TV channels & antenna towers in Hinckley, Illinois

Hinckley has 38 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CW and ION. About 19 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is WAUR-LD, 7.9 miles to the SSE.

Open Hinckley in the live finder

38TV transmitters within 70 miles

9networks over the air

7.9 mito the closest tower

2,058population

Network channels in Hinckley

Station	Channel	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
FOXWQRF-TVFox	39	45 mi	323° NW	Fair	Rockford, IL
ABCWTVOABC	17	45 mi	323° NW	Fair	Rockford, IL
TLMWFBN-LDTelemundo	23	45 mi	323° NW	Poor	Rockford, IL
CBSWIFR-LDCBS	23	45 mi	323° NW	Poor	Rockford, IL
CWWSLNCW	19	45 mi	323° NW	Fair	Freeport, IL
NBCWREXNBC	13	48 mi	320° NW	Fair	Rockford, IL
FOXWFLDFox	32	52 mi	81° E	Good	Chicago, IL
NBCWMAQ-TVNBC	5	52 mi	81° E	Good	Chicago, IL
TLMWSNS-TVTelemundo	44	52 mi	81° E	Good	Chicago, IL
MeTVWWME-CDMeTV	23.1	52 mi	81° E	Poor	Chicago, IL
MeTVWCIU-TVMeTV	26.3	52 mi	81° E	Good	Chicago, IL
CWWGN-TVCW	9	52 mi	81° E	Good	Chicago, IL
CBSWBBM-TVCBS	2	52 mi	81° E	Fair	Chicago, IL
IONWCPX-TVION	38	52 mi	81° E	Good	Chicago, IL
ABCWLS-TVABC	7	52 mi	81° E	Good	Chicago, IL
UNIWGBO-DTUnivision	66	53 mi	80° E	Good	Joliet, IL
IONKPDS-LDION	49.4	53 mi	80° E	Poor	Chicago, IL

Over-the-air TV in Hinckley

Hinckley, Illinois has a population of about 2,060. Our map shows 38 licensed TV transmitters inside a 70-mile radius: 18 full-power, 7 Class A, 12 low-power and 1 translator. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 19 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 12 at good or strong strength.

2 of them are within 25 miles of Hinckley, 2 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 34 are more than 45 miles out. Ten of the 17 network stations in range are licensed to Chicago, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Chicago's stations.

The best-placed network stations 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 (good signal) and Univision (good 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 Hinckley

Point your antenna E, at about 81°. The main network towers for Hinckley sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

Three network stations, WQRF-TV, WTVO and WSLN, transmit from the same tower site about 45 miles northwest of Hinckley (323° NW). That one direction covers every station on the site.

Of the 13 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Hinckley at fair strength or better, 69% arrive from the east; the rest are spread across one other direction.

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

Antenna and amplifier advice for Hinckley

The farthest main network tower for Hinckley is WBBM-TV (CBS), 52 miles away with a fair estimated signal. That is why we suggest an outdoor directional antenna here. Viewers who do not need that station can often manage with less.

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 Hinckley

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

Station	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
WAUR-LDLow power	7.9 mi	155° SSE	Good	Aurora, IL
WSPY-LDLow power	7.9 mi	155° SSE	Good	Earlville, IL
W27EJ-DLow power	50 mi	280° W	Poor	Sterling, IL
WTTWFull power	52 mi	81° E	Fair	Chicago, IL
WPWR-TVFull power	52 mi	81° E	Good	Gary, IN
WEDE-CDClass A	52 mi	81° E	Poor	Arlington Heights, IL
WMEU-CDClass A	52 mi	81° E	Poor	Chicago, IL
WJYSFull power	52 mi	81° E	Fair	Hammond, IN
WXFT-DTFull power	52 mi	81° E	Good	Aurora, IL
WCHU-LDLow power	53 mi	81° E	Poor	Oakwood Hills, IL
WDCI-LDLow power	53 mi	81° E	Poor	Chicago, IL
WWTO-TVFull power	53 mi	80° E	Weak	Naperville, IL
WOCK-CDClass A	53 mi	80° E	Poor	Chicago, IL
W31EZ-DLow power	53 mi	80° E	Poor	Chicago, IL
WESV-LDLow power	53 mi	80° E	Poor	Chicago, IL
WRJK-LDLow power	53 mi	80° E	Poor	Arlington Heights, IL
W27EB-DClass A	53 mi	80° E	Poor	Sugar Grove, IL
WRME-LDLow power	53 mi	80° E	Poor	Chicago, IL
WPVN-CDClass A	53 mi	80° E	Poor	Chicago, IL
WLPD-CDClass A	53 mi	80° E	Poor	Plano, IL
W35DY-DTranslator	63 mi	335° NNW	Poor	Stoughton, WI

How Hinckley compares with the rest of Illinois

With 19 stations at fair strength or better, Hinckley ranks 341st 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 DeKalb, 12 miles away.

Setting up an antenna in Hinckley: 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 81° E, the direction of WBBM-TV (CBS), 52 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 19 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 Hinckley, IL?

ABC is on channel 7 from WLS-TV, broadcasting from 52 miles E of Hinckley. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CBS in Hinckley, IL?

CBS is on channel 2 from WBBM-TV, broadcasting from 52 miles E of Hinckley. Estimated signal: fair.

What channel is NBC in Hinckley, IL?

NBC is on channel 5 from WMAQ-TV, broadcasting from 52 miles E of Hinckley. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is Fox in Hinckley, IL?

Fox is on channel 32 from WFLD, broadcasting from 52 miles E of Hinckley. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CW in Hinckley, IL?

CW is on channel 9 from WGN-TV, broadcasting from 52 miles E of Hinckley. Estimated signal: good.

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

38 transmitters within 70 miles of Hinckley; around 19 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 Hinckley?

Point your antenna E, at about 81°. The main network towers for Hinckley sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

What kind of antenna do I need in Hinckley?

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.

Do I need an antenna amplifier in Hinckley?

Is there an app to find TV towers in Hinckley?

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 Hinckley; signal estimates ignore terrain.