TV channels & antenna towers in Port Barrington, Illinois

Port Barrington has 56 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CW and ION. About 23 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is WWTO-TV, 38 miles to the SE.

56TV transmitters within 70 miles
9networks over the air
38 mito the closest tower
1,504population

Network channels in Port Barrington

StationChannelDistancePoint antennaEst. signalLicensed to
UNIWGBO-DTUnivision66 38 mi128° SE GoodJoliet, IL
IONKPDS-LDION49.4 38 mi128° SE PoorChicago, IL
FOXWFLDFox32 38 mi131° SE GoodChicago, IL
NBCWMAQ-TVNBC5 38 mi131° SE GoodChicago, IL
TLMWSNS-TVTelemundo44 38 mi131° SE GoodChicago, IL
MeTVWWME-CDMeTV23.1 38 mi131° SE WeakChicago, IL
MeTVWCIU-TVMeTV26.3 38 mi131° SE GoodChicago, IL
CWWGN-TVCW9 38 mi131° SE GoodChicago, IL
CBSWBBM-TVCBS2 38 mi131° SE FairChicago, IL
IONWCPX-TVION38 38 mi131° SE GoodChicago, IL
ABCWLS-TVABC7 38 mi131° SE GoodChicago, IL
FOXWQRF-TVFox39 50 mi274° W FairRockford, IL
ABCWTVOABC17 50 mi274° W FairRockford, IL
TLMWFBN-LDTelemundo23 50 mi275° W PoorRockford, IL
CBSWIFR-LDCBS23 50 mi275° W PoorRockford, IL
CWWSLNCW19 50 mi275° W WeakFreeport, IL
NBCWREXNBC13 53 mi274° W WeakRockford, IL
NBCWTMJ-TVNBC4 61 mi14° NNE FairMilwaukee, WI
IONWPXE-TVION55 61 mi15° NNE FairKenosha, WI
FOXWITIFox6 61 mi15° NNE FairMilwaukee, WI
CWWVTVCW18 61 mi14° NNE FairMilwaukee, WI
MeTVWBME-CDMeTV41.1 62 mi13° NNE PoorMilwaukee, WI
CBSWDJT-TVCBS58 62 mi13° NNE FairMilwaukee, WI
TLMWYTU-LDTelemundo63 62 mi13° NNE PoorMilwaukee, WI
ABCWISN-TVABC12 62 mi13° NNE FairMilwaukee, WI

Over-the-air TV in Port Barrington

Port Barrington, Illinois has a population of about 1,500. Our map shows 56 licensed TV transmitters inside a 70-mile radius: 29 full-power, 9 Class A, 17 low-power and 1 translator. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 23 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 12 at good or strong strength.

By distance, 0 transmitters are within 25 miles, 30 between 25 and 45 miles, and 26 farther 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.

The best-placed network stations are ABC on channel 7 (WLS-TV), CBS on channel 58 (WDJT-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). 10 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 Port Barrington

Point your antenna SE, at about 131°. The main network towers for Port Barrington 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 38 miles southeast of Port Barrington (128° SE). That one direction covers every station on the site.

Of the 17 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Port Barrington at fair strength or better, 53% arrive from the southeast; the rest are spread across two other directions.

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

Antenna and amplifier advice for Port Barrington

The farthest main network tower for Port Barrington is WLS-TV (ABC), 38 miles away with a good estimated signal. That is why we suggest an amplified indoor or attic antenna here.

WDJT-TV (CBS), 62 miles north, is the exception: the nearest listed affiliate of its network is 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 that one.

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 Port Barrington

Full-power independents, low-power stations and translators that relay a bigger station's signal. Showing the closest 25 of 31; see all in the finder.

StationDistancePoint antennaEst. signalLicensed to
WWTO-TVFull power38 mi 128° SEFairNaperville, IL
WOCK-CDClass A38 mi 128° SEWeakChicago, IL
W31EZ-DLow power38 mi 128° SEWeakChicago, IL
WESV-LDLow power38 mi 128° SEWeakChicago, IL
WRJK-LDLow power38 mi 128° SEPoorArlington Heights, IL
W27EB-DClass A38 mi 128° SEWeakSugar Grove, IL
WRME-LDLow power38 mi 128° SEPoorChicago, IL
WPVN-CDClass A38 mi 128° SEWeakChicago, IL
WLPD-CDClass A38 mi 128° SEWeakPlano, IL
WCHU-LDLow power38 mi 129° SEPoorOakwood Hills, IL
WTTWFull power38 mi 131° SEGoodChicago, IL
WPWR-TVFull power38 mi 131° SEGoodGary, IN
WEDE-CDClass A38 mi 131° SEWeakArlington Heights, IL
WMEU-CDClass A38 mi 131° SEWeakChicago, IL
WJYSFull power38 mi 131° SEGoodHammond, IN
WXFT-DTFull power38 mi 131° SEGoodAurora, IL
WDCI-LDLow power39 mi 129° SEPoorChicago, IL
WAUR-LDLow power44 mi 206° SSWPoorAurora, IL
WSPY-LDLow power44 mi 206° SSWPoorEarlville, IL
WDMW-LDLow power50 mi 1° NPoorMilwaukee, WI
WTAS-LDLow power50 mi 1° NPoorWaukesha, WI
W35DY-DTranslator55 mi 296° WNWPoorStoughton, WI
WVCY-TVFull power61 mi 15° NNEFairMilwaukee, WI
WMKE-CDClass A61 mi 14° NNEPoorMilwaukee, WI
WMVSFull power61 mi 14° NNEWeakMilwaukee, WI

How Port Barrington compares with the rest of Illinois

With 23 stations at fair strength or better, Port Barrington ranks 251st of 766 places in Illinois: more than the typical Illinois town (17). Its nearest major network tower is 38 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 Crystal Lake, 5.8 miles away.

Setting up an antenna in Port Barrington: 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 131° SE, the direction of WLS-TV (ABC), 38 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 23 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 Port Barrington, IL?

ABC is on channel 7 from WLS-TV, broadcasting from 38 miles SE of Port Barrington. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CBS in Port Barrington, IL?

CBS is on channel 58 from WDJT-TV, broadcasting from 62 miles NNE of Port Barrington. Estimated signal: fair.

What channel is NBC in Port Barrington, IL?

NBC is on channel 5 from WMAQ-TV, broadcasting from 38 miles SE of Port Barrington. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is Fox in Port Barrington, IL?

Fox is on channel 32 from WFLD, broadcasting from 38 miles SE of Port Barrington. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CW in Port Barrington, IL?

CW is on channel 9 from WGN-TV, broadcasting from 38 miles SE of Port Barrington. Estimated signal: good.

How many channels can I get with an antenna in Port Barrington?

56 transmitters within 70 miles of Port Barrington; around 23 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 Port Barrington?

Point your antenna SE, at about 131°. The main network towers for Port Barrington sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

What kind of antenna do I need in Port Barrington?

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. Picking up CBS from up to 62 miles away would take an outdoor antenna.

Do I need an antenna amplifier in Port Barrington?

WDJT-TV (CBS), 62 miles north, is the exception: the nearest listed affiliate of its network is 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 that one.

Is there an app to find TV towers in Port Barrington?

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 Port Barrington; signal estimates ignore terrain.