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Marathon is a radio site on the north shore of Lake Superior. The site consists of both Pebble Beach at lake level in town and Gchi-Waaswaaganing (combined into a single map), 400 feet (120 m.) higher and inland, just outside of town. Marathon, with 3,300 residents, is the centre of business in this area with an economy based historically on pulp and gold mining. It lies 155 miles northeast of Marquette, 180 miles northwest of Sault Ste. Marie, 130 miles east of Thunder Bay, and 300 miles northeast of Duluth. Due to the distance of these nearest radio markets, reception here has an average distance of 191 miles (307 km.).
MARATHON, ONTARIO BANDSCAN
July 25, 2018 1800-1825 & 1855-1950 / 15°C
Pebble Beach: 48°42’24.4″N 86°23’11.3″W (640 ft.)
Gchi-Waaswaaganing: 48°42’40.9″N 86°19’17.6″W (1030 ft.)
76 stations total / Average distance: 191 mi.
* station was received on seek
88.1 CBON-18 ON Sault Ste. Marie / Ici Première / 3.59kw / 2dBµ, mono (175 mi.)
88.3 CBQT ON Thunder Bay / CBC R. 1 Thunder Bay / 23.73kw / 5dBµ, mono (130 mi.)
88.5 WIAB MI Mackinaw City / Classical IPR //88.7 / 50kw / faint, very good in car (226 mi.)
88.7 WIAA MI Interlochen / Classical IPR //88.5 / 100kw / weak in car (308 mi.)
88.9 WCRR MI Manistique / K-Love / 24.5kw / 0dBµ, mono, very good (189 mi.)
89.1 –
89.3 WSHN MI Munising / K-Love / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (156 mi.)
89.3 CBON-20 ON Thunder Bay / Ici Première / 16.5kw / good in car (130 mi.)
89.5 CBSM ON Sault Ste. Marie / CBC R. 1 Sudbury / 46kw / 5dBµ, mono (175 mi.)
*89.7 CBEB ON Manitouwadge / CBC R. 1 Thunder Bay / 4.78kw / 15dBµ, mono (39 mi.)
89.9 WHSA WI Brule / WPR News & Classical / 92kw / 1dBµ, mono (286 mi.)
90.1 WNMU MI Marquette / Public R. 90 / 100kw / RDS / 20dBµ, stereo (176 mi.)
90.3 WHBM WI Park Falls / WPR Ideas / 35kw / 5dBµ, mono (263 mi.)
90.5 WPFF WI Sturgeon Bay / K-Love / 100kw / good in car (267 mi.)
90.7 WMVM WI Goodman / V. of the Master / 9.3kw / good in car (224 mi.)
90.9 WUPJ MI Escanaba / Strong Tower R. / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (202 mi.)
90.9 WHRM WI Wausau / WPR News & Classical / 81kw / very good in car (304 mi.)
91.1 WGGL MI Houghton / Minnesota Public R. / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono / 10dBµ, mono (157 mi.)
91.3 –
91.5 CKPR ON Thunder Bay / Hot AC / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono / 10dBµ, mono (125 mi.)
*91.7 WXPR WI Rhinelander / Public R. / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (243 mi.)
91.9 WMTU MI Houghton / Michigan Tech Univ. / 4.4kw / RDS / very good in car (147 mi.)
92.1 –
92.3 WJPD MI Ishpeming / Big Country / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (160 mi.)
92.5 WJJQ WI Tomahawk / Northwoods 92.5 / 25kw / very good in car (272 mi.)
92.7 WRPP MI Manistique / Cl. Rock //98.3 / 51kw / 10dBµ, mono (189 mi.)
92.9 –
*93.1 CFNO ON Marathon / Hometown Sound //100.7 107.1 / 50kw / 70dBµ, stereo (9 mi.)
93.3 = 93.1
93.5 WKMJ MI Hancock / Mix 93.5 / 25kw / 10dBµ, mono (151 mi.)
93.7 –
*93.9 WNBY MI Newberry / Oldies 93 / 50kw / 15dBµ, mono (167 mi.)
94.1 WUPK MI Marquette / 94 Rock / 4.4kw / 10dBµ, mono (160 mi.)
94.3 CJSD ON Thunder Bay / Rock 94 / 90kw / 10dBµ, mono (125 mi.)
94.5 WRJO WI Eagle River / Cl. Hits / 50kw / 2dBµ, mono (224 mi.)
94.7 –
*94.9 WUPZ MI Chocolay Twp. / The Bay / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (160 mi.)
