TV channels & antenna towers in Fox Lake, Illinois

Fox Lake is a city of about 10,500 people in Illinois. There are 55 licensed TV transmitters within 70 miles: 29 full-power, 9 Class A, 16 low-power and 1 translator. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 25 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 18 at good or strong strength.

By distance, 0 transmitters are within 25 miles, 13 between 25 and 45 miles, and 42 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 58 (WDJT-TV), NBC on channel 4 (WTMJ-TV), Fox on channel 32 (WFLD), CW on channel 18 (WVTV), ION on channel 55 (WPXE-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.

The main network towers around Fox Lake are in different directions: ABC 142° SE (45 mi), CBS 14° NNE (51 mi), NBC 16° NNE (50 mi) and Fox 142° SE (45 mi). Aim at the farthest one you want first, or use a multi-directional antenna.

Ten network stations, WGBO-DT, WFLD, WMAQ-TV, WSNS-TV and WWME-CD and others, transmit from the same tower site about 45 miles southeast of Fox Lake (140° SE). Aim there first: one setting covers all of them.

Of the 17 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Fox Lake at fair strength or better, 53% 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 Fox Lake, so signals arrive fairly directly and a well-placed antenna should hold them steadily.

The farthest main network tower for Fox Lake is WDJT-TV (CBS), 51 miles away with a good estimated signal. That is why we suggest an outdoor directional antenna here. If you only watch the closer stations, a smaller antenna may do.

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.

With 25 stations at fair strength or better, Fox Lake ranks 202nd of 766 places in Illinois: more than the typical Illinois town (17). Its nearest major network tower is 45 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 Round Lake Beach, 5.1 miles away.