TV channels & antenna towers in Winnebago, Illinois

Winnebago is a town of about 3,010 people in Illinois. Within 70 miles of the town center we count 20 licensed TV transmitters: 10 full-power, 1 Class A, 8 low-power and 1 translator. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 12 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 8 at good or strong strength.

7 of them are within 25 miles of Winnebago, 1 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 12 are more than 45 miles out. Five of the 11 network stations in range are licensed to Rockford, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Rockford's stations.

The strongest network signals here are ABC on channel 17 (WTVO), CBS on channel 23 (WIFR-LD), NBC on channel 13 (WREX), Fox on channel 39 (WQRF-TV), CW on channel 19 (WSLN), ION on channel 57 (WIFS) and Telemundo on channel 23 (WFBN-LD). Spanish-language viewers can pick up Telemundo (good signal). 1 full-power station in range has no network listed in our data; these are typically public television, religious, shopping or independent stations.

The main network towers around Winnebago are in different directions: ABC 68° ENE (3.9 mi), NBC 2° N (2.1 mi) and Fox 68° ENE (3.9 mi). Aim at the farthest one you want first, or use a multi-directional antenna.

Three network stations, WQRF-TV, WTVO and WSLN, transmit from the same tower site about 3.9 miles east of Winnebago (68° ENE). Point at that site and a single antenna setting picks them all up.

Of the 9 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Winnebago at fair strength or better, 67% arrive from the north; the rest are spread across two other directions.

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

The farthest main network tower for Winnebago is WQRF-TV (Fox), 3.9 miles away with a strong estimated signal. That is why we suggest an indoor antenna here.

WISC-TV (CBS), 57 miles north, is the exception: the nearest listed affiliate of its network is 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 that one.

WREX is only 2.1 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.

With 12 stations at fair strength or better, Winnebago ranks 534th of 766 places in Illinois: fewer than the typical Illinois town (17). Its nearest major network tower is 2.1 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 Rockford, 7.5 miles away.