TV channels & antenna towers in Gages Lake, Illinois

Gages Lake has 56 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CW and ION. About 23 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is WWTO-TV, 36 miles to the SSE.

56TV transmitters within 70 miles
9networks over the air
36 mito the closest tower
10,198population

Network channels in Gages Lake

StationChannelDistancePoint antennaEst. signalLicensed to
UNIWGBO-DTUnivision66 36 mi149° SSE GoodJoliet, IL
IONKPDS-LDION49.4 36 mi149° SSE PoorChicago, IL
FOXWFLDFox32 37 mi151° SSE GoodChicago, IL
NBCWMAQ-TVNBC5 37 mi151° SSE GoodChicago, IL
TLMWSNS-TVTelemundo44 37 mi151° SSE GoodChicago, IL
MeTVWWME-CDMeTV23.1 37 mi151° SSE WeakChicago, IL
MeTVWCIU-TVMeTV26.3 37 mi151° SSE GoodChicago, IL
CWWGN-TVCW9 37 mi151° SSE GoodChicago, IL
CBSWBBM-TVCBS2 37 mi151° SSE FairChicago, IL
IONWCPX-TVION38 37 mi151° SSE GoodChicago, IL
ABCWLS-TVABC7 37 mi151° SSE GoodChicago, IL
IONWPXE-TVION55 51 mi5° N GoodKenosha, WI
FOXWITIFox6 51 mi5° N GoodMilwaukee, WI
NBCWTMJ-TVNBC4 51 mi5° N GoodMilwaukee, WI
CWWVTVCW18 52 mi4° N GoodMilwaukee, WI
MeTVWBME-CDMeTV41.1 53 mi3° N PoorMilwaukee, WI
CBSWDJT-TVCBS58 53 mi3° N GoodMilwaukee, WI
TLMWYTU-LDTelemundo63 53 mi3° N PoorMilwaukee, WI
ABCWISN-TVABC12 53 mi3° N GoodMilwaukee, WI
TLMWFBN-LDTelemundo23 61 mi267° W PoorRockford, IL
CBSWIFR-LDCBS23 61 mi267° W PoorRockford, IL
CWWSLNCW19 61 mi267° W PoorFreeport, IL
FOXWQRF-TVFox39 61 mi266° W PoorRockford, IL
ABCWTVOABC17 61 mi266° W PoorRockford, IL
NBCWREXNBC13 64 mi267° W PoorRockford, IL

Over-the-air TV in Gages Lake

With roughly 10,200 residents, Gages Lake is a city in Illinois. 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, 23 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 19 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 58 (WDJT-TV), NBC on channel 4 (WTMJ-TV), Fox on channel 32 (WFLD), CW on channel 9 (WGN-TV), 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.

Which way to point your antenna in Gages Lake

Point your antenna SSE, at about 151°. The main network towers for Gages Lake 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 36 miles southeast of Gages Lake (149° SSE). That one direction covers every station on the site.

Of the 15 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Gages Lake at fair strength or better, 60% arrive from the southeast; the rest are spread across one other direction.

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

Antenna and amplifier advice for Gages Lake

The farthest main network tower for Gages Lake is WLS-TV (ABC), 37 miles away with a good estimated signal. That is why we suggest an amplified indoor or attic antenna here.

WDJT-TV (CBS), 53 miles north and WTMJ-TV (NBC), 51 miles north, are the exception: the nearest listed affiliates of those networks are far enough away to need an outdoor antenna. Some local stations in our data carry no network tag, so check the other stations table below before buying a bigger antenna just for those.

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.

Other stations near Gages Lake

Full-power independents, low-power stations and translators that relay a bigger station's signal. Showing the closest 25 of 31; see all in the finder.

