Michipicoten is a radio site on the eastern shore of Lake Superior with the longest open water path on the Great Lakes, an uninterrupted 350 miles to Duluth, 50 miles longer than any other Great Lakes path and passing just a mile offshore from the Keweenaw Peninsula at Eagle Harbor. The site pairs Government Dock Beach at water level with the Michipicoten Scenic Lookout just up the road, 165 feet above the lake. Wawa, the region’s commercial hub, is 10 minutes to the north.
Three bandscans were conducted at these locations. A late evening bandscan was performed at Government Dock Beach and then the lookout immediately after; both are combined in a single map. The scans were done at a time after the main lake breeze circulation had ceased for the day but before nighttime enhancement had begun. For comparison, an additional scan was performed the following day during daytime lake tropo at the lookout.
MICHIPICOTEN GOVERNMENT DOCK BEACH, ONTARIO BANDSCAN (EVENING)
July 24, 2018 2045-2115 / 16°C
Location: 47°56’11.5″N 84°50’59.7″W
620 feet (at beach level)
55 stations total / Average distance: 160 mi.
* station was received on seek
88.1 WBLW MI Gaylord / The Living Word FM / 5kw / 5dBµ, mono (191 mi.)
*88.3 CBLJ ON Wawa / CBC R. 1 Sudbury / 4.807kw / 55dBµ, mono (7 mi.)
88.5 WIAB MI Mackinaw City / Classical IPR //88.7 / 50kw / 4dBµ, mono (164 mi.)
88.7 –
88.9 WCRR MI Manistique / K-Love / 24.5kw / 5dBµ, mono (156 mi.)
89.1 –
89.3 –
89.5 CBSM ON Sault Ste. Marie / CBC R. 1 Sudbury / 46kw / 5dBµ, mono (96 mi.)
89.7 –
89.9 –
90.1 WNMU MI Marquette / Public R. 90 / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (178 mi.)
90.3 –
90.5 WPHN MI Gaylord / The Promise FM / 100kw / faint (196 mi.)
*90.7 CBON-27 ON Wawa / Ici Première / 890w / 45dBµ, mono (7 mi.)
90.9 –
91.1 WGGL MI Houghton / Minnesota Public R. / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (190 mi.)
91.3 –
91.5 CKPR ON Thunder Bay / Hot AC / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (200 mi.)
91.7 WCML MI Alpena / CMU Public R. / 92kw / 10dBµ, mono (196 mi.)
91.9 –
92.1 –
*92.3 WJPD MI Ishpeming / Big Country / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (158 mi.)
92.5 –
92.7 WRPP MI Manistique / Cl. Rock //98.3 / 51kw / 10dBµ, mono (156 mi.)
92.9 –
93.1 CFNO ON Marathon / Hometown Sound / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono (97 mi.)
93.1 WIMK MI Iron Mountain / 93 Rock / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (210 mi.)
93.3 –
93.5 –
93.7 –
93.9 WNBY MI Newberry / Oldies 93 / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono (103 mi.)
94.1 WUPK MI Marquette / 94 Rock / 4.4kw / 10dBµ, mono (158 mi.)
94.3 –
94.5 WYPV MI Mackinaw City / WJML News R. //1110 / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono (157 mi.)
94.7 –
*94.9 WUPZ MI Chocolay Twp. / The Bay / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (158 mi.)
95.1 –
95.3 –
95.5 –
*95.7 WHWL MI Marquette / Gospel Opportunities / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (156 mi.)
