KTAS
Full power TV station · San Luis Obispo, California
KTAS is a full power over-the-air TV station, licensed to San Luis Obispo, California. Its signal is estimated to reach about 37 cities and towns within 66 miles.
About KTAS
Full-power stations are the main licensed broadcasters in a market. They may run the highest power from the tallest towers and are protected from interference, so they set the core of what you can receive.
At 80.4 kW effective radiated power, KTAS runs more power than 35% of full-power TV stations nationwide (median: 273 kW). Stations on VHF channels are licensed at much lower power than UHF stations to cover the same area, so a low figure does not always mean a weak signal.
Its antenna sits 453 m above the average surrounding terrain, higher than 65% of full-power stations. Taller antennas see farther: this one's radio horizon is roughly 62 miles, beyond which the signal fades quickly.
We estimate a fair-or-better signal out to about 66 miles with an outdoor antenna. That area includes 37 cities and towns in our guide with about 491,000 residents, as far as Lompoc, CA (51 miles).
KTAS shares its transmitter site with KKFX-CD (Fox), K31KE-D, KFUL-LD, K16FC-D, KSBO-CD and KSBY (NBC) and 1 more. One antenna aimed at this site picks up all of them.
Station facts
| Network | Independent / not listed |
| Virtual channel | Not listed |
| Station type | Full power (DTV) |
| City of license | San Luis Obispo, CA |
| Tower location | 35.36053, -120.65683 |
| Effective radiated power | 80.4 kW |
| Antenna height (HAAT) | 453 m (1,486 ft) |
| FCC facility ID | 12930 |
| License status | Licensed |
Cities that can receive KTAS
Estimated with an outdoor antenna. Direction is from the city toward the tower.
| City | Distance | Point antenna | Est. signal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Margarita, CA | 3.4 mi | 233° SW | Strong |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | 5.4 mi | 2° N | Strong |
| Atascadero, CA | 8.9 mi | 175° S | Good |
| Los Osos, CA | 10 mi | 71° ENE | Good |
| Morro Bay, CA | 11 mi | 92° E | Good |
| Avila Beach, CA | 13 mi | 19° NNE | Good |
| Templeton, CA | 13 mi | 168° SSE | Good |
| Cayucos, CA | 14 mi | 113° ESE | Good |
| Pismo Beach, CA | 15 mi | 357° N | Good |
| Grover Beach, CA | 17 mi | 353° N | Good |
| Arroyo Grande, CA | 17 mi | 347° NNW | Good |
| Oceano, CA | 18 mi | 352° N | Good |
| Paso Robles, CA | 18 mi | 174° S | Good |
| Callender, CA | 22 mi | 351° N | Good |
| Nipomo, CA | 24 mi | 335° NNW | Good |
| Shandon, CA | 26 mi | 218° SW | Good |
| San Miguel, CA | 27 mi | 175° S | Good |
| Guadalupe, CA | 27 mi | 350° N | Good |
| Cambria, CA | 28 mi | 120° ESE | Good |
| Lake Nacimiento, CA | 28 mi | 154° SSE | Good |
| Santa Maria, CA | 31 mi | 336° NNW | Fair |
| Orcutt, CA | 36 mi | 340° NNW | Fair |
| Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA | 43 mi | 350° N | Fair |
| Vandenberg Village, CA | 46 mi | 347° NNW | Fair |
| Los Alamos, CA | 48 mi | 333° NNW | Fair |
| Mission Hills, CA | 48 mi | 345° NNW | Fair |
| Lompoc, CA | 51 mi | 347° NNW | Fair |
| Avenal, CA | 53 mi | 214° SW | Fair |
| Coalinga, CA | 56 mi | 197° SSW | Fair |
| Los Olivos, CA | 57 mi | 328° NNW | Fair |
| Lost Hills, CA | 57 mi | 252° WSW | Fair |
| Buellton, CA | 58 mi | 333° NNW | Fair |
| Kettleman City, CA | 59 mi | 221° SW | Fair |
| Solvang, CA | 60 mi | 331° NNW | Fair |
| Santa Ynez, CA | 61 mi | 328° NNW | Fair |
| King City, CA | 64 mi | 156° SSE | Fair |
| Huron, CA | 66 mi | 208° SSW | Fair |
Other network stations nearby
Frequently asked questions
Where is the KTAS transmitter tower?
KTAS broadcasts from a tower at 35.3605, -120.6568, near Santa Margarita, CA. It is licensed to San Luis Obispo, California.
How far does KTAS broadcast?
With an outdoor antenna, reception is usually workable up to about 66 miles from the tower, and possible in good conditions out to roughly 75 miles. Hills and buildings can shorten that.
How many people can watch KTAS with an antenna?
About 491,000 people live in the 37 cities and towns within its estimated fair-signal range, not counting rural residents between them.
Which way do I point my antenna for KTAS?
Open the live finder from your address to get the exact compass bearing to the KTAS tower, or use the table above if your city is listed.