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"FM" radio is relatively new on the scene.  While experiments began as early as the 1930's, it did not come into widespread usage until after the Second World War.   Canada's first FM radio station went on the air in 1947.

Like the term "AM radio", what we know as "FM radio" is a bit of a misnomer as well.   FM is short for "frequency modulation".   "FM" is not only used for radio broadcasting, it's also used for the audio portion of television broadcasting, two-way radio communications and even for things like "baby monitors".

The "FM radio" band in most parts of the world occupies the spectrum between 88 and 108 Megahertz (MHz.)   There are some slight differences in some other parts of the world.   For instance in Japan the band runs from 76 -90 MHz.  In the former USSR and some Eastern European countries it occupied the spectrum between 66 and 74 MHz.   These frequencies are all in the "VHF" or "Very High Frequency" part of the radio spectrum.

FM radio is much less prone (but not immune) to interference from human made devices and from other stations occupying the same frequency.   If two close-by stations occupy the same frequency you will always hear the "stronger" of the two.    Although if you happen to be in an area where signals are "marginal" you may hear different stations fading up and down.

It's also possible to "multiplex" FM radio signals to enable stereo sound.   Nowadays virtually all FM radio stations in Canada (aside from a few low-powered CBC Radio One transmitters) broadcast in stereo audio.

Because the FM radio band is in the VHF spectrum, signals will normally travel about 200 KM at best from the transmitter site.   However, if you are at a relatively high elevation in relation to a transmitter tower you may find that signals will travel a little further.

If you're sitting in a car travelling along the highway you'll find that as you climb a hill a signal will get stronger.   But, as you go back down a hill you may end up losing the signal completely.

There are some circumstances where FM radio signals will travel much further than normal.   One such circumstance is during periods of changing weather patterns where "tropospheric ducts" will form creating a radio "pipeline" between one location and another.

This most frequently happens in the summer months in southern Ontario usually in the evenings and early in the morning.

Another phenomenon that can create long distance  FM radio propagation is during periods of "sporadic-E skip" where signals literally skip off of the E layer of the ionosphere.    Sporadic-E skip is related to solar weather and most frequently happens  during the week or two before and after the winter solstice and for a month or two before or after the summer solstice.

Periods of  E-skip don't last nearly as long as tropospheric ducting and usually will most affect frequencies at the lower end of the FM radio band.   However during "E's" signals can travel much further than during "tropo" openings.   Here in southern Ontario, it's not uncommon for there to be an "E-skip" opening into central Florida.

Not nearly as frequent are "F2" openings where signals can travel for literally thousands of miles.  This will happen during periods of high solar activity at the peak of the eleven year sunspot cycle.   The last "peak" of the cycle was in the 1999-2001 period.   As of this writing we're still heading towards the bottom of the cycle.

Again, there are radio hobbyists who take advantage of all of these "freak" types of radio propagation hoping to "bag a new one" for their "collection".   They're known as "FM DX'ers".

Because both TV and FM radio occupy similar parts of the radio frequency spectrum most FM DX'ers are also TV DX'ers!

Here are some links that you might find helpful on "FM DXing".   Even if you aren't a radio hobbyist these links can help you with improving your "normal" day to day FM radio listening.

Ontario DX Association
World-Wide TV FM DX Association
Bill Hepburn's World-Wide Tropospheric Ducting Forecasts
TV/FM Propagation Logger on "DX World"

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As you can see from the list below, the FM radio band in and around Toronto is very crowded!  What stations you'll hear will depend very much on where you are! 

