TV channels & antenna towers in Grimes, Iowa

Grimes is a city of about 10,700 people in Iowa. Within 70 miles of the town center we count 15 licensed TV transmitters: 8 full-power, 2 Class A, 4 low-power and 1 translator. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 11 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 8 at good or strong strength.

11 of them are within 25 miles of Grimes, 4 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 0 are more than 45 miles out. Three of the 6 network stations in range are licensed to Des Moines, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Des Moines's stations.

The strongest network signals here are ABC on channel 5 (WOI-DT), CBS on channel 8 (KCCI), NBC on channel 13 (WHO-DT), Fox on channel 17 (KDSM-TV), CW on channel 23 (KCWI-TV) and ION on channel 39 (KFPX-TV). 2 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 NE, at about 46°. The main network towers for Grimes sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

Six network stations, KCCI, KFPX-TV, WOI-DT, WHO-DT and KCWI-TV and others, transmit from the same tower site about 12 miles northeast of Grimes (46° NE). Aim there first: one setting covers all of them.

Of the 6 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Grimes at fair strength or better, all arrive from the northeast, so this is an easy place to aim.

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

The farthest main network tower for Grimes is KDSM-TV (Fox), 13 miles away with a strong estimated signal. That is why we suggest an amplified indoor or attic antenna here. If you only watch the closer stations, a smaller antenna may do.

K32NM-D is only 2.4 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 11 stations at fair strength or better, Grimes ranks 109th of 285 places in Iowa: the same as the typical Iowa town (11). Its nearest major network tower is 12 miles away, against a state median of 34 miles.

44% of Iowa's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an amplified indoor or attic antenna. The nearest larger city is Urbandale, 5.9 miles away.