KDSM-TV (Fox) · Channel 17

Full-power stations are the main licensed broadcasters in a market. They may run the highest power from the tallest towers and are protected from interference, so they set the core of what you can receive.

At 1,000 kW effective radiated power, KDSM-TV runs more power than 79% of full-power TV stations nationwide (median: 273 kW).

Its antenna sits 612 m above the average surrounding terrain, higher than 89% of full-power stations. Taller antennas see farther: this one's radio horizon is roughly 71 miles, beyond which the signal fades quickly.

We estimate a fair-or-better signal out to about 82 miles with an outdoor antenna. That area includes 114 cities and towns in our guide with about 1,030,000 residents, as far as Waterloo, IA (80 miles).

KDSM-TV shares its transmitter site with KDIT-CD, KCWI-TV (CW) and KDMI. One antenna aimed at this site picks up all of them.

The nearest other Fox station in our data is KGAN in Cedar Rapids, IA, 96 miles away. Viewers between the two can sometimes receive both.

Fox is one of the four big commercial broadcast networks, known for its sports lineup including NFL, MLB and college football. Many Fox affiliates also produce local news.