TV channels & antenna towers in Pinole, California

Pinole has 63 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, PBS and CW. About 37 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is KTVJ-LD, 17 miles to the WSW.

63TV transmitters within 70 miles
10networks over the air
17 mito the closest tower
19,269population

Network channels in Pinole

StationChannelDistancePoint antennaEst. signalLicensed to
CBSKPIX-TVCBS5 19 mi206° SSW StrongSan Francisco, CA
ABCKGO-TVABC7 19 mi206° SSW GoodSan Francisco, CA
PBSKQEDPBS9 19 mi206° SSW StrongSan Francisco, CA
FOXKTVUFox2 19 mi206° SSW StrongOakland, CA
CWKRON-TVCW4 19 mi206° SSW GoodSan Francisco, CA
MeTVKPYXMeTV44.3 19 mi206° SSW StrongSan Francisco, CA
IONKKPX-TVION65 23 mi199° SSW GoodSan Jose, CA
NBCKNTVNBC11 23 mi199° SSW GoodSan Jose, CA
UNIKDTV-DTUnivision14 42 mi146° SE GoodSan Francisco, CA
MeTVKTLN-TVMeTV68.2 42 mi146° SE FairPalo Alto, CA
TLMKSTSTelemundo48 42 mi146° SE GoodSan Jose, CA
ABCKXTVABC10 46 mi69° ENE FairSacramento, CA
TLMKMAX-TVTelemundo31.7 46 mi69° ENE GoodSacramento, CA
CBSKOVRCBS13 46 mi69° ENE GoodStockton, CA
IONKSPX-TVION29 46 mi69° ENE GoodSacramento, CA
FOXKTXLFox40 47 mi67° ENE GoodSacramento, CA
TLMKCSO-LDTelemundo33 47 mi67° ENE PoorSacramento, CA
PBSKVIEPBS6 47 mi67° ENE FairSacramento, CA
CWKQCACW58 47 mi67° ENE GoodStockton, CA
NBCKCRA-TVNBC3 47 mi67° ENE GoodSacramento, CA
UNIKDTV-CDUnivision14 49 mi339° NNW PoorSanta Rosa, CA
TLMKMUM-CDTelemundo33 66 mi42° NE PoorSacramento, CA

Over-the-air TV in Pinole

Pinole, California has a population of about 19,300. There are 63 licensed TV transmitters within 70 miles: 32 full-power, 6 Class A and 25 low-power. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 37 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 26 at good or strong strength.

25 of them are within 25 miles of Pinole, 12 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 26 are more than 45 miles out. Eight of the 22 network stations in range are licensed to Sacramento, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Sacramento's stations.

For the networks, the best local options are ABC on channel 7 (KGO-TV), CBS on channel 5 (KPIX-TV), NBC on channel 3 (KCRA-TV), Fox on channel 2 (KTVU), PBS on channel 9 (KQED), CW on channel 58 (KQCA), ION on channel 65 (KKPX-TV), Telemundo on channel 31.7 (KMAX-TV), Univision on channel 14 (KDTV-DT) and MeTV on channel 44.3 (KPYX). Spanish-language viewers can pick up Telemundo (good signal) and Univision (good signal). 13 full-power stations in range have no network listed in our data; these are typically public television, religious, shopping or independent stations.

Which way to point your antenna in Pinole

Point your antenna SSW, at about 206°. The main network towers for Pinole sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

Six network stations, KPIX-TV, KGO-TV, KQED, KTVU and KRON-TV and others, transmit from the same tower site about 19 miles southwest of Pinole (206° SSW). Aim there first: one setting covers all of them.

Of the 19 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Pinole at fair strength or better, 32% arrive from the southwest; the rest are spread across four other directions.

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

Antenna and amplifier advice for Pinole

The farthest main network tower for Pinole is KQED (PBS), 19 miles away with a strong estimated signal. That is why we suggest an indoor antenna here.

KCRA-TV (NBC), 47 miles northeast, is the exception: the nearest listed affiliate of its network is far enough away to need an outdoor antenna. Some local stations in our data carry no network tag, so check the other stations table below before buying a bigger antenna just for that one.

An amplifier only helps here if you run a long cable (over about 50 feet) or split the antenna to several TVs. Otherwise better placement does more. See the amplifier guide.

Other stations near Pinole

Full-power independents, low-power stations and translators that relay a bigger station's signal. Showing the closest 25 of 41; see all in the finder.

