TV channels & antenna towers in Dane, Wisconsin
Dane has 25 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CW and ION. About 11 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is WMWI-LD, 13 miles to the ESE.
Network channels in Dane
| Station | Channel | Distance | Point antenna | Est. signal | Licensed to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FOXWMSN-TVFox | 47 | 14 mi | 187° S | Strong | Madison, WI |
| IONWIFSION | 57 | 14 mi | 187° S | Good | Janesville, WI |
| ABCWKOWABC | 27 | 14 mi | 187° S | Strong | Madison, WI |
| CBSWISC-TVCBS | 3 | 14 mi | 187° S | Good | Madison, WI |
| CWWMTVCW | 15.2 | 14 mi | 177° S | Good | Madison, WI |
| TBNWWRS-TVTrinity | 52 | 51 mi | 75° ENE | Fair | Mayville, WI |
| NBCWREXNBC | 13 | 67 mi | 169° SSE | Poor | Rockford, IL |
| TLMWFBN-LDTelemundo | 23 | 68 mi | 166° SSE | Poor | Rockford, IL |
| CBSWIFR-LDCBS | 23 | 68 mi | 166° SSE | Poor | Rockford, IL |
| CWWSLNCW | 19 | 68 mi | 166° SSE | Poor | Freeport, IL |
| FOXWQRF-TVFox | 39 | 69 mi | 166° SSE | Poor | Rockford, IL |
| ABCWTVOABC | 17 | 69 mi | 166° SSE | Poor | Rockford, IL |
Over-the-air TV in Dane
Dane, Wisconsin has a population of about 1,120. There are 25 licensed TV transmitters within 70 miles: 11 full-power, 1 Class A, 10 low-power and 3 translators. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 11 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 6 at good or strong strength.
10 of them are within 25 miles of Dane, 0 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 15 are more than 45 miles 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.
The best-placed network stations 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). 1 full-power station in range has no network listed in our data; these are typically public television, religious, shopping or independent stations.
Which way to point your antenna in Dane
Point your antenna S, at about 187°. The main network towers for Dane 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 14 miles south of Dane (187° S). That one direction covers every station on the site.
Of the 6 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Dane at fair strength or better, 83% arrive from the south; the rest are spread across one other direction.
All of the main network towers are within their radio horizon as seen from Dane, so signals arrive fairly directly and a well-placed antenna should hold them steadily.
Antenna and amplifier advice for Dane
The farthest main network tower for Dane is WMSN-TV (Fox), 14 miles away with a strong estimated signal. That is why we suggest an indoor antenna here.
WREX (NBC), 67 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.
WMSN-TV is only 14 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.
Other stations near Dane
Full-power independents, low-power stations and translators that relay a bigger station's signal.
| Station | Distance | Point antenna | Est. signal | Licensed to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WMWI-LDLow power | 13 mi | 115° ESE | Fair | Verona, WI |
| WHA-TVFull power | 14 mi | 187° S | Good | Madison, WI |
| W23BW-DClass A | 14 mi | 175° S | Fair | Madison, WI |
| WMWD-LDLow power | 14 mi | 175° S | Fair | Madison, WI |
| WZCK-LDLow power | 14 mi | 175° S | Fair | Madison, WI |
| W35DY-DTranslator | 49 mi | 160° SSE | Poor | Stoughton, WI |
| W29ET-DTranslator | 53 mi | 357° N | Poor | Coloma, WI |
| W25FT-DLow power | 64 mi | 311° NW | Poor | Baraboo, WI |
| W22FK-DLow power | 64 mi | 311° NW | Poor | Baraboo, WI |
| W36FN-DLow power | 64 mi | 311° NW | Poor | Baraboo, WI |
| W21EF-DTranslator | 68 mi | 56° NE | Poor | Fond Du Lac, WI |
| WDMW-LDLow power | 69 mi | 106° ESE | Poor | Milwaukee, WI |
| WTAS-LDLow power | 69 mi | 106° ESE | Poor | Waukesha, WI |
How Dane compares with the rest of Wisconsin
With 11 stations at fair strength or better, Dane ranks 233rd of 423 places in Wisconsin: fewer than the typical Wisconsin town (12). Its nearest major network tower is 14 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.
Setting up an antenna in Dane: step by step
- Place the antenna high on a window or wall that faces the towers. Upstairs is better than downstairs.
- Point it toward 187° S, the direction of WMSN-TV (Fox), 14 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 11 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 Dane, WI?
ABC is on channel 27 from WKOW, broadcasting from 14 miles S of Dane. Estimated signal: strong.
What channel is CBS in Dane, WI?
CBS is on channel 3 from WISC-TV, broadcasting from 14 miles S of Dane. Estimated signal: good.
What channel is NBC in Dane, WI?
NBC is on channel 13 from WREX, broadcasting from 67 miles SSE of Dane. Estimated signal: very weak.
What channel is Fox in Dane, WI?
Fox is on channel 47 from WMSN-TV, broadcasting from 14 miles S of Dane. Estimated signal: strong.
What channel is CW in Dane, WI?
CW is on channel 15.2 from WMTV, broadcasting from 14 miles S of Dane. Estimated signal: good.
How many channels can I get with an antenna in Dane?
25 transmitters within 70 miles of Dane; around 11 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 Dane?
Point your antenna S, at about 187°. The main network towers for Dane sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.
What kind of antenna do I need in Dane?
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 NBC from up to 67 miles away would take an outdoor antenna.
Do I need an antenna amplifier in Dane?
WREX (NBC), 67 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.
Is there an app to find TV towers in Dane?
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 Wisconsin cities
- Waunakee4.7 mi
- De Forest7.9 mi
- Lake Wisconsin9.3 mi
- Middleton11 mi
- Prairie du Sac11 mi
- Madison13 mi
- Sun Prairie15 mi
- Monona16 mi
- Verona18 mi
- Cottage Grove19 mi
- Baraboo20 mi
- McFarland20 mi
- Portage20 mi
- Fitchburg20 mi
- Mount Horeb21 mi
- Oregon23 mi
- Columbus25 mi
- Stoughton27 mi
- Spring Green29 mi
- Reedsburg32 mi
- Randolph32 mi
- Lake Mills32 mi
- Evansville34 mi
- Edgerton36 mi
More: all TV stations in Wisconsin · Midwest region · antenna buying guide · how to aim an antenna. Distances are straight-line from the center of Dane; signal estimates ignore terrain.