TV channels & antenna towers in Wheaton, Illinois

Wheaton, Illinois has a population of about 53,700. Our map shows 39 licensed TV transmitters inside a 70-mile radius: 19 full-power, 7 Class A and 13 low-power. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 26 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 13 at good or strong strength.

27 of them are within 25 miles of Wheaton, 3 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 9 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 88°. The main network towers for Wheaton 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 24 miles east of Wheaton (88° E). Aim there first: one setting covers all of them.

Of the 10 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Wheaton 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 Wheaton, so signals arrive fairly directly and a well-placed antenna should hold them steadily.

The farthest main network tower for Wheaton is WBBM-TV (CBS), 24 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 26 stations at fair strength or better, Wheaton ranks 174th of 766 places in Illinois: more than the typical Illinois town (17). Its nearest major network tower is 24 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, 5.9 miles away.