StationDistancePoint antennaEst. signalLicensed to
KTVJ-LDLow power17 mi 252° WSWFairSan Rafael, CA
KURK-LDLow power17 mi 252° WSWFairSan Francisco, CA
KQTA-LDLow power17 mi 252° WSWPoorSan Francisco, CA
KTNC-TVFull power19 mi 206° SSWStrongConcord, CA
KMMC-LDLow power19 mi 206° SSWFairSan Francisco, CA
KEMO-TVFull power19 mi 206° SSWStrongFremont, CA
KQEHFull power19 mi 206° SSWStrongSan Jose, CA
KMTP-TVFull power19 mi 206° SSWStrongSan Francisco, CA
KFSF-DTFull power19 mi 206° SSWGoodVallejo, CA
KRCBFull power19 mi 206° SSWFairCotati, CA
KPJKFull power19 mi 206° SSWGoodSan Mateo, CA
KCNSFull power19 mi 206° SSWStrongSan Francisco, CA
KDTS-LDLow power19 mi 206° SSWFairSan Francisco, CA
KOFY-TVFull power23 mi 199° SSWFairSan Francisco, CA
KCNZ-CDClass A23 mi 199° SSWFairSan Francisco, CA
KQRM-LDLow power23 mi 199° SSWFairPetaluma, CA
KPJC-LDLow power23 mi 199° SSWPoorSan Francisco, CA
KZHD-LDLow power28 mi 325° NWWeakRohnert Park, CA
K06QM-DLow power28 mi 325° NWPoorPetaluma, CA
KDAS-LDLow power40 mi 331° NNWPoorSanta Rosa, CA
KUKR-LDLow power40 mi 331° NNWPoorSanta Rosa, CA
KTSFFull power42 mi 146° SEGoodSan Francisco, CA
KAXT-CDClass A42 mi 146° SEWeakSan Franciso, San Jo, CA
KSCZ-LDLow power42 mi 146° SEPoorSan Jose-San Francis, CA
KICU-TVFull power43 mi 146° SSEGoodSan Jose, CA

How Pinole compares with the rest of California

With 37 stations at fair strength or better, Pinole ranks 113th of 1,078 places in California: more than the typical California town (25). Its nearest major network tower is 19 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 Richmond, 5.4 miles away.

Setting up an antenna in Pinole: step by step

  1. Place the antenna high on a window or wall that faces the towers. Upstairs is better than downstairs.
  2. Point it toward 206° SSW, the direction of KQED (PBS), 19 miles away. Closer stations usually come in even off-axis.
  3. Run a full channel scan on your TV (usually Settings → Channels → Auto program; the name varies by brand).
  4. Expect around 37 stations, each with a few subchannels. If one you want is missing, turn the antenna 5–10° toward it and scan again.
  5. Rescan every few months, or whenever a channel disappears; stations occasionally change frequency.

Frequently asked questions

What channel is ABC in Pinole, CA?

ABC is on channel 7 from KGO-TV, broadcasting from 19 miles SSW of Pinole. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CBS in Pinole, CA?

CBS is on channel 5 from KPIX-TV, broadcasting from 19 miles SSW of Pinole. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is NBC in Pinole, CA?

NBC is on channel 3 from KCRA-TV, broadcasting from 47 miles ENE of Pinole. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is Fox in Pinole, CA?

Fox is on channel 2 from KTVU, broadcasting from 19 miles SSW of Pinole. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is PBS in Pinole, CA?

PBS is on channel 9 from KQED, broadcasting from 19 miles SSW of Pinole. Estimated signal: strong.

How many channels can I get with an antenna in Pinole?

63 transmitters within 70 miles of Pinole; around 37 of them are likely to be receivable with indoor antenna. Each station usually carries several subchannels, so the total channel count after a scan is higher.

Which direction should I point my TV antenna in Pinole?

Point your antenna SSW, at about 206°. The main network towers for Pinole sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

What kind of antenna do I need in Pinole?

Indoor antenna (up to ~25 miles). The main towers are close. A flat indoor antenna near a window facing the towers should pull in the major networks. Picking up NBC from up to 47 miles away would take an outdoor antenna.

Do I need an antenna amplifier in Pinole?

KCRA-TV (NBC), 47 miles northeast, is the exception: the nearest listed affiliate of its network is far enough away to need an outdoor antenna. Some local stations in our data carry no network tag, so check the other stations table below before buying a bigger antenna just for that one.

Is there an app to find TV towers in Pinole?

Yes. The free RCA Signal Finder app for iPhone and Android uses your phone's GPS and compass to show which way each tower is from where you stand.

TV channels in nearby California cities

More: all TV stations in California · West region · antenna buying guide · how to aim an antenna. Distances are straight-line from the center of Pinole; signal estimates ignore terrain.