95.9 –
96.1 –
96.3 WLXT MI Petoskey / Lite 96.3 / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (181 mi.)
96.5 –
96.7 WMJT MI McMillan / Eagle 96.7 / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono (103 mi.)
96.7 WRGZ MI Rogers City / Country //99.3 / 42kw / 10dBµ, mono (186 mi.)
96.9 –
97.1 WGLQ MI Escanaba / Magic 97 GLQ / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (159 mi.)
97.3 –
97.5 –
97.7 WOLV MI Houghton / The Wolf / 6.5kw / 5dBµ, mono (182 mi.)
97.9 WIHC MI Newberry / Strong Tower R. / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono (103 mi.)
98.1 –
98.3 WCMZ MI Sault Ste. Marie / CMU Public R. / 25kw / 10dBµ, mono (104 mi.)
98.5 –
98.7 WGLI MI Hancock / The Rockin’ Eagle / 52kw / faint (183 mi.)
98.9 WKLZ MI Petoskey / KLT The Rock Sta. / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (170 mi.)
99.1 –
99.3 –
99.5 WNGE MI Negaunee / Oldies 99.5 / 3.6kw / 5dBµ, mono (158 mi.)
99.7 WIMI MI Ironwood / The Storm / 100kw / 3dBµ, mono (274 mi.)
99.9 –
100.1 –
*100.3 WUPT MI Gwinn / The Point / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (158 mi.)
100.5 CHAS ON Sault Ste. Marie / KiSS 100.5 / 13.9kw / faint (96 mi.)
100.7 CJWA-1 ON Chapleau / JJAM FM //107.1 / 111w / 5dBµ, mono (66 mi.)
100.9 –
101.1 –
101.3 WSUE MI Sault Ste. Marie / Rock 101 / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (106 mi.)
101.5 –
101.7 –
101.9 WKQS MI Negaunee / Sunny FM / 13kw / 3dBµ, mono (159 mi.)
102.1 –
102.3 WTHN MI Sault Ste. Marie / The Promise FM / 22.5kw / 2dBµ, mono (104 mi.)
102.5 WCMM MI Gulliver / The Moose / 60kw / 15dBµ, mono (156 mi.)
102.7 WRVM WI Suring / V. of the Master / 98kw / faint (264 mi.)
102.9 WMKC MI Indian River / Big Country Hits / 100kw / 2dBµ, mono (168 mi.)
103.1 –
103.3 –
103.5 WTCM MI Traverse City / Country / 100kw / 3dBµ, mono (244 mi.)
103.7 –
103.9 –
104.1 –
104.3 WVCN MI Baraga / VCY America / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (187 mi.)
104.5 WZTC MI Traverse City / Bob FM / 1.75kw / faint (222 mi.)
104.7 WYKX MI Escanaba / Kix Country / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (180 mi.)
104.9 –
105.1 WGFM MI Cheboygan / Rock 105 & 95.5 / 43kw / 5dBµ, mono (191 mi.)
105.3 –
105.5 WGKL MI Gladstone / Kool 105.5 / 20kw / 5dBµ, mono (183 mi.)
105.7 WCUP MI L’Anse / Eagle Country / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (183 mi.)
105.9 WKHQ MI Charlevoix / 106 KHQ / 100kw / 3dBµ, mono (191 mi.)
106.1 –
106.3 WGMV MI Stephenson / Maverick 106 / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono (198 mi.)
106.5 –
106.7 WSRT MI Gaylord / ESPN N. Michigan / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (200 mi.)
106.9 –
*107.1 CJWA ON Wawa / JJAM FM //100.7 / 210w / 30dBµ, stereo (7 mi.)
107.3 WUPF MI Powers / Eagle 107.3 / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono (194 mi.)
107.5 WCCW MI Traverse City / The 70’s Station / 50kw / 2dBµ, mono (222 mi.)
*107.7 WMQT MI Ishpeming / Q107 / 98kw / 10dBµ, mono (164 mi.)
107.9 WBCV WI Wausau / Big Cheese / 100kw / faint (195 mi.)
Inconclusive signals: 103.9
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
MICHIPICOTEN SCENIC LOOKOUT, ONTARIO BANDSCAN (EVENING)
July 24, 2018 2120-2150 / 16°C
Location: 47°56’30.7″N 84°50’15.0″W
765 feet (165 feet above lake level)
71 stations total / Average distance: 165 mi.
