TV channels & antenna towers in Santee, California

Santee is a city of about 57,800 people in California. Within 70 miles of the town center we count 19 licensed TV transmitters: 6 full-power, 2 Class A, 9 low-power and 2 translators. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 15 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 8 at good or strong strength.

By distance, 16 transmitters are within 25 miles, 1 between 25 and 45 miles, and 2 farther 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, 78 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 Santee are in different directions: ABC 270° W (16 mi), NBC 167° SSE (10 mi), Fox 167° SSE (10 mi) and PBS 167° SSE (10.0 mi). Aim at the farthest one you want first, or use a multi-directional antenna.

Three network stations, KPBS, KNSD and KSWB-TV, transmit from the same tower site about 10.0 miles south of Santee (167° SSE). That one direction covers every station on the site.

Of the 6 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Santee at fair strength or better, 50% arrive from the south; the rest are spread across one other direction.

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

The farthest main network tower for Santee is KGTV (ABC), 16 miles away with a fair estimated signal. That is why we suggest an amplified indoor or attic antenna here. Viewers who do not need that station can often manage with less.

KPBS is only 10.0 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 15 stations at fair strength or better, Santee ranks 762nd of 1,078 places in California: fewer than the typical California town (25). Its nearest major network tower is 10.0 miles away, against a state median of 22 miles.

48% of California's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an amplified indoor or attic antenna. The nearest larger city is San Diego, 14 miles away.