TV channels & antenna towers in Aplington, Iowa

Aplington has 26 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CW and ION. About 15 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is K17MH-D, 11 miles to the NNE.

Open Aplington in the live finder

26TV transmitters within 70 miles

6networks over the air

11 mito the closest tower

1,079population

Network channels in Aplington

Station	Channel	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
NBCKWWLNBC	7	55 mi	103° ESE	Fair	Waterloo, IA
IONKPXR-TVION	48	55 mi	111° ESE	Fair	Cedar Rapids, IA
CWKCRG-TVCW	9.3	55 mi	109° ESE	Good	Cedar Rapids, IA
FOXKGANFox	2.2	55 mi	109° ESE	Good	Cedar Rapids, IA
CBSKIMTCBS	3	62 mi	8° N	Good	Mason City, IA
CWKCWI-TVCW	23	64 mi	216° SW	Fair	Ames, IA
FOXKDSM-TVFox	17	64 mi	216° SW	Good	Des Moines, IA
ABCWOI-DTABC	5	65 mi	215° SW	Weak	Ames, IA
NBCWHO-DTNBC	13	65 mi	215° SW	Fair	Des Moines, IA
CBSKCCICBS	8	65 mi	215° SW	Fair	Des Moines, IA
IONKFPX-TVION	39	65 mi	215° SW	Fair	Newton, IA

Over-the-air TV in Aplington

With roughly 1,080 residents, Aplington is a small community in Iowa. Our map shows 26 licensed TV transmitters inside a 70-mile radius: 16 full-power, 1 Class A, 8 low-power and 1 translator. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 15 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 8 at good or strong strength.

1 of them is within 25 miles of Aplington, 3 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 22 are more than 45 miles out. Three of the 11 network stations in range are licensed to Cedar Rapids, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Cedar Rapids's stations.

The strongest network signals here are ABC on channel 5 (WOI-DT), CBS on channel 3 (KIMT), NBC on channel 7 (KWWL), Fox on channel 2.2 (KGAN), CW on channel 9.3 (KCRG-TV) and ION on channel 48 (KPXR-TV). 5 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 Aplington

The main network towers around Aplington are in different directions: ABC 215° SW (65 mi), CBS 8° N (62 mi), NBC 103° ESE (55 mi) and Fox 109° ESE (55 mi). Aim at the farthest one you want first, or use a multi-directional antenna.

Six network stations, KCWI-TV, KDSM-TV, WOI-DT, WHO-DT and KCCI and others, transmit from the same tower site about 64 miles southwest of Aplington (216° SW). Aim there first: one setting covers all of them.

Of the 10 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Aplington at fair strength or better, 50% arrive from the southwest; the rest are spread across two other directions.

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

Antenna and amplifier advice for Aplington

The farthest main network tower for Aplington is WOI-DT (ABC), 65 miles away with a weak estimated signal. That is why we suggest an outdoor directional antenna here. Skip that station and you may get away with a smaller antenna.

At this distance a low-noise preamplifier mounted on the mast, right below the antenna, helps more than an amplifier near the TV. It boosts the signal before cable loss eats into it. See the amplifier guide.

Other stations near Aplington

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

Station	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
K17MH-DLow power	11 mi	20° NNE	Good	Cedar Falls, IA
K30QY-DLow power	42 mi	345° NNW	Poor	Mason City, IA
K22LJ-DLow power	42 mi	345° NNW	Poor	Mason City, IA
K35PA-DLow power	42 mi	345° NNW	Poor	Mason City, IA
KFXAFull power	53 mi	130° SE	Good	Cedar Rapids, IA
KFKZ-LDLow power	55 mi	111° ESE	Poor	Cedar Falls, IA
KRINFull power	55 mi	109° ESE	Fair	Waterloo, IA
KAJR-LDLow power	56 mi	198° SSW	Poor	Des Moines, IA
KCYM-LDLow power	56 mi	198° SSW	Poor	Des Moines, IA
KRPG-LDLow power	56 mi	198° SSW	Poor	Des Moines, IA
K31PO-DTranslator	56 mi	202° SSW	Poor	Des Moines, IA
KYINFull power	62 mi	8° N	Good	Mason City, IA
KDIT-CDClass A	64 mi	216° SW	Poor	Des Moines, IA
KDMIFull power	64 mi	216° SW	Good	Des Moines, IA
KDIN-TVFull power	65 mi	215° SW	Weak	Des Moines, IA

How Aplington compares with the rest of Iowa

With 15 stations at fair strength or better, Aplington ranks 25th of 285 places in Iowa: more than the typical Iowa town (11). Its nearest major network tower is 55 miles away, against a state median of 34 miles.

44% of Iowa's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an outdoor directional antenna. The nearest larger city is Cedar Falls, 23 miles away.

Setting up an antenna in Aplington: step by step

Mount an outdoor antenna on the roof or a mast, as high as you can safely get it, with a clear view toward the towers.
Point it toward 215° SW, the direction of WOI-DT (ABC), 65 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 15 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 Aplington, IA?

ABC is on channel 5 from WOI-DT, broadcasting from 65 miles SW of Aplington. Estimated signal: weak.

What channel is CBS in Aplington, IA?

CBS is on channel 3 from KIMT, broadcasting from 62 miles N of Aplington. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is NBC in Aplington, IA?

NBC is on channel 7 from KWWL, broadcasting from 55 miles ESE of Aplington. Estimated signal: fair.

What channel is Fox in Aplington, IA?

Fox is on channel 2.2 from KGAN, broadcasting from 55 miles ESE of Aplington. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CW in Aplington, IA?

CW is on channel 9.3 from KCRG-TV, broadcasting from 55 miles ESE of Aplington. Estimated signal: good.

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

26 transmitters within 70 miles of Aplington; around 15 of them are likely to be receivable with outdoor directional 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 Aplington?

What kind of antenna do I need in Aplington?

Outdoor directional antenna (45–70 miles). Some major towers are a long way off. Mount a directional antenna on the roof or a mast and aim it with the bearings below. The towers are spread over about 207° of the compass, so a multi-directional antenna or a rotator will help.

Do I need an antenna amplifier in Aplington?

Is there an app to find TV towers in Aplington?

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 Iowa cities

More: all TV stations in Iowa · Midwest region · antenna buying guide · how to aim an antenna. Distances are straight-line from the center of Aplington; signal estimates ignore terrain.