TV channels & antenna towers in Fountainhead-Orchard Hills, Maryland
Fountainhead-Orchard Hills has 52 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, PBS and CW. About 21 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is WWPB, 14 miles to the W.
Network channels in Fountainhead-Orchard Hills
| Station | Channel | Distance | Point antenna | Est. signal | Licensed to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IONWWPX-TVION | 60 | 31 mi | 185° S | Weak | Martinsburg, WV |
| ABCWHTM-TVABC | 27 | 60 mi | 43° NE | Weak | Harrisburg, PA |
| FOXWTTGFox | 5 | 60 mi | 146° SSE | Fair | Washington, DC |
| IONWPXW-TVION | 66 | 60 mi | 146° SSE | Fair | Manassas, VA |
| ABCWJLA-TVABC | 7 | 61 mi | 146° SE | Poor | Washington, DC |
| PBSWHUT-TVPBS | 32 | 61 mi | 146° SE | Weak | Washington, DC |
| CBSWUSACBS | 9 | 61 mi | 146° SE | Poor | Washington, DC |
| PBSWETA-TVPBS | 26 | 61 mi | 146° SE | Fair | Washington, DC |
| CWWDCWCW | 50 | 62 mi | 146° SSE | Good | Washington, DC |
| NBCWRC-TVNBC | 4 | 62 mi | 146° SSE | Weak | Washington, DC |
| TLMWZDC-CDTelemundo | 44 | 62 mi | 146° SSE | Weak | Washington, DC |
| UNIWFDC-DTUnivision | 14 | 62 mi | 146° SSE | Weak | Arlington, VA |
| MeTVWDME-CDMeTV | 48.1 | 62 mi | 146° SSE | Poor | Washington, DC |
| CBSWJZ-TVCBS | 13 | 62 mi | 113° ESE | Weak | Baltimore, MD |
| ABCWMAR-TVABC | 2 | 62 mi | 113° ESE | Fair | Baltimore, MD |
| NBCWBAL-TVNBC | 11 | 62 mi | 113° ESE | Weak | Baltimore, MD |
| CWWNUVCW | 54 | 62 mi | 113° ESE | Fair | Baltimore, MD |
| FOXWBFFFox | 45 | 62 mi | 113° ESE | Fair | Baltimore, MD |
| NBCWGALNBC | 8 | 63 mi | 67° ENE | Fair | Lancaster, PA |
| UNIWXBUUnivision | 15 | 64 mi | 44° NE | Fair | Lancaster, PA |
| CWWHP-TVCW | 21.3 | 64 mi | 44° NE | Fair | Harrisburg, PA |
| FOXWPMTFox | 43 | 64 mi | 44° NE | Fair | York, PA |
Over-the-air TV in Fountainhead-Orchard Hills
Fountainhead-Orchard Hills, Maryland has a population of about 5,670. Our map shows 52 licensed TV transmitters inside a 70-mile radius: 30 full-power, 6 Class A, 13 low-power and 3 translators. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 21 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 3 at good or strong strength.
By distance, 4 transmitters are within 25 miles, 3 between 25 and 45 miles, and 45 farther out. Nine of the 22 network stations in range are licensed to Washington, DC, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Washington's stations.
For the networks, the best local options are ABC on channel 2 (WMAR-TV), CBS on channel 13 (WJZ-TV), NBC on channel 8 (WGAL), Fox on channel 45 (WBFF), 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 15 (WXBU) and MeTV on channel 48.1 (WDME-CD). Spanish-language viewers can pick up Telemundo (weak signal) and Univision (fair signal). 10 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 Fountainhead-Orchard Hills
The main network towers around Fountainhead-Orchard Hills are in different directions: ABC 113° ESE (62 mi), CBS 113° ESE (62 mi), NBC 67° ENE (63 mi), Fox 113° ESE (62 mi) and PBS 146° SE (61 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 60 miles southeast of Fountainhead-Orchard Hills (146° SSE). Aim there first: one setting covers all of them.
Of the 11 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Fountainhead-Orchard Hills at fair strength or better, 64% arrive from the southeast; the rest are spread across one other direction.
WMAR-TV (ABC), WJZ-TV (CBS), WGAL (NBC), WBFF (Fox) and WETA-TV (PBS) lie beyond the radio horizon of their transmitter as seen from Fountainhead-Orchard Hills. Past that point signals fade quickly, so antenna height matters more than amplification.
Antenna and amplifier advice for Fountainhead-Orchard Hills
The farthest main network tower for Fountainhead-Orchard Hills is WGAL (NBC), 63 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.
