TV channels & antenna towers in Lily Lake, Illinois

Lily Lake has 40 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CW and ION. About 20 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is WAUR-LD, 20 miles to the SSW.

40TV transmitters within 70 miles
9networks over the air
20 mito the closest tower
1,032population

Network channels in Lily Lake

StationChannelDistancePoint antennaEst. signalLicensed to
FOXWQRF-TVFox39 43 mi304° WNW GoodRockford, IL
ABCWTVOABC17 43 mi304° WNW GoodRockford, IL
TLMWFBN-LDTelemundo23 43 mi304° NW PoorRockford, IL
CBSWIFR-LDCBS23 43 mi304° NW PoorRockford, IL
CWWSLNCW19 43 mi304° NW FairFreeport, IL
FOXWFLDFox32 44 mi96° E GoodChicago, IL
NBCWMAQ-TVNBC5 44 mi96° E GoodChicago, IL
TLMWSNS-TVTelemundo44 44 mi96° E GoodChicago, IL
MeTVWWME-CDMeTV23.1 44 mi96° E WeakChicago, IL
MeTVWCIU-TVMeTV26.3 44 mi96° E GoodChicago, IL
CWWGN-TVCW9 44 mi96° E GoodChicago, IL
CBSWBBM-TVCBS2 44 mi96° E FairChicago, IL
IONWCPX-TVION38 44 mi96° E GoodChicago, IL
ABCWLS-TVABC7 44 mi96° E GoodChicago, IL
UNIWGBO-DTUnivision66 44 mi94° E GoodJoliet, IL
IONKPDS-LDION49.4 44 mi94° E PoorChicago, IL
NBCWREXNBC13 46 mi302° WNW FairRockford, IL

Over-the-air TV in Lily Lake

Lily Lake, Illinois has a population of about 1,030. Our map shows 40 licensed TV transmitters inside a 70-mile radius: 19 full-power, 7 Class A, 13 low-power and 1 translator. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 20 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 13 at good or strong strength.

By distance, 2 transmitters are within 25 miles, 33 between 25 and 45 miles, and 5 farther 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). 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 Lily Lake

Point your antenna E, at about 96°. The main network towers for Lily Lake 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 44 miles east of Lily Lake (96° E). That one direction covers every station on the site.

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

Antenna and amplifier advice for Lily Lake

The farthest main network tower for Lily Lake is WBBM-TV (CBS), 44 miles away with a fair estimated signal. That is why we suggest an amplified indoor or attic antenna here. Viewers who do not need that station can often manage with less.

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 Lily Lake

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

StationDistancePoint antennaEst. signalLicensed to
WAUR-LDLow power20 mi 195° SSWFairAurora, IL
WSPY-LDLow power20 mi 195° SSWFairEarlville, IL
WTTWFull power44 mi 96° EGoodChicago, IL
WPWR-TVFull power44 mi 96° EGoodGary, IN
WEDE-CDClass A44 mi 96° EPoorArlington Heights, IL
WMEU-CDClass A44 mi 96° EWeakChicago, IL
WJYSFull power44 mi 96° EFairHammond, IN
WXFT-DTFull power44 mi 96° EGoodAurora, IL
WCHU-LDLow power44 mi 95° EPoorOakwood Hills, IL
WWTO-TVFull power44 mi 94° EFairNaperville, IL
WOCK-CDClass A44 mi 94° EPoorChicago, IL
W31EZ-DLow power44 mi 94° EPoorChicago, IL
WESV-LDLow power44 mi 94° EPoorChicago, IL
WRJK-LDLow power44 mi 94° EPoorArlington Heights, IL
W27EB-DClass A44 mi 94° EPoorSugar Grove, IL
WRME-LDLow power44 mi 94° EPoorChicago, IL
WPVN-CDClass A44 mi 94° EPoorChicago, IL
WLPD-CDClass A44 mi 94° EPoorPlano, IL
WDCI-LDLow power44 mi 95° EPoorChicago, IL
W35DY-DTranslator57 mi 322° NWPoorStoughton, WI
W27EJ-DLow power58 mi 267° WPoorSterling, IL
WYINFull power69 mi 126° SEPoorGary, IN
WODN-LDLow power70 mi 108° ESEPoorPortage, IN

How Lily Lake compares with the rest of Illinois

With 20 stations at fair strength or better, Lily Lake ranks 311th of 766 places in Illinois: more than the typical Illinois town (17). Its nearest major network tower is 43 miles away, against a state median of 24 miles.

54% of Illinois's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an amplified indoor or attic antenna. The nearest larger city is Wasco, 3.8 miles away.

Setting up an antenna in Lily Lake: step by step

  1. Mount the antenna in the attic or high on the wall facing the towers, keeping the cable to the TV as short as you can.
  2. Point it toward 96° E, the direction of WBBM-TV (CBS), 44 miles away. Closer stations usually come in even off-axis.
  3. Run a full channel scan on your TV (usually Settings → Channels → Auto program; the name varies by brand).
  4. Expect around 20 stations, each with a few subchannels. If one you want is missing, turn the antenna 5–10° toward it and scan again.
  5. Rescan every few months, or whenever a channel disappears; stations occasionally change frequency.

Frequently asked questions

What channel is ABC in Lily Lake, IL?

ABC is on channel 7 from WLS-TV, broadcasting from 44 miles E of Lily Lake. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CBS in Lily Lake, IL?

CBS is on channel 2 from WBBM-TV, broadcasting from 44 miles E of Lily Lake. Estimated signal: fair.

What channel is NBC in Lily Lake, IL?

NBC is on channel 5 from WMAQ-TV, broadcasting from 44 miles E of Lily Lake. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is Fox in Lily Lake, IL?

Fox is on channel 32 from WFLD, broadcasting from 44 miles E of Lily Lake. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CW in Lily Lake, IL?

CW is on channel 9 from WGN-TV, broadcasting from 44 miles E of Lily Lake. Estimated signal: good.

How many channels can I get with an antenna in Lily Lake?

40 transmitters within 70 miles of Lily Lake; around 20 of them are likely to be receivable with amplified indoor or attic 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 Lily Lake?

Point your antenna E, at about 96°. The main network towers for Lily Lake sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

What kind of antenna do I need in Lily Lake?

Amplified indoor or attic antenna (25–45 miles). Towers are at medium range. An amplified indoor antenna can work; an attic-mounted antenna is the safer choice.

Do I need an antenna amplifier in Lily Lake?

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 Lily Lake?

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 Lily Lake; signal estimates ignore terrain.