Antenna TV channels in Cedar Rapids-Waterloo-Iowa City and Dubuque
11 stations broadcast free TV around Cedar Rapids-Waterloo-Iowa City and Dubuque, carrying 44 channels including Subchannel An extra channel a station sends alongside its main one, like 2.2 or 2.3. More in the glossary . The full-power stations transmit from several sites, so the direction to aim depends on where you live.
Updated from FCC data
How well antenna TV works around Cedar Rapids-Waterloo-Iowa City and Dubuque
For the big networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX and PBS) that reach each home, an indoor antenna is likely enough for about 11% of people in the Cedar Rapids-Waterloo-Iowa City and Dubuque market; about 80% need an attic or roof antenna, and for about 9% reception depends on the exact spot. A typical home gets about 44 free channels from 11 stations, some from neighbouring markets.
Estimates from our terrain predictions for an antenna about 30 ft up, adjusted for indoor use. They are not yet checked against real channel scans; VHF channels never count as indoor. How we work it out
Each network's reach
| Network | Reaches | Indoor likely |
|---|---|---|
| ABC | 90% | 74% |
| CBS | 90% | 73% |
| NBC | 90% | 19% |
| FOX | 90% | 80% |
| PBS | 87% | 70% |
| The CW | 90% | 74% |
Share of the market's 932k people, across its 251 ZIP codes.
Town by town
| Town | Antenna | Point | Channels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids ZIP 52404 | Attic or outdoor | north-northwest (343°) | 44 |
| Iowa City ZIP 52242 | Attic or outdoor | north-northwest (340°, most) | 72 |
| Waterloo ZIP 50701 | Attic or outdoor | east-southeast (111°) | 41 |
| Dubuque ZIP 52001 | Spotty | – | 5 |
| Marion ZIP 52302 | Attic or outdoor | northwest (326°) | 49 |
| Cedar Falls ZIP 50613 | Attic or outdoor | east-southeast (112°) | 41 |
| Coralville ZIP 52241 | Attic or outdoor | north-northwest (342°, most) | 57 |
| North Liberty ZIP 52317 | Indoor likely | north-northwest (342°, most) | 57 |
| Waverly ZIP 50677 | Attic or outdoor | southeast (131°) | 46 |
| Grinnell ZIP 50112 | Attic or outdoor | northeast (48°, most) | 89 |
| Hiawatha ZIP 52233 | Attic or outdoor | north-northwest (336°) | 62 |
| Washington ZIP 52353 | Attic or outdoor | north (353°, most) | 75 |
| Tiffin ZIP 52340 | Attic or outdoor | north-northwest (347°, most) | 50 |
| Independence ZIP 50644 | Attic or outdoor | south-southeast (167°) | 38 |
| Asbury ZIP 52002 | Roof | west-southwest (258°) | 17 |
For the ZIP nearest each town's centre. Tap a town for its full channel list.
What channel is each network on in Cedar Rapids-Waterloo-Iowa City and Dubuque?
| Network | Channel | Station |
|---|---|---|
 CBS | 2.1 | KGAN |
 NBC | 7.1 | KWWL |
 ABC | 9.1 | KCRG-TV |
 FOX | 2.2 | KGAN |
 PBS | 12.1 also 32.1 | KIIN |
 The CW | 9.3 | KCRG-TV |
 ION | 48.1 | KPXR-TV |
The best TV antenna for Cedar Rapids-Waterloo-Iowa City and Dubuque
Get an antenna rated for both VHF and UHF. For most homes an attic or outdoor antenna is the safe choice; by our estimate an indoor one is likely enough for only about 11% of people.
- 7 channels reach ordinary TVs only on VHF (KWWL, KIIN), and many flat indoor antennas are weak on VHF.
- The towers are spread out, so a wide-beam (multi-directional) antenna is safer than a narrow directional one.
Not sure about VHF Lower frequencies (RF 2–13). Needs an antenna with longer elements; many flat indoor antennas are weak here. More in the glossary and UHF Higher frequencies (RF 14–36). Most stations are here; almost any antenna picks it up. More in the glossary ? See the glossary. Any brand of the right type will do.
Which way to point your antenna from Iowa City, Waterloo, Dubuque and nearby
Aim at the main tower site (KCRG-TV, KGAN, KRIN and others). From the largest towns around Cedar Rapids-Waterloo-Iowa City and Dubuque:
| From | Point | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa City, IA | north-northwest (340°) | 49 mi |
| Waterloo, IA | east-southeast (116°) | 28 mi |
| Dubuque, IA | west-southwest (258°) | 60 mi |
| Grinnell, IA | northeast (48°) | 60 mi |
| Hiawatha, IA | north-northwest (334°) | 20 mi |
| Maquoketa, IA | west-northwest (287°) | 64 mi |
| Williamsburg, IA | north (10°) | 45 mi |
| Solon, IA | north-northwest (332°) | 40 mi |
6 full-power stations transmit from elsewhere: KFXA (20 mi away), KWKB (48 mi away), KIIN (49 mi away), KPXR-TV (2 mi away), KWWL (6 mi away), KFXB-TV (65 mi away). If you live near one of them, it may need a separate aim.