95.1 WLST WI Marinette / Cat Country / 100kw / good in car (259 mi.)
95.3 –
95.5 WIFC WI Wausau / CHR / 98.6kw / 3dBµ, mono (304 mi.)
*95.7 WHWL MI Marquette / Gospel Opportunities / 100kw / 20dBµ, stereo (160 mi.)
95.9 WMQA WI Minocqua / Kool 95.9 / 22kw / good in car (253 mi.)
96.1 –
96.3 WLXT MI Petoskey / Lite 96.3 / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (244 mi.)
96.5 –
96.7 WMJT MI McMillan / Eagle 96.7 / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono (155 mi.)
96.9 CBON-23 ON Manitouwadge / Ici Première / 143w / 10dBµ, mono (39 mi.)
97.1 WGLQ MI Escanaba / Magic 97 GLQ / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (180 mi.)
97.3 CBON-19 ON Nipigon / Ici Première / 2kw / 5dBµ, mono (89 mi.)
97.5 –
97.7 WOLV MI Houghton / The Wolf / 6.5kw / 5dBµ, mono (148 mi.)
97.9 WIHC MI Newberry / Strong Tower R. / 50kw / 15dBµ, mono (167 mi.)
98.1 WEUL MI Kingsford / Gospel Opportunities / 1kw / faint (214 mi.)
98.3 WRUP MI Palmer / Cl. Rock //92.7 / 2.6kw / 10dBµ, mono (156 mi.)
98.5 WQLH WI Green Bay / Star 98 / 100kw / good in car (292 mi.)
98.7 WGLI MI Hancock / The Rockin’ Eagle / 52kw / 5dBµ, mono (150 mi.)
98.9 CBQY ON Nipigon / CBC R. 1 Thunder Bay / 2kw / 10dBµ, mono (89 mi.)
98.9 WEMP WI Two Rivers / Easy Listening / 6kw / 5dBµ, mono (333 mi.)
99.1 WIKB MI Iron River / True Country / 60kw / 5dBµ, mono (206 mi.)
99.3 –
99.5 WNGE MI Negaunee / Oldies 99.5 / 3.6kw / 5dBµ, mono (160 mi.)
99.7 WIMI MI Ironwood / The Storm / 100kw / very good in car (239 mi.)
99.7 WDKF WI Sturgeon Bay / Duke FM / 46kw / 0dBµ, mono (287 mi.)
99.9 WHAK MI Rogers City / The Wave / 50kw / 3dBµ, mono (256 mi.)
100.1 WRHN WI Rhinelander / Jack FM / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (255 mi.)
*100.3 WUPT MI Gwinn / The Point / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (160 mi.)
100.5 CHAS ON Sault Ste. Marie / KiSS 100.5 / 13.9kw / 3dBµ, mono (174 mi.)
100.7 WOBE MI Crystal Falls / Radio Now / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (214 mi.)
100.9 –
101.1 WUPY MI Ontonagon / Superior Country / 100kw / very good in car (187 mi.)
101.3 –
101.5 –
101.7 CBQ ON Thunder Bay / CBC Music Thunder Bay / 25kw / good in car (130 mi.)
101.9 WDEZ WI Wausau / Country / 98.5kw / 2dBµ, mono (304 mi.)
102.1 –
*102.3 CBON-29 ON Marathon / Ici Première / 3.862kw / 60dBµ, mono (9 mi.)
102.5 WCMM MI Gulliver / The Moose / 60kw / 5dBµ, mono (189 mi.)
102.7 –
102.9 WMKC MI Indian River / Big Country Hits / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono, strong (230 mi.)
103.1 WOGB WI Reedsville / Cl. Hits / 3.6kw / faint (310 mi.)
*103.3 WFXD MI Marquette / 103-FXD / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (156 mi.)
103.5 –
103.7 –
103.9 –
104.1 –
*104.3 WVCN MI Baraga / VCY America / 100kw / 15dBµ, stereo (169 mi.)
104.5 –
104.7 WYKX MI Escanaba / Kix Country / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (196 mi.)
104.9 –
105.1 WGFM MI Cheboygan / Rock 105 & 95.5 / 43kw / faint (256 mi.)
*105.3 CKTG ON Thunder Bay / Country 105 / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (125 mi.)
