TV channels & antenna towers in Kirkland, Illinois

Kirkland has 40 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 WQRF-TV (Fox), 21 miles to the NW.

Open Kirkland in the live finder

40TV transmitters within 70 miles

9networks over the air

21 mito the closest tower

1,734population

Network channels in Kirkland

Station	Channel	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
FOXWQRF-TVFox	39	21 mi	310° NW	Strong	Rockford, IL
ABCWTVOABC	17	21 mi	310° NW	Good	Rockford, IL
TLMWFBN-LDTelemundo	23	22 mi	311° NW	Fair	Rockford, IL
CBSWIFR-LDCBS	23	22 mi	311° NW	Fair	Rockford, IL
CWWSLNCW	19	22 mi	311° NW	Fair	Freeport, IL
NBCWREXNBC	13	24 mi	305° NW	Fair	Rockford, IL
FOXWFLDFox	32	64 mi	103° ESE	Good	Chicago, IL
NBCWMAQ-TVNBC	5	64 mi	103° ESE	Fair	Chicago, IL
TLMWSNS-TVTelemundo	44	64 mi	103° ESE	Fair	Chicago, IL
MeTVWWME-CDMeTV	23.1	64 mi	103° ESE	Poor	Chicago, IL
MeTVWCIU-TVMeTV	26.3	64 mi	103° ESE	Good	Chicago, IL
CWWGN-TVCW	9	64 mi	103° ESE	Good	Chicago, IL
CBSWBBM-TVCBS	2	64 mi	103° ESE	Fair	Chicago, IL
IONWCPX-TVION	38	64 mi	103° ESE	Good	Chicago, IL
ABCWLS-TVABC	7	64 mi	103° ESE	Good	Chicago, IL
UNIWGBO-DTUnivision	66	64 mi	102° ESE	Fair	Joliet, IL
IONKPDS-LDION	49.4	64 mi	102° ESE	Poor	Chicago, IL

Over-the-air TV in Kirkland

Kirkland, Illinois has a population of about 1,730. There are 40 licensed TV transmitters within 70 miles: 18 full-power, 7 Class A, 14 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 9 at good or strong strength.

6 of them are within 25 miles of Kirkland, 4 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 30 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.

For the networks, the best local options are ABC on channel 17 (WTVO), CBS on channel 23 (WIFR-LD), 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). 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 Kirkland

Point your antenna NW, at about 310°. The main network towers for Kirkland 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 21 miles northwest of Kirkland (310° NW). Aim there first: one setting covers all of them.

Of the 13 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Kirkland 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 Kirkland, so signals arrive fairly directly and a well-placed antenna should hold them steadily.

Antenna and amplifier advice for Kirkland

The farthest main network tower for Kirkland is WQRF-TV (Fox), 21 miles away with a strong estimated signal. That is why we suggest an indoor antenna here.

WBBM-TV (CBS), 64 miles east and WMAQ-TV (NBC), 64 miles east, 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 Kirkland

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	33 mi	154° SSE	Weak	Aurora, IL
WSPY-LDLow power	33 mi	154° SSE	Weak	Earlville, IL
W35DY-DTranslator	38 mi	335° NNW	Poor	Stoughton, WI
W27EJ-DLow power	41 mi	251° WSW	Poor	Sterling, IL
WTTWFull power	64 mi	103° ESE	Fair	Chicago, IL
WPWR-TVFull power	64 mi	103° ESE	Good	Gary, IN
WEDE-CDClass A	64 mi	103° ESE	Poor	Arlington Heights, IL
WMEU-CDClass A	64 mi	103° ESE	Poor	Chicago, IL
WJYSFull power	64 mi	103° ESE	Fair	Hammond, IN
WXFT-DTFull power	64 mi	103° ESE	Good	Aurora, IL
WCHU-LDLow power	64 mi	102° ESE	Poor	Oakwood Hills, IL
WWTO-TVFull power	64 mi	102° ESE	Poor	Naperville, IL
WOCK-CDClass A	64 mi	102° ESE	Poor	Chicago, IL
W31EZ-DLow power	64 mi	102° ESE	Poor	Chicago, IL
WESV-LDLow power	64 mi	102° ESE	Poor	Chicago, IL
WRJK-LDLow power	64 mi	102° ESE	Poor	Arlington Heights, IL
W27EB-DClass A	64 mi	102° ESE	Poor	Sugar Grove, IL
WRME-LDLow power	64 mi	102° ESE	Poor	Chicago, IL
WPVN-CDClass A	64 mi	102° ESE	Poor	Chicago, IL
WLPD-CDClass A	64 mi	102° ESE	Poor	Plano, IL
WDCI-LDLow power	65 mi	102° ESE	Poor	Chicago, IL
WDMW-LDLow power	69 mi	29° NNE	Poor	Milwaukee, WI
WTAS-LDLow power	69 mi	29° NNE	Poor	Waukesha, WI

How Kirkland compares with the rest of Illinois

With 19 stations at fair strength or better, Kirkland ranks 341st of 766 places in Illinois: more than the typical Illinois town (17). Its nearest major network tower is 21 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 Belvidere, 12 miles away.

Setting up an antenna in Kirkland: step by step

Place the antenna high on a window or wall that faces the towers. Upstairs is better than downstairs.
Point it toward 310° NW, the direction of WQRF-TV (Fox), 21 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 Kirkland, IL?

ABC is on channel 17 from WTVO, broadcasting from 21 miles NW of Kirkland. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CBS in Kirkland, IL?

CBS is on channel 23 from WIFR-LD, broadcasting from 22 miles NW of Kirkland. Estimated signal: fair.

What channel is NBC in Kirkland, IL?

NBC is on channel 5 from WMAQ-TV, broadcasting from 64 miles ESE of Kirkland. Estimated signal: fair.

What channel is Fox in Kirkland, IL?

Fox is on channel 39 from WQRF-TV, broadcasting from 21 miles NW of Kirkland. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is CW in Kirkland, IL?

CW is on channel 9 from WGN-TV, broadcasting from 64 miles ESE of Kirkland. Estimated signal: good.

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

40 transmitters within 70 miles of Kirkland; around 19 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 Kirkland?

Point your antenna NW, at about 310°. The main network towers for Kirkland sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

What kind of antenna do I need in Kirkland?

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. Picking up CBS and NBC from up to 64 miles away would take an outdoor antenna.

Do I need an antenna amplifier in Kirkland?

Is there an app to find TV towers in Kirkland?

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 Kirkland; signal estimates ignore terrain.