WWPB is only 14 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 Fountainhead-Orchard Hills
Full-power independents, low-power stations and translators that relay a bigger station's signal. Showing the closest 25 of 30; see all in the finder.
| Station | Distance | Point antenna | Est. signal | Licensed to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WWPBFull power | 14 mi | 260° W | Strong | Hagerstown, MD |
| W08EE-DTranslator | 24 mi | 230° SW | Weak | Martinsburg, WV |
| W25FE-DLow power | 25 mi | 356° N | Weak | Chambersburg, PA |
| WCZS-LDLow power | 25 mi | 356° N | Fair | Chambersburg, PA |
| W20EU-DTranslator | 25 mi | 357° N | Fair | Chambersburg, PA |
| WFPTFull power | 37 mi | 143° SE | Fair | Frederick, MD |
| WRZH-LDLow power | 46 mi | 49° NE | Poor | Lancaster, PA |
| WDWA-LDLow power | 52 mi | 137° SE | Poor | Damascus, VA |
| WMPBFull power | 53 mi | 108° ESE | Fair | Baltimore, MD |
| WDVM-TVFull power | 53 mi | 198° SSW | Good | Hagerstown, MD |
| W21DZ-DTranslator | 59 mi | 245° WSW | Poor | Romney, WV |
| WDDN-LDLow power | 59 mi | 143° SE | Poor | Washington, DC |
| WHLZ-LDLow power | 59 mi | 43° NE | Poor | Harrisburg, PA |
| W16EJ-DLow power | 59 mi | 43° NE | Poor | Harrisburg, PA |
| WLYHFull power | 60 mi | 43° NE | Weak | Red Lion, PA |
| WDCAFull power | 60 mi | 146° SSE | Fair | Washington, DC |
| WVPYFull power | 60 mi | 213° SSW | Fair | New Market, VA |
| WJALFull power | 61 mi | 146° SE | Poor | Silver Spring, MD |
| WMDO-CDClass A | 62 mi | 146° SSE | Poor | Washington, DC |
| WRZB-LDLow power | 62 mi | 146° SSE | Poor | Washington, DC |
| WWTD-LDLow power | 62 mi | 146° SSE | Poor | Washington, DC |
| WDCO-CDClass A | 62 mi | 146° SSE | Poor | Woodstock, VA |
| WIAV-CDClass A | 62 mi | 146° SSE | Poor | Washington, DC |
| WUTBFull power | 62 mi | 113° ESE | Fair | Baltimore, MD |
| WDCN-LDLow power | 62 mi | 155° SSE | Poor | Fairfax, VA |
How Fountainhead-Orchard Hills compares with the rest of Maryland
With 21 stations at fair strength or better, Fountainhead-Orchard Hills ranks 297th of 346 places in Maryland: fewer than the typical Maryland town (32). Its nearest major network tower is 31 miles away, against a state median of 16 miles.
12% of Maryland's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an outdoor directional antenna. The nearest larger city is Hagerstown, 3.1 miles away.
Setting up an antenna in Fountainhead-Orchard Hills: step by step
- Mount an outdoor antenna on the roof or a mast, as high as you can safely get it, with a clear view toward the towers.
- Point it toward 67° ENE, the direction of WGAL (NBC), 63 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 21 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 Fountainhead-Orchard Hills, MD?
ABC is on channel 2 from WMAR-TV, broadcasting from 62 miles ESE of Fountainhead-Orchard Hills. Estimated signal: fair.
What channel is CBS in Fountainhead-Orchard Hills, MD?
CBS is on channel 13 from WJZ-TV, broadcasting from 62 miles ESE of Fountainhead-Orchard Hills. Estimated signal: weak.
What channel is NBC in Fountainhead-Orchard Hills, MD?
NBC is on channel 8 from WGAL, broadcasting from 63 miles ENE of Fountainhead-Orchard Hills. Estimated signal: fair.
What channel is Fox in Fountainhead-Orchard Hills, MD?
Fox is on channel 45 from WBFF, broadcasting from 62 miles ESE of Fountainhead-Orchard Hills. Estimated signal: fair.
What channel is PBS in Fountainhead-Orchard Hills, MD?
PBS is on channel 26 from WETA-TV, broadcasting from 61 miles SE of Fountainhead-Orchard Hills. Estimated signal: fair.
How many channels can I get with an antenna in Fountainhead-Orchard Hills?
52 transmitters within 70 miles of Fountainhead-Orchard Hills; around 21 of them are likely to be receivable with outdoor directional 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 Fountainhead-Orchard Hills?
The main network towers around Fountainhead-Orchard Hills are in different directions: ABC 113° ESE (62 mi), CBS 113° ESE (62 mi), NBC 67° ENE (63 mi), Fox 113° ESE (62 mi) and PBS 146° SE (61 mi). Aim at the farthest one you want first, or use a multi-directional antenna.
What kind of antenna do I need in Fountainhead-Orchard Hills?
Outdoor directional antenna (45–70 miles). Some major towers are a long way off. Mount a directional antenna on the roof or a mast and aim it with the bearings below. 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 Fountainhead-Orchard Hills?
WWPB is only 14 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 Fountainhead-Orchard Hills?
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
- Hagerstown3.1 mi
- Robinwood4.7 mi
- Halfway5.0 mi
- Thurmont17 mi
- Walkersville24 mi
- Hancock25 mi
- Frederick25 mi
- Brunswick26 mi
- Ballenger Creek26 mi
- Spring Ridge28 mi
- Taneytown29 mi
- Urbana32 mi
- Linganore32 mi
- Green Valley34 mi
- Mount Airy37 mi
Nearby cities in other states
- Waynesboro, PA8.9 mi
- Mercersburg, PA14 mi
- Chambersburg, PA18 mi
- Martinsburg, WV21 mi
- Shippensburg, PA27 mi
- Gettysburg, PA28 mi
- Charles Town, WV28 mi
- Newville, PA38 mi
- Purcellville, VA38 mi
More: all TV stations in Maryland · South region · antenna buying guide · how to aim an antenna. Distances are straight-line from the center of Fountainhead-Orchard Hills; signal estimates ignore terrain.