WRBU (ION) · Channel 46
Full power TV station · East St. Louis, Illinois
WRBU is a full power over-the-air TV station affiliated with ION on virtual channel 46, licensed to East St. Louis, Illinois. Its signal is estimated to reach about 211 cities and towns within 67 miles.
About WRBU
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, WRBU runs more power than 79% of full-power TV stations nationwide (median: 273 kW).
Its antenna sits 334 m above the average surrounding terrain, higher than 42% of full-power stations. Taller antennas see farther: this one's radio horizon is roughly 54 miles, beyond which the signal fades quickly.
We estimate a fair-or-better signal out to about 67 miles with an outdoor antenna. That area includes 211 cities and towns in our guide with about 2,260,000 residents, as far as Edwardsville, IL (41 miles).
The nearest other ION station in our data is KPXE-TV in Kansas City, MO, 221 miles away. Viewers between the two can sometimes receive both.
ION Television is a commercial network built around crime and procedural drama series, with some live sports. It is carried free over the air in most large markets.
Station facts
| Network | ION |
| Virtual channel | 46 |
| Station type | Full power (DTV) |
| City of license | East St. Louis, IL |
| Tower location | 38.38833, -90.48778 |
| Effective radiated power | 1,000 kW |
| Antenna height (HAAT) | 334 m (1,096 ft) |
| FCC facility ID | 57221 |
| License status | Licensed |
Cities that can receive WRBU
Estimated with an outdoor antenna. Direction is from the city toward the tower.
| City | Distance | Point antenna | Est. signal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arnold, MO | 6.7 mi | 243° WSW | Strong |
| Oakville, MO | 11 mi | 240° WSW | Strong |
| Concord, MO | 12 mi | 217° SW | Strong |
| Mehlville, MO | 12 mi | 227° SW | Strong |
| Affton, MO | 14 mi | 217° SW | Strong |
| Kirkwood, MO | 14 mi | 198° SSW | Strong |
| Manchester, MO | 14 mi | 175° S | Strong |
| Ballwin, MO | 15 mi | 168° SSE | Strong |
| Lemay, MO | 15 mi | 228° SW | Strong |
| Webster Groves, MO | 16 mi | 207° SSW | Strong |
| Wildwood, MO | 16 mi | 145° SE | Strong |
| Creve Coeur, MO | 19 mi | 191° S | Strong |
| Chesterfield, MO | 20 mi | 166° SSE | Strong |
| Clayton, MO | 20 mi | 207° SSW | Strong |
| University City, MO | 21 mi | 208° SSW | Strong |
| Overland, MO | 23 mi | 197° SSW | Strong |
| Maryland Heights, MO | 23 mi | 188° S | Strong |
| St. Louis, MO | 23 mi | 224° SW | Strong |
| East Saint Louis, IL | 24 mi | 228° SW | Strong |
| Jennings, MO | 26 mi | 208° SSW | Strong |
| Ferguson, MO | 26 mi | 202° SSW | Good |
| Hazelwood, MO | 27 mi | 193° SSW | Good |
| Saint Charles, MO | 27 mi | 181° S | Good |
| Granite City, IL | 28 mi | 220° SW | Good |
| Belleville, IL | 29 mi | 252° WSW | Good |
| Florissant, MO | 29 mi | 198° SSW | Good |
| Saint Peters, MO | 29 mi | 165° SSE | Good |
| Fairview Heights, IL | 30 mi | 243° WSW | Good |
| Spanish Lake, MO | 31 mi | 208° SSW | Good |
| O'Fallon, MO | 31 mi | 159° SSE | Good |
| Lake Saint Louis, MO | 33 mi | 150° SSE | Good |
| Old Jamestown, MO | 33 mi | 200° SSW | Good |
| Collinsville, IL | 33 mi | 235° SW | Good |
| O'Fallon, IL | 34 mi | 246° WSW | Good |
| Wentzville, MO | 35 mi | 146° SE | Good |
| Alton, IL | 38 mi | 205° SSW | Good |
| Upper Alton, IL | 40 mi | 207° SSW | Good |
| Edwardsville, IL | 41 mi | 225° SW | Good |
| Farmington, MO | 42 mi | 355° N | Good |
| Godfrey, IL | 42 mi | 203° SSW | Good |
Other network stations nearby
Frequently asked questions
Where is the WRBU transmitter tower?
WRBU broadcasts from a tower at 38.3883, -90.4878, near High Ridge, MO. It is licensed to East St. Louis, Illinois.
What channel is WRBU on?
WRBU appears as virtual channel 46 (46.1 and its subchannels) when you scan with an antenna, carrying ION.
How far does WRBU broadcast?
With an outdoor antenna, reception is usually workable up to about 67 miles from the tower, and possible in good conditions out to roughly 75 miles. Hills and buildings can shorten that.
How many people can watch WRBU with an antenna?
About 2,260,000 people live in the 211 cities and towns within its estimated fair-signal range, not counting rural residents between them.
Which way do I point my antenna for WRBU?
Open the live finder from your address to get the exact compass bearing to the WRBU tower, or use the table above if your city is listed.