WMVS
Full power TV station · Milwaukee, Wisconsin
WMVS is a full power over-the-air TV station, licensed to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Its signal is estimated to reach about 180 cities and towns within 58 miles.
About WMVS
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 32 kW effective radiated power, WMVS runs more power than 19% of full-power TV stations nationwide (median: 273 kW). Stations on VHF channels are licensed at much lower power than UHF stations to cover the same area, so a low figure does not always mean a weak signal.
Its antenna sits 357 m above the average surrounding terrain, higher than 47% of full-power stations. Taller antennas see farther: this one's radio horizon is roughly 56 miles, beyond which the signal fades quickly.
We estimate a fair-or-better signal out to about 58 miles with an outdoor antenna. That area includes 180 cities and towns in our guide with about 2,550,000 residents, as far as Libertyville, IL (56 miles).
WMVS shares its transmitter site with WMKE-CD, WMVT, WTSJ-LD, WIWN, WPVS-LD and WVTV (CW) and 4 more. One antenna aimed at this site picks up all of them.
Station facts
| Network | Independent / not listed |
| Virtual channel | Not listed |
| Station type | Full power (DTV) |
| City of license | Milwaukee, WI |
| Tower location | 43.09617, -87.90417 |
| Effective radiated power | 32 kW |
| Antenna height (HAAT) | 357 m (1,171 ft) |
| FCC facility ID | 42663 |
| License status | Licensed |
Cities that can receive WMVS
Estimated with an outdoor antenna. Direction is from the city toward the tower.
| City | Distance | Point antenna | Est. signal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 4.0 mi | 2° N | Strong |
| Wauwatosa, WI | 6.1 mi | 58° ENE | Good |
| West Allis, WI | 7.6 mi | 43° NE | Good |
| Cudahy, WI | 9.7 mi | 347° NNW | Good |
| Mequon, WI | 10 mi | 142° SE | Good |
| Brookfield, WI | 11 mi | 76° ENE | Good |
| Greenfield, WI | 11 mi | 30° NNE | Good |
| Greendale, WI | 12 mi | 23° NNE | Good |
| Menomonee Falls, WI | 12 mi | 118° ESE | Good |
| South Milwaukee, WI | 13 mi | 350° N | Good |
| New Berlin, WI | 13 mi | 51° NE | Good |
| Germantown, WI | 14 mi | 131° SE | Good |
| Oak Creek, WI | 15 mi | 352° N | Good |
| Franklin, WI | 16 mi | 25° NNE | Good |
| Waukesha, WI | 18 mi | 70° ENE | Good |
| Muskego, WI | 18 mi | 42° NE | Good |
| Caledonia, WI | 20 mi | 3° N | Fair |
| Racine, WI | 26 mi | 347° NNW | Fair |
| West Bend, WI | 27 mi | 148° SSE | Fair |
| Mount Pleasant, WI | 28 mi | 355° N | Fair |
| Hartford, WI | 28 mi | 122° ESE | Fair |
| Oconomowoc, WI | 30 mi | 92° E | Fair |
| Kenosha, WI | 36 mi | 353° N | Fair |
| Pleasant Prairie, WI | 38 mi | 2° N | Fair |
| Watertown, WI | 42 mi | 99° E | Fair |
| Antioch, IL | 44 mi | 13° NNE | Fair |
| Zion, IL | 45 mi | 355° N | Fair |
| Whitewater, WI | 46 mi | 66° ENE | Fair |
| Sheboygan, WI | 46 mi | 192° SSW | Fair |
| Lindenhurst, IL | 48 mi | 7° N | Fair |
| Gurnee, IL | 50 mi | 360° N | Fair |
| Waukegan, IL | 51 mi | 357° N | Fair |
| Round Lake Beach, IL | 51 mi | 11° N | Fair |
| Round Lake, IL | 52 mi | 11° N | Fair |
| Grayslake, IL | 52 mi | 8° N | Fair |
| Beaver Dam, WI | 53 mi | 118° ESE | Fair |
| North Chicago, IL | 53 mi | 357° N | Fair |
| Fond du Lac, WI | 54 mi | 150° SSE | Fair |
| McHenry, IL | 56 mi | 19° NNE | Fair |
| Libertyville, IL | 56 mi | 3° N | Fair |
Other network stations nearby
- WVTVCW · 18
- WTMJ-TVNBC · 4
- WPXE-TVION · 55
- WITIFox · 6
- WISN-TVABC · 12
- WBME-CDMeTV · 41.1
- WDJT-TVCBS · 58
- WYTU-LDTelemundo · 63
- WWRS-TVTrinity · 52
Frequently asked questions
Where is the WMVS transmitter tower?
WMVS broadcasts from a tower at 43.0962, -87.9042, near Shorewood, WI. It is licensed to Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
How far does WMVS broadcast?
With an outdoor antenna, reception is usually workable up to about 58 miles from the tower, and possible in good conditions out to roughly 66 miles. Hills and buildings can shorten that.
How many people can watch WMVS with an antenna?
About 2,550,000 people live in the 180 cities and towns within its estimated fair-signal range, not counting rural residents between them.
Which way do I point my antenna for WMVS?
Open the live finder from your address to get the exact compass bearing to the WMVS tower, or use the table above if your city is listed.