TV channels & antenna towers in Cary, Illinois

Cary, Illinois has a population of about 18,000. Our map shows 56 licensed TV transmitters inside a 70-mile radius: 29 full-power, 9 Class A, 17 low-power and 1 translator. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 24 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 12 at good or strong strength.

By distance, 0 transmitters are within 25 miles, 30 between 25 and 45 miles, and 26 farther out. Ten of the 25 network stations in range are licensed to Chicago, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Chicago's stations.

For the networks, the best local options are ABC on channel 7 (WLS-TV), CBS on channel 2 (WBBM-TV), NBC on channel 5 (WMAQ-TV), Fox on channel 32 (WFLD), CW on channel 9 (WGN-TV), ION on channel 38 (WCPX-TV), Telemundo on channel 44 (WSNS-TV), Univision on channel 66 (WGBO-DT) and MeTV on channel 26.3 (WCIU-TV). Spanish-language viewers can pick up Telemundo (good signal) and Univision (good signal). 10 full-power stations in range have no network listed in our data; these are typically public television, religious, shopping or independent stations.

Point your antenna SE, at about 126°. The main network towers for Cary sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

Ten network stations, WGBO-DT, WFLD, WMAQ-TV, WSNS-TV and WWME-CD and others, transmit from the same tower site about 38 miles southeast of Cary (124° SE). Aim there first: one setting covers all of them.

Of the 18 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Cary at fair strength or better, 50% arrive from the southeast; the rest are spread across two other directions.

All of the main network towers are within their radio horizon as seen from Cary, so signals arrive fairly directly and a well-placed antenna should hold them steadily.

The farthest main network tower for Cary is WBBM-TV (CBS), 39 miles away with a fair estimated signal. That is why we suggest an amplified indoor or attic antenna here. Skip that station and you may get away with a smaller antenna.

An amplifier only helps here if you run a long cable (over about 50 feet) or split the antenna to several TVs. Otherwise better placement does more. See the amplifier guide.

With 24 stations at fair strength or better, Cary ranks 215th of 766 places in Illinois: more than the typical Illinois town (17). Its nearest major network tower is 38 miles away, against a state median of 24 miles.

54% of Illinois's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an amplified indoor or attic antenna. The nearest larger city is Crystal Lake, 4.5 miles away.