* station was received on seek
88.1 WBLW MI Gaylord / The Living Word FM / 5kw / faint (191 mi.)
*88.3 CBLJ ON Wawa / CBC R. 1 Sudbury / 4.807kw / 45dBµ, mono (7 mi.)
88.5 WIAB MI Mackinaw City / Classical IPR / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono (164 mi.)
88.7 –
88.9 WCRR MI Manistique / K-Love / 24.5kw / 15dBµ, mono (157 mi.)
89.1 –
89.3 CBON-20 ON Thunder Bay / Ici Première / 16.5kw / 3dBµ, mono (206 mi.)
89.5 CBSM ON Sault Ste. Marie / CBC R. 1 Sudbury / 46kw / 10dBµ, mono (96 mi.)
89.7 CBEB ON Manitouwadge / CBC R. 1 Thunder Bay / 4.78kw / 5dBµ, mono (94 mi.)
89.7 WHND WI Sister Bay / WPR News & Classical / 22kw / 5dBµ, mono (215 mi.)
89.9 –
90.1 WNMU MI Marquette / Public R. 90 / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (179 mi.)
90.3 –
90.5 WPHN MI Gaylord / The Promise FM / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (196 mi.)
*90.7 CBON-27 ON Wawa / Ici Première / 890w / 40dBµ, mono (7 mi.)
90.9 –
91.1 WGGL MI Houghton / Minnesota Public R. / 100kw / RDS / 10dBµ, mono (191 mi.)
91.3 –
91.5 CKPR ON Thunder Bay / Hot AC / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (201 mi.)
91.7 WCML MI Alpena / CMU Public R. / 92kw / 10dBµ, mono (196 mi.)
91.9 WMTU MI Houghton / Michigan Tech Univ. / 4.4kw / RDS / 10dBµ, mono (181 mi.)
92.1 –
92.3 WJPD MI Ishpeming / Big Country / 100kw / RDS / 20dBµ, mono (158 mi.)
92.5 WFDX MI Atlanta / The Fox FM / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (203 mi.)
92.7 WRPP MI Manistique / Cl. Rock / 51kw / 20dBµ, mono (157 mi.)
92.9 –
93.1 WIMK MI Iron Mountain / 93 Rock / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (210 mi.)
93.3 W227CJ MI Marquette / ESPN UP //970 / 250w / 5dBµ, mono (158 mi.)
93.5 WKMJ MI Hancock / Mix 93.5 / 25kw / 10dBµ, mono (184 mi.)
93.7 –
93.9 WNBY MI Newberry / Oldies 93 / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono (104 mi.)
94.1 WUPK MI Marquette / 94 Rock / 4.4kw / 15dBµ, mono (158 mi.)
94.3 CJSD ON Thunder Bay / Rock 94 / 90kw / 10dBµ, mono (201 mi.)
94.5 WYPV MI Mackinaw City / WJML News R. //1110 / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono (157 mi.)
94.7 –
*94.9 WUPZ MI Chocolay Twp. / The Bay / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (158 mi.)
95.1 –
95.3 WWSS MI Tuscarora Twp. / The Bear / 17kw / good in car (179 mi.)
95.5 –
*95.7 WHWL MI Marquette / Gospel Opportunities / 100kw / RDS / 15dBµ, mono (157 mi.)
