TV channels & antenna towers in Sterling, Illinois

Sterling is a city of about 15,100 people in Illinois. Within 70 miles of the town center we count 20 licensed TV transmitters: 13 full-power, 6 low-power and 1 translator. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 13 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 8 at good or strong strength.

By distance, 1 transmitter is within 25 miles, 8 between 25 and 45 miles, and 11 farther out. Five of the 12 network stations in range are licensed to Rockford, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Rockford's stations.

The strongest network signals here are ABC on channel 8 (WQAD-TV), CBS on channel 4 (WHBF-TV), NBC on channel 6 (KWQC-TV), Fox on channel 18 (KLJB), CW on channel 26 (KGCW), Telemundo on channel 23 (WFBN-LD) and Trinity on channel 53 (WMWC-TV). Spanish-language viewers can pick up Telemundo (very weak signal). 3 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 WSW, at about 248°. The main network towers for Sterling sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

Three network stations, WQRF-TV, WTVO and WSLN, transmit from the same tower site about 44 miles northeast of Sterling (38° NE). Point at that site and a single antenna setting picks them all up.

Of the 10 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Sterling at fair strength or better, 40% arrive from the northeast; the rest are spread across two other directions.

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

The farthest main network tower for Sterling is KWQC-TV (NBC), 44 miles away with a good estimated signal. That is why we suggest an amplified indoor or attic antenna here.

WQAD-TV (ABC), 48 miles southwest and KLJB (Fox), 48 miles southwest, 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.

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 13 stations at fair strength or better, Sterling ranks 481st of 766 places in Illinois: fewer than the typical Illinois town (17). Its nearest major network tower is 42 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 Rockford, 45 miles away.