TV channels & antenna towers in National City, California

National City is a city of about 61,100 people in California. There are 18 licensed TV transmitters within 70 miles: 6 full-power, 2 Class A, 8 low-power and 2 translators. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 14 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 8 at good or strong strength.

16 of them are within 25 miles of National City, 1 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 1 is 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 best-placed network stations 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, 91 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 National City are in different directions: ABC 322° NW (14 mi), NBC 82° E (9.6 mi), Fox 82° E (9.6 mi) and PBS 82° E (9.6 mi). Aim at the farthest one you want first, or use a multi-directional antenna.

Three network stations, KSWB-TV, KNSD and KPBS, transmit from the same tower site about 9.6 miles east of National City (82° E). 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 National City at fair strength or better, 50% arrive from the east; the rest are spread across one other direction.

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

The farthest main network tower for National City 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.

KSWB-TV is only 9.6 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 14 stations at fair strength or better, National City ranks 790th of 1,078 places in California: fewer than the typical California town (25). Its nearest major network tower is 9.6 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 Chula Vista, 2.8 miles away.