TV channels & antenna towers in La Mesa, California

With roughly 60,100 residents, La Mesa is a city in California. Within 70 miles of the town center we count 19 licensed TV transmitters: 6 full-power, 2 Class A, 9 low-power and 2 translators. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 15 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 9 at good or strong strength.

16 of them are within 25 miles of La Mesa, 1 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 2 are more than 45 miles out. Seven of the 9 network stations in range are licensed to San Diego, so most of the network channels you will find here come from San Diego's stations.

The strongest network signals here are ABC on channel 10 (KGTV), NBC on channel 39 (KNSD), Fox on channel 69 (KSWB-TV), PBS on channel 15 (KPBS), CW on channel 8.2 (KFMB-TV), Telemundo on channel 48 (KUAN-LD) and Univision on channel 17 (KBNT-CD). No CBS affiliate is listed within 70 miles; the nearest one in our data is KPSP-CD in Cathedral City, CA, 83 miles to the northeast. Spanish-language viewers can pick up Telemundo (strong signal) and Univision (fair signal). 1 full-power station in range has no network listed in our data; these are typically public television, religious, shopping or independent stations.

The main network towers around La Mesa are in different directions: ABC 291° WNW (14 mi), NBC 134° SE (7.1 mi), Fox 134° SE (7.1 mi) and PBS 133° SE (7.0 mi). Aim at the farthest one you want first, or use a multi-directional antenna.

Three network stations, KPBS, KNSD and KSWB-TV, transmit from the same tower site about 7.0 miles southeast of La Mesa (133° SE). Point at that site and a single antenna setting picks them all up.

Of the 6 full-power and Class A network signals that reach La Mesa at fair strength or better, 50% arrive from the southeast; the rest are spread across one other direction.

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

The farthest main network tower for La Mesa is KGTV (ABC), 14 miles away with a good estimated signal. That is why we suggest an indoor antenna here. Viewers who do not need that station can often manage with less.

KPBS is only 7.0 miles away with a strong signal. Signals that strong can overload an amplifier, so start without one and add it only if distant channels are missing. Read when an amplifier helps.

With 15 stations at fair strength or better, La Mesa ranks 762nd of 1,078 places in California: fewer than the typical California town (25). Its nearest major network tower is 7.0 miles away, against a state median of 22 miles.

22% of California's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an indoor antenna. The nearest larger city is San Diego, 9.0 miles away.