TORONTO AREA FM RADIO STATIONS

Frequency	Callsign	Location	Format	Streaming Audio
88.1 (off air - now online only)	CKLN	TORONTO	Ryerson University	Flashplayer on website
88.5	CKDX	NEWMARKET	"The Jewel"	Windows Media
88.9	CIRV	TORONTO	multicultural - Spanish, Portuguese and other languages	Windows Media (mms) Flashplayer
89.5	CIUT	TORONTO	University of Toronto	.pls
89.9	CKRG	TORONTO	Glendon College, York University (low power - off air in summer)	.m3u
90.3	Radio Canada Espace Musique	TORONTO	Radio Canada "Espace Musique" (French language)	.m3u
91.1	CJRT	TORONTO	"Jazz-FM" non-profit commercial jazz station	Flashplayer   ..pls
91.7	CIXL	NIAGARA FALLS	"Giant FM"   Classic Rock	Flashplayer
91.9	CFRE	MISSISSAUGA	Erindale Campus University of Toronto	.m3u
91.9	CHIN-AM	TORONTO	Multicultural - Simulcast of CHIN-AM 1540	Flashplayer on website
92.1	CFPK	TORONTO	"Flemo Radio"  Flemingdon Park Community Centre (very low power)
92.1	CKPC	BRANTFORD	Top 40 Hits	Windows Media
92.5	CKIS	TORONTO	"Kiss FM"	Flashplayer
92.9	WBUF	BUFFALO, NY	"92.9 Jack FM	Microsoft Moonlight on Windows & MacOS or Novell Moonlight on Linux
93.1	CHAY	BARRIE	"FM93"	Flashplayer
93.3	CFMU	HAMILTON	McMaster University (low power)	pls
93.5	CFXJ	TORONTO	"The Flow" - urban music station	Flashplayer
93.7	WBLK	BUFFALO, NY	"R&B" and "urban" music	Flashplayer
94.1	CBC RADIO TWO	TORONTO	CBC Radio Two Network	.m3u   128K    32K
94.5	WNED	BUFFALO, NY	National Public Radio - Classical music	Windows Media .pls    .m3u
94.7	CIWV	HAMILTON	"Wave 94.7" - "Smooth Jazz" music	Windows Media
94.9	CKGE	OSHAWA	"The Rock"	Flashplayer
95.3	CING	HAMILTON	"Vinyl 95.3"	Flashplayer
95.7	CFJB	BARRIE	"Rock 95"	Windows Media or this stream
95.9	CJKX	AJAX	"KX 96" - Country music	Windows Media Player
96.1	WJYE	BUFFALO, NY	"Soft Rock"  music	Microsoft Moonlight on Windows & Macos or Novell Moonlight on Linux
96.3	CFMZ	TORONTO	commercial classical music station	Flashplayer
96.9	CKHC	TORONTO	"Radio Humber" - Humber College Station (low power 60W)	Windows Media Player
96.9	WGRF	BUFFALO, NY	"97 Rock" - "Classic rock" music	Flashplayer
97.3	CHBM	TORONTO	"Boom 97.3"	Flashplayer
97.7	CHTZ	ST. CATHARINES	"HTZ FM" - "active rock"	Flashplayer on website
98.1	CHFI	TORONTO	"Lite" pop music	Windows Media Player
98.5	WKSE	NIAGARA FALLS, NY	"Kiss 98.5" - "Top 40" music	Flashplayer
99.1	CBC RADIO ONE	TORONTO	CBC Radio One Network	.m3u   96k    32k
99.5	WDCX	BUFFALO, NY	"Life-FM" Evangelical Christian	Microsoft Silverlight on Windows/MacOS or Novell Moonlight on Linux
99.9	CKFM	TORONTO	"Virgin Radio 999"	Flashplayer
100.3	CJLF	BARRIE	"Life 100.3" - Evangelical Christian	Embeded Windows Media Player
100.7	CHIN	TORONTO	multicultural	Flashplayer
101.1	CKEY	FORT ERIE	"Z101-FM" - "Today's Hit Music"	Flashplayer
101.3	CJSA	TORONTO	"Diversity FM" multicultural (mainly South Asian languages)	Flashplayer
101.5	CIOI	HAMILTON	"Indi 101" Mohawk College (low power 240w)	Embedded Windows Media
102.1	CFNY	TORONTO	"The Edge" - modern rock	Flashplayer
102.5	WTSS	BUFFALO, NY	"Star 102.5" - "Adult Top 40" music	Flashplayer
102.7	CFGM	CALEDON	"The View"	streaming planned in future
102.7	CHOP	NEWMARKET	Pickering College (lowpower 5W)	Flashplayer
102.7	CIWS	STOUFVILLE	"Whistle Community Radio"	Windows Media Player .pls
102.9	CKLH	HAMILTON	"K-Lite FM"	Flashplayer
103.3	WEDG	BUFFALO, NY	"103.3 The Edge"modern rock	Flashplayer
103.5	CIDC	ORANGEVILLE	"Z103.5" - Dance music	Flashplayer
103.9	CIRR	TORONTO	"Proud-FM" -Gay/lesbian community-oriented	Windows Media
104.1	WHTT	BUFFALO, NY	"Classic Hits"	Flashplayer
104.5	CHUM	TORONTO	"hot adult contemporary" music	Flashplayer
105.1	CHOQ	TORONTO	"Radio-Toronto" French language community station	Flashplayer
105.1	CFLZ	NIAGARA FALLS	"The River" - '80's & 90's pop	Flashplayer
105.1	CJBT	BEETON	Country Music - not on air yet
105.5	CHRY	TORONTO	York University	PLS
105.5	CJFB	BOLTON	"B105.5"  Radio Caledon	Embedded Windows Media Player
105.7	CHRE	ST. CATHARINES	"EZ Rock"	Flashplayer
106.5	CKAV	TORONTO	"Aboriginal Voices Radio"	No streaming at present
106.5	WYRK	BUFFALO, NY	"Country 106.5"	Microsoft Silverlight on Windows/MacOS or Novell Moonlight on Linux
107.1	CILQ	TORONTO	"Q107" - "Classic Rock"	Flashplayer
107.7	CKDO	OSHAWA	"oldies"	Flashplayer
107.7	WLKK	WEATHERSFIELD TWP., NY	"107-7 The Lake" - album rock	Flashplayer
107.9	CJXY	BURLINGTON	"Y108" - "active rock" music	Flashplayer

Streaming Media formats change all of the time and so alot of this info is really hard to keep up-to-date.  Please report any errors, ommissions or updates on this list to feedback@ve3sre.com