TV channels & antenna towers in Cottage Grove, Minnesota

Cottage Grove, Minnesota has a population of about 35,900. There are 32 licensed TV transmitters within 70 miles: 12 full-power, 1 Class A, 17 low-power and 2 translators. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 22 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 12 at good or strong strength.

By distance, 19 transmitters are within 25 miles, 4 between 25 and 45 miles, and 9 farther out. Seven of the 10 network stations in range are licensed to Minneapolis, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Minneapolis's stations.

For the networks, the best local options are ABC on channel 5 (KSTP-TV), CBS on channel 4 (WCCO-TV), NBC on channel 11 (KARE), Fox on channel 9 (KMSP-TV), CW on channel 23 (WUCW), ION on channel 41 (KPXM-TV), Telemundo on channel 25 (KJNK-LD), Univision on channel 21 (WUMN-LD) and MeTV on channel 5.3 (KSTC-TV). Spanish-language viewers can pick up Telemundo (fair signal) and Univision (fair signal). 4 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 330°. The main network towers for Cottage Grove sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

Six network stations, KMSP-TV, KSTP-TV, WUCW, WCCO-TV and KARE and others, transmit from the same tower site about 18 miles northwest of Cottage Grove (331° NNW). That one direction covers every station on the site.

Of the 7 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Cottage Grove 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 Cottage Grove, so signals arrive fairly directly and a well-placed antenna should hold them steadily.

The farthest main network tower for Cottage Grove is KARE (NBC), 19 miles away with a strong estimated signal. That is why we suggest an indoor 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 22 stations at fair strength or better, Cottage Grove ranks 31st of 371 places in Minnesota: more than the typical Minnesota town (13). Its nearest major network tower is 18 miles away, against a state median of 24 miles.

26% of Minnesota's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an indoor antenna. The nearest larger city is Saint Paul, 11 miles away.