TV channels & antenna towers in Portola, California

Portola, California has a population of about 1,900. There are 66 licensed TV transmitters within 70 miles: 9 full-power, 1 Class A, 28 low-power and 28 translators. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 9 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 2 at good or strong strength.

3 of them are within 25 miles of Portola, 27 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 36 are more than 45 miles out. Four of the 6 network stations in range are licensed to Reno, NV, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Reno's stations.

The best-placed network stations are CBS on channel 2 (KTVN), Fox on channel 11 (KRXI-TV), CW on channel 12.2 (KHSL-TV) and Univision on channel 27 (KREN-TV). No ABC affiliate is listed within 70 miles; the nearest one in our data is KXTV in Sacramento, CA, 122 miles to the southwest. No NBC affiliate is listed within 70 miles; the nearest one in our data is KNVN in Chico, CA, 91 miles to the west. Spanish-language viewers can pick up Univision (good signal). 4 full-power stations in range have no network listed in our data; these are typically public television, religious, shopping or independent stations.

Point your antenna SE, at about 128°. The main network towers for Portola sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

Three network stations, KTVN, KOLO-TV and KREN-TV, transmit from the same tower site about 46 miles southeast of Portola (138° SE). Point at that site and a single antenna setting picks them all up.

Of the 5 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Portola at fair strength or better, 80% 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 Portola, so signals arrive fairly directly and a well-placed antenna should hold them steadily.

The farthest main network tower for Portola is KTVN (CBS), 46 miles away with a fair estimated signal. That is why we suggest an outdoor directional antenna here. Viewers who do not need that station can often manage with less.

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 9 stations at fair strength or better, Portola ranks 959th of 1,078 places in California: fewer than the typical California town (25). Its nearest major network tower is 33 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 Reno, 40 miles away.