TV channels & antenna towers in Ballston Spa, New York
Ballston Spa has 30 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CW and ION. About 15 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is WNGN-LD, 16 miles to the E.
Network channels in Ballston Spa
| Station | Channel | Distance | Point antenna | Est. signal | Licensed to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IONWYPX-TVION | 55 | 26 mi | 197° SSW | Good | Amsterdam, NY |
| FOXWXXA-TVFox | 23 | 27 mi | 198° SSW | Fair | Albany, NY |
| CWWCWNCW | 45 | 27 mi | 198° SSW | Good | Schenectady, NY |
| NBCWNYTNBC | 13 | 27 mi | 198° SSW | Good | Albany, NY |
| CBSWRGBCBS | 6 | 27 mi | 198° SSW | Good | Schenectady, NY |
| ABCWTENABC | 10 | 27 mi | 198° SSW | Good | Albany, NY |
| NBCWKTVNBC | 2 | 56 mi | 278