StationDistancePoint antennaEst. signalLicensed to
WWTO-TVFull power36 mi 149° SSEFairNaperville, IL
WOCK-CDClass A36 mi 149° SSEWeakChicago, IL
W31EZ-DLow power36 mi 149° SSEWeakChicago, IL
WESV-LDLow power36 mi 149° SSEWeakChicago, IL
WRJK-LDLow power36 mi 149° SSEPoorArlington Heights, IL
W27EB-DClass A36 mi 149° SSEWeakSugar Grove, IL
WRME-LDLow power36 mi 149° SSEPoorChicago, IL
WPVN-CDClass A36 mi 149° SSEWeakChicago, IL
WLPD-CDClass A36 mi 149° SSEWeakPlano, IL
WCHU-LDLow power37 mi 150° SSEPoorOakwood Hills, IL
WDCI-LDLow power37 mi 150° SSEWeakChicago, IL
WTTWFull power37 mi 151° SSEGoodChicago, IL
WPWR-TVFull power37 mi 151° SSEGoodGary, IN
WEDE-CDClass A37 mi 151° SSEWeakArlington Heights, IL
WMEU-CDClass A37 mi 151° SSEWeakChicago, IL
WJYSFull power37 mi 151° SSEGoodHammond, IN
WXFT-DTFull power37 mi 151° SSEGoodAurora, IL
WDMW-LDLow power44 mi 346° NNWPoorMilwaukee, WI
WTAS-LDLow power44 mi 346° NNWPoorWaukesha, WI
WVCY-TVFull power51 mi 5° NGoodMilwaukee, WI
WMKE-CDClass A52 mi 4° NPoorMilwaukee, WI
WMVSFull power52 mi 4° NFairMilwaukee, WI
WMVTFull power52 mi 4° NFairMilwaukee, WI
WTSJ-LDLow power52 mi 4° NPoorMilwaukee, WI
WIWNFull power52 mi 4° NWeakFond Du Lac, WI

How Gages Lake compares with the rest of Illinois

With 23 stations at fair strength or better, Gages Lake ranks 251st of 766 places in Illinois: more than the typical Illinois town (17). Its nearest major network tower is 36 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 Grayslake, 3.1 miles away.

Setting up an antenna in Gages Lake: step by step

  1. Mount the antenna in the attic or high on the wall facing the towers, keeping the cable to the TV as short as you can.
  2. Point it toward 151° SSE, the direction of WLS-TV (ABC), 37 miles away. Closer stations usually come in even off-axis.
  3. Run a full channel scan on your TV (usually Settings → Channels → Auto program; the name varies by brand).
  4. Expect around 23 stations, each with a few subchannels. If one you want is missing, turn the antenna 5–10° toward it and scan again.
  5. Rescan every few months, or whenever a channel disappears; stations occasionally change frequency.

Frequently asked questions

What channel is ABC in Gages Lake, IL?

ABC is on channel 7 from WLS-TV, broadcasting from 37 miles SSE of Gages Lake. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CBS in Gages Lake, IL?

CBS is on channel 58 from WDJT-TV, broadcasting from 53 miles N of Gages Lake. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is NBC in Gages Lake, IL?

NBC is on channel 4 from WTMJ-TV, broadcasting from 51 miles N of Gages Lake. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is Fox in Gages Lake, IL?

Fox is on channel 32 from WFLD, broadcasting from 37 miles SSE of Gages Lake. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CW in Gages Lake, IL?

CW is on channel 9 from WGN-TV, broadcasting from 37 miles SSE of Gages Lake. Estimated signal: good.

How many channels can I get with an antenna in Gages Lake?

56 transmitters within 70 miles of Gages Lake; around 23 of them are likely to be receivable with amplified indoor or attic 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 Gages Lake?

Point your antenna SSE, at about 151°. The main network towers for Gages Lake sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

What kind of antenna do I need in Gages Lake?

Amplified indoor or attic antenna (25–45 miles). Towers are at medium range. An amplified indoor antenna can work; an attic-mounted antenna is the safer choice. Picking up CBS and NBC from up to 53 miles away would take an outdoor antenna.

Do I need an antenna amplifier in Gages Lake?

WDJT-TV (CBS), 53 miles north and WTMJ-TV (NBC), 51 miles north, are the exception: the nearest listed affiliates of those networks are far enough away to need an outdoor antenna. Some local stations in our data carry no network tag, so check the other stations table below before buying a bigger antenna just for those.

Is there an app to find TV towers in Gages Lake?

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

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