TV channels & antenna towers in Walnut, Illinois

Walnut has 25 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CW and Telemundo. About 9 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is W27EJ-D, 24 miles to the N.

Open Walnut in the live finder

25TV transmitters within 70 miles

8networks over the air

24 mito the closest tower

1,350population

Network channels in Walnut

Station	Channel	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
CWKGCWCW	26	44 mi	249° WSW	Good	Burlington, IA
FOXKLJBFox	18	44 mi	248° WSW	Good	Davenport, IA
ABCWQAD-TVABC	8	44 mi	248° WSW	Good	Moline, IL
TBNWMWC-TVTrinity	53	44 mi	248° WSW	Fair	Galesburg, IL
NBCKWQC-TVNBC	6	46 mi	269° W	Good	Davenport, IA
CBSWHBF-TVCBS	4	46 mi	269° W	Fair	Rock Island, IL
NBCWREXNBC	13	54 mi	19° NNE	Weak	Rockford, IL
FOXWQRF-TVFox	39	55 mi	23° NNE	Weak	Rockford, IL
ABCWTVOABC	17	55 mi	23° NNE	Weak	Rockford, IL
TLMWFBN-LDTelemundo	23	56 mi	23° NNE	Poor	Rockford, IL
CBSWIFR-LDCBS	23	56 mi	23° NNE	Poor	Rockford, IL
CWWSLNCW	19	56 mi	23° NNE	Weak	Freeport, IL
CBSWMBD-TVCBS	31	64 mi	177° S	Weak	Peoria, IL
MeTVWHOIMeTV	19.6	64 mi	178° S	Poor	Peoria, IL
CWWEEK-TVCW	25.3	64 mi	178° S	Weak	Peoria, IL
FOXWYZZ-TVFox	43	67 mi	161° SSE	Weak	Bloomington, IL

Over-the-air TV in Walnut

Walnut is a small community of about 1,350 people in Illinois. There are 25 licensed TV transmitters within 70 miles: 17 full-power and 8 low-power. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 9 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 6 at good or strong strength.

1 of them is within 25 miles of Walnut, 6 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 18 are more than 45 miles out. Five of the 16 network stations in range are licensed to Rockford, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Rockford's stations.

The best-placed network stations 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), MeTV on channel 19.6 (WHOI) 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.

Which way to point your antenna in Walnut

Point your antenna WSW, at about 248°. The main network towers for Walnut sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

Four network stations, KGCW, KLJB, WQAD-TV and WMWC-TV, transmit from the same tower site about 44 miles west of Walnut (249° WSW). Point at that site and a single antenna setting picks them all up.

Of the 6 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Walnut at fair strength or better, all arrive from the west, so this is an easy place to aim.

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

Antenna and amplifier advice for Walnut

The farthest main network tower for Walnut is KLJB (Fox), 44 miles away with a good estimated signal. That is why we suggest an amplified indoor or attic antenna here.

WHBF-TV (CBS), 46 miles west and KWQC-TV (NBC), 46 miles west, 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.

Other stations near Walnut

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

Station	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
W27EJ-DLow power	24 mi	358° N	Fair	Sterling, IL
WQPT-TVFull power	44 mi	248° WSW	Good	Moline, IL
KQINFull power	44 mi	248° WSW	Good	Davenport, IA
WAUR-LDLow power	53 mi	82° E	Poor	Aurora, IL
WSPY-LDLow power	53 mi	82° E	Poor	Earlville, IL
K33QA-DLow power	56 mi	266° W	Poor	Davenport, IA
WSIO-LDLow power	57 mi	184° S	Poor	Peoria, IL
WTVPFull power	64 mi	179° S	Poor	Peoria, IL
W27EQ-DLow power	65 mi	175° S	Poor	Peoria, IL

How Walnut compares with the rest of Illinois

With 9 stations at fair strength or better, Walnut ranks 656th of 766 places in Illinois: fewer than the typical Illinois town (17). Its nearest major network tower is 44 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 Clinton, 37 miles away.

Setting up an antenna in Walnut: step by step

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.
Point it toward 248° WSW, the direction of KLJB (Fox), 44 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 9 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 Walnut, IL?

ABC is on channel 8 from WQAD-TV, broadcasting from 44 miles WSW of Walnut. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CBS in Walnut, IL?

CBS is on channel 4 from WHBF-TV, broadcasting from 46 miles W of Walnut. Estimated signal: fair.

What channel is NBC in Walnut, IL?

NBC is on channel 6 from KWQC-TV, broadcasting from 46 miles W of Walnut. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is Fox in Walnut, IL?

Fox is on channel 18 from KLJB, broadcasting from 44 miles WSW of Walnut. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CW in Walnut, IL?

CW is on channel 26 from KGCW, broadcasting from 44 miles WSW of Walnut. Estimated signal: good.

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

25 transmitters within 70 miles of Walnut; around 9 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 Walnut?

Point your antenna WSW, at about 248°. The main network towers for Walnut sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

What kind of antenna do I need in Walnut?

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 and NBC from up to 46 miles away would take an outdoor antenna.

Do I need an antenna amplifier in Walnut?

Is there an app to find TV towers in Walnut?

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

Nearby cities in other states

Clinton, IA37 mi

More: all TV stations in Illinois · Midwest region · antenna buying guide · how to aim an antenna. Distances are straight-line from the center of Walnut; signal estimates ignore terrain.