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.

45TV transmitters within 70 miles
7networks over the air
16 mito the closest tower
1,483population

Network channels in Crystal Lakes

StationChannelDistancePoint antennaEst. signalLicensed to
CBSWHIO-TVCBS7 16 mi228° SW StrongDayton, OH
ABCWKEFABC22 17 mi227° SW StrongDayton, OH
NBCWDTNNBC2 17 mi226° SW StrongDayton, OH
IONWKOI-TVION43 17 mi226° SW StrongRichmond, IN
CWWBDTCW26 17 mi226° SW StrongSpringfield, OH
ABCWAMS-CDABC35 39 mi333° NNW WeakMinster/New Bremen, OH
NBCWCMH-TVNBC4 53 mi84° E GoodColumbus, OH
CBSWBNS-TVCBS10 53 mi84° E GoodColumbus, OH
CWWWHOCW53 53 mi86° E GoodChillicothe, OH
TLMWQMC-LDTelemundo23.3 53 mi86° E PoorColumbus, OH
ABCWSYXABC6 53 mi86° E GoodColumbus, OH
IONWCPX-LDION38 58 mi79° ENE PoorColumbus, OH
ABCWCPO-TVABC9 58 mi206° SSW FairCincinnati, OH
TLMWBQC-LDTelemundo25 58 mi206° SSW PoorCincinnati, OH
NBCWLWTNBC5 59 mi207° SSW FairCincinnati, OH
CWWKRC-TVCW12.2 59 mi206° SSW WeakCincinnati, OH
FOXWXIX-TVFox19 60 mi208° SSW WeakNewport, KY
FOXWLIOFox8.2 61 mi355° N PoorLima, OH
ABCWOHL-CDABC35 61 mi355° N PoorLima, 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.

StationDistancePoint antennaEst. signalLicensed to
WPTDFull power17 mi 226° SWGoodDayton, OH
WRGT-TVFull power17 mi 227° SWStrongDayton, OH
WLWD-LDLow power17 mi 227° SWFairDayton, OH
WZCD-LDLow power17 mi 227° SWFairDayton, OH
WRCX-LDLow power17 mi 227° SWFairDayton, OH
WOOH-LDLow power45 mi 79° EPoorZanesville, OH
W25FI-DTranslator53 mi 331° NNWPoorMaplewood, OH
WSFJ-TVFull power53 mi 84° EWeakLondon, OH
WCLL-CDClass A53 mi 84° EPoorColumbus, OH
W17EB-DLow power53 mi 84° EPoorColumbus, OH
WGCT-CDClass A53 mi 84° EPoorColumbus, OH
WDEM-CDClass A53 mi 86° EPoorColumbus, OH
WTTEFull power53 mi 86° EGoodColumbus, OH
WCSN-LDLow power54 mi 80° EPoorColumbus, OH
WSTR-TVFull power54 mi 209° SSWGoodCincinnati, OH
WOHW-LDLow power55 mi 328° NNWPoorLima, OH
WCBZ-CDClass A57 mi 74° ENEPoorColumbus, OH
WPTOFull power59 mi 207° SSWFairOxford, OH
WCETFull power59 mi 207° SSWFairCincinnati, OH
WOCB-CDClass A59 mi 60° ENEPoorMarion, OH
WDYC-LDLow power60 mi 208° SSWPoorCincinnati, OH
WTLWFull power61 mi 352° NPoorLima, OH
WTLW-CDClass A61 mi 352° NPoorLima, OH
WOSU-TVFull power61 mi 72° ENEFairColumbus, OH
WCVN-TVFull power65 mi 203° SSWPoorCovington, 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

  1. Place the antenna high on a window or wall that faces the towers. Upstairs is better than downstairs.
  2. Point it toward 226° SW, the direction of WDTN (NBC), 17 miles away. Closer stations usually come in even off-axis.
  3. Run a full channel scan on your TV (usually Settings → Channels → Auto program; the name varies by brand).
  4. 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.
  5. 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

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.