TV channels & antenna towers in Bushnell, Illinois

Bushnell has 29 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CW and MeTV. About 15 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is WMEC, 16 miles to the SW.

Open Bushnell in the live finder

29TV transmitters within 70 miles

7networks over the air

16 mito the closest tower

2,976population

Network channels in Bushnell

Station	Channel	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
MeTVWHOIMeTV	19.6	51 mi	84° E	Fair	Peoria, IL
CWWEEK-TVCW	25.3	51 mi	84° E	Fair	Peoria, IL
CBSWMBD-TVCBS	31	51 mi	83° E	Fair	Peoria, IL
FOXKLJBFox	18	53 mi	7° N	Good	Davenport, IA
ABCWQAD-TVABC	8	53 mi	7° N	Good	Moline, IL
TBNWMWC-TVTrinity	53	53 mi	7° N	Fair	Galesburg, IL
CWKGCWCW	26	54 mi	7° N	Good	Burlington, IA
ABCKHQA-TVABC	7.2	59 mi	228° SW	Fair	Hannibal, MO
CWWGEM-TVCW	10.2	59 mi	228° SW	Fair	Quincy, IL
NBCKWQC-TVNBC	6	69 mi	1° N	Fair	Davenport, IA
CBSWHBF-TVCBS	4	69 mi	1° N	Weak	Rock Island, IL
FOXWYZZ-TVFox	43	70 mi	84° E	Weak	Bloomington, IL

Over-the-air TV in Bushnell

With roughly 2,980 residents, Bushnell is a town in Illinois. Our map shows 29 licensed TV transmitters inside a 70-mile radius: 18 full-power, 9 low-power and 2 translators. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 15 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 5 at good or strong strength.

1 of them is within 25 miles of Bushnell, 0 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 28 are more than 45 miles out. Three of the 12 network stations in range are licensed to Peoria, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Peoria's stations.

The strongest network signals here are ABC on channel 8 (WQAD-TV), CBS on channel 31 (WMBD-TV), NBC on channel 6 (KWQC-TV), Fox on channel 18 (KLJB), CW on channel 26 (KGCW), MeTV on channel 19.6 (WHOI) and Trinity on channel 53 (WMWC-TV). 6 full-power stations in range have no network listed in our data; these are typically public television, religious, shopping or independent stations.

Which way to point your antenna in Bushnell

The main network towers around Bushnell are in different directions: ABC 7° N (53 mi), CBS 83° E (51 mi), NBC 1° N (69 mi) and Fox 7° N (53 mi). Aim at the farthest one you want first, or use a multi-directional antenna.

Four network stations, KLJB, WQAD-TV, WMWC-TV and KGCW, transmit from the same tower site about 53 miles north of Bushnell (7° N). Aim there first: one setting covers all of them.

Of the 10 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Bushnell at fair strength or better, 50% arrive from the north; the rest are spread across two other directions.

WMBD-TV (CBS) and KWQC-TV (NBC) lie beyond the radio horizon of their transmitter as seen from Bushnell. Past that point signals fade quickly, so antenna height matters more than amplification.

Antenna and amplifier advice for Bushnell

The farthest main network tower for Bushnell is KWQC-TV (NBC), 69 miles away with a fair estimated signal. That is why we suggest an outdoor directional antenna here. Skip that station and you may get away with a smaller antenna.

At this distance a low-noise preamplifier mounted on the mast, right below the antenna, helps more than an amplifier near the TV. It boosts the signal before cable loss eats into it. See the amplifier guide.

Other stations near Bushnell

Full-power independents, low-power stations and translators that relay a bigger station's signal.

Station	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
WMECFull power	16 mi	228° SW	Good	Macomb, IL
WSIO-LDLow power	46 mi	73° ENE	Poor	Peoria, IL
K18NZ-DTranslator	48 mi	259° WSW	Poor	Keokuk, IA
K28JD-DTranslator	49 mi	277° W	Poor	Fort Madison, IA
WTVPFull power	49 mi	84° E	Fair	Peoria, IL
WQPT-TVFull power	53 mi	7° N	Good	Moline, IL
KQINFull power	53 mi	7° N	Fair	Davenport, IA
W27EQ-DLow power	54 mi	85° E	Poor	Peoria, IL
WQECFull power	58 mi	227° SW	Poor	Quincy, IL
WTJRFull power	59 mi	227° SW	Fair	Quincy, IL
W27DF-DLow power	59 mi	227° SW	Poor	Quincy, IL
K14SU-DLow power	59 mi	227° SW	Poor	Keokuk, IA
W17EH-DLow power	59 mi	227° SW	Poor	Quincy, IL
W19EE-DLow power	60 mi	164° SSE	Poor	Jacksonville, IL
K33QA-DLow power	66 mi	352° N	Poor	Davenport, IA
W31EH-DLow power	68 mi	137° SE	Poor	Springfield, IL
W27ES-DLow power	68 mi	137° SE	Poor	Springfield, IL

How Bushnell compares with the rest of Illinois

With 15 stations at fair strength or better, Bushnell ranks 403rd of 766 places in Illinois: fewer than the typical Illinois town (17). Its nearest major network tower is 51 miles away, against a state median of 24 miles.

18% of Illinois's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an outdoor directional antenna. The nearest larger city is Galesburg, 28 miles away.

Setting up an antenna in Bushnell: step by step

Mount an outdoor antenna on the roof or a mast, as high as you can safely get it, with a clear view toward the towers.
Point it toward 1° N, the direction of KWQC-TV (NBC), 69 miles away. Closer stations usually come in even off-axis.
Run a full channel scan on your TV (usually Settings → Channels → Auto program; the name varies by brand).
Expect around 15 stations, each with a few subchannels. If one you want is missing, turn the antenna 5–10° toward it and scan again.
Rescan every few months, or whenever a channel disappears; stations occasionally change frequency.

Frequently asked questions

What channel is ABC in Bushnell, IL?

ABC is on channel 8 from WQAD-TV, broadcasting from 53 miles N of Bushnell. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CBS in Bushnell, IL?

CBS is on channel 31 from WMBD-TV, broadcasting from 51 miles E of Bushnell. Estimated signal: fair.

What channel is NBC in Bushnell, IL?

NBC is on channel 6 from KWQC-TV, broadcasting from 69 miles N of Bushnell. Estimated signal: fair.

What channel is Fox in Bushnell, IL?

Fox is on channel 18 from KLJB, broadcasting from 53 miles N of Bushnell. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CW in Bushnell, IL?

CW is on channel 26 from KGCW, broadcasting from 54 miles N of Bushnell. Estimated signal: good.

How many channels can I get with an antenna in Bushnell?

29 transmitters within 70 miles of Bushnell; around 15 of them are likely to be receivable with outdoor directional antenna. Each station usually carries several subchannels, so the total channel count after a scan is higher.

Which direction should I point my TV antenna in Bushnell?

What kind of antenna do I need in Bushnell?

Outdoor directional antenna (45–70 miles). Some major towers are a long way off. Mount a directional antenna on the roof or a mast and aim it with the bearings below. The towers are spread over about 82° of the compass, so a multi-directional antenna or a rotator will help.

Do I need an antenna amplifier in Bushnell?

Is there an app to find TV towers in Bushnell?

Yes. The free RCA Signal Finder app for iPhone and Android uses your phone's GPS and compass to show which way each tower is from where you stand.

TV channels in nearby Illinois cities

Nearby cities in other states

More: all TV stations in Illinois · Midwest region · antenna buying guide · how to aim an antenna. Distances are straight-line from the center of Bushnell; signal estimates ignore terrain.