TV channels & antenna towers in Cross Plains, Wisconsin

Cross Plains, Wisconsin has a population of about 4,000. There are 24 licensed TV transmitters within 70 miles: 12 full-power, 1 Class A, 8 low-power and 3 translators. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 10 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 9 at good or strong strength.

By distance, 10 transmitters are within 25 miles, 1 between 25 and 45 miles, and 13 farther out. Five of the 12 network stations in range are licensed to Rockford, IL, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Rockford's stations.

For the networks, the best local options are ABC on channel 27 (WKOW), CBS on channel 3 (WISC-TV), NBC on channel 13 (WREX), Fox on channel 47 (WMSN-TV), CW on channel 15.2 (WMTV), ION on channel 57 (WIFS), Telemundo on channel 23 (WFBN-LD) and Trinity on channel 52 (WWRS-TV). Spanish-language viewers can pick up Telemundo (very weak signal). 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 124°. The main network towers for Cross Plains sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

Four network stations, WMSN-TV, WIFS, WKOW and WISC-TV, transmit from the same tower site about 7.3 miles southeast of Cross Plains (124° ESE). Aim there first: one setting covers all of them.

Of the 5 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Cross Plains at fair strength or better, all arrive from the southeast, so this is an easy place to aim.

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

The farthest main network tower for Cross Plains is WMSN-TV (Fox), 7.3 miles away with a strong estimated signal. That is why we suggest an indoor antenna here.

WREX (NBC), 60 miles south, 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.

WHA-TV is only 7.3 miles away with a strong signal. Signals that strong can overload an amplifier, so start without one and add it only if distant channels are missing. Read when an amplifier helps.

With 10 stations at fair strength or better, Cross Plains ranks 261st of 423 places in Wisconsin: fewer than the typical Wisconsin town (12). Its nearest major network tower is 7.3 miles away, against a state median of 25 miles.

30% of Wisconsin's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an indoor antenna. The nearest larger city is Madison, 13 miles away.