGLQ MI Escanaba / Magic 97 GLQ / 100kw / RDS / 35dBµ, stereo (104 mi.)
*97.3 CBON-19 ON Nipigon / Ici Première / 2kw / 25dBµ, mono (105 mi.)
*97.5 W248BU MI Ishpeming / GTO //WQKS HD-3 / 250w / RDS / 20dBµ, mono only (62 mi.)
*97.7 WOLV MI Houghton / The Wolf / 6.5kw / 50dBµ, stereo (36 mi.)
97.9 WIHC MI Newberry / Strong Tower R. / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono (152 mi.)
98.1 WEUL MI Kingsford / Gospel Opportunities / 1kw / weak + 98.3 (113 mi.)
*98.3 WRUP MI Palmer / Cl. Rock / 2.6kw / RDS / 40dBµ, stereo (62 mi.)
98.5 KTIS MN Minneapolis / Cont. Christian / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (297 mi.)
*98.7 WGLI MI Hancock / The Rockin’ Eagle / 52kw / 55dBµ, stereo (38 mi.)
*98.9 CBQY ON Nipigon / CBC R. 1 Thunder Bay / 2kw / 25dBµ, mono (105 mi.)
99.1 WIKB MI Iron River / True Country / 60kw / 15dBµ, mono (98 mi.)
*99.3 W257CZ MI Houghton / The Lift //1400 / 250w / 15dBµ, mono (36 mi.)
*99.5 WNGE MI Negaunee / Oldies 99.5 / 3.6kw / RDS / 20dBµ, stereo (69 mi.)
99.7 WIMI MI Ironwood / The Storm / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (129 mi.)
*99.9 W260AC MI Houghton / Gospel Opportunities / 10w / 15dBµ, mono (35 mi.)
99.9 CJUK ON Thunder Bay / Magic 99.9 / 250w / 15dBµ, mono (89 mi.)
100.1 WRHN WI Rhinelander / Jack FM / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (144 mi.)
*100.3 WUPT MI Gwinn / The Point / 100kw / RDS / 35dBµ, stereo (70 mi.)
100.5 WSCN MN Cloquet / MPR News / 97kw / 10dBµ, mono (200 mi.)
100.7 WOBE MI Crystal Falls / Radio Now / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (114 mi.)
100.9 W265DO MN Duluth / The Jock //1490 / 250w / 5dBµ, mono (200 mi.)
100.9 WQHN MI East Jordan / The Promise FM / 2.8kw / weak in car (209 mi.)
101.1 WUPY MI Ontonagon / Superior Country / 100kw / 20dBµ, stereo (75 mi.)
101.3 WSUE MI Sault Ste. Marie / Rock 101 / 100kw / 3dBµ, mono, weak (183 mi.)
101.5 WJNR MI Iron Mountain / Frog Country / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (114 mi.)
101.5 WMJZ MI Gaylord / Eagle 101-5 / 50kw / good in car (240 mi.)
*101.7 CBQ ON Thunder Bay / CBC Music Thunder Bay / 25kw / 50dBµ, stereo (95 mi.)
*101.9 WKQS MI Negaunee / Sunny FM / 13kw / RDS / 40dBµ, stereo (62 mi.)
102.1 KEEY MN St. Paul / K102 / 100kw / 3dBµ, mono (297 mi.)
*102.3 WHKB MI Houghton / K-Bear 102 / 6kw / 45dBµ, stereo (36 mi.)
*102.5 WCMM MI Gulliver / The Moose / 60kw / 15dBµ, mono (125 mi.)
102.5 KDKE WI Superior / Duke FM / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (200 mi.)
102.7 WRVM WI Suring / V. of the Master / 98kw / 5dBµ, mono (172 mi.)
102.7 CILU ON Thunder Bay / LU Radio / 134w / 5dBµ, mono (89 mi.)
102.9 KRFG MN Nashwauk / Refuge Radio / 25kw / 5dBµ, mono (233 mi.)
102.9 WMKC MI Indian River / Big Country Hits / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (195 mi.)
103.1 –
*103.3 WFXD MI Marquette / 103-FXD / 100kw / RDS / 45dBµ, stereo (62 mi.)
