TV channels & antenna towers in Hinsdale, Illinois

Hinsdale has 33 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CW and ION. About 28 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is WTTW, 16 miles to the ENE.

Open Hinsdale in the live finder

33TV transmitters within 70 miles

9networks over the air

16 mito the closest tower

17,628population

Network channels in Hinsdale

Station	Channel	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
FOXWFLDFox	32	16 mi	71° ENE	Strong	Chicago, IL
NBCWMAQ-TVNBC	5	16 mi	71° ENE	Good	Chicago, IL
TLMWSNS-TVTelemundo	44	16 mi	71° ENE	Good	Chicago, IL
MeTVWWME-CDMeTV	23.1	16 mi	71° ENE	Fair	Chicago, IL
MeTVWCIU-TVMeTV	26.3	16 mi	71° ENE	Strong	Chicago, IL
CWWGN-TVCW	9	16 mi	71° ENE	Strong	Chicago, IL
CBSWBBM-TVCBS	2	16 mi	71° ENE	Good	Chicago, IL
IONWCPX-TVION	38	16 mi	71° ENE	Strong	Chicago, IL
ABCWLS-TVABC	7	16 mi	71° ENE	Strong	Chicago, IL
UNIWGBO-DTUnivision	66	18 mi	67° ENE	Strong	Joliet, IL
IONKPDS-LDION	49.4	18 mi	67° ENE	Weak	Chicago, IL

Over-the-air TV in Hinsdale

Hinsdale is a city of about 17,600 people in Illinois. 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.

By distance, 28 transmitters are within 25 miles, 4 between 25 and 45 miles, and 1 farther 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.

The strongest network signals here 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 (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.

Which way to point your antenna in Hinsdale

Point your antenna ENE, at about 71°. The main network towers for Hinsdale 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 16 miles east of Hinsdale (71° ENE). Aim there first: one setting covers all of them.

Of the 10 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Hinsdale at fair strength or better, 90% 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 Hinsdale, so signals arrive fairly directly and a well-placed antenna should hold them steadily.

Antenna and amplifier advice for Hinsdale

The farthest main network tower for Hinsdale is WBBM-TV (CBS), 16 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.

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 Hinsdale

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

Station	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
WTTWFull power	16 mi	71° ENE	Good	Chicago, IL
WPWR-TVFull power	16 mi	71° ENE	Strong	Gary, IN
WEDE-CDClass A	16 mi	71° ENE	Fair	Arlington Heights, IL
WMEU-CDClass A	16 mi	71° ENE	Fair	Chicago, IL
WJYSFull power	16 mi	71° ENE	Good	Hammond, IN
WXFT-DTFull power	16 mi	71° ENE	Strong	Aurora, IL
WCHU-LDLow power	17 mi	69° ENE	Fair	Oakwood Hills, IL
WDCI-LDLow power	17 mi	70° ENE	Fair	Chicago, IL
WWTO-TVFull power	18 mi	67° ENE	Fair	Naperville, IL
WOCK-CDClass A	18 mi	67° ENE	Fair	Chicago, IL
W31EZ-DLow power	18 mi	67° ENE	Fair	Chicago, IL
WESV-LDLow power	18 mi	67° ENE	Fair	Chicago, IL
WRJK-LDLow power	18 mi	67° ENE	Fair	Arlington Heights, IL
W27EB-DClass A	18 mi	67° ENE	Fair	Sugar Grove, IL
WRME-LDLow power	18 mi	67° ENE	Fair	Chicago, IL
WPVN-CDClass A	18 mi	67° ENE	Fair	Chicago, IL
WLPD-CDClass A	18 mi	67° ENE	Fair	Plano, IL
WAUR-LDLow power	34 mi	254° WSW	Weak	Aurora, IL
WSPY-LDLow power	34 mi	254° WSW	Weak	Earlville, IL
WODN-LDLow power	40 mi	107° ESE	Poor	Portage, IN
WYINFull power	42 mi	138° SE	Good	Gary, IN
WAAA-LDLow power	51 mi	112° ESE	Poor	Valparaiso, IN

How Hinsdale compares with the rest of Illinois

With 28 stations at fair strength or better, Hinsdale ranks 70th of 766 places in Illinois: more than the typical Illinois town (17). Its nearest major network tower is 16 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 Downers Grove, 3.9 miles away.

Setting up an antenna in Hinsdale: step by step

Place the antenna high on a window or wall that faces the towers. Upstairs is better than downstairs.
Point it toward 71° ENE, the direction of WBBM-TV (CBS), 16 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 28 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 Hinsdale, IL?

ABC is on channel 7 from WLS-TV, broadcasting from 16 miles ENE of Hinsdale. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is CBS in Hinsdale, IL?

CBS is on channel 2 from WBBM-TV, broadcasting from 16 miles ENE of Hinsdale. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is NBC in Hinsdale, IL?

NBC is on channel 5 from WMAQ-TV, broadcasting from 16 miles ENE of Hinsdale. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is Fox in Hinsdale, IL?

Fox is on channel 32 from WFLD, broadcasting from 16 miles ENE of Hinsdale. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is CW in Hinsdale, IL?

CW is on channel 9 from WGN-TV, broadcasting from 16 miles ENE of Hinsdale. Estimated signal: strong.

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

33 transmitters within 70 miles of Hinsdale; around 28 of them are likely to be receivable with indoor 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 Hinsdale?

Point your antenna ENE, at about 71°. The main network towers for Hinsdale sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

What kind of antenna do I need in Hinsdale?

Indoor antenna (up to ~25 miles). The main towers are close. A flat indoor antenna near a window facing the towers should pull in the major networks.

Do I need an antenna amplifier in Hinsdale?

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.

Is there an app to find TV towers in Hinsdale?

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 Hinsdale; signal estimates ignore terrain.