95.9 –
96.1 –
96.3 WLXT MI Petoskey / Lite 96.3 / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (181 mi.)
96.5 –
96.7 WMJT MI McMillan / Eagle 96.7 / 50kw / 15dBµ, mono (103 mi.)
96.7 WRGZ MI Rogers City / Country / 42kw / 7dBµ, mono in null (186 mi.)
96.9 –
97.1 WGLQ MI Escanaba / Magic 97 GLQ / 100kw / RDS / 15dBµ, mono (159 mi.)
97.3 –
97.5 W248BU MI Ishpeming / Good Time Oldies //WQKS HD-3 / 250w / 5dBµ, mono (160 mi.)
97.7 WOLV MI Houghton / The Wolf / 6.5kw / 10dBµ, mono (182 mi.)
97.9 WIHC MI Newberry / Strong Tower R. / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono (104 mi.)
98.1 –
98.3 WCMZ MI Sault Ste. Marie / CMU Public R. / 25kw / 5dBµ, mono (104 mi.)
98.5 –
98.7 WGLI MI Hancock / The Rockin’ Eagle / 52kw / 15dBµ, mono (183 mi.)
98.9 WKLZ MI Petoskey / KLT The Rock Sta. / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (170 mi.)
99.1 WIKB MI Iron River / True Country / 60kw / 5dBµ, mono (216 mi.)
99.3 –
99.5 WNGE MI Negaunee / Oldies 99.5 / 3.6kw / 5dBµ, mono (158 mi.)
99.7 WIMI MI Ironwood / The Storm / 100kw / 3dBµ, mono (275 mi.)
99.9 WHAK MI Rogers City / The Wave / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono (181 mi.)
100.1 –
*100.3 WUPT MI Gwinn / The Point / 100kw / 20dBµ, mono (158 mi.)
100.5 CHAS ON Sault Ste. Marie / KiSS 100.5 / 13.9kw / 5dBµ, mono (96 mi.)
100.7 WOBE MI Crystal Falls / Radio Now / 100kw / good in car (210 mi.)
100.7 CJWA-1 ON Chapleau / JJAM FM //107.1 / 111w / 5dBµ, mono (66 mi.)
100.9 –
101.1 WUPY MI Ontonagon / Superior Country / 100kw / very good in car (219 mi.)
101.3 WSUE MI Sault Ste. Marie / Rock 101 / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (106 mi.)
101.5 WMJZ MI Gaylord / Eagle 101-5 / 50kw / 3dBµ, mono (203 mi.)
101.7 CBQ ON Thunder Bay / CBC Music Thunder Bay / 25kw (206 mi.)
101.9 WKQS MI Negaunee / Sunny FM / 13kw / 3dBµ, mono (160 mi.)
102.1 –
102.3 WHKB MI Houghton / K-Bear 102 / 6kw / 15dBµ, mono (182 mi.)
102.5 WCMM MI Gulliver / The Moose / 60kw / 15dBµ, mono (157 mi.)
102.7 WRVM WI Suring / V. of the Master / 98kw / 1dBµ, mono (264 mi.)
102.9 WMKC MI Indian River / Big Country Hits / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (169 mi.)
103.1 –
103.3 WFXD MI Marquette / 103-FXD / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (160 mi.)
103.5 –
103.7 –
103.9 –
104.1 –
104.3 WVCN MI Baraga / VCY America / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (188 mi.)
104.3 CJQM ON Sault Ste. Marie / Country 104.3 / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono in null (96 mi.)
104.5 –
104.7 WYKX MI Escanaba / Kix Country / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (180 mi.)
104.9 –
105.1 –
105.3 CKTG ON Thunder Bay / Country 105 / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (201 mi.)
105.5 WGKL MI Gladstone / Kool 105.5 / 20kw / 2dBµ, mono (184 mi.)
105.7 WCUP MI L’Anse / Eagle Country / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (183 mi.)
105.9 WEGZ WI Washburn / VCY America / 98kw / 5dBµ, mono (301 mi.)
105.9 WKHQ MI Charlevoix / 106 KHQ / 100kw / good in car (191 mi.)
106.1 –
106.3 WGMV MI Stephenson / Maverick 106 / 50kw / RDS / 5dBµ, mono (199 mi.)
106.3 WWMK MI Onaway / Mac FM / 31kw / good in car (160 mi.)
106.5 –
106.7 WSRT MI Gaylord / ESPN N. Michigan / 100kw / 3dBµ, mono (200 mi.)
106.9 –
*107.1 CJWA ON Wawa / JJAM FM //100.7 / 210w / 40dBµ, stereo (7 mi.)
107.3 WUPF MI Powers / Eagle 107.3 / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono (194 mi.)
107.5 CBLM ON Marathon / CBC R. 1 Thunder Bay / 3.935kw / 5dBµ, mono (98 mi.)
*107.7 WMQT MI Ishpeming / Q107 / 98kw / 15dBµ, mono (165 mi.)