103.5 CKED ON Shuniah Twp. / Energy 103-104 / 10w / 10dBµ, mono (90 mi.)
103.7 WWIB WI Hallie / Christian / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (223 mi.)
103.7 KKBJ MN Bemidji / Mix 103.7 / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (319 mi.)
103.9 WNOA-LP MI Marquette / Northern Apostle R. / 100w / 5dBµ, mono (68 mi.)
104.1 KSDM MN International Falls / K-104 / 8.5kw / 5dBµ, mono (262 mi.)
104.1 KZJK MN St. Louis Park / Jack FM / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (297 mi.)
*104.3 WVCN MI Baraga / VCY America / 100kw / 65dBµ, stereo! (59 mi.)
104.5 CFQK ON Kaministiquia / Energy 103-104 / 50w / 15dBµ, mono + 104.3 (100 mi.)
104.7 WHWA WI Washburn / WPR News & Classical / 17.5kw / 20dBµ, stereo (152 mi.)
104.7 WYKX MI Escanaba / Kix Country / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono in null (111 mi.)
104.9 –
*105.1 W286BC MI Marquette / Fox Sports //WKQS HD-2 / 250w / 25dBµ, mono only (62 mi.)
*105.3 CKTG ON Thunder Bay / Country 105 / 100kw / RDS / 60dBµ, stereo!! (90 mi.)
105.5 KBAJ MN Deer River / J105 The Thunder / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono + 105.3 (254 mi.)
*105.7 WCUP MI L’Anse / Eagle Country / 100kw / 55dBµ, stereo (38 mi.)
105.9 WEGZ WI Washburn / VCY America / 98kw / 20dBµ, stereo (152 mi.)
105.9 WKHQ MI Charlevoix / 106 KHQ / 100kw / perfect in car (209 mi.)
106.1 –
106.3 WGMV MI Stephenson / Maverick 106 / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono (129 mi.)
106.3 WMFG MN Hibbing / Cl. Rock //KQDS / 25kw / 4dBµ, mono in null (233 mi.)
106.5 WYTE WI Marshfield / Y106.5 / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (215 mi.)
106.7 WHTO MI Iron Mountain / The Mountain / 6.1kw / 10dBµ, mono (114 mi.)
106.7 WSRT MI Gaylord / ESPN N. Michigan / 100kw / RDS / 5dBµ, mono (224 mi.)
106.9 WUPM MI Ironwood / Stereo 106.9 / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (118 mi.)
107.1 KTMY MN Coon Rapids / myTalk 107.1 / 22kw / weak (297 mi.)
107.1 WFON WI Fond du Lac / The Bull / 6kw / weak (251 mi.)
107.1 CFNO-3 ON Beardmore / Hometown Sound //93.1 / 260w / weak (145 mi.)
107.3 WUPF MI Powers / Eagle 107.3 / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono (125 mi.)
107.5 CBLM ON Marathon / CBC R. 1 Thunder Bay / 3.935kw / 15dBµ, mono (110 mi.)
*107.7 WMQT MI Ishpeming / Q107 / 98kw / 40dBµ, stereo (68 mi.)
107.9 WBCV WI Wausau / Big Cheese / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (180 mi.)
Inconclusive signals: 92.1, 101.3
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
Lake Superior is a unique lake for the fact that its cold water temperatures – which can be as low as 45° (7°C) in the summer – push the atmospheric ducts responsible for signal propagation higher into the atmosphere. In comparison, Lake Michigan’s water temperature often averages around 75° (24°C) and parts of Lake Erie top out at around 80° (26°C) at the peak of summer.
