The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / 560 CFOS

**Posted by andysradio** October 25, 2025 5:52 am

“560 CFOS will close down on October 31st at 6:14 PM just before they would normally move to night power/pattern. There will be announcements.
CFOS can be found at its new home at 89.3 FM (which has been live since August 1st).”

A special thanks to Rob Mattice at Bayshore Broadcasting for this information.

Last edited by andysradio (October 25, 2025 1:01 pm)

**Posted by markow202** October 27, 2025 5:44 pm

Listening to the AM signal still coming in clear (Barrie) - I work from home and until 6pm so ill keep it on Friday to hear the shut down. FM signal is non existent here.

**Posted by darcyh** October 28, 2025 11:11 am

CFOS AM has a very large daytime coverage area. I could receive it all the way to Sudbury. Driving north there are still areas with no reliable FM signals; but you can receive CFOS 560. It is too bad they were not able to monetize that large coverage area. The AM signal pattern has a sharp null to the south and west of Owen Sound to protect a station in Detroit on the same frequency. This was probably one of the reasons that 1490 CFPS which was a repeater of CFOS was constructed to serve Port Elgin area in the 1970's. I thought the 1490 signal was rather weak as it did not get into Sauble Beach, 15 miles away very clearly.

Enjoy the last few days of the big 560 AM signal. At 7.5 KW day and 1KW night they sure will save on the electric bill. I wonder what they will do with the transmitter land?

Last edited by darcyh (October 28, 2025 8:06 pm)

**Posted by markow202** October 28, 2025 12:13 pm

darcyh wrote:
CFOS AM has a very large daytime coverage area. I could receive it all the way to Sudbury. Driving north there are still areas with no reliable FM signals; but you can receive CFOS 560. It is too bad they were not able to monetize that large coverage area. The AM signal pattern has a sharp null to the south and west of Owen Sound to protect a station in Detroit on the same frequency. This was probably one of the reasons that 1490 CFPS which was a repeater of CFOS was constructed to serve Port Elgin area in the 1970's. I though the 1490 signal was rather weak as it did not get into Sauble Beach, 15 miles away very clearly.

Enjoy the last few days of the big 560 AM signal. At 7.5 KW day and 1KW night they sure will save on the electric bill. I wonder what they will do with the transmitter land?

Radio locator page shows the AM transmitter site:

CFOS-AM 560 kHz - Owen Sound, ON

**Posted by RadioActive** October 28, 2025 2:05 pm

Soon to be a relic of the past.

**Posted by gch** October 28, 2025 2:07 pm

I heard it this morning at about 6:30 am in North Toronto.......I will miss it, but will still occasionally listen on line...I know the music mix is different now, but I still like to hear what is going on in Grey/Bruce

Two questions....I wonder if 560 Monroe Michigan will increase its power now that 560 is open

Second: Is CFRZ Walpole Island off the air (again)....I tried to get it yesterday on the radio when I visited Walpole Island and the signal was dead, and as of now so is the website stream

**Posted by fybush** October 28, 2025 2:59 pm

International treaties retain protection for silent AM stations, so 560 in Detroit will still have to protect the former CFOS facility even after it goes off the air.

**Posted by darcyh** October 28, 2025 8:04 pm

gch wrote:
I heard it this morning at about 6:30 am in North Toronto.......I will miss it, but will still occasionally listen on line...I know the music mix is different now, but I still like to hear what is going on in Grey/Bruce

Two questions....I wonder if 560 Monroe Michigan will increase its power now that 560 is open

Second: Is CFRZ Walpole Island off the air (again)....I tried to get it yesterday on the radio when I visited Walpole Island and the signal was dead, and as of now so is the website stream

Yup, the music mix is different now. Whenever a station goes from AM to FM they always change formats and that is what CFOS did. It no longer appeals to me - perhaps they will gain listeners? Although I am not sure. this will happen.

**Posted by turkeytop** Yesterday 12:35 am

markow202 wrote:

Radio locator page shows the AM transmitter site:

CFOS-AM 560 kHz - Owen Sound, ON

I grew up within sight of their towers.

Driving into Owen Sound on HWY 10. The transmitter site and towers are just a couple of miles south of town, on the right, near Rockford.

**Posted by darcyh** Yesterday 1:28 am

turkeytop wrote:
markow202 wrote:

Radio locator page shows the AM transmitter site:

CFOS-AM 560 kHz - Owen Sound, ON
I grew up within sight of their towers.

Driving into Owen Sound on HWY 10. The transmitter site and towers are just a couple of miles south of town, on the right, near Rockford.

That's a large parcel of land. I wonder what the future holds for it?

**Posted by mace** Yesterday 10:47 am

fybush wrote:
International treaties retain protection for silent AM stations, so 560 in Detroit will still have to protect the former CFOS facility even after it goes off the air.

I looked up the coverage area for WRDT and the night area looks awfully large for 14 watts. The local FM, WERW puts out only 78 watts and doesn't even reach Toledo which is roughly only 20 miles away.

**Posted by Evuguy** Yesterday 9:01 pm

I took what probably will be my last listen to the 560 signal today, while driving in Toronto. Lots of splatter from adjacent WGR. I noticed they only mention the 89.3 FM frequency now. I guess the next thing will be to topple those big towers :-(

**Posted by markow202** Today 9:43 am

Evuguy wrote:
I took what probably will be my last listen to the 560 signal today, while driving in Toronto. Lots of splatter from adjacent WGR. I noticed they only mention the 89.3 FM frequency now. I guess the next thing will be to topple those big towers :-(

If they do, they should record it and put it on youtube as a clip/doc.

560 CFOS - The end is near

darcyh wrote:

gch wrote:

markow202 wrote:

turkeytop wrote:

markow202 wrote:

fybush wrote:

Evuguy wrote: