TV channels & antenna towers in Inyokern, California

Inyokern is a small community of about 1,100 people in California. Within 70 miles of the town center we count 39 licensed TV transmitters: 4 full-power, 5 Class A, 13 low-power and 17 translators. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 3 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 1 at good or strong strength.

By distance, 17 transmitters are within 25 miles, 0 between 25 and 45 miles, and 22 farther out. Seven of the 7 network stations in range are licensed to Bakersfield, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Bakersfield's stations.

The best-placed network stations are ABC on channel 23 (KERO-TV), Fox on channel 58.2 (KBAK-TV), CW on channel 17.2 (KGET-TV), ION on channel 14.6 (KXBF-LD), Univision on channel 39 (KABE-CD) and MeTV on channel 34.2 (KCBT-LD). No CBS affiliate is listed within 70 miles; the nearest one in our data is KCBS-TV in Los Angeles, CA, 99 miles to the south. No NBC affiliate is listed within 70 miles; the nearest one in our data is KNBC in Los Angeles, CA, 99 miles to the south. Spanish-language viewers can pick up Univision (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.

Point your antenna WSW, at about 253°. The main network towers for Inyokern sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

Three network stations, KBAK-TV, KBFX-CD and KERO-TV, transmit from the same tower site about 46 miles west of Inyokern (253° WSW). That one direction covers every station on the site.

All of the main network towers are within their radio horizon as seen from Inyokern, so signals arrive fairly directly and a well-placed antenna should hold them steadily.

The farthest main network tower for Inyokern is KERO-TV (ABC), 46 miles away with a weak estimated signal. That is why we suggest an outdoor directional antenna here. Skip that station and you may get away with a smaller antenna.

At this distance a low-noise preamplifier mounted on the mast, right below the antenna, helps more than an amplifier near the TV. It boosts the signal before cable loss eats into it. See the amplifier guide.

With 3 stations at fair strength or better, Inyokern ranks 1,045th of 1,078 places in California: fewer than the typical California town (25). Its nearest major network tower is 46 miles away, against a state median of 22 miles.

30% of California's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an outdoor directional antenna. The nearest larger city is Ridgecrest, 8.1 miles away.