107.9 –
Inconclusive signals: 103.9
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
MICHIPICOTEN SCENIC LOOKOUT, ONTARIO BANDSCAN (DAY)
July 25, 2018 1155-1230 / 17°C
Location: 47°56’30.7″N 84°50’15.0″W
765 feet (165 feet above lake level)
70 stations total / Average distance: 184 mi.
vs. interfering Texas and Louisiana E-skip
* station was received on seek
88.1 –
88.3 CBLJ ON Wawa / CBC R. 1 Sudbury / 4.807kw / 50dBµ, mono (7 mi.)
88.5 WIAB MI Mackinaw City / Classical IPR //88.7 / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono (164 mi.)
88.7 WIAA MI Interlochen / Classical IPR //88.5 / 100kw / faint (257 mi.)
88.9 WCRR MI Manistique / K-Love / 24.5kw / 5dBµ, mono (157 mi.)
89.1 –
89.3 WSHN MI Munising / K-Love / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (160 mi.)
89.3 CBON-20 ON Thunder Bay / Ici Première / 16.5kw / weak (206 mi.)
89.5 CBSM ON Sault Ste. Marie / CBC R. 1 Sudbury / 46kw / 5dBµ, mono (96 mi.)
89.7 WHND WI Sister Bay / WPR News & Classical / 22kw / 10dBµ, mono (215 mi.)
89.9 –
90.1 WNMU MI Marquette / Public R. 90 / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (179 mi.)
90.3 WHBM WI Park Falls / WPR Ideas / 35kw / 5dBµ, mono (291 mi.)
90.5 WPHN MI Gaylord / The Promise FM / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (196 mi.)
90.7 CBON-27 ON Wawa / Ici Première / 890w / 45dBµ, mono (7 mi.)
90.9 WUPJ MI Escanaba / Strong Tower R. / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (189 mi.)
91.1 WGGL MI Houghton / Minnesota Public R. / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (191 mi.)
91.3 –
91.5 CKPR ON Thunder Bay / Hot AC / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (201 mi.)
91.7 WXPR WI Rhinelander / Public R. / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (256 mi.)
91.9 WMTU MI Houghton / Michigan Tech Univ. / 4.4kw / 10dBµ, mono (181 mi.)
92.1 –
92.3 WJPD MI Ishpeming / Big Country / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (158 mi.)
92.5 –
92.7 WRPP MI Manistique / Cl. Rock / 51kw / 15dBµ, mono (157 mi.)
92.9 WSCD MN Duluth / Classical MPR / 70kw / 10dBµ, mono (350 mi.)
93.1 WIMK MI Iron Mountain / 93 Rock / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (210 mi.)
93.1 CFNO ON Marathon / Hometown Sound / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono in null (98 mi.)
93.3 W227CJ MI Marquette / ESPN UP //970 / 250w / 5dBµ, mono, weak (158 mi.)
93.5 WKMJ MI Hancock / Mix 93.5 / 25kw / 15dBµ, mono (184 mi.)
93.7 –
93.9 WNBY MI Newberry / Oldies 93 / 50kw / 15dBµ, mono (104 mi.)
94.1 WUPK MI Marquette / 94 Rock / 4.4kw / 15dBµ, mono (158 mi.)
94.3 CJSD ON Thunder Bay / Rock 94 / 90kw / 15dBµ, mono (201 mi.)
94.5 WYPV MI Mackinaw City / WJML News R. //1110 / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono (157 mi.)
94.7 –
94.9 WUPZ MI Chocolay Twp. / The Bay / 100kw / 20dBµ, stereo (158 mi.)
95.1 WLST WI Marinette / Cat Country / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (240 mi.)
95.3 –
95.5 WIFC WI Wausau / CHR / 98.6kw / 5dBµ, mono (311 mi.)
95.7 WHWL MI Marquette / Gospel Opportunities / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (157 mi.)
95.9 –
96.1 –
96.3 WSFQ WI Peshtigo / Hits 96 / 49kw / 10dBµ, mono (242 mi.)
96.3 WLXT MI Petoskey / Lite 96.3 / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (181 mi.)
96.5 –
96.7 WMJT MI McMillan / Eagle 96.7 / 50kw / 15dBµ, mono (103 mi.)
96.9 –
97.1 WGLQ MI Escanaba / Magic 97 GLQ / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (159 mi.)
97.3 WHDG WI Rhinelander / Hodag Country / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (272 mi.)
