TV channels & antenna towers in San Clemente, California

San Clemente is a city of about 65,500 people in California. Within 70 miles of the town center we count 65 licensed TV transmitters: 31 full-power, 8 Class A, 23 low-power and 3 translators. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 31 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 15 at good or strong strength.

0 of them are within 25 miles of San Clemente, 8 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 57 are more than 45 miles out. Seven of the 22 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 7 (KABC-TV), CBS on channel 2 (KCBS-TV), NBC on channel 4 (KNBC), Fox on channel 69 (KSWB-TV), PBS on channel 15 (KPBS), 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). 13 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 San Clemente are in different directions: ABC 335° NNW (61 mi), CBS 335° NNW (62 mi), NBC 335° NNW (61 mi), Fox 142° SE (64 mi) and PBS 142° SE (64 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 60 miles northwest of San Clemente (335° NNW). Aim there first: one setting covers all of them.

Of the 17 full-power and Class A network signals that reach San Clemente at fair strength or better, 65% 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 San Clemente, so signals arrive fairly directly and a well-placed antenna should hold them steadily.

The farthest main network tower for San Clemente is KSWB-TV (Fox), 64 miles away with a fair estimated signal. That is why we suggest an outdoor directional antenna here. If you only watch the closer stations, a smaller antenna may do.

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 31 stations at fair strength or better, San Clemente ranks 398th of 1,078 places in California: more than the typical California town (25). Its nearest major network tower is 29 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 Irvine, 21 miles away.