TV channels & antenna towers in Sugar Grove, Illinois

Sugar Grove has 40 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CW and ION. About 18 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is WAUR-LD, 9.5 miles to the SW.

40TV transmitters within 70 miles
9networks over the air
9.5 mito the closest tower
9,512population

Network channels in Sugar Grove

StationChannelDistancePoint antennaEst. signalLicensed to
FOXWFLDFox32 42 mi79° ENE GoodChicago, IL
NBCWMAQ-TVNBC5 42 mi79° ENE GoodChicago, IL
TLMWSNS-TVTelemundo44 42 mi79° ENE GoodChicago, IL
MeTVWWME-CDMeTV23.1 42 mi79° ENE WeakChicago, IL
MeTVWCIU-TVMeTV26.3 42 mi79° ENE GoodChicago, IL
CWWGN-TVCW9 42 mi79° ENE GoodChicago, IL
CBSWBBM-TVCBS2 42 mi79° ENE FairChicago, IL
IONWCPX-TVION38 42 mi79° ENE GoodChicago, IL
ABCWLS-TVABC7 42 mi79° ENE GoodChicago, IL
UNIWGBO-DTUnivision66 43 mi77° ENE GoodJoliet, IL
IONKPDS-LDION49.4 43 mi77° ENE PoorChicago, IL
FOXWQRF-TVFox39 52 mi314° NW FairRockford, IL
ABCWTVOABC17 52 mi314° NW FairRockford, IL
TLMWFBN-LDTelemundo23 53 mi315° NW PoorRockford, IL
CBSWIFR-LDCBS23 53 mi315° NW PoorRockford, IL
CWWSLNCW19 53 mi315° NW WeakFreeport, IL
NBCWREXNBC13 55 mi312° NW WeakRockford, IL

Over-the-air TV in Sugar Grove

Sugar Grove, Illinois has a population of about 9,510. There are 40 licensed TV transmitters within 70 miles: 19 full-power, 7 Class A, 13 low-power and 1 translator. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 18 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 13 at good or strong strength.

2 of them are within 25 miles of Sugar Grove, 28 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 10 are more than 45 miles 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 Sugar Grove

Point your antenna ENE, at about 79°. The main network towers for Sugar Grove 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 42 miles east of Sugar Grove (79° ENE). That one direction covers every station on the site.

Of the 11 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Sugar Grove at fair strength or better, 82% arrive from the east; the rest are spread across one other direction.

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

Antenna and amplifier advice for Sugar Grove

The farthest main network tower for Sugar Grove is WBBM-TV (CBS), 42 miles away with a fair estimated signal. That is why we suggest an amplified indoor or attic antenna here. Viewers who do not need that station can often manage with less.

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 Sugar Grove

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

StationDistancePoint antennaEst. signalLicensed to
WAUR-LDLow power9.5 mi 226° SWGoodAurora, IL
WSPY-LDLow power9.5 mi 226° SWGoodEarlville, IL
WTTWFull power42 mi 79° ENEGoodChicago, IL
WPWR-TVFull power42 mi 79° ENEGoodGary, IN
WEDE-CDClass A42 mi 79° ENEPoorArlington Heights, IL
WMEU-CDClass A42 mi 79° ENEWeakChicago, IL
WJYSFull power42 mi 79° ENEFairHammond, IN
WXFT-DTFull power42 mi 79° ENEGoodAurora, IL
WCHU-LDLow power43 mi 78° ENEPoorOakwood Hills, IL
WDCI-LDLow power43 mi 78° ENEPoorChicago, IL
WWTO-TVFull power43 mi 77° ENEFairNaperville, IL
WOCK-CDClass A43 mi 77° ENEPoorChicago, IL
W31EZ-DLow power43 mi 77° ENEPoorChicago, IL
WESV-LDLow power43 mi 77° ENEPoorChicago, IL
WRJK-LDLow power43 mi 77° ENEPoorArlington Heights, IL
W27EB-DClass A43 mi 77° ENEWeakSugar Grove, IL
WRME-LDLow power43 mi 77° ENEPoorChicago, IL
WPVN-CDClass A43 mi 77° ENEWeakChicago, IL
WLPD-CDClass A43 mi 77° ENEWeakPlano, IL
W27EJ-DLow power61 mi 279° WPoorSterling, IL
WYINFull power61 mi 118° ESEWeakGary, IN
WODN-LDLow power65 mi 98° EPoorPortage, IN
W35DY-DTranslator68 mi 327° NNWPoorStoughton, WI

How Sugar Grove compares with the rest of Illinois

With 18 stations at fair strength or better, Sugar Grove ranks 358th of 766 places in Illinois: more 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 Aurora, 6.4 miles away.

Setting up an antenna in Sugar Grove: 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 79° ENE, the direction of WBBM-TV (CBS), 42 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 18 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 Sugar Grove, IL?

ABC is on channel 7 from WLS-TV, broadcasting from 42 miles ENE of Sugar Grove. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CBS in Sugar Grove, IL?

CBS is on channel 2 from WBBM-TV, broadcasting from 42 miles ENE of Sugar Grove. Estimated signal: fair.

What channel is NBC in Sugar Grove, IL?

NBC is on channel 5 from WMAQ-TV, broadcasting from 42 miles ENE of Sugar Grove. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is Fox in Sugar Grove, IL?

Fox is on channel 32 from WFLD, broadcasting from 42 miles ENE of Sugar Grove. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CW in Sugar Grove, IL?

CW is on channel 9 from WGN-TV, broadcasting from 42 miles ENE of Sugar Grove. Estimated signal: good.

How many channels can I get with an antenna in Sugar Grove?

40 transmitters within 70 miles of Sugar Grove; around 18 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 Sugar Grove?

Point your antenna ENE, at about 79°. The main network towers for Sugar Grove sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

What kind of antenna do I need in Sugar Grove?

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.

Do I need an antenna amplifier in Sugar Grove?

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.

Is there an app to find TV towers in Sugar Grove?

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 Sugar Grove; signal estimates ignore terrain.