TV channels & antenna towers in Crystal Lakes, Ohio
Crystal Lakes has 45 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CW and ION. About 21 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is WHIO-TV (CBS), 16 miles to the SW.
Network channels in Crystal Lakes
| Station | Channel | Distance | Point antenna | Est. signal | Licensed to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CBSWHIO-TVCBS | 7 | 16 mi | 228° SW | Strong | Dayton, OH |
| ABCWKEFABC | 22 | 17 mi | 227° SW | Strong | Dayton, OH |
| NBCWDTNNBC | 2 | 17 mi | 226° SW | Strong | Dayton, OH |
| IONWKOI-TVION | 43 | 17 mi | 226° SW | Strong | Richmond, IN |
| CWWBDTCW | 26 | 17 mi | 226° SW | Strong | Springfield, OH |
| ABCWAMS-CDABC | 35 | 39 mi | 333° NNW | Weak | Minster/New Bremen, OH |
| NBCWCMH-TVNBC | 4 | 53 mi | 84° E | Good | Columbus, OH |
| CBSWBNS-TVCBS | 10 | 53 mi | 84° E | Good | Columbus, OH |
| CWWWHOCW | 53 | 53 mi | 86° E | Good | Chillicothe, OH |
| TLMWQMC-LDTelemundo | 23.3 | 53 mi | 86° E | Poor | Columbus, OH |
| ABCWSYXABC | 6 | 53 mi | 86° E | Good | Columbus, OH |
| IONWCPX-LDION | 38 | 58 mi | 79° ENE | Poor | Columbus, OH |
| ABCWCPO-TVABC | 9 | 58 mi | 206° SSW | Fair | Cincinnati, OH |
| TLMWBQC-LDTelemundo | 25 | 58 mi | 206° SSW | Poor | Cincinnati, OH |
| NBCWLWTNBC | 5 | 59 mi | 207° SSW | Fair | Cincinnati, OH |
| CWWKRC-TVCW | 12.2 | 59 mi | 206° SSW | Weak | Cincinnati, OH |
| FOXWXIX-TVFox | 19 | 60 mi | 208° SSW | Weak | Newport, KY |
| FOXWLIOFox | 8.2 | 61 mi | 355° N | Poor | Lima, OH |
| ABCWOHL-CDABC | 35 | 61 mi | 355° N | Poor | Lima, OH |
Over-the-air TV in Crystal Lakes
Crystal Lakes is a small community of about 1,480 people in Ohio. There are 45 licensed TV transmitters within 70 miles: 24 full-power, 9 Class A, 11 low-power and 1 translator. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 21 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 13 at good or strong strength.
10 of them are within 25 miles of Crystal Lakes, 1 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 34 are more than 45 miles out. Five of the 19 network stations in range are licensed to Columbus, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Columbus's stations.
The best-placed network stations are ABC on channel 22 (WKEF), CBS on channel 7 (WHIO-TV), NBC on channel 2 (WDTN), Fox on channel 19 (WXIX-TV), CW on channel 26 (WBDT), ION on channel 43 (WKOI-TV) and Telemundo on channel 23.3 (WQMC-LD). Spanish-language viewers can pick up Telemundo (very weak signal). 10 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 Crystal Lakes
Point your antenna SW, at about 227°. The main network towers for Crystal Lakes sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.
Five network stations, WHIO-TV, WKEF, WDTN, WKOI-TV and WBDT, transmit from the same tower site about 16 miles southwest of Crystal Lakes (228° SW). Point at that site and a single antenna setting picks them all up.
Of the 11 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Crystal Lakes at fair strength or better, 64% arrive from the southwest; the rest are spread across one other direction.
All of the main network towers are within their radio horizon as seen from Crystal Lakes, so signals arrive fairly directly and a well-placed antenna should hold them steadily.
Antenna and amplifier advice for Crystal Lakes
The farthest main network tower for Crystal Lakes is WDTN (NBC), 17 miles away with a strong estimated signal. That is why we suggest an indoor antenna here.
WXIX-TV (Fox), 60 miles southwest, is the exception: the nearest listed affiliate of its network is far enough away to need an outdoor antenna. Some local stations in our data carry no network tag, so check the other stations table below before buying a bigger antenna just for that one.
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.