97.3 CBON-19 ON Nipigon / Ici Première / 2kw / 5dBµ, mono (174 mi.)
97.5 W248BU MI Ishpeming / GTO //WQKS HD-3 / 250w / 3dBµ, mono (160 mi.)
97.7 –
97.9 WSPT WI Stevens Point / Cl. Hits / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (327 mi.)
98.1 –
98.3 WCMZ MI Sault Ste. Marie / CMU Public R. / 25kw / 5dBµ, mono (104 mi.)
98.5 –
98.7 WGLI MI Hancock / The Rockin’ Eagle / 52kw / 15dBµ, mono (183 mi.)
98.9 WKLZ MI Petoskey / KLT The Rock Sta. / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (170 mi.)
98.9 CBQY ON Nipigon / CBC R. 1 Thunder Bay / 2kw / 5dBµ, mono in null (206 mi.)
99.1 WIKB MI Iron River / True Country / 60kw / 5dBµ, mono (216 mi.)
99.3 –
99.5 WNGE MI Negaunee / Oldies 99.5 / 3.6kw / 5dBµ, mono (158 mi.)
99.7 –
99.9 –
100.1 –
100.3 WUPT MI Gwinn / The Point / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (158 mi.)
100.5 –
100.7 WOBE MI Crystal Falls / Radio Now / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (210 mi.)
100.9 –
101.1 –
101.3 –
101.5 WMJZ MI Gaylord / Eagle 101-5 / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono (203 mi.)
101.7 CBQ ON Thunder Bay / CBC Music Thunder Bay / 25kw / 10dBµ, mono (206 mi.)
101.9 WKQS MI Negaunee / Sunny FM / 13kw / 5dBµ, mono (160 mi.)
102.1 –
102.3 WHKB MI Houghton / K-Bear 102 / 6kw / 10dBµ, mono (182 mi.)
102.3 WTHN MI Sault Ste. Marie / The Promise FM / 22.5kw / perfect in car (105 mi.)
102.5 WCMM MI Gulliver / The Moose / 60kw / 10dBµ, mono (157 mi.)
102.7 WRVM WI Suring / V. of the Master / 98kw / 5dBµ, mono (264 mi.)
102.9 WMKC MI Indian River / Big Country Hits / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (169 mi.)
103.1 –
103.3 WFXD MI Marquette / 103-FXD / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (160 mi.)
103.5 –
103.7 –
103.9 –
104.1 –
104.3 WVCN MI Baraga / VCY America / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (96 mi.)
104.5 –
104.7 WYKX MI Escanaba / Kix Country / 100kw / 15dBµ, stereo (180 mi.)
104.9 –
105.1 KKCB MN Duluth / B105 / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (349 mi.)
105.3 CKTG ON Thunder Bay / Country 105 / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (201 mi.)
105.5 WGKL MI Gladstone / Kool 105.5 / 20kw / 3dBµ, mono (184 mi.)
105.7 WCUP MI L’Anse / Eagle Country / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (183 mi.)
105.9 –
106.1 –
106.3 WGMV MI Stephenson / Maverick 106 / 50kw / 15dBµ, mono (199 mi.)
106.5 –
106.7 WSRT MI Gaylord / ESPN N. Michigan / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (200 mi.)
106.9 WUPM MI Ironwood / Stereo 106.9 / 100kw / 3dBµ, mono, faint (263 mi.)
107.1 CJWA ON Wawa / JJAM FM //100.7 / 210w / 35dBµ, stereo (7 mi.)
107.3 WUPF MI Powers / Eagle 107.3 / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono (194 mi.)
107.5 –
107.7 WMQT MI Ishpeming / Q107 / 98kw / 10dBµ, mono (165 mi.)
107.9 WBCV WI Wausau / Big Cheese / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (296 mi.)
Inconclusive signals: 89.1, 103.9
RDS and seek were 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
Recommendations for this radio site: Michipicoten is just ten minutes from Wawa, making this site one of the more accessible locations along the eastern shore of Lake Superior. Wawa is a small town of under 4,000 residents with a few motels, restaurants, and shops. The tourist information centre, right at the Trans-Canada Highway split to downtown, is the best place to start in this area and is home to the hard-to-miss 28-foot tall Wawa Goose, a massive steel statue constructed in the early 1960s to draw potential tourists off the Trans-Canada, which didn’t pass through downtown. The tourist centre will have any information needed to suit your needs. And while you’re heading into town, keep an eye out for the original Wawa Goose a mile up the road on the right beside Young’s General Store.
