TV channels & antenna towers in Forestville, Maryland

Forestville has 44 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, PBS and CW. About 32 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is WDCO-CD, 13 miles to the WNW.

Open Forestville in the live finder

44TV transmitters within 70 miles

10networks over the air

13 mito the closest tower

12,353population

Network channels in Forestville

Station	Channel	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
MeTVWDME-CDMeTV	48.1	13 mi	301° WNW	Fair	Washington, DC
CWWDCWCW	50	13 mi	301° WNW	Strong	Washington, DC
NBCWRC-TVNBC	4	13 mi	301° WNW	Strong	Washington, DC
TLMWZDC-CDTelemundo	44	13 mi	301° WNW	Strong	Washington, DC
UNIWFDC-DTUnivision	14	13 mi	301° WNW	Strong	Arlington, VA
ABCWJLA-TVABC	7	13 mi	304° WNW	Good	Washington, DC
PBSWHUT-TVPBS	32	13 mi	304° WNW	Strong	Washington, DC
CBSWUSACBS	9	13 mi	304° WNW	Good	Washington, DC
PBSWETA-TVPBS	26	13 mi	304° WNW	Strong	Washington, DC
FOXWTTGFox	5	15 mi	304° WNW	Strong	Washington, DC
IONWPXW-TVION	66	15 mi	304° WNW	Strong	Manassas, VA
CBSWJZ-TVCBS	13	36 mi	20° NNE	Fair	Baltimore, MD
ABCWMAR-TVABC	2	36 mi	20° NNE	Good	Baltimore, MD
NBCWBAL-TVNBC	11	36 mi	20° NNE	Fair	Baltimore, MD
CWWNUVCW	54	36 mi	20° NNE	Good	Baltimore, MD
FOXWBFFFox	45	36 mi	20° NNE	Good	Baltimore, MD
IONWWPX-TVION	60	55 mi	300° WNW	Weak	Martinsburg, WV
CWWMDTCW	47.2	66 mi	111° ESE	Weak	Salisbury, MD
PBSWDPBPBS	64	69 mi	101° E	Poor	Seaford, DE

Over-the-air TV in Forestville

Forestville is a town of about 12,400 people in Maryland. There are 44 licensed TV transmitters within 70 miles: 25 full-power, 6 Class A and 13 low-power. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 32 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 19 at good or strong strength.

By distance, 24 transmitters are within 25 miles, 11 between 25 and 45 miles, and 9 farther out. Nine of the 19 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). 8 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 Forestville

The main network towers around Forestville are in different directions: ABC 20° NNE (36 mi), CBS 304° WNW (13 mi), NBC 301° WNW (13 mi), Fox 304° WNW (15 mi) and PBS 304° WNW (13 mi). Aim at the farthest one you want first, or use a multi-directional antenna.

11 network stations, WDME-CD, WDCW, WRC-TV, WZDC-CD and WFDC-DT and others, transmit from the same tower site about 13 miles northwest of Forestville (301° WNW). Point at that site and a single antenna setting picks them all up.

Of the 16 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Forestville at fair strength or better, 69% arrive from the northwest; the rest are spread across one other direction.

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

Antenna and amplifier advice for Forestville

The farthest main network tower for Forestville is WMAR-TV (ABC), 36 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.

WDCW is only 13 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.

Other stations near Forestville

Full-power independents, low-power stations and translators that relay a bigger station's signal.

Station	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
WDCO-CDClass A	13 mi	301° WNW	Fair	Woodstock, VA
WIAV-CDClass A	13 mi	301° WNW	Good	Washington, DC
WMDO-CDClass A	13 mi	301° WNW	Fair	Washington, DC
WRZB-LDLow power	13 mi	301° WNW	Fair	Washington, DC
WWTD-LDLow power	13 mi	301° WNW	Fair	Washington, DC
WJALFull power	13 mi	304° WNW	Good	Silver Spring, MD
W10DE-DLow power	14 mi	43° NE	Fair	Washington, DC
WDDN-LDLow power	14 mi	318° NW	Fair	Washington, DC
WDCAFull power	15 mi	304° WNW	Strong	Washington, DC
WMPTFull power	18 mi	51° NE	Strong	Annapolis, MD
WQAW-LDLow power	18 mi	51° NE	Fair	Lake Shore, MD
WDCN-LDLow power	19 mi	276° W	Fair	Fairfax, VA
WDWA-LDLow power	22 mi	333° NNW	Weak	Damascus, VA
WUTBFull power	36 mi	20° NNE	Good	Baltimore, MD
WFPTFull power	37 mi	321° NW	Fair	Frederick, MD
WMJF-CDClass A	41 mi	21° NNE	Weak	Towson, MD
WMPBFull power	42 mi	7° N	Fair	Baltimore, MD
W13DW-DLow power	43 mi	80° E	Poor	Annapolis, MD
WMDEFull power	43 mi	80° E	Weak	Dover, DE
W14DK-DLow power	46 mi	107° ESE	Poor	Dagsboro, DE
WLZH-LDLow power	49 mi	20° NNE	Poor	Baltimore, MD
WWDD-LDLow power	57 mi	36° NE	Poor	Baltimore, MD
WDVM-TVFull power	62 mi	277° W	Good	Hagerstown, MD
WOWZ-LDLow power	66 mi	111° ESE	Poor	Salisbury, MD
WGDV-LDLow power	66 mi	111° ESE	Poor	Salisbury, MD

How Forestville compares with the rest of Maryland

With 32 stations at fair strength or better, Forestville ranks 112th of 346 places in Maryland: the same as the typical Maryland town (32). Its nearest major network tower is 13 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 Suitland, 2.6 miles away.

Setting up an antenna in Forestville: step by step

Mount the antenna in the attic or high on the wall facing the towers, keeping the cable to the TV as short as you can.
Point it toward 20° NNE, the direction of WMAR-TV (ABC), 36 miles away. Closer stations usually come in even off-axis.
Run a full channel scan on your TV (usually Settings → Channels → Auto program; the name varies by brand).
Expect around 32 stations, each with a few subchannels. If one you want is missing, turn the antenna 5–10° toward it and scan again.
Rescan every few months, or whenever a channel disappears; stations occasionally change frequency.

Frequently asked questions

What channel is ABC in Forestville, MD?

ABC is on channel 2 from WMAR-TV, broadcasting from 36 miles NNE of Forestville. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CBS in Forestville, MD?

CBS is on channel 9 from WUSA, broadcasting from 13 miles WNW of Forestville. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is NBC in Forestville, MD?

NBC is on channel 4 from WRC-TV, broadcasting from 13 miles WNW of Forestville. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is Fox in Forestville, MD?

Fox is on channel 5 from WTTG, broadcasting from 15 miles WNW of Forestville. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is PBS in Forestville, MD?

PBS is on channel 26 from WETA-TV, broadcasting from 13 miles WNW of Forestville. Estimated signal: strong.

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

44 transmitters within 70 miles of Forestville; around 32 of them are likely to be receivable with amplified indoor or attic 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 Forestville?

What kind of antenna do I need in Forestville?

Amplified indoor or attic antenna (25–45 miles). Towers are at medium range. An amplified indoor antenna can work; an attic-mounted antenna is the safer choice. The towers are spread over about 79° of the compass, so a multi-directional antenna or a rotator will help.

Do I need an antenna amplifier in Forestville?

WDCW is only 13 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.

Is there an app to find TV towers in Forestville?

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 Maryland cities

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