Excluding the special case of Lake Superior, elevation is rarely much of a factor in signal propagation on the Great Lakes, meaning one could stand on the beaches of the other lakes and get in on great action from afar, while doing the same along a beach of Lake Superior will net little more than scattered and weak distant signals. This limits propagation along the shores of this lake to elevations above 100 feet (30 m.) with best reception in the range of 300+ feet (90 m.), thus limiting accessibly to the most advantageous sites.
Comparing reception with elevation can reveal a lot about an individual site or the body of water as a whole. In the case of Copper Harbor, one could note that reception within town – both night and day (as seen below) – is very limited. The daytime scan at Astor Shipwreck Park was taken just an hour before the scan atop Brockway Mountain, but the difference in reception is absolutely immense. While the rise in elevation in itself is quite notable, the difference in reception with elevation along the shores of the other lakes is not as drastic as it is with Lake Superior.
My first scan along Lake Superior was in the summer of 2016 at Grand Marais, Michigan. I used a site right on the beach in Grand Marais with limited and disappointing results. However, some miles down the road at a site 300 feet above the water revealed what truly lurked a few hundred feet above the water. The other 17 sites monitored along this lake’s shores have mirrored these findings time and time again.
COPPER HARBOR, MICHIGAN BANDSCAN (DAY)
July 29, 2018 1040-1105 / 67°F
Location: 47°28’03.9″N 87°51’56.1″W (Astor Shipwreck Park)
610 feet (10 feet above lake level)
57 stations total / Average distance: 106 mi.
* station was received on seek
88.1 –
88.3 CBQT ON Thunder Bay / CBC R. 1 Thunder Bay / 23.73kw / 15dBµ, mono, dom. (98 mi.)
88.3 WKPK MI Michigamme / Smile FM / 15kw / 10dBµ, mono in null (61 mi.)
88.5 –
88.7 –
88.9 WOJB WI Reserve / Woodland Community R. / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (198 mi.)
89.1 –
89.3 CBON-20 ON Thunder Bay / Ici Première / 16.5kw / 15dBµ, mono (98 mi.)
89.3 WSHN MI Munising / K-Love / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (61 mi.)
89.5 –
89.7 WLSN MN Grand Marais / MPR News / 6kw / 5dBµ, mono (117 mi.)
89.7 CBEB ON Manitouwadge / CBC R. 1 Thunder Bay / 4.78kw / 5dBµ, mono (149 mi.)
89.9 –
90.1 WNMU MI Marquette / Public R. 90 / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (77 mi.)
90.3 –
90.5 –
90.7 WTIP MN Grand Marais / N. Shore Comm. R. / 25kw / 15dBµ, mono (117 mi.)
90.9 –
*91.1 WGGL MI Houghton / Minnesota Public R. / 100kw / 25dBµ, stereo (49 mi.)
91.3 KUWS WI Superior / WPR Ideas / 83kw / weak (205 mi.)
*91.5 CKPR ON Thunder Bay / Hot AC / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (93 mi.)
91.5 WUPX MI Marquette / Radio X / 1.7kw / weak in null (68 mi.)
91.7 –
91.9 WMTU MI Houghton / Michigan Tech Univ. / 4.4kw / 5dBµ, mono (39 mi.)
92.1 –
*92.3 WJPD MI Ishpeming / Big Country / 100kw / 20dBµ, mono (68 mi.)
92.5 –
92.7 WRPP MI Manistique / Cl. Rock //98.3 / 51kw / faint (122 mi.)
92.9 –
93.1 CFNO ON Marathon / Hometown Sound / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono (107 mi.)
93.3 W227CJ MI Marquette / ESPN UP //970 / 250w / 5dBµ, mono (68 mi.)
93.5 WKMJ MI Hancock / Mix 93.5 / 25kw / 15dBµ, mono (42 mi.)
93.7 –
93.9 WNBY MI Newberry / Oldies 93 / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono (148 mi.)
94.1 WUPK MI Marquette / 94 Rock / 4.4kw / 10dBµ, mono (68 mi.)
*94.3 CJSD ON Thunder Bay / Rock 94 / 90kw / 15dBµ, mono (93 mi.)
