TV channels & antenna towers in Mackinaw, Illinois

Mackinaw has 23 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CW and ION. About 13 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is W27EQ-D, 8.6 miles to the NW.

Open Mackinaw in the live finder

23TV transmitters within 70 miles

7networks over the air

8.6 mito the closest tower

1,923population

Network channels in Mackinaw

Station	Channel	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
CBSWMBD-TVCBS	31	12 mi	306° NW	Strong	Peoria, IL
MeTVWHOIMeTV	19.6	12 mi	303° WNW	Strong	Peoria, IL
CWWEEK-TVCW	25.3	12 mi	303° WNW	Strong	Peoria, IL
FOXWYZZ-TVFox	43	12 mi	51° NE	Strong	Bloomington, IL
IONWCQA-LDION	16.4	40 mi	166° SSE	Poor	Springfield, IL
NBCWANDNBC	17	49 mi	145° SE	Good	Decatur, IL
CWWBUICW	23	49 mi	146° SE	Good	Decatur, IL
ABCWICSABC	20	51 mi	186° S	Good	Springfield, IL
FOXWRSP-TVFox	55	51 mi	186° S	Good	Springfield, IL
CBSWCIACBS	3	56 mi	122° ESE	Fair	Champaign, IL

Over-the-air TV in Mackinaw

Mackinaw is a small community of about 1,920 people in Illinois. Within 70 miles of the town center we count 23 licensed TV transmitters: 12 full-power, 1 Class A and 10 low-power. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 13 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 10 at good or strong strength.

7 of them are within 25 miles of Mackinaw, 1 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 15 are more than 45 miles out. Three of the 10 network stations in range are licensed to Peoria, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Peoria's stations.

For the networks, the best local options are ABC on channel 20 (WICS), CBS on channel 31 (WMBD-TV), NBC on channel 17 (WAND), Fox on channel 43 (WYZZ-TV), CW on channel 25.3 (WEEK-TV), ION on channel 16.4 (WCQA-LD) and MeTV on channel 19.6 (WHOI). 3 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 Mackinaw

The main network towers around Mackinaw are in different directions: CBS 306° NW (12 mi) and Fox 51° NE (12 mi). Aim at the farthest one you want first, or use a multi-directional antenna.

Three network stations, WMBD-TV, WHOI and WEEK-TV, transmit from the same tower site about 12 miles northwest of Mackinaw (306° NW). That one direction covers every station on the site.

Of the 9 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Mackinaw at fair strength or better, 33% arrive from the northwest; the rest are spread across three other directions.

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

Antenna and amplifier advice for Mackinaw

The farthest main network tower for Mackinaw is WYZZ-TV (Fox), 12 miles away with a strong estimated signal. That is why we suggest an indoor antenna here.

WICS (ABC), 51 miles south and WAND (NBC), 49 miles southeast, 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.

WMBD-TV is only 12 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 Mackinaw

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

Station	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
W27EQ-DLow power	8.6 mi	313° NW	Good	Peoria, IL
WTVPFull power	13 mi	300° WNW	Good	Peoria, IL
WSIO-LDLow power	22 mi	311° NW	Fair	Peoria, IL
WLCF-LDLow power	48 mi	147° SSE	Poor	Decatur, IL
WILL-TVFull power	50 mi	133° SE	Fair	Urbana, IL
W31EH-DLow power	51 mi	197° SSW	Poor	Springfield, IL
W27ES-DLow power	51 mi	197° SSW	Poor	Springfield, IL
WCIXFull power	52 mi	189° S	Poor	Springfield, IL
WEAE-LDLow power	54 mi	194° SSW	Poor	Springfield, IL
W23EW-DLow power	55 mi	190° S	Poor	Springfield, IL
W07DD-DLow power	62 mi	114° ESE	Poor	Champaign, IL
WBXC-CDClass A	66 mi	116° ESE	Poor	Champaign/Urbana, IL
W27EL-DLow power	66 mi	116° ESE	Poor	Champaign, IL

How Mackinaw compares with the rest of Illinois

With 13 stations at fair strength or better, Mackinaw ranks 481st of 766 places in Illinois: fewer than the typical Illinois town (17). Its nearest major network tower is 12 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 East Peoria, 15 miles away.

Setting up an antenna in Mackinaw: step by step

Place the antenna high on a window or wall that faces the towers. Upstairs is better than downstairs.
Point it toward 51° NE, the direction of WYZZ-TV (Fox), 12 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 13 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 Mackinaw, IL?

ABC is on channel 20 from WICS, broadcasting from 51 miles S of Mackinaw. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CBS in Mackinaw, IL?

CBS is on channel 31 from WMBD-TV, broadcasting from 12 miles NW of Mackinaw. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is NBC in Mackinaw, IL?

NBC is on channel 17 from WAND, broadcasting from 49 miles SE of Mackinaw. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is Fox in Mackinaw, IL?

Fox is on channel 43 from WYZZ-TV, broadcasting from 12 miles NE of Mackinaw. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is CW in Mackinaw, IL?

CW is on channel 25.3 from WEEK-TV, broadcasting from 12 miles WNW of Mackinaw. Estimated signal: strong.

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

23 transmitters within 70 miles of Mackinaw; around 13 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 Mackinaw?

The main network towers around Mackinaw are in different directions: CBS 306° NW (12 mi) and Fox 51° NE (12 mi). Aim at the farthest one you want first, or use a multi-directional antenna.

What kind of antenna do I need in Mackinaw?

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 ABC and NBC from up to 51 miles away would take an outdoor antenna.

Do I need an antenna amplifier in Mackinaw?

Is there an app to find TV towers in Mackinaw?

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 Mackinaw; signal estimates ignore terrain.