TV channels & antenna towers in Plano, Illinois

Plano has 39 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CW and ION. About 16 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is WAUR-LD, 2.0 miles to the W.

Open Plano in the live finder

39TV transmitters within 70 miles

9networks over the air

2.0 mito the closest tower

11,282population

Network channels in Plano

Station	Channel	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
FOXWFLDFox	32	49 mi	72° ENE	Good	Chicago, IL
NBCWMAQ-TVNBC	5	49 mi	72° ENE	Good	Chicago, IL
TLMWSNS-TVTelemundo	44	49 mi	72° ENE	Good	Chicago, IL
MeTVWWME-CDMeTV	23.1	49 mi	72° ENE	Poor	Chicago, IL
MeTVWCIU-TVMeTV	26.3	49 mi	72° ENE	Good	Chicago, IL
CWWGN-TVCW	9	49 mi	72° ENE	Good	Chicago, IL
CBSWBBM-TVCBS	2	49 mi	72° ENE	Fair	Chicago, IL
IONWCPX-TVION	38	49 mi	72° ENE	Good	Chicago, IL
ABCWLS-TVABC	7	49 mi	72° ENE	Good	Chicago, IL
UNIWGBO-DTUnivision	66	50 mi	71° ENE	Good	Joliet, IL
IONKPDS-LDION	49.4	50 mi	71° ENE	Poor	Chicago, IL
FOXWQRF-TVFox	39	54 mi	323° NW	Weak	Rockford, IL
ABCWTVOABC	17	54 mi	323° NW	Weak	Rockford, IL
TLMWFBN-LDTelemundo	23	55 mi	324° NW	Poor	Rockford, IL
CBSWIFR-LDCBS	23	55 mi	324° NW	Poor	Rockford, IL
CWWSLNCW	19	55 mi	324° NW	Weak	Freeport, IL
NBCWREXNBC	13	57 mi	321° NW	Poor	Rockford, IL

Over-the-air TV in Plano

With roughly 11,300 residents, Plano is a town in Illinois. Within 70 miles of the town center we count 39 licensed TV transmitters: 19 full-power, 7 Class A and 13 low-power. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 16 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 13 at good or strong strength.

By distance, 2 transmitters are within 25 miles, 0 between 25 and 45 miles, and 37 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 Plano

Point your antenna ENE, at about 72°. The main network towers for Plano 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 49 miles east of Plano (72° ENE). That one direction covers every station on the site.

Of the 9 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Plano at fair strength or better, all arrive from the east, so this is an easy place to aim.

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

Antenna and amplifier advice for Plano

The farthest main network tower for Plano is WBBM-TV (CBS), 49 miles away with a fair estimated signal. That is why we suggest an outdoor directional antenna here. Skip that station and you may get away with a smaller antenna.

WAUR-LD is only 2.0 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 Plano

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

Station	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
WAUR-LDLow power	2.0 mi	275° W	Strong	Aurora, IL
WSPY-LDLow power	2.0 mi	275° W	Strong	Earlville, IL
WTTWFull power	49 mi	72° ENE	Good	Chicago, IL
WPWR-TVFull power	49 mi	72° ENE	Good	Gary, IN
WEDE-CDClass A	49 mi	72° ENE	Poor	Arlington Heights, IL
WMEU-CDClass A	49 mi	72° ENE	Poor	Chicago, IL
WJYSFull power	49 mi	72° ENE	Fair	Hammond, IN
WXFT-DTFull power	49 mi	72° ENE	Good	Aurora, IL
WCHU-LDLow power	49 mi	71° ENE	Poor	Oakwood Hills, IL
WDCI-LDLow power	50 mi	72° ENE	Poor	Chicago, IL
WWTO-TVFull power	50 mi	71° ENE	Fair	Naperville, IL
WOCK-CDClass A	50 mi	71° ENE	Poor	Chicago, IL
W31EZ-DLow power	50 mi	71° ENE	Poor	Chicago, IL
WESV-LDLow power	50 mi	71° ENE	Poor	Chicago, IL
WRJK-LDLow power	50 mi	71° ENE	Poor	Arlington Heights, IL
W27EB-DClass A	50 mi	71° ENE	Poor	Sugar Grove, IL
WRME-LDLow power	50 mi	71° ENE	Poor	Chicago, IL
WPVN-CDClass A	50 mi	71° ENE	Poor	Chicago, IL
WLPD-CDClass A	50 mi	71° ENE	Poor	Plano, IL
W27EJ-DLow power	57 mi	287° WNW	Poor	Sterling, IL
WYINFull power	63 mi	110° ESE	Weak	Gary, IN
WODN-LDLow power	70 mi	92° E	Poor	Portage, IN

How Plano compares with the rest of Illinois

With 16 stations at fair strength or better, Plano ranks 386th of 766 places in Illinois: fewer than the typical Illinois town (17). Its nearest major network tower is 49 miles away, against a state median of 24 miles.

18% of Illinois's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an outdoor directional antenna. The nearest larger city is Oswego, 9.7 miles away.

Setting up an antenna in Plano: step by step

Mount an outdoor antenna on the roof or a mast, as high as you can safely get it, with a clear view toward the towers.
Point it toward 72° ENE, the direction of WBBM-TV (CBS), 49 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 16 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 Plano, IL?

ABC is on channel 7 from WLS-TV, broadcasting from 49 miles ENE of Plano. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CBS in Plano, IL?

CBS is on channel 2 from WBBM-TV, broadcasting from 49 miles ENE of Plano. Estimated signal: fair.

What channel is NBC in Plano, IL?

NBC is on channel 5 from WMAQ-TV, broadcasting from 49 miles ENE of Plano. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is Fox in Plano, IL?

Fox is on channel 32 from WFLD, broadcasting from 49 miles ENE of Plano. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CW in Plano, IL?

CW is on channel 9 from WGN-TV, broadcasting from 49 miles ENE of Plano. Estimated signal: good.

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

39 transmitters within 70 miles of Plano; around 16 of them are likely to be receivable with outdoor directional 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 Plano?

Point your antenna ENE, at about 72°. The main network towers for Plano sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

What kind of antenna do I need in Plano?

Outdoor directional antenna (45–70 miles). Some major towers are a long way off. Mount a directional antenna on the roof or a mast and aim it with the bearings below.

Do I need an antenna amplifier in Plano?

WAUR-LD is only 2.0 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 Plano?

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 Plano; signal estimates ignore terrain.