WBRA-TV
Full power TV station · Roanoke, Virginia
WBRA-TV is a full power over-the-air TV station, licensed to Roanoke, Virginia. Its signal is estimated to reach about 43 cities and towns within 41 miles.
About WBRA-TV
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 9.8 kW effective radiated power, WBRA-TV runs more power than 5% 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 614 m above the average surrounding terrain, higher than 89% of full-power stations. Taller antennas see farther: this one's radio horizon is roughly 71 miles, beyond which the signal fades quickly.
We estimate a fair-or-better signal out to about 41 miles with an outdoor antenna. That area includes 43 cities and towns in our guide with about 350,000 residents, as far as Christiansburg, VA (15 miles).
WBRA-TV shares its transmitter site with WFXR (CW), WDBJ (CBS), WPXR-TV (ION) and WSLS-TV (NBC). 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 | Roanoke, VA |
| Tower location | 37.19611, -80.15444 |
| Effective radiated power | 9.8 kW |
| Antenna height (HAAT) | 614 m (2,016 ft) |
| FCC facility ID | 5981 |
| License status | Licensed |
Cities that can receive WBRA-TV
Estimated with an outdoor antenna. Direction is from the city toward the tower.
| City | Distance | Point antenna | Est. signal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shawsville, VA | 5.9 mi | 71° ENE | Good |
| Cave Spring, VA | 8.1 mi | 254° WSW | Good |
| Salem, VA | 8.7 mi | 219° SW | Good |
| Narrows, VA | 11 mi | 267° W | Fair |
| Roanoke, VA | 13 mi | 246° WSW | Fair |
| Cedar Bluff, VA | 13 mi | 249° WSW | Fair |
| Blacksburg, VA | 14 mi | 99° E | Fair |
| Christiansburg, VA | 15 mi | 72° ENE | Fair |
| Merrimac, VA | 15 mi | 88° E | Fair |
| Vinton, VA | 15 mi | 248° WSW | Fair |
| Hollins, VA | 15 mi | 229° SW | Fair |
| Cloverdale, VA | 18 mi | 230° SW | Fair |
| Prices Fork, VA | 18 mi | 93° E | Fair |
| Plum Creek, VA | 20 mi | 76° ENE | Fair |
| Daleville, VA | 20 mi | 222° SW | Fair |
| Rocky Mount, VA | 20 mi | 314° NW | Fair |
| Laymantown, VA | 20 mi | 234° SW | Fair |
| Ferrum, VA | 20 mi | 338° NNW | Fair |
| Henry Fork, VA | 22 mi | 315° NW | Fair |
| Blue Ridge, VA | 23 mi | 237° WSW | Fair |
| Fairlawn, VA | 24 mi | 82° E | Fair |
| Radford, VA | 24 mi | 79° E | Fair |
| Pembroke, VA | 28 mi | 108° ESE | Fair |
| North Shore, VA | 28 mi | 286° WNW | Fair |
| Union Hall, VA | 29 mi | 296° WNW | Fair |
| Dublin, VA | 30 mi | 78° ENE | Fair |
| Bassett, VA | 32 mi | 343° NNW | Fair |
| Stanleytown, VA | 33 mi | 341° NNW | Fair |
| Pearisburg, VA | 33 mi | 106° ESE | Fair |
| Pannill Fork, VA | 35 mi | 347° NNW | Fair |
| Union, WV | 35 mi | 142° SE | Fair |
| Buchanan, VA | 35 mi | 229° SW | Fair |
| Collinsville, VA | 36 mi | 338° NNW | Fair |
| Pulaski, VA | 36 mi | 73° ENE | Fair |
| Bedford, VA | 36 mi | 255° WSW | Fair |
| Narrows, VA | 37 mi | 104° ESE | Fair |
| Martinsville, VA | 38 mi | 336° NNW | Fair |
| Patrick Springs, VA | 38 mi | 3° N | Fair |
| Stuart, VA | 39 mi | 9° N | Fair |
| Horse Pasture, VA | 41 mi | 344° NNW | Fair |
Other network stations nearby
Frequently asked questions
Where is the WBRA-TV transmitter tower?
WBRA-TV broadcasts from a tower at 37.1961, -80.1544, near Shawsville, VA. It is licensed to Roanoke, Virginia.
How far does WBRA-TV broadcast?
With an outdoor antenna, reception is usually workable up to about 41 miles from the tower, and possible in good conditions out to roughly 76 miles. Hills and buildings can shorten that.
How many people can watch WBRA-TV with an antenna?
About 350,000 people live in the 43 cities and towns within its estimated fair-signal range, not counting rural residents between them.
Which way do I point my antenna for WBRA-TV?
Open the live finder from your address to get the exact compass bearing to the WBRA-TV tower, or use the table above if your city is listed.