Wawa is home to a 24-hour Tim Horton’s. Get your Timbits here, because the next one heading west is 4 hours away in Nipigon or 2 ½ hours away in Sault Ste. Marie if heading south. Downtown is quiet yet still worth a visit. There are a few places to stay in and around town – mostly motels – for a fair price. Among them, Beaver Motel (my personal recommendation for a cheap price and a great stay) and Wawa Motor Inn tend to be the most popular. For a more unique stay in the area, stay at Rock Island Lodge immediately beside Government Dock Beach. They offer a wide variety of accommodations from indoor rooms to outdoor camping beside the water, the latter of which can run as little as $30 a night and if radio is a focus, is an opportunity to camp right on-site. The lodge is co-owned and side-by-side with Naturally Superior Adventures. If you have some money to throw around, want to experience nature in a more unique fashion, and/or want to experience Wawa more than just in passing, it’s worth a look!
Magpie Falls is well worth a visit as well as Silver Falls, both just outside of town with the latter being an unavoidable sight on the way to these radio sites. Government Dock Beach has both dark coarse sand and pebbles and is not especially scenic, while Sandy Beach, as the name suggests, is sandy and can be accessed by continuing north past the scenic lookout for another 1 ½ miles on Michipicoten Harbour Road. Sandy Beach is more scenic and is a suitable alternate site to Government Dock Beach. Note that all roads in this area are dirt and some are rather rocky as well, so what appears to be a short drive often takes longer than expected.
For those heading north, the next town or services is an hour away with nothing between. Stop in White River for the Winnie The Pooh monument. Wawa will be your last sight of Lake Superior for another two hours heading north and west and the radio dial will become almost entirely empty at times, so enjoy the water while you’re here!
Location rating: Because of its location nearby services yet with only three in-town local stations, Michipicoten is a great location to stop if radio is your primary or even secondary purpose. Aside from the three locals, the nearest stations are 90-100 miles away in Marathon and Sault Ste. Marie and the 350-mile uninterrupted path to Duluth opens a near-infinite number of possibilities with such an empty band.
Wawa is a perfect spot to spend a full day; most sights in and around town can be seen within a day and as most are natural, such as beaches, waterfalls, etc., you can easily make your own schedule. Everything is close, yet the town is still small enough that you’re rather isolated from your surroundings.
Whether you choose Government Dock Beach or Sandy Beach, paired with the Michipicoten Scenic Lookout, they’re all an ideal spot for signal comparison between beach level and the lookout, 165 feet up. There is parking at all three sites with no more than a one-minute walk needed to access sites, all of which tend to be quiet with few visitors… aside from immense swarms of mosquitoes after sunset. The only downside to these sites is that the roads are dirt and can be rough in spots, nothing that can’t be cured by simply driving slowly.
While Wawa and Michipicoten can’t match the scenery of the sites to the south, this site has functionality and convenience that are unmatched on the eastern shore of Lake Superior.