Other stations near Crystal Lakes
Full-power independents, low-power stations and translators that relay a bigger station's signal. Showing the closest 25 of 26; see all in the finder.
| Station | Distance | Point antenna | Est. signal | Licensed to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WPTDFull power | 17 mi | 226° SW | Good | Dayton, OH |
| WRGT-TVFull power | 17 mi | 227° SW | Strong | Dayton, OH |
| WLWD-LDLow power | 17 mi | 227° SW | Fair | Dayton, OH |
| WZCD-LDLow power | 17 mi | 227° SW | Fair | Dayton, OH |
| WRCX-LDLow power | 17 mi | 227° SW | Fair | Dayton, OH |
| WOOH-LDLow power | 45 mi | 79° E | Poor | Zanesville, OH |
| W25FI-DTranslator | 53 mi | 331° NNW | Poor | Maplewood, OH |
| WSFJ-TVFull power | 53 mi | 84° E | Weak | London, OH |
| WCLL-CDClass A | 53 mi | 84° E | Poor | Columbus, OH |
| W17EB-DLow power | 53 mi | 84° E | Poor | Columbus, OH |
| WGCT-CDClass A | 53 mi | 84° E | Poor | Columbus, OH |
| WDEM-CDClass A | 53 mi | 86° E | Poor | Columbus, OH |
| WTTEFull power | 53 mi | 86° E | Good | Columbus, OH |
| WCSN-LDLow power | 54 mi | 80° E | Poor | Columbus, OH |
| WSTR-TVFull power | 54 mi | 209° SSW | Good | Cincinnati, OH |
| WOHW-LDLow power | 55 mi | 328° NNW | Poor | Lima, OH |
| WCBZ-CDClass A | 57 mi | 74° ENE | Poor | Columbus, OH |
| WPTOFull power | 59 mi | 207° SSW | Fair | Oxford, OH |
| WCETFull power | 59 mi | 207° SSW | Fair | Cincinnati, OH |
| WOCB-CDClass A | 59 mi | 60° ENE | Poor | Marion, OH |
| WDYC-LDLow power | 60 mi | 208° SSW | Poor | Cincinnati, OH |
| WTLWFull power | 61 mi | 352° N | Poor | Lima, OH |
| WTLW-CDClass A | 61 mi | 352° N | Poor | Lima, OH |
| WOSU-TVFull power | 61 mi | 72° ENE | Fair | Columbus, OH |
| WCVN-TVFull power | 65 mi | 203° SSW | Poor | Covington, KY |
How Crystal Lakes compares with the rest of Ohio
With 21 stations at fair strength or better, Crystal Lakes ranks 181st of 686 places in Ohio: more than the typical Ohio town (18). Its nearest major network tower is 16 miles away, against a state median of 16 miles.
27% of Ohio's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an indoor antenna. The nearest larger city is Fairborn, 4.7 miles away.
Setting up an antenna in Crystal Lakes: step by step
- Place the antenna high on a window or wall that faces the towers. Upstairs is better than downstairs.
- Point it toward 226° SW, the direction of WDTN (NBC), 17 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 21 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 Crystal Lakes, OH?
ABC is on channel 22 from WKEF, broadcasting from 17 miles SW of Crystal Lakes. Estimated signal: strong.
What channel is CBS in Crystal Lakes, OH?
CBS is on channel 7 from WHIO-TV, broadcasting from 16 miles SW of Crystal Lakes. Estimated signal: strong.
What channel is NBC in Crystal Lakes, OH?
NBC is on channel 2 from WDTN, broadcasting from 17 miles SW of Crystal Lakes. Estimated signal: strong.
What channel is Fox in Crystal Lakes, OH?
Fox is on channel 19 from WXIX-TV, broadcasting from 60 miles SSW of Crystal Lakes. Estimated signal: weak.
What channel is CW in Crystal Lakes, OH?
CW is on channel 26 from WBDT, broadcasting from 17 miles SW of Crystal Lakes. Estimated signal: strong.
How many channels can I get with an antenna in Crystal Lakes?
45 transmitters within 70 miles of Crystal Lakes; around 21 of them are likely to be receivable with indoor 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 Crystal Lakes?
Point your antenna SW, at about 227°. The main network towers for Crystal Lakes sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.
What kind of antenna do I need in Crystal Lakes?
Indoor antenna (up to ~25 miles). The main towers are close. A flat indoor antenna near a window facing the towers should pull in the major networks. Picking up Fox from up to 60 miles away would take an outdoor antenna.
Do I need an antenna amplifier in Crystal Lakes?
WXIX-TV (Fox), 60 miles southwest, is the exception: the nearest listed affiliate of its network is far enough away to need an outdoor antenna. Some local stations in our data carry no network tag, so check the other stations table below before buying a bigger antenna just for that one.
Is there an app to find TV towers in Crystal Lakes?
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 Ohio cities
- New Carlisle3.2 mi
- Fairborn4.7 mi
- Huber Heights6.1 mi
- Tipp City9.1 mi
- Vandalia9.1 mi
- Riverside9.2 mi
- Northridge11 mi
- Shiloh12 mi
- Springfield12 mi
- Dayton13 mi
- Beavercreek13 mi
- Oakwood14 mi
- Troy14 mi
- Englewood15 mi
- Union15 mi
- Northridge15 mi
- Xenia15 mi
- Kettering16 mi
- Moraine16 mi
- Trotwood16 mi
- Saint Paris17 mi
- Bellbrook18 mi
- Clayton18 mi
- West Carrollton City19 mi
More: all TV stations in Ohio · Midwest region · antenna buying guide · how to aim an antenna. Distances are straight-line from the center of Crystal Lakes; signal estimates ignore terrain.