TV channels & antenna towers in Hillside, Illinois

Hillside, Illinois has a population of about 8,160. There are 33 licensed TV transmitters within 70 miles: 15 full-power, 7 Class A and 11 low-power. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 28 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 14 at good or strong strength.

28 of them are within 25 miles of Hillside, 4 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 1 is more than 45 miles out. Ten of the 11 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 2 (WBBM-TV), NBC on channel 5 (WMAQ-TV), Fox on channel 32 (WFLD), 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 (strong signal) and Univision (strong signal). 6 full-power stations in range have no network listed in our data; these are typically public television, religious, shopping or independent stations.

Point your antenna E, at about 90°. The main network towers for Hillside sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

Ten network stations, WFLD, WMAQ-TV, WSNS-TV, WWME-CD and WCIU-TV and others, transmit from the same tower site about 14 miles east of Hillside (90° E). Aim there first: one setting covers all of them.

Of the 10 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Hillside at fair strength or better, all arrive from the east, so this is an easy place to aim.

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

The farthest main network tower for Hillside is WBBM-TV (CBS), 14 miles away with a good estimated signal. That is why we suggest an indoor antenna here. Skip that station and you may get away with a smaller antenna.

WFLD is only 14 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 28 stations at fair strength or better, Hillside ranks 70th of 766 places in Illinois: more than the typical Illinois town (17). Its nearest major network tower is 14 miles away, against a state median of 24 miles.

28% of Illinois's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an indoor antenna. The nearest larger city is Elmhurst, 2.4 miles away.