TV channels & antenna towers in Lake Elsinore, California

Lake Elsinore is a city of about 62,000 people in California. Within 70 miles of the town center we count 95 licensed TV transmitters: 29 full-power, 14 Class A, 34 low-power and 18 translators. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 30 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 13 at good or strong strength.

6 of them are within 25 miles of Lake Elsinore, 7 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 82 are more than 45 miles out. Seven of the 25 network stations in range are licensed to Los Angeles, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Los Angeles's stations.

For the networks, the best local options are ABC on channel 7 (KABC-TV), CBS on channel 2 (KCBS-TV), NBC on channel 4 (KNBC), Fox on channel 11 (KTTV), PBS on channel 24 (KVCR-DT), CW on channel 5 (KTLA), ION on channel 30 (KPXN-TV), Telemundo on channel 52 (KVEA), Univision on channel 34 (KMEX-DT), MeTV on channel 56.3 (KDOC-TV) and Trinity on channel 40 (KTBN-TV). Spanish-language viewers can pick up Telemundo (good signal) and Univision (good signal). 12 full-power stations in range have no network listed in our data; these are typically public television, religious, shopping or independent stations.

The main network towers around Lake Elsinore are in different directions: ABC 313° NW (57 mi), CBS 313° NW (58 mi), NBC 313° NW (57 mi), Fox 313° NW (57 mi) and PBS 7° N (21 mi). Aim at the farthest one you want first, or use a multi-directional antenna.

12 network stations, KAZA-TV, KLCS, KTBN-TV, KTTV and KVEA and others, transmit from the same tower site about 57 miles northwest of Lake Elsinore (312° NW). That one direction covers every station on the site.

Of the 13 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Lake Elsinore at fair strength or better, 85% arrive from the northwest; the rest are spread across two other directions.

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

The farthest main network tower for Lake Elsinore is KCBS-TV (CBS), 58 miles away with a good 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 30 stations at fair strength or better, Lake Elsinore ranks 434th of 1,078 places in California: more than the typical California town (25). Its nearest major network tower is 21 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 Moreno Valley, 19 miles away.