94.5 –
94.7 –
*94.9 WUPZ MI Chocolay Twp. / The Bay / 100kw / 30dBµ, stereo (68 mi.)
95.1 WLST WI Marinette / Cat Country / 100kw / faint (166 mi.)
95.3 –
95.5 WGFE MI Glen Arbor / Rock 105 & 95.5 //105.1 / 21kw / weak (203 mi.)
*95.7 WHWL MI Marquette / Gospel Opportunities / 100kw / 20dBµ, stereo (70 mi.)
95.9 –
96.1 –
96.3 WLXT MI Petoskey / Lite 96.3 / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (205 mi.)
96.5 –
96.7 –
96.9 –
97.1 WGLQ MI Escanaba / Magic 97 GLQ / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (102 mi.)
97.3 CBON-19 ON Nipigon / Ici Première / 2kw / 10dBµ, mono (106 mi.)
97.3 WHDG WI Rhinelander / Hodag Country / 100kw / weak (157 mi.)
97.5 W248BU MI Ishpeming / Good Time Oldies //WQKS HD-3 / 250w / 5dBµ, mono (61 mi.)
97.7 WOLV MI Houghton / The Wolf / 6.5kw / 15dBµ, mono (40 mi.)
97.9 WIHC MI Newberry / Strong Tower R. / 50kw / 3dBµ, mono (148 mi.)
98.1 –
*98.3 WRUP MI Palmer / Cl. Rock //92.7 / 2.6kw / 20dBµ, stereo (61 mi.)
98.5 WQLH WI Green Bay / Star 98 / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (195 mi.)
*98.7 WGLI MI Hancock / The Rockin’ Eagle / 52kw / 20dBµ, stereo (41 mi.)
98.9 CBQY ON Nipigon / CBC R. 1 Thunder Bay / 2kw / 10dBµ, mono (106 mi.)
99.1 WIKB MI Iron River / True Country / 60kw / 5dBµ, mono (100 mi.)
99.3 –
99.5 WNGE MI Negaunee / Oldies 99.5 / 3.6kw / 10dBµ, mono (68 mi.)
99.7 –
99.9 –
100.1 WRHN WI Rhinelander / Jack FM / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (146 mi.)
*100.3 WUPT MI Gwinn / The Point / 100kw / 20dBµ, stereo (68 mi.)
100.5 WSCN MN Cloquet / MPR News / 97kw / weak (205 mi.)
100.7 WOBE MI Crystal Falls / Radio Now / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (114 mi.)
100.9 –
101.1 –
101.3 –
101.5 –
101.7 CBQ ON Thunder Bay / CBC Music Thunder Bay / 25kw / 15dBµ, mono (98 mi.)
*101.9 WKQS MI Negaunee / Sunny FM / 13kw / 20dBµ, stereo (61 mi.)
102.1 –
102.3 WHKB MI Houghton / K-Bear 102 / 6kw / 15dBµ, mono (40 mi.)
102.5 WCMM MI Gulliver / The Moose / 60kw / 3dBµ, mono (122 mi.)
102.7 –
102.9 –
103.1 –
*103.3 WFXD MI Marquette / 103-FXD / 100kw / 20dBµ, stereo (61 mi.)
103.5 WTCM MI Traverse City / Country / 100kw / 2dBµ, mono (232 mi.)
103.7 –
103.9 –
104.1 –
*104.3 WVCN MI Baraga / VCY America / 100kw / 35dBµ, stereo (61 mi.)
104.5 –
104.7 WYKX MI Escanaba / Kix Country / 100kw / faint (110 mi.)
104.9 –
105.1 W286BC MI Marquette / Fox Sports //WKQS HD-2 / 250w / 5dBµ, mono (61 mi.)
105.1 WGFM MI Cheboygan / Rock 105 & 95.5 //95.5 / 43kw / weak (217 mi.)
*105.3 CKTG ON Thunder Bay / Country 105 / 100kw / 20dBµ, stereo (93 mi.)
