TV channels & antenna towers in Chester, Illinois

Chester has 32 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CW and ION. About 16 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is WPXS, 31 miles to the N.

Open Chester in the live finder

32TV transmitters within 70 miles

8networks over the air

31 mito the closest tower

8,588population

Network channels in Chester

Station	Channel	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
CWKFVS-TVCW	12.2	38 mi	152° SSE	Fair	Cape Girardeau, MO
TLMWQWQ-LDTelemundo	18	38 mi	152° SSE	Weak	Paducah, KY
FOXKBSIFox	23	38 mi	158° SSE	Good	Cape Girardeau, MO
IONWRBUION	46	49 mi	312° NW	Good	East St. Louis, IL
CBSKMOVCBS	4	50 mi	329° NNW	Good	St. Louis, MO
MeTVKNLCMeTV	24.1	50 mi	308° NW	Good	St. Louis, MO
CWKPLR-TVCW	11	52 mi	325° NW	Good	St. Louis, MO
FOXKTVIFox	2	52 mi	325° NW	Good	St. Louis, MO
NBCKSDKNBC	5	53 mi	329° NNW	Good	St. Louis, MO
TLMWODK-LDTelemundo	45	53 mi	329° NNW	Poor	Saint Louis, MO
ABCKDNL-TVABC	30	54 mi	329° NNW	Good	St. Louis, MO
ABCWSIL-TVABC	3	56 mi	111° ESE	Fair	Harrisburg, IL
NBCWPSD-TVNBC	6	68 mi	137° SE	Fair	Paducah, KY

Over-the-air TV in Chester

Chester is a town of about 8,590 people in Illinois. There are 32 licensed TV transmitters within 70 miles: 16 full-power, 4 Class A, 11 low-power and 1 translator. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 16 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 10 at good or strong strength.

0 of them are within 25 miles of Chester, 8 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 24 are more than 45 miles out. Six of the 13 network stations in range are licensed to St. Louis, MO, so most of the network channels you will find here come from St. Louis's stations.

For the networks, the best local options are ABC on channel 30 (KDNL-TV), CBS on channel 4 (KMOV), NBC on channel 5 (KSDK), Fox on channel 23 (KBSI), CW on channel 11 (KPLR-TV), ION on channel 46 (WRBU), Telemundo on channel 18 (WQWQ-LD) and MeTV on channel 24.1 (KNLC). Spanish-language viewers can pick up Telemundo (weak signal). 5 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 Chester

The main network towers around Chester are in different directions: ABC 329° NNW (54 mi), CBS 329° NNW (50 mi), NBC 329° NNW (53 mi) and Fox 158° SSE (38 mi). Aim at the farthest one you want first, or use a multi-directional antenna.

Two network stations, KPLR-TV and KTVI, transmit from the same tower site about 52 miles northwest of Chester (325° NW). Aim there first: one setting covers all of them.

Of the 11 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Chester at fair strength or better, 64% arrive from the northwest; the rest are spread across three other directions.

KDNL-TV (ABC) lies beyond the radio horizon of its transmitter as seen from Chester. Past that point signals fade quickly, so antenna height matters more than amplification.

Antenna and amplifier advice for Chester

The farthest main network tower for Chester is KDNL-TV (ABC), 54 miles away with a good 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 Chester

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

Station	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
WPXSFull power	31 mi	353° N	Good	Mount Vernon, IL
W09DL-DLow power	31 mi	353° N	Weak	Mount Vernon, IL
WLEH-LDLow power	31 mi	353° N	Weak	St., IL
WSIU-TVFull power	34 mi	67° ENE	Fair	Carbondale, IL
K10KM-DTranslator	41 mi	157° SSE	Poor	Cape Girardeau, MO
KDKZ-LDLow power	47 mi	297° WNW	Poor	Farmington, MO
W15BU-DClass A	49 mi	95° E	Poor	Johnson City, IL
KDTL-LDLow power	50 mi	329° NNW	Poor	St. Louis, MO
WTCTFull power	50 mi	119° ESE	Fair	Marion, IL
KETCFull power	50 mi	322° NW	Good	St. Louis, MO
K15KP-DLow power	53 mi	329° NNW	Poor	St. Louis, MO
WXSL-LDLow power	53 mi	351° N	Poor	St. Louis, MO
KUMO-LDLow power	53 mi	329° NNW	Poor	St Louis, MO
KPTN-LDLow power	53 mi	329° NNW	Poor	St. Louis, MO
KBGU-LDLow power	53 mi	329° NNW	Poor	St. Louis, MO
KEFN-CDClass A	53 mi	338° NNW	Poor	St. Louis, MO
WDKAFull power	60 mi	126° SE	Fair	Paducah, KY
K25NG-DClass A	61 mi	329° NNW	Poor	St. Louis, MO
W29CI-DClass A	63 mi	45° NE	Poor	Salem, IL

How Chester compares with the rest of Illinois

With 16 stations at fair strength or better, Chester ranks 386th of 766 places in Illinois: fewer than the typical Illinois town (17). Its nearest major network tower is 38 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 Carbondale, 35 miles away.

Setting up an antenna in Chester: 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 329° NNW, the direction of KDNL-TV (ABC), 54 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 16 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 Chester, IL?

ABC is on channel 30 from KDNL-TV, broadcasting from 54 miles NNW of Chester. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CBS in Chester, IL?

CBS is on channel 4 from KMOV, broadcasting from 50 miles NNW of Chester. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is NBC in Chester, IL?

NBC is on channel 5 from KSDK, broadcasting from 53 miles NNW of Chester. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is Fox in Chester, IL?

Fox is on channel 23 from KBSI, broadcasting from 38 miles SSE of Chester. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CW in Chester, IL?

CW is on channel 11 from KPLR-TV, broadcasting from 52 miles NW of Chester. Estimated signal: good.

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

32 transmitters within 70 miles of Chester; around 16 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 Chester?

What kind of antenna do I need in Chester?

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 171° of the compass, so a multi-directional antenna or a rotator will help.

Do I need an antenna amplifier in Chester?

Is there an app to find TV towers in Chester?

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 Chester; signal estimates ignore terrain.