TV channels & antenna towers in Waterloo, Iowa

With roughly 68,500 residents, Waterloo is a city in Iowa. Within 70 miles of the town center we count 16 licensed TV transmitters: 6 full-power, 8 low-power and 2 translators. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 8 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 5 at good or strong strength.

By distance, 0 transmitters are within 25 miles, 8 between 25 and 45 miles, and 8 farther out. Three of the 4 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 best-placed network stations are 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). No ABC affiliate is listed within 70 miles; the nearest one in our data is KAAL in Austin, MN, 80 miles to the north. No CBS affiliate is listed within 70 miles; the nearest one in our data is KIMT in Mason City, IA, 70 miles to the north. 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 ESE, at about 110°. The main network towers for Waterloo sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

Three network stations, KPXR-TV, KCRG-TV and KGAN, transmit from the same tower site about 27 miles southeast of Waterloo (120° ESE). That one direction covers every station on the site.

Of the 4 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Waterloo at fair strength or better, 75% arrive from the southeast; the rest are spread across one other direction.

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

The farthest main network tower for Waterloo is KGAN (Fox), 28 miles away with a good estimated signal. That is why we suggest an amplified indoor or attic antenna here. Viewers who do not need that station can often manage with less.

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 8 stations at fair strength or better, Waterloo ranks 219th of 285 places in Iowa: fewer than the typical Iowa town (11). Its nearest major network tower is 26 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.