105.5 –
*105.7 WCUP MI L’Anse / Eagle Country / 100kw / 20dBµ, stereo (41 mi.)
105.9 –
106.1 –
106.3 –
106.5 –
106.7 –
106.9 –
107.1 –
107.3 –
107.5 –
*107.7 WMQT MI Ishpeming / Q107 / 98kw / 25dBµ, stereo (67 mi.)
107.9 WBCV WI Wausau / Big Cheese / 100kw / faint (182 mi.)
Inconclusive signals: 98.5
RDS was not monitored
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
COPPER HARBOR, MICHIGAN BANDSCAN (NIGHT)
July 28-29, 2018 2335-0010 / 67°F
Location: 47°27’57.8″N 87°51’32.3″W (Fort Wilkins)
640 feet (40 feet above lake level)
47 stations total / Average distance: 88 mi.
* station was received on seek
88.1 –
88.3 WKPK MI Michigamme / Smile FM / 15kw / 10dBµ, mono (61 mi.)
88.3 CBQT ON Thunder Bay / CBC R. 1 Thunder Bay / 23.73kw / 10dBµ, mono (98 mi.)
88.5 –
88.7 –
88.9 WCRR MI Manistique / K-Love / 24.5kw / 3dBµ, mono, faint (122 mi.)
89.1 –
89.3 WSHN MI Munising / K-Love / 100kw / 20dBµ, mono (61 mi.)
89.5 –
89.7 –
89.9 –
90.1 WNMU MI Marquette / Public R. 90 / 100kw / RDS / 25dBµ, stereo (77 mi.)
90.3 –
90.5 –
90.7 WTIP MN Grand Marais / N. Shore Comm. R. / 25kw / RDS / 15dBµ, mono (118 mi.)
90.9 –
*91.1 WGGL MI Houghton / Minnesota Public R. / 100kw / RDS / 30dBµ, stereo (49 mi.)
91.3 –
*91.5 CKPR ON Thunder Bay / Hot AC / 100kw / RDS / 15dBµ, mono (93 mi.)
91.7 –
91.9 WMTU MI Houghton / Michigan Tech Univ. / 4.4kw / RDS / 15dBµ, mono (39 mi.)
92.1 –
92.3 WJPD MI Ishpeming / Big Country / 100kw / RDS / 15dBµ, mono (68 mi.)
92.5 –
92.7 –
92.9 –
93.1 CFNO ON Marathon / Hometown Sound / 50kw / good in car (107 mi.)
93.1 WIMK MI Iron Mountain / 93 Rock / 100kw / faint (114 mi.)
93.3 W227CJ MI Marquette / ESPN UP //970 / 250w / 7dBµ, mono (68 mi.)
93.5 WKMJ MI Hancock / Mix 93.5 / 25kw / 10dBµ, mono (43 mi.)
93.7 –
93.9 –
94.1 WUPK MI Marquette / 94 Rock / 4.4kw / 10dBµ, mono (68 mi.)
*94.3 CJSD ON Thunder Bay / Rock 94 / 90kw / RDS / 20dBµ, mono (93 mi.)
94.5 –
94.7 –
*94.9 WUPZ MI Chocolay Twp. / The Bay / 100kw / 30dBµ, stereo (68 mi.)
95.1 –
95.3 –
95.5 –
*95.7 WHWL MI Marquette / Gospel Opportunities / 100kw / RDS / 30dBµ, stereo (70 mi.)
