TV channels & antenna towers in Harvard, Illinois

Harvard has 66 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CW and ION. About 32 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is WFBN-LD (Telemundo), 30 miles to the WSW.

Open Harvard in the live finder

66TV transmitters within 70 miles

9networks over the air

30 mito the closest tower

9,194population

Network channels in Harvard

Station	Channel	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
TLMWFBN-LDTelemundo	23	30 mi	253° WSW	Fair	Rockford, IL
CBSWIFR-LDCBS	23	30 mi	253° WSW	Fair	Rockford, IL
CWWSLNCW	19	30 mi	253° WSW	Fair	Freeport, IL
FOXWQRF-TVFox	39	30 mi	252° WSW	Good	Rockford, IL
ABCWTVOABC	17	30 mi	252° WSW	Good	Rockford, IL
NBCWREXNBC	13	33 mi	255° WSW	Fair	Rockford, IL
NBCWTMJ-TVNBC	4	59 mi	38° NE	Fair	Milwaukee, WI
IONWPXE-TVION	55	59 mi	38° NE	Fair	Kenosha, WI
FOXWITIFox	6	59 mi	38° NE	Fair	Milwaukee, WI
CWWVTVCW	18	59 mi	37° NE	Fair	Milwaukee, WI
MeTVWBME-CDMeTV	41.1	59 mi	36° NE	Poor	Milwaukee, WI
CBSWDJT-TVCBS	58	59 mi	36° NE	Good	Milwaukee, WI
TLMWYTU-LDTelemundo	63	59 mi	36° NE	Poor	Milwaukee, WI
ABCWISN-TVABC	12	59 mi	36° NE	Fair	Milwaukee, WI
CWWMTVCW	15.2	62 mi	315° NW	Fair	Madison, WI
UNIWGBO-DTUnivision	66	62 mi	125° SE	Fair	Joliet, IL
IONKPDS-LDION	49.4	62 mi	125° SE	Poor	Chicago, IL
FOXWFLDFox	32	63 mi	127° SE	Good	Chicago, IL
NBCWMAQ-TVNBC	5	63 mi	127° SE	Fair	Chicago, IL
TLMWSNS-TVTelemundo	44	63 mi	127° SE	Fair	Chicago, IL
MeTVWWME-CDMeTV	23.1	63 mi	127° SE	Poor	Chicago, IL
MeTVWCIU-TVMeTV	26.3	63 mi	127° SE	Good	Chicago, IL
CWWGN-TVCW	9	63 mi	127° SE	Good	Chicago, IL
CBSWBBM-TVCBS	2	63 mi	127° SE	Fair	Chicago, IL
IONWCPX-TVION	38	63 mi	127° SE	Good	Chicago, IL
ABCWLS-TVABC	7	63 mi	127° SE	Good	Chicago, IL
FOXWMSN-TVFox	47	64 mi	313° NW	Fair	Madison, WI
IONWIFSION	57	64 mi	313° NW	Fair	Janesville, WI
ABCWKOWABC	27	64 mi	313° NW	Good	Madison, WI
CBSWISC-TVCBS	3	64 mi	313° NW	Fair	Madison, WI

Over-the-air TV in Harvard

Harvard is a town of about 9,190 people in Illinois. Within 70 miles of the town center we count 66 licensed TV transmitters: 35 full-power, 10 Class A, 20 low-power and 1 translator. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 32 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 11 at good or strong strength.

By distance, 0 transmitters are within 25 miles, 9 between 25 and 45 miles, and 57 farther out. Ten of the 30 network stations in range are licensed to Chicago, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Chicago's stations.

The strongest network signals here are ABC on channel 7 (WLS-TV), CBS on channel 58 (WDJT-TV), NBC on channel 5 (WMAQ-TV), Fox on channel 39 (WQRF-TV), 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 (fair signal) and Univision (fair signal). 11 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 Harvard

The main network towers around Harvard are in different directions: ABC 127° SE (63 mi), CBS 36° NE (59 mi), NBC 127° SE (63 mi) and Fox 252° WSW (30 mi). Aim at the farthest one you want first, or use a multi-directional antenna.

