TV channels & antenna towers in West Chicago, Illinois

West Chicago, Illinois has a population of about 27,400. Our map shows 40 licensed TV transmitters inside a 70-mile radius: 19 full-power, 7 Class A, 13 low-power and 1 translator. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 25 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 12 at good or strong strength.

2 of them are within 25 miles of West Chicago, 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 strongest network signals here 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.

Point your antenna E, at about 91°. The main network towers for West Chicago 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 29 miles east of West Chicago (91° E). Aim there first: one setting covers all of them.

Of the 10 full-power and Class A network signals that reach West Chicago at fair strength or better, all arrive from the east, so this is an easy place to aim.

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

The farthest main network tower for West Chicago is WBBM-TV (CBS), 29 miles away with a fair estimated signal. That is why we suggest an amplified indoor or attic 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.

With 25 stations at fair strength or better, West Chicago ranks 202nd of 766 places in Illinois: more than the typical Illinois town (17). Its nearest major network tower is 29 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 Naperville, 7.4 miles away.