95.9 –
96.1 –
96.3 WLXT MI Petoskey / Lite 96.3 / 100kw / weak in/out in car (205 mi.)
96.3 WSFQ WI Peshtigo / Hits 96 / 49kw / weak in/out in car (162 mi.)
96.5 –
96.7 WUPG MI Republic / Maverick 96.7 / 800w / faint in car (66 mi.)
96.9 KMFY MN Grand Rapids / Adult Cont. / 100kw / faint (261 mi.)
97.1 WGLQ MI Escanaba / Magic 97 GLQ / 100kw / RDS / 10dBµ, mono (102 mi.)
97.3 CBON-19 ON Nipigon / Ici Première / 2kw / 5dBµ, mono (106 mi.)
97.5 W248BU MI Ishpeming / Good Time Oldies //WQKS HD-3 / 250w / 10dBµ, mono (61 mi.)
97.7 WOLV MI Houghton / The Wolf / 6.5kw / 20dBµ, stereo (40 mi.)
97.9 –
98.1 WEUL MI Kingsford / Gospel Opportunities / 1kw / faint (113 mi.)
*98.3 WRUP MI Palmer / Cl. Rock / 2.6kw / RDS / 20dBµ, stereo (61 mi.)
98.5 –
*98.7 WGLI MI Hancock / The Rockin’ Eagle / 52kw / 20dBµ, mono (42 mi.)
98.9 CBQY ON Nipigon / CBC R. 1 Thunder Bay / 2kw / 5dBµ, mono (106 mi.)
99.1 –
99.3 –
99.5 WNGE MI Negaunee / Oldies 99.5 / 3.6kw / 10dBµ, mono (68 mi.)
99.7 –
99.9 –
100.1 –
*100.3 WUPT MI Gwinn / The Point / 100kw / 20dBµ, mono (68 mi.)
100.5 –
100.7 –
100.9 –
101.1 WUPY MI Ontonagon / Superior Country / 100kw / good in car (79 mi.)
101.3 –
101.5 –
101.7 CBQ ON Thunder Bay / CBC Music Thunder Bay / 25kw / 10dBµ, mono (98 mi.)
*101.9 WKQS MI Negaunee / Sunny FM / 13kw / RDS / 20dBµ, stereo (61 mi.)
102.1 –
102.3 WHKB MI Houghton / K-Bear 102 / 6kw / 15dBµ, mono (40 mi.)
102.5 –
102.7 –
102.9 –
103.1 –
*103.3 WFXD MI Marquette / 103-FXD / 100kw / RDS / 25dBµ, stereo (61 mi.)
103.5 –
103.7 –
103.9 WNOA-LP MI Marquette / Northern Apostle R. / 100w / faint (67 mi.)
104.1 WRLU WI Algoma / Cl. Country / 2.4kw / faint (192 mi.)
*104.3 WVCN MI Baraga / VCY America / 100kw / 30dBµ, stereo (61 mi.)
104.5 –
104.7 WYKX MI Escanaba / Kix Country / 100kw / faint (110 mi.)
104.9 –
105.1 W286BC MI Marquette / Fox Sports //WKQS HD-2 / 250w / 10dBµ, mono (61 mi.)
*105.3 CKTG ON Thunder Bay / Country 105 / 100kw / RDS / 20dBµ, mono (93 mi.)
105.5 –
*105.7 WCUP MI L’Anse / Eagle Country / 100kw / 25dBµ, stereo (42 mi.)
105.9 –
106.1 –
106.3 –
106.5 –
106.7 –
106.9 –
107.1 –
107.3 WUPF MI Powers / Eagle 107.3 / 50kw / faint (124 mi.)
107.5 CBLM ON Marathon / CBC R. 1 Thunder Bay / 3.935kw / weak in car (107 mi.)
107.7 WMQT MI Ishpeming / Q107 / 98kw / 15dBµ, mono (67 mi.)
107.9 –
Inconclusive signals: 89.9
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: Copper Harbor is one of the most remote locations along Michigan’s shoreline of Lake Superior. While there is a loose tourist infrastructure here – it’s still a small town of 100 residents with no downtown, no cellphone reception, and only a handful of businesses catering to visitors – it’s still a 45-minute drive from Calumet with services. The majority of visitors to town are spending the night before embarking on a ferry journey across the water to Isle Royale (note that aside from locations such as Mt. Ojibway, 532 ft. above the lake, this is not an ideal radio site due to its overall low elevation, despite its location) or briefly in town to get away from civilization and enjoy some natural sights.
