TV channels & antenna towers in Waunakee, Wisconsin
Waunakee 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 WZCK-LD, 9.7 miles to the S.
Network channels in Waunakee
| Station | Channel | Distance | Point antenna | Est. signal | Licensed to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CWWMTVCW | 15.2 | 9.9 mi | 189° S | Strong | Madison, WI |
| FOXWMSN-TVFox | 47 | 10 mi | 203° SSW | Strong | Madison, WI |
| IONWIFSION | 57 | 10 mi | 203° SSW | Strong | Janesville, WI |
| ABCWKOWABC | 27 | 10 mi | 203° SSW | Strong | Madison, WI |
| CBSWISC-TVCBS | 3 | 10 mi | 203° SSW | Good | Madison, WI |
| TBNWWRS-TVTrinity | 52 | 50 mi | 70° ENE | Fair | Mayville, WI |
| NBCWREXNBC | 13 | 63 mi | 170° S | Poor | Rockford, IL |
| TLMWFBN-LDTelemundo | 23 | 64 mi | 167° SSE | Poor | Rockford, IL |
| CBSWIFR-LDCBS | 23 | 64 mi | 167° SSE | Poor | Rockford, IL |
| CWWSLNCW | 19 | 64 mi | 167° SSE | Poor | Freeport, IL |
| FOXWQRF-TVFox | 39 | 64 mi | 167° SSE | Poor | Rockford, IL |
| ABCWTVOABC | 17 | 64 mi | 167° SSE | Poor | Rockford, IL |
Over-the-air TV in Waunakee
Waunakee, Wisconsin has a population of about 13,300. 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 10 at good or strong strength.
By distance, 10 transmitters are within 25 miles, 1 between 25 and 45 miles, and 14 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). 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 Waunakee
Point your antenna SSW, at about 203°. The main network towers for Waunakee 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 10 miles southwest of Waunakee (203° SSW). Aim there first: one setting covers all of them.
Of the 6 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Waunakee at fair strength or better, 67% arrive from the southwest; the rest are spread across two other directions.
All of the main network towers are within their radio horizon as seen from Waunakee, so signals arrive fairly directly and a well-placed antenna should hold them steadily.
Antenna and amplifier advice for Waunakee
The farthest main network tower for Waunakee is WMSN-TV (Fox), 10 miles away with a strong estimated signal. That is why we suggest an indoor antenna here.
WREX (NBC), 63 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.
WMTV is only 9.9 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 Waunakee
Full-power independents, low-power stations and translators that relay a bigger station's signal.
| Station | Distance | Point antenna | Est. signal | Licensed to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WZCK-LDLow power | 9.7 mi | 186° S | Good | Madison, WI |
| W23BW-DClass A | 9.7 mi | 187° S | Good | Madison, WI |
| WMWD-LDLow power | 9.7 mi | 187° S | Good | Madison, WI |
| WMWI-LDLow power | 9.9 mi | 99° E | Good | Verona, WI |
| WHA-TVFull power | 10 mi | 203° SSW | Strong | Madison, WI |
| W35DY-DTranslator | 44 mi | 161° SSE | Poor | Stoughton, WI |
| W29ET-DTranslator | 57 mi | 355° N | Poor | Coloma, WI |
| WDMW-LDLow power | 66 mi | 103° ESE | Poor | Milwaukee, WI |
| WTAS-LDLow power | 66 mi | 103° ESE | Poor | Waukesha, WI |
| W25FT-DLow power | 68 mi | 313° NW | Poor | Baraboo, WI |
| W22FK-DLow power | 68 mi | 313° NW | Poor | Baraboo, WI |
| W36FN-DLow power | 68 mi | 313° NW | Poor | Baraboo, WI |
| W21EF-DTranslator | 69 mi | 52° NE | Poor | Fond Du Lac, WI |
How Waunakee compares with the rest of Wisconsin
With 11 stations at fair strength or better, Waunakee ranks 233rd of 423 places in Wisconsin: fewer than the typical Wisconsin town (12). Its nearest major network tower is 9.9 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, 8.7 miles away.
Setting up an antenna in Waunakee: step by step
- Place the antenna high on a window or wall that faces the towers. Upstairs is better than downstairs.
- Point it toward 203° SSW, the direction of WMSN-TV (Fox), 10 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 Waunakee, WI?
ABC is on channel 27 from WKOW, broadcasting from 10 miles SSW of Waunakee. Estimated signal: strong.
What channel is CBS in Waunakee, WI?
CBS is on channel 3 from WISC-TV, broadcasting from 10 miles SSW of Waunakee. Estimated signal: good.
What channel is NBC in Waunakee, WI?
NBC is on channel 13 from WREX, broadcasting from 63 miles S of Waunakee. Estimated signal: very weak.
What channel is Fox in Waunakee, WI?
Fox is on channel 47 from WMSN-TV, broadcasting from 10 miles SSW of Waunakee. Estimated signal: strong.
What channel is CW in Waunakee, WI?
CW is on channel 15.2 from WMTV, broadcasting from 9.9 miles S of Waunakee. Estimated signal: strong.
How many channels can I get with an antenna in Waunakee?
25 transmitters within 70 miles of Waunakee; 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 Waunakee?
Point your antenna SSW, at about 203°. The main network towers for Waunakee sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.
What kind of antenna do I need in Waunakee?
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 63 miles away would take an outdoor antenna.
Do I need an antenna amplifier in Waunakee?
WREX (NBC), 63 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 Waunakee?
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
- De Forest6.8 mi
- Middleton7.0 mi
- Madison8.7 mi
- Monona11 mi
- Sun Prairie12 mi
- Lake Wisconsin14 mi
- Verona14 mi
- McFarland15 mi
- Prairie du Sac15 mi
- Cottage Grove15 mi
- Fitchburg16 mi
- Oregon19 mi
- Mount Horeb19 mi
- Stoughton22 mi
- Portage24 mi
- Baraboo24 mi
- Columbus24 mi
- Lake Mills28 mi
- Evansville30 mi
- Spring Green31 mi
- Edgerton31 mi
- Randolph33 mi
- Jefferson35 mi
- Beaver Dam36 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 Waunakee; signal estimates ignore terrain.