WPXR-TV (ION) · Channel 38

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 609 kW effective radiated power, WPXR-TV runs more power than 66% of full-power TV stations nationwide (median: 273 kW).

Its antenna sits 624 m above the average surrounding terrain, higher than 90% of full-power stations. Taller antennas see farther: this one's radio horizon is roughly 72 miles, beyond which the signal fades quickly.

We estimate a fair-or-better signal out to about 81 miles with an outdoor antenna. That area includes 150 cities and towns in our guide with about 1,440,000 residents, as far as Greensboro, NC (80 miles).

WPXR-TV shares its transmitter site with WSLS-TV (NBC), WFXR (CW), WBRA-TV and WDBJ (CBS). One antenna aimed at this site picks up all of them.

The nearest other ION station in our data is WGPX-TV in Burlington, NC, 93 miles away. Viewers between the two can sometimes receive both.

ION Television is a commercial network built around crime and procedural drama series, with some live sports. It is carried free over the air in most large markets.