If you plan on visiting Copper Harbor, fill up with gas in Houghton or Calumet as the only available fuel in these parts is a stop in Copper Harbor with old analog gas pumps from years past and can run at higher prices. As there is only a small general store in town, bring your food from outside as well.
There are numerous accommodations in the area, including in Copper Harbor and nearby Eagle Harbor, but they don’t fit a large number of people. If arriving on or just before a weekend, assume that you will not find a place to stay; in other words, don’t show up without reservations. Even the Fort Wilkins campground often is booked on weekends in the summer months. I was lucky enough to get the sole remaining site after finding everything else in town booked for the weekend. Alternatively, staying in the Houghton/Hancock area may not be a bad idea if you plan to just spend the day in Copper Harbor. You’ll be nearly certain to find a room there.
The weather on the Keweenaw Peninsula can change quickly and is at the mercy of Lake Superior’s cold waters. Average highs at the peak of summer are just 75° and average lows just 57°. The lake may cover the whole town in fog immediately followed by clear and sunny skies an hour later. Be prepared for the weather, the wilderness, and lack of services here.
While in town, Brockway Mountain is a must-visit sight. The mountain towers over the town and Lake Superior providing great, albeit sometimes hazy, views of the town and surrounding water and land below. The mountain will also provide you with a cellphone signal from nearby areas if needed, as you won’t find any in town. For radio, this is the only location with elevation in the area and plenty of it! There is little privacy atop the wide open West Bluff. It has a flat top with a parking area and bathrooms, but no real areas to avoid tourists, of which there may be few or many that will come and go.
Nearby is Eagle Harbor, population 75. A good route to take is to follow Brockway Mountain to the top and continue along that road into Eagle Harbor. Eagle Harbor has a beautiful lighthouse and there is a dunes and marsh preserve just west of the hamlet. Follow M-26 back into Copper Harbor to get the best of both Brockway Mountain and the shoreline. In addition, Agate Beach, a beach full of small red rocks, is immediately west of Copper Harbor and just east of town is a large sign marking the start of US-41, which then heads south to Miami.
For those with four-wheel drive, dirt bikes, or four-wheelers, one can continue beyond the US-41 marker another 8 miles along the dirt roads through deep wilderness to the Keweenaw Rocket Range at the very tip of the peninsula. Used from 1964-71, the first rocket to enter space from Michigan was launched at this site. The site is remote, the road is often muddy and/or flooded in spots, and one must be prepared for anything if heading there.
There are other sights to see in the area, including waterfalls and beautiful stretches of shoreline. A visit to Fort Wilkins is highly advisable as the park allows visitors to see history come to life and read about life as it was here many years before.
Location rating: Copper Harbor is unique in the aspect that it is remote, lies in the middle of Lake Superior away from most major radio markets, yet also includes a mountain that serves as the highest bandscan site on all of the Great Lakes. In addition, there are numerous sites around town that are favourable for listening and allow for the comparison between reception at water level and reception high above it.
Both Fort Wilkins and Astor Shipwreck Park beside it are at or just above water level. Both are quiet locations and have facilities on site. Just a few miles’ drive to the west, Brockway Mountain is easy to access, provides stunning views of the land and water surrounding it, and reception is extraordinary and unique for being one of few sites with ample elevation on the south shore that has shoreline orientation allowing reception across to inland northern Minnesota and beyond. The site has bathrooms and plenty of room to move about.
The major disadvantage of Brockway Mountain is that its flat and open nature makes it near impossible to avoid curious onlookers. I was questioned about my activities a half dozen times by rather friendly tourists, though sometimes it’s possible to find others who are genuinely curious about the hobby, the science behind it, or are already into other radio bands. However, this can be highly distracting unless you have plenty of time to spare in the area.
Copper Harbor is certainly a must-visit location for anyone curious about radio on the south shore of Lake Superior. Because of the flat and often inaccessible nature of the lake’s southern shore, it is a rather rare and incomparable location with the ability for plenty of reception comparison within a short distance.