TV channels & antenna towers in Waterloo, Illinois
Waterloo has 24 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CW and ION. About 21 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is WPXS, 14 miles to the E.
Network channels in Waterloo
| Station | Channel | Distance | Point antenna | Est. signal | Licensed to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CBSKMOVCBS | 4 | 16 mi | 329° NNW | Strong | St. Louis, MO |
| CWKPLR-TVCW | 11 | 18 mi | 319° NW | Strong | St. Louis, MO |
| FOXKTVIFox | 2 | 18 mi | 319° NW | Strong | St. Louis, MO |
| IONWRBUION | 46 | 19 mi | 281° WNW | Strong | East St. Louis, IL |
| NBCKSDKNBC | 5 | 19 mi | 328° NNW | Strong | St. Louis, MO |
| TLMWODK-LDTelemundo | 45 | 19 mi | 330° NNW | Fair | Saint Louis, MO |
| ABCKDNL-TVABC | 30 | 19 mi | 330° NNW | Strong | St. Louis, MO |
| MeTVKNLCMeTV | 24.1 | 22 mi | 275° W | Strong | St. Louis, MO |
Over-the-air TV in Waterloo
With roughly 10,200 residents, Waterloo is a city in Illinois. Our map shows 24 licensed TV transmitters inside a 70-mile radius: 10 full-power, 4 Class A and 10 low-power. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 21 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 9 at good or strong strength.
18 of them are within 25 miles of Waterloo, 4 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 2 are more than 45 miles out. Six of the 8 network stations in range are licensed to St. Louis, MO, so most of the network channels you will find here come from St. Louis's stations.
The best-placed network stations are ABC on channel 30 (KDNL-TV), CBS on channel 4 (KMOV), NBC on channel 5 (KSDK), Fox on channel 2 (KTVI), CW on channel 11 (KPLR-TV), ION on channel 46 (WRBU), Telemundo on channel 45 (WODK-LD) and MeTV on channel 24.1 (KNLC). Spanish-language viewers can pick up Telemundo (fair 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 Waterloo
Point your antenna NNW, at about 327°. The main network towers for Waterloo sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.
Two network stations, KPLR-TV and KTVI, transmit from the same tower site about 18 miles northwest of Waterloo (319° NW). That one direction covers every station on the site.
Of the 7 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Waterloo at fair strength or better, 71% arrive from the northwest; the rest are spread across one other direction.
All of the main network towers are within their radio horizon as seen from Waterloo, so signals arrive fairly directly and a well-placed antenna should hold them steadily.
Antenna and amplifier advice for Waterloo
The farthest main network tower for Waterloo is KDNL-TV (ABC), 19 miles away with a strong estimated signal. That is why we suggest an indoor antenna here. Skip that station and you may get away with a smaller antenna.
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 Waterloo
Full-power independents, low-power stations and translators that relay a bigger station's signal.
| Station | Distance | Point antenna | Est. signal | Licensed to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WPXSFull power | 14 mi | 82° E | Good | Mount Vernon, IL |
| W09DL-DLow power | 14 mi | 82° E | Fair | Mount Vernon, IL |
| WLEH-LDLow power | 14 mi | 82° E | Fair | St., IL |
| KDTL-LDLow power | 16 mi | 329° NNW | Fair | St. Louis, MO |
| KETCFull power | 17 mi | 307° NW | Good | St. Louis, MO |
| K15KP-DLow power | 19 mi | 328° NNW | Fair | St. Louis, MO |
| KUMO-LDLow power | 19 mi | 330° NNW | Fair | St Louis, MO |
| KPTN-LDLow power | 19 mi | 330° NNW | Fair | St. Louis, MO |
| KBGU-LDLow power | 19 mi | 330° NNW | Fair | St. Louis, MO |
| KEFN-CDClass A | 20 mi | 354° N | Fair | St. Louis, MO |
| WXSL-LDLow power | 25 mi | 22° NNE | Fair | St. Louis, MO |
| KDKZ-LDLow power | 25 mi | 252° WSW | Weak | Farmington, MO |
| K25NG-DClass A | 27 mi | 330° NNW | Fair | St. Louis, MO |
| W36EX-DClass A | 40 mi | 3° N | Weak | Alton, IL |
| WSIU-TVFull power | 52 mi | 108° ESE | Fair | Carbondale, IL |
| W29CI-DClass A | 64 mi | 76° ENE | Poor | Salem, IL |
How Waterloo compares with the rest of Illinois
With 21 stations at fair strength or better, Waterloo ranks 295th of 766 places in Illinois: more than the typical Illinois town (17). Its nearest major network tower is 16 miles away, against a state median of 24 miles.
28% of Illinois's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an indoor antenna. The nearest larger city is Oakville, 12 miles away.
Setting up an antenna in Waterloo: step by step
- Place the antenna high on a window or wall that faces the towers. Upstairs is better than downstairs.
- Point it toward 330° NNW, the direction of KDNL-TV (ABC), 19 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 21 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 Waterloo, IL?
ABC is on channel 30 from KDNL-TV, broadcasting from 19 miles NNW of Waterloo. Estimated signal: strong.
What channel is CBS in Waterloo, IL?
CBS is on channel 4 from KMOV, broadcasting from 16 miles NNW of Waterloo. Estimated signal: strong.
What channel is NBC in Waterloo, IL?
NBC is on channel 5 from KSDK, broadcasting from 19 miles NNW of Waterloo. Estimated signal: strong.
What channel is Fox in Waterloo, IL?
Fox is on channel 2 from KTVI, broadcasting from 18 miles NW of Waterloo. Estimated signal: strong.
What channel is CW in Waterloo, IL?
CW is on channel 11 from KPLR-TV, broadcasting from 18 miles NW of Waterloo. Estimated signal: strong.
How many channels can I get with an antenna in Waterloo?
24 transmitters within 70 miles of Waterloo; around 21 of them are likely to be receivable with indoor 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 Waterloo?
Point your antenna NNW, at about 327°. The main network towers for Waterloo sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.
What kind of antenna do I need in Waterloo?
Indoor antenna (up to ~25 miles). The main towers are close. A flat indoor antenna near a window facing the towers should pull in the major networks.
Do I need an antenna amplifier in Waterloo?
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 Waterloo?
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
- Columbia7.9 mi
- Red Bud12 mi
- Belleville16 mi
- Swansea16 mi
- Cahokia16 mi
- Centreville17 mi
- Fairview Heights19 mi
- East Saint Louis20 mi
- Shiloh21 mi
Nearby cities in other states
- Oakville, MO12 mi
- Barnhart, MO13 mi
- Pevely, MO14 mi
- Arnold, MO14 mi
- Mehlville, MO15 mi
- Lemay, MO15 mi
- Festus, MO16 mi
- Concord, MO17 mi
- Affton, MO18 mi
- Sappington, MO19 mi
- Crestwood, MO20 mi
- Sunset Hills, MO20 mi
- Shrewsbury, MO20 mi
- St. Louis, MO20 mi
- Webster Groves, MO21 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 Waterloo; signal estimates ignore terrain.