TV channels & antenna towers in Cerro Gordo, Illinois

With roughly 1,350 residents, Cerro Gordo is a small community in Illinois. Within 70 miles of the town center we count 28 licensed TV transmitters: 15 full-power, 1 Class A, 10 low-power and 2 translators. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 13 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 9 at good or strong strength.

6 of them are within 25 miles of Cerro Gordo, 10 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 12 are more than 45 miles out. Three of the 12 network stations in range are licensed to Springfield, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Springfield's stations.

For the networks, the best local options are ABC on channel 15 (WICD), CBS on channel 3 (WCIA), NBC on channel 17 (WAND), Fox on channel 55 (WRSP-TV), CW on channel 23 (WBUI), ION on channel 16.4 (WCQA-LD) and MeTV on channel 19.6 (WHOI). 4 full-power stations in range have no network listed in our data; these are typically public television, religious, shopping or independent stations.

The main network towers around Cerro Gordo are in different directions: ABC 74° ENE (45 mi), CBS 45° NE (21 mi), NBC 308° NW (7.0 mi) and Fox 262° W (39 mi). Aim at the farthest one you want first, or use a multi-directional antenna.

Two network stations, WAND and WBUI, transmit from the same tower site about 7.0 miles northwest of Cerro Gordo (308° NW). That one direction covers every station on the site.

Of the 8 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Cerro Gordo at fair strength or better, 38% arrive from the northwest; the rest are spread across three other directions.

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

The farthest main network tower for Cerro Gordo is WICD (ABC), 45 miles away with a good 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.

WAND is only 7.0 miles away with a strong signal. Signals that strong can overload an amplifier, so start without one and add it only if distant channels are missing. Read when an amplifier helps.

With 13 stations at fair strength or better, Cerro Gordo ranks 481st of 766 places in Illinois: fewer than the typical Illinois town (17). Its nearest major network tower is 7.0 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 Decatur, 13 miles away.