TV channels & antenna towers in Lincolnshire, Illinois

Lincolnshire has 57 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CW and ION. About 30 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is WWTO-TV, 25 miles to the SE.

57TV transmitters within 70 miles
9networks over the air
25 mito the closest tower
7,282population

Network channels in Lincolnshire

StationChannelDistancePoint antennaEst. signalLicensed to
UNIWGBO-DTUnivision66 25 mi144° SE GoodJoliet, IL
IONKPDS-LDION49.4 25 mi144° SE WeakChicago, IL
FOXWFLDFox32 26 mi147° SSE StrongChicago, IL
NBCWMAQ-TVNBC5 26 mi147° SSE GoodChicago, IL
TLMWSNS-TVTelemundo44 26 mi147° SSE GoodChicago, IL
MeTVWWME-CDMeTV23.1 26 mi147° SSE FairChicago, IL
MeTVWCIU-TVMeTV26.3 26 mi147° SSE StrongChicago, IL
CWWGN-TVCW9 26 mi147° SSE GoodChicago, IL
CBSWBBM-TVCBS2 26 mi147° SSE FairChicago, IL
IONWCPX-TVION38 26 mi147° SSE GoodChicago, IL
ABCWLS-TVABC7 26 mi147° SSE StrongChicago, IL
IONWPXE-TVION55 62 mi1° N FairKenosha, WI
FOXWITIFox6 62 mi1° N FairMilwaukee, WI
NBCWTMJ-TVNBC4 62 mi0° N FairMilwaukee, WI
CWWVTVCW18 63 mi0° N FairMilwaukee, WI
ABCWISN-TVABC12 64 mi359° N FairMilwaukee, WI
MeTVWBME-CDMeTV41.1 64 mi359° N PoorMilwaukee, WI
CBSWDJT-TVCBS58 64 mi359° N FairMilwaukee, WI
TLMWYTU-LDTelemundo63 64 mi359° N PoorMilwaukee, WI
FOXWQRF-TVFox39 65 mi276° W PoorRockford, IL
ABCWTVOABC17 65 mi276° W PoorRockford, IL
TLMWFBN-LDTelemundo23 65 mi277° W PoorRockford, IL
CBSWIFR-LDCBS23 65 mi277° W PoorRockford, IL
CWWSLNCW19 65 mi277° W PoorFreeport, IL
NBCWREXNBC13 68 mi277° W PoorRockford, IL

Over-the-air TV in Lincolnshire

Lincolnshire is a town of about 7,280 people in Illinois. Within 70 miles of the town center we count 57 licensed TV transmitters: 30 full-power, 9 Class A and 18 low-power. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 30 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 12 at good or strong strength.

11 of them are within 25 miles of Lincolnshire, 17 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 29 are more than 45 miles out. Ten of the 25 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 (good signal) and Univision (good signal). 11 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 Lincolnshire

Point your antenna SSE, at about 147°. The main network towers for Lincolnshire sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

Ten network stations, WGBO-DT, WFLD, WMAQ-TV, WSNS-TV and WWME-CD and others, transmit from the same tower site about 25 miles southeast of Lincolnshire (144° SE). That one direction covers every station on the site.

Of the 16 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Lincolnshire at fair strength or better, 63% arrive from the southeast; the rest are spread across one other direction.

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

Antenna and amplifier advice for Lincolnshire

The farthest main network tower for Lincolnshire is WBBM-TV (CBS), 26 miles away with a fair estimated signal. That is why we suggest an amplified indoor or attic 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 Lincolnshire

Full-power independents, low-power stations and translators that relay a bigger station's signal. Showing the closest 25 of 32; see all in the finder.

StationDistancePoint antennaEst. signalLicensed to
WWTO-TVFull power25 mi 144° SEFairNaperville, IL
WOCK-CDClass A25 mi 144° SEWeakChicago, IL
W31EZ-DLow power25 mi 144° SEFairChicago, IL
WESV-LDLow power25 mi 144° SEFairChicago, IL
WRJK-LDLow power25 mi 144° SEFairArlington Heights, IL
W27EB-DClass A25 mi 144° SEFairSugar Grove, IL
WRME-LDLow power25 mi 144° SEWeakChicago, IL
WPVN-CDClass A25 mi 144° SEFairChicago, IL
WLPD-CDClass A25 mi 144° SEFairPlano, IL
WCHU-LDLow power25 mi 145° SEWeakOakwood Hills, IL
WTTWFull power26 mi 147° SSEGoodChicago, IL
WPWR-TVFull power26 mi 147° SSEStrongGary, IN
WEDE-CDClass A26 mi 147° SSEWeakArlington Heights, IL
WMEU-CDClass A26 mi 147° SSEFairChicago, IL
WJYSFull power26 mi 147° SSEGoodHammond, IN
WXFT-DTFull power26 mi 147° SSEStrongAurora, IL
WDCI-LDLow power26 mi 145° SEFairChicago, IL
WAUR-LDLow power50 mi 224° SWPoorAurora, IL
WSPY-LDLow power50 mi 224° SWPoorEarlville, IL
WODN-LDLow power54 mi 136° SEPoorPortage, IN
WDMW-LDLow power56 mi 345° NNWPoorMilwaukee, WI
WTAS-LDLow power56 mi 345° NNWPoorWaukesha, WI
WVCY-TVFull power62 mi 1° NFairMilwaukee, WI
WMKE-CDClass A63 mi 0° NPoorMilwaukee, WI
WMVSFull power63 mi 0° NWeakMilwaukee, WI

How Lincolnshire compares with the rest of Illinois

With 30 stations at fair strength or better, Lincolnshire ranks 7th of 766 places in Illinois: more than the typical Illinois town (17). Its nearest major network tower is 25 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 Wheeling, 3.7 miles away.

Setting up an antenna in Lincolnshire: 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 147° SSE, the direction of WBBM-TV (CBS), 26 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 30 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 Lincolnshire, IL?

ABC is on channel 7 from WLS-TV, broadcasting from 26 miles SSE of Lincolnshire. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is CBS in Lincolnshire, IL?

CBS is on channel 2 from WBBM-TV, broadcasting from 26 miles SSE of Lincolnshire. Estimated signal: fair.

What channel is NBC in Lincolnshire, IL?

NBC is on channel 5 from WMAQ-TV, broadcasting from 26 miles SSE of Lincolnshire. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is Fox in Lincolnshire, IL?

Fox is on channel 32 from WFLD, broadcasting from 26 miles SSE of Lincolnshire. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is CW in Lincolnshire, IL?

CW is on channel 9 from WGN-TV, broadcasting from 26 miles SSE of Lincolnshire. Estimated signal: good.

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

57 transmitters within 70 miles of Lincolnshire; around 30 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 Lincolnshire?

Point your antenna SSE, at about 147°. The main network towers for Lincolnshire sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

What kind of antenna do I need in Lincolnshire?

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 Lincolnshire?

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 Lincolnshire?

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 Lincolnshire; signal estimates ignore terrain.