TV channels & antenna towers in Plainfield, Illinois

With roughly 42,500 residents, Plainfield is a city in Illinois. Within 70 miles of the town center we count 38 licensed TV transmitters: 18 full-power, 7 Class A and 13 low-power. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 22 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 13 at good or strong strength.

By distance, 2 transmitters are within 25 miles, 28 between 25 and 45 miles, and 8 farther out. Ten of the 16 network stations in range are licensed to Chicago, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Chicago's stations.

The strongest network signals here 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.

Point your antenna ENE, at about 59°. The main network towers for Plainfield 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 34 miles northeast of Plainfield (59° ENE). Aim there first: one setting covers all of them.

Of the 10 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Plainfield 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 Plainfield, so signals arrive fairly directly and a well-placed antenna should hold them steadily.

The farthest main network tower for Plainfield is WBBM-TV (CBS), 34 miles away with a fair estimated signal. That is why we suggest an amplified indoor or attic antenna here. If you only watch the closer stations, a smaller antenna may do.

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.

With 22 stations at fair strength or better, Plainfield ranks 275th of 766 places in Illinois: more than the typical Illinois town (17). Its nearest major network tower is 34 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 Joliet, 9.4 miles away.