TV channels & antenna towers in Damascus, Maryland

Damascus is a town of about 15,300 people in Maryland. Within 70 miles of the town center we count 49 licensed TV transmitters: 26 full-power, 6 Class A, 15 low-power and 2 translators. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 32 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 18 at good or strong strength.

By distance, 21 transmitters are within 25 miles, 14 between 25 and 45 miles, and 14 farther out. Nine of the 18 network stations in range are licensed to Washington, DC, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Washington's stations.

The strongest network signals here are ABC on channel 2 (WMAR-TV), CBS on channel 9 (WUSA), NBC on channel 4 (WRC-TV), Fox on channel 5 (WTTG), PBS on channel 26 (WETA-TV), CW on channel 50 (WDCW), ION on channel 66 (WPXW-TV), Telemundo on channel 44 (WZDC-CD), Univision on channel 14 (WFDC-DT) and MeTV on channel 48.1 (WDME-CD). Spanish-language viewers can pick up Telemundo (strong signal) and Univision (strong signal). 10 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 Damascus are in different directions: ABC 84° E (30 mi), CBS 164° SSE (24 mi), NBC 165° SSE (25 mi), Fox 167° SSE (23 mi) and PBS 164° SSE (24 mi). Aim at the farthest one you want first, or use a multi-directional antenna.

11 network stations, WTTG, WPXW-TV, WJLA-TV, WHUT-TV and WUSA and others, transmit from the same tower site about 23 miles south of Damascus (167° SSE). Point at that site and a single antenna setting picks them all up.

Of the 17 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Damascus at fair strength or better, 65% arrive from the south; the rest are spread across two other directions.

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

The farthest main network tower for Damascus is WMAR-TV (ABC), 30 miles away with a good estimated signal. That is why we suggest an amplified indoor or attic antenna here. If you only watch the closer stations, a smaller antenna may do.

WFPT is only 6.1 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 32 stations at fair strength or better, Damascus ranks 112th of 346 places in Maryland: the same as the typical Maryland town (32). Its nearest major network tower is 23 miles away, against a state median of 16 miles.

66% of Maryland's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an amplified indoor or attic antenna. The nearest larger city is Montgomery Village, 7.7 miles away.