TV channels & antenna towers in Waterville, Minnesota

Waterville, Minnesota has a population of about 1,850. There are 68 licensed TV transmitters within 70 miles: 15 full-power, 2 Class A, 35 low-power and 16 translators. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 14 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 5 at good or strong strength.

2 of them are within 25 miles of Waterville, 1 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 65 are more than 45 miles out. Seven of the 13 network stations in range are licensed to Minneapolis, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Minneapolis's stations.

The best-placed network stations are ABC on channel 5 (KSTP-TV), CBS on channel 4 (WCCO-TV), NBC on channel 11 (KARE), Fox on channel 12.2 (KEYC-TV), CW on channel 23 (WUCW), 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 (very weak signal) and Univision (very weak signal). 5 full-power stations in range have no network listed in our data; these are typically public television, religious, shopping or independent stations.

The main network towers around Waterville are in different directions: ABC 20° NNE (62 mi), CBS 20° NNE (62 mi), NBC 20° NNE (62 mi) and Fox 245° WSW (46 mi). Aim at the farthest one you want first, or use a multi-directional antenna.

Six network stations, KSTP-TV, WUCW, KMSP-TV, WCCO-TV and KARE and others, transmit from the same tower site about 62 miles north of Waterville (20° NNE). That one direction covers every station on the site.

Of the 8 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Waterville at fair strength or better, 75% arrive from the north; the rest are spread across two other directions.

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

The farthest main network tower for Waterville is KARE (NBC), 62 miles away with a good estimated signal. That is why we suggest an outdoor directional antenna here. Viewers who do not need that station can often manage with less.

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.

With 14 stations at fair strength or better, Waterville ranks 156th of 371 places in Minnesota: more than the typical Minnesota town (13). Its nearest major network tower is 46 miles away, against a state median of 24 miles.

33% of Minnesota's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an outdoor directional antenna. The nearest larger city is Faribault, 16 miles away.