TV channels & antenna towers in Lyons, Illinois

Lyons 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, 10 miles to the ENE.

Open Lyons in the live finder

33TV transmitters within 70 miles

9networks over the air

10 mito the closest tower

10,722population

Network channels in Lyons

Station	Channel	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
FOXWFLDFox	32	10 mi	64° ENE	Strong	Chicago, IL
NBCWMAQ-TVNBC	5	10 mi	64° ENE	Strong	Chicago, IL
TLMWSNS-TVTelemundo	44	10 mi	64° ENE	Strong	Chicago, IL
MeTVWWME-CDMeTV	23.1	10 mi	64° ENE	Good	Chicago, IL
MeTVWCIU-TVMeTV	26.3	10 mi	64° ENE	Strong	Chicago, IL
CWWGN-TVCW	9	10 mi	64° ENE	Strong	Chicago, IL
CBSWBBM-TVCBS	2	10 mi	64° ENE	Good	Chicago, IL
IONWCPX-TVION	38	10 mi	64° ENE	Strong	Chicago, IL
ABCWLS-TVABC	7	10 mi	64° ENE	Strong	Chicago, IL
UNIWGBO-DTUnivision	66	12 mi	59° ENE	Strong	Joliet, IL
IONKPDS-LDION	49.4	12 mi	59° ENE	Weak	Chicago, IL

Over-the-air TV in Lyons

Lyons, Illinois has a population of about 10,700. 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 23 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.

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 (strong 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 Lyons

Point your antenna ENE, at about 64°. The main network towers for Lyons 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 10 miles northeast of Lyons (64° ENE). That one direction covers every station on the site.

Of the 10 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Lyons at fair strength or better, all arrive from the northeast, so this is an easy place to aim.

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

Antenna and amplifier advice for Lyons

The farthest main network tower for Lyons is WBBM-TV (CBS), 10 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.

WTTW is only 10 miles away with a strong signal. Signals that strong can overload an amplifier, so start without one and add it only if distant channels are missing. Read when an amplifier helps.

Other stations near Lyons

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	10 mi	64° ENE	Strong	Chicago, IL
WPWR-TVFull power	10 mi	64° ENE	Strong	Gary, IN
WEDE-CDClass A	10 mi	64° ENE	Fair	Arlington Heights, IL
WMEU-CDClass A	10 mi	64° ENE	Good	Chicago, IL
WJYSFull power	10 mi	64° ENE	Good	Hammond, IN
WXFT-DTFull power	10 mi	64° ENE	Strong	Aurora, IL
WCHU-LDLow power	11 mi	62° ENE	Fair	Oakwood Hills, IL
WDCI-LDLow power	11 mi	64° ENE	Good	Chicago, IL
WWTO-TVFull power	12 mi	59° ENE	Good	Naperville, IL
WOCK-CDClass A	12 mi	59° ENE	Fair	Chicago, IL
W31EZ-DLow power	12 mi	59° ENE	Good	Chicago, IL
WESV-LDLow power	12 mi	59° ENE	Good	Chicago, IL
WRJK-LDLow power	12 mi	59° ENE	Fair	Arlington Heights, IL
W27EB-DClass A	12 mi	59° ENE	Good	Sugar Grove, IL
WRME-LDLow power	12 mi	59° ENE	Fair	Chicago, IL
WPVN-CDClass A	12 mi	59° ENE	Good	Chicago, IL
WLPD-CDClass A	12 mi	59° ENE	Good	Plano, IL
WODN-LDLow power	35 mi	112° ESE	Poor	Portage, IN
WYINFull power	39 mi	146° SE	Good	Gary, IN
WAUR-LDLow power	40 mi	256° WSW	Poor	Aurora, IL
WSPY-LDLow power	40 mi	256° WSW	Poor	Earlville, IL
WAAA-LDLow power	46 mi	116° ESE	Poor	Valparaiso, IN

How Lyons compares with the rest of Illinois

With 28 stations at fair strength or better, Lyons ranks 70th of 766 places in Illinois: more than the typical Illinois town (17). Its nearest major network tower is 10 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 Berwyn, 2.9 miles away.

Setting up an antenna in Lyons: step by step

Place the antenna high on a window or wall that faces the towers. Upstairs is better than downstairs.
Point it toward 64° ENE, the direction of WBBM-TV (CBS), 10 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 Lyons, IL?

ABC is on channel 7 from WLS-TV, broadcasting from 10 miles ENE of Lyons. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is CBS in Lyons, IL?

CBS is on channel 2 from WBBM-TV, broadcasting from 10 miles ENE of Lyons. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is NBC in Lyons, IL?

NBC is on channel 5 from WMAQ-TV, broadcasting from 10 miles ENE of Lyons. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is Fox in Lyons, IL?

Fox is on channel 32 from WFLD, broadcasting from 10 miles ENE of Lyons. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is CW in Lyons, IL?

CW is on channel 9 from WGN-TV, broadcasting from 10 miles ENE of Lyons. Estimated signal: strong.

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

33 transmitters within 70 miles of Lyons; 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 Lyons?

Point your antenna ENE, at about 64°. The main network towers for Lyons sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

What kind of antenna do I need in Lyons?

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 Lyons?

WTTW is only 10 miles away with a strong signal. Signals that strong can overload an amplifier, so start without one and add it only if distant channels are missing. Read when an amplifier helps.

Is there an app to find TV towers in Lyons?

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 Lyons; signal estimates ignore terrain.