TV channels & antenna towers in Wilmette, Illinois

Wilmette has 35 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CW and ION. About 28 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is WWTO-TV, 13 miles to the SSE.

Open Wilmette in the live finder

35TV transmitters within 70 miles

9networks over the air

13 mito the closest tower

27,413population

Network channels in Wilmette

Station	Channel	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
UNIWGBO-DTUnivision	66	13 mi	157° SSE	Strong	Joliet, IL
IONKPDS-LDION	49.4	13 mi	157° SSE	Weak	Chicago, IL
FOXWFLDFox	32	14 mi	162° SSE	Strong	Chicago, IL
NBCWMAQ-TVNBC	5	14 mi	162° SSE	Strong	Chicago, IL
TLMWSNS-TVTelemundo	44	14 mi	162° SSE	Strong	Chicago, IL
MeTVWWME-CDMeTV	23.1	14 mi	162° SSE	Fair	Chicago, IL
MeTVWCIU-TVMeTV	26.3	14 mi	162° SSE	Strong	Chicago, IL
CWWGN-TVCW	9	14 mi	162° SSE	Strong	Chicago, IL
CBSWBBM-TVCBS	2	14 mi	161° SSE	Good	Chicago, IL
IONWCPX-TVION	38	14 mi	161° SSE	Strong	Chicago, IL
ABCWLS-TVABC	7	14 mi	161° SSE	Strong	Chicago, IL

Over-the-air TV in Wilmette

Wilmette, Illinois has a population of about 27,400. There are 35 licensed TV transmitters within 70 miles: 15 full-power, 7 Class A and 13 low-power. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 28 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 13 at good or strong strength.

By distance, 28 transmitters are within 25 miles, 1 between 25 and 45 miles, and 6 farther out. Ten of the 11 network stations in range are licensed to Chicago, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Chicago's stations.

For the networks, the best local options 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 (strong signal) and Univision (strong 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 Wilmette

Point your antenna SSE, at about 161°. The main network towers for Wilmette sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

Ten network stations, WGBO-DT, WFLD, WMAQ-TV, WSNS-TV and WWME-CD and others, transmit from the same tower site about 13 miles southeast of Wilmette (157° SSE). Aim there first: one setting covers all of them.

Of the 10 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Wilmette at fair strength or better, 90% arrive from the south; the rest are spread across one other direction.

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

Antenna and amplifier advice for Wilmette

The farthest main network tower for Wilmette is WBBM-TV (CBS), 14 miles away with a good estimated signal. That is why we suggest an indoor antenna here. Skip that station and you may get away with a smaller antenna.

WGBO-DT is only 13 miles away with a strong signal. Signals that strong can overload an amplifier, so start without one and add it only if distant channels are missing. Read when an amplifier helps.

Other stations near Wilmette

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

Station	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
WWTO-TVFull power	13 mi	157° SSE	Fair	Naperville, IL
WOCK-CDClass A	13 mi	157° SSE	Fair	Chicago, IL
W31EZ-DLow power	13 mi	157° SSE	Fair	Chicago, IL
WESV-LDLow power	13 mi	157° SSE	Fair	Chicago, IL
WRJK-LDLow power	13 mi	157° SSE	Fair	Arlington Heights, IL
W27EB-DClass A	13 mi	157° SSE	Fair	Sugar Grove, IL
WRME-LDLow power	13 mi	157° SSE	Fair	Chicago, IL
WPVN-CDClass A	13 mi	157° SSE	Fair	Chicago, IL
WLPD-CDClass A	13 mi	157° SSE	Fair	Plano, IL
WCHU-LDLow power	14 mi	159° SSE	Fair	Oakwood Hills, IL
WDCI-LDLow power	14 mi	158° SSE	Fair	Chicago, IL
WTTWFull power	14 mi	162° SSE	Good	Chicago, IL
WPWR-TVFull power	14 mi	162° SSE	Strong	Gary, IN
WEDE-CDClass A	14 mi	162° SSE	Fair	Arlington Heights, IL
WMEU-CDClass A	14 mi	162° SSE	Fair	Chicago, IL
WJYSFull power	14 mi	161° SSE	Good	Hammond, IN
WXFT-DTFull power	14 mi	161° SSE	Strong	Aurora, IL
WODN-LDLow power	41 mi	138° SE	Poor	Portage, IN
WAUR-LDLow power	52 mi	238° WSW	Poor	Aurora, IL
WSPY-LDLow power	52 mi	238° WSW	Poor	Earlville, IL
WAAA-LDLow power	52 mi	136° SE	Poor	Valparaiso, IN
WYINFull power	53 mi	161° SSE	Fair	Gary, IN
WDMW-LDLow power	66 mi	339° NNW	Poor	Milwaukee, WI
WTAS-LDLow power	66 mi	339° NNW	Poor	Waukesha, WI

How Wilmette compares with the rest of Illinois

With 28 stations at fair strength or better, Wilmette ranks 70th of 766 places in Illinois: more than the typical Illinois town (17). Its nearest major network tower is 13 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 Evanston, 2.7 miles away.

Setting up an antenna in Wilmette: step by step

Place the antenna high on a window or wall that faces the towers. Upstairs is better than downstairs.
Point it toward 161° SSE, the direction of WBBM-TV (CBS), 14 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 28 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 Wilmette, IL?

ABC is on channel 7 from WLS-TV, broadcasting from 14 miles SSE of Wilmette. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is CBS in Wilmette, IL?

CBS is on channel 2 from WBBM-TV, broadcasting from 14 miles SSE of Wilmette. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is NBC in Wilmette, IL?

NBC is on channel 5 from WMAQ-TV, broadcasting from 14 miles SSE of Wilmette. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is Fox in Wilmette, IL?

Fox is on channel 32 from WFLD, broadcasting from 14 miles SSE of Wilmette. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is CW in Wilmette, IL?

CW is on channel 9 from WGN-TV, broadcasting from 14 miles SSE of Wilmette. Estimated signal: strong.

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

35 transmitters within 70 miles of Wilmette; around 28 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 Wilmette?

Point your antenna SSE, at about 161°. The main network towers for Wilmette sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

What kind of antenna do I need in Wilmette?

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 Wilmette?

WGBO-DT is only 13 miles away with a strong signal. Signals that strong can overload an amplifier, so start without one and add it only if distant channels are missing. Read when an amplifier helps.

Is there an app to find TV towers in Wilmette?

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 Wilmette; signal estimates ignore terrain.