TV channels & antenna towers in East Chicago, Indiana

East Chicago is a city of about 28,700 people in Indiana. Within 70 miles of the town center we count 42 licensed TV transmitters: 20 full-power, 7 Class A and 15 low-power. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 30 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 13 at good or strong strength.

31 of them are within 25 miles of East Chicago, 0 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 11 are more than 45 miles out. Ten of the 17 network stations in range are licensed to Chicago, IL, 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 (strong signal). 8 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 NNW, at about 331°. The main network towers for East Chicago sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

Ten network stations, WBBM-TV, WCPX-TV, WLS-TV, WFLD and WMAQ-TV and others, transmit from the same tower site about 19 miles northwest of East Chicago (331° NNW). Aim there first: one setting covers all of them.

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

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

The farthest main network tower for East Chicago is WFLD (Fox), 19 miles away with a strong 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 30 stations at fair strength or better, East Chicago ranks 1st of 352 places in Indiana: more than the typical Indiana town (16). Its nearest major network tower is 19 miles away, against a state median of 25 miles.

51% of Indiana's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an amplified indoor or attic antenna. The nearest larger city is Hammond, 4.5 miles away.