Three network stations, WSLN, WQRF-TV and WTVO, transmit from the same tower site about 30 miles west of Harvard (253° WSW). Point at that site and a single antenna setting picks them all up.

Of the 24 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Harvard at fair strength or better, 38% arrive from the southeast; the rest are spread across three other directions.

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

Antenna and amplifier advice for Harvard

The farthest main network tower for Harvard is WLS-TV (ABC), 63 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.

Other stations near Harvard

Full-power independents, low-power stations and translators that relay a bigger station's signal. Showing the closest 25 of 36; see all in the finder.

Station	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
W35DY-DTranslator	31 mi	292° WNW	Weak	Stoughton, WI
WDMW-LDLow power	43 mi	30° NNE	Poor	Milwaukee, WI
WTAS-LDLow power	43 mi	30° NNE	Poor	Waukesha, WI
WAUR-LDLow power	52 mi	178° S	Poor	Aurora, IL
WSPY-LDLow power	52 mi	178° S	Poor	Earlville, IL
WVCY-TVFull power	59 mi	38° NE	Fair	Milwaukee, WI
WMKE-CDClass A	59 mi	37° NE	Poor	Milwaukee, WI
WMVSFull power	59 mi	37° NE	Weak	Milwaukee, WI
WMVTFull power	59 mi	37° NE	Weak	Milwaukee, WI
WTSJ-LDLow power	59 mi	37° NE	Poor	Milwaukee, WI
WIWNFull power	59 mi	37° NE	Weak	Fond Du Lac, WI
WPVS-LDLow power	59 mi	37° NE	Poor	Milwaukee, WI
WMLW-TVFull power	59 mi	36° NE	Weak	Racine, WI
WMWI-LDLow power	61 mi	328° NNW	Poor	Verona, WI
WZCK-LDLow power	62 mi	315° NW	Poor	Madison, WI
W23BW-DClass A	62 mi	315° NW	Poor	Madison, WI
WMWD-LDLow power	62 mi	315° NW	Poor	Madison, WI
WWTO-TVFull power	62 mi	125° SE	Poor	Naperville, IL
WOCK-CDClass A	62 mi	125° SE	Poor	Chicago, IL
W31EZ-DLow power	62 mi	125° SE	Poor	Chicago, IL
WESV-LDLow power	62 mi	125° SE	Poor	Chicago, IL
WRJK-LDLow power	62 mi	125° SE	Poor	Arlington Heights, IL
W27EB-DClass A	62 mi	125° SE	Poor	Sugar Grove, IL
WRME-LDLow power	62 mi	125° SE	Poor	Chicago, IL
WPVN-CDClass A	62 mi	125° SE	Poor	Chicago, IL

How Harvard compares with the rest of Illinois

With 32 stations at fair strength or better, Harvard ranks 2nd of 766 places in Illinois: more than the typical Illinois town (17). Its nearest major network tower is 30 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 Woodstock, 11 miles away.

Setting up an antenna in Harvard: 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 127° SE, the direction of WLS-TV (ABC), 63 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 32 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 Harvard, IL?

ABC is on channel 7 from WLS-TV, broadcasting from 63 miles SE of Harvard. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CBS in Harvard, IL?

CBS is on channel 58 from WDJT-TV, broadcasting from 59 miles NE of Harvard. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is NBC in Harvard, IL?

NBC is on channel 5 from WMAQ-TV, broadcasting from 63 miles SE of Harvard. Estimated signal: fair.

What channel is Fox in Harvard, IL?

Fox is on channel 39 from WQRF-TV, broadcasting from 30 miles WSW of Harvard. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CW in Harvard, IL?

CW is on channel 9 from WGN-TV, broadcasting from 63 miles SE of Harvard. Estimated signal: good.

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

66 transmitters within 70 miles of Harvard; around 32 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 Harvard?

What kind of antenna do I need in Harvard?

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 216° of the compass, so a multi-directional antenna or a rotator will help.

Do I need an antenna amplifier in Harvard?

Is there an app to find TV towers in Harvard?

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 Harvard; signal estimates ignore terrain.