Where the Cedar Rapids-Waterloo-Iowa City and Dubuque TV towers are
Map of 9 tower sites around Cedar Rapids-Waterloo-Iowa City and Dubuque. The list below has every site.
-
3 stations · 26 mi north-northwest of the centre
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1 station · 23 mi west-northwest of the centre
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1 station · 24 mi southeast of the centre
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1 station · 24 mi southeast of the centre
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1 station · 25 mi north-northwest of the centre
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1 station · 31 mi north-northwest of the centre
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1 station · 66 mi northeast of the centre
Every Cedar Rapids-Waterloo-Iowa City and Dubuque station and subchannel
Including Class A and low-power stations Smaller stations with a shorter range than full-power ones. More in the glossary stations. 1 subchannels have no confirmed network; we show them as "network unknown" rather than guess.
Full power (9)
- KGAN Cedar Rapids, IA · UHF
- 2.1 CBS
- 2.2 Fox
- 2.3 Quest
- KWWL Waterloo, IA · VHF
- 7.1 NBC
- 7.2 Heroes & Icons
- 7.3 MeTV
- 7.4 Court TV
- 7.5 True Crime Network
- 7.6 MeTV Toons
- KCRG-TV Cedar Rapids, IA · UHF
- 9.1 ABC
- 9.2 Independent with MyNetworkTV
- 9.3 The CW
- KIIN Iowa City, IA · VHF
- 12.1 PBS
- KWKB Iowa City, IA · UHF
- 20.1 TCT
- 20.2 Ion Mystery
- 20.3 SonLife
- 20.4 Start TV
- 20.5 Chicago Sports Network
- 20.6 Jewelry TV
- 20.7 network unknown
- 20.8 Biz TV
- 20.9 Great
- 20.10 OnTV4U
- 20.11 Infomercials
- KFXA Cedar Rapids, IA · UHF
- 28.1 Roar
- 28.2 Charge!
- 28.3 Comet
- 28.4 The Nest
- 28.5 Dabl
- KRIN Waterloo, IA · UHF
- 32.1 PBS
- KFXB-TV Dubuque, IA · UHF
- 40.1 CTN
- 40.2 Newsmax2
- 40.3 CTN International
- 40.4 Buzzr
- 40.5 Biz TV
- KPXR-TV Cedar Rapids, IA · UHF
- 48.1 Ion Television
- 48.2 Grit
- 48.3 Bounce TV
- 48.4 Laff
- 48.5 Ion Plus
- 48.6 Busted
- 48.7 Game Show Central
- 48.8 HSN
- 48.9 QVC
Questions about antenna TV in Cedar Rapids-Waterloo-Iowa City and Dubuque
What channels are CBS, NBC, ABC and FOX on antenna in Cedar Rapids-Waterloo-Iowa City and Dubuque?
What local channels can I get with an antenna in Cedar Rapids-Waterloo-Iowa City and Dubuque?
What is the best TV antenna for Cedar Rapids-Waterloo-Iowa City and Dubuque?
Which way should I point my antenna in Cedar Rapids-Waterloo-Iowa City and Dubuque?
For the curious: tower and licence details
- KFXA · facility 35336 · RF 27 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 1000 kW · HAAT 449 m · licensed 2005-09-07
- KWKB · facility 35096 · RF 25 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 1000 kW · HAAT 418.9 m · licensed 2007-04-25 · newer construction permit granted
- KIIN · facility 29095 · RF 12 (VHF-high) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 57 kW · HAAT 439 m · licensed 2011-03-03
- KFKZ-LD · facility 188737 · RF 30 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 15 kW · HAAT not filed · licensed 2024-08-28
- KPXR-TV · facility 21156 · RF 22 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 215 kW · HAAT 451 m · licensed 2018-11-19
- KCRG-TV · facility 9719 · RF 32 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 1000 kW · HAAT 588.2 m · licensed 2025-01-28
- KGAN · facility 25685 · RF 29 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 850 kW · HAAT 588.2 m · licensed 2025-02-03 · newer construction permit granted
- KRIN · facility 29114 · RF 35 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 250 kW · HAAT 588.2 m · licensed 2025-02-20
- KWWL · facility 593 · RF 7 (VHF-high) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 49 kW · HAAT 601 m · licensed 2011-05-16
- KFXB-TV · facility 17625 · RF 14 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 580 kW · HAAT 261 m · licensed 2019-11-15
- K17MH-D · facility 188735 · RF 17 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 11.7 kW · HAAT not filed · licensed 2021-12-16
Where this comes from
- Stations, towers, channels and power: FCC Licensing and Management System (LMS) public database, data of .
- Networks and subchannels: our affiliations dataset, built from Wikipedia (used under CC BY-SA 4.0), the network field stations file with the FCC, and station websites; checked . Credits.
- Towns and distances: US Census Bureau: Vintage 2025 city population estimates (SUB-EST2025) and 2026 Gazetteer place coordinates; distances are straight-line from each town's Census centre point.
- Reception: Reception predictions over USGS terrain for every ZIP, FCC data 2026-11-03 00:00:00 (model 2026-11-11.4)
- Market area: Market area: counties assigned by FCC service-contour coverage of each market's full-power stations (FCC LMS market list, Census 2020).
Updated How we work this out