105.5 –
105.7 WCUP MI L’Anse / Eagle Country / 100kw / 2dBµ, mono (150 mi.)
105.9 WKHQ MI Charlevoix / 106 KHQ / 100kw / 3dBµ, mono (251 mi.)
106.1 –
106.3 WGMV MI Stephenson / Maverick 106 / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono (217 mi.)
106.5 –
106.7 –
106.9 WUPM MI Ironwood / Stereo 106.9 / 100kw / 1dBµ, mono (229 mi.)
107.1 –
107.3 WUPF MI Powers / Eagle 107.3 / 50kw / faint (212 mi.)
*107.5 CBLM ON Marathon / CBC R. 1 Thunder Bay / 3.935kw / 60dBµ, mono (9 mi.)
*107.7 WMQT MI Ishpeming / Q107 / 98kw / 20dBµ, mono (163 mi.)
107.9 WBCV WI Wausau / Big Cheese / 100kw / faint (290 mi.)
Inconclusive signals: 90.9, 92.1, 93.9, 96.1, 107.1
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: Marathon is the center of services in this part of the region, meaning it’s a rather necessary stop whether you are here for radio, tourism, or fuel.
Marathon is home to one of only three Canadian Tire locations on the north shore. The town has a grocery store, a hospital, a town museum, and a few selections for food, such as A&W. Despite this, note that most services in town close early; Canadian Tire is only open until 6 p.m. on most days and the grocery store until 8 p.m. Gas stations in town close early as well. After all, the town is a rather sleepy place and is primarily residential. Keep these facts in mind when planning your trip to or through Marathon. The nearest full services can be found in Thunder Bay, just 3 ½ hours to the west, and Sault Ste. Marie, 4 ½ hours to the southeast.
There are a few places to stay in and around town, including motels and campgrounds. Information about these options can be found on the town website. Neys Provincial Park is to the west of town and offers additional camping.
Pebble Beach Park is a decent location for a short trip to the lake. However, for radio purposes, it’s not very ideal. There is a parking lot that is above the rocky beach (pebbles doesn’t quite accurately define the size of these rocks) with a short trail leading to the water. Because of its low elevation just above the water, radio reception isn’t super here. Nearby Peninsula Hill with its higher elevation is just down the shore in easy view, but there is no direct access to this hill and it is heavily forested.
As an alternate site, Gchi-Waaswaaganing, at the tourist information center along the Trans-Canada Highway, utilizes a much higher elevation with minimal terrain obstructions. The site has bathrooms and information as well as native crafts and educational materials but is only open until 5 p.m. and only on weekdays. Gchi-Waaswaaganing means “very big torch light” in the local Nishnaabemowin language.
For suggestions on how to achieve better reception from the Marathon area, continue reading below.
Location rating: While Marathon appears to be a great location on paper, it has some serious flaws, all of which are rather predictable.
Due to its colder water temperatures, Lake Superior ducts are primarily 100+ feet above the water, meaning lower elevations, such as immediately along the shore, get a scattering of signals dropping out of these ducts, signals that often fade in and out sporadically. This is the main downside to Pebble Beach. One could use Gchi-Waaswaaganing aiming to correct this elevation disadvantage as it is well within the requirement for marine ducts, but it has its own flaw of being three miles inland, distant enough to lose many, though not all, coastal signals. For those restricted to Marathon itself, the combination of these two sites will get the job done. Reception isn’t poor. In fact, an average reception distance of 191 miles is exceptional. But these disadvantages put a damper on things.
Instead, it is recommended to substitute these Marathon sites with Neys Provincial Park, 10 miles up the shore to the northwest. Neys, which has its own campground that is open from mid-May to mid-September, has an elevated site at the Pic Island Lookout. Following an old dirt road, the trail is 3 miles long (6 miles round trip) and can be accessed just inside the park entrance immediately across the railroad tracks and to the left. At more than 800 feet above lake level and with a stunning vista, the pagoda at the end of this trail is highly recommended for those with ample time, best if staying at the park campground.
If Neys isn’t in your plans, Marathon will do just fine in the end. Services are very close by, which is advantageous no matter how you look at it. There aren’t many local stations here and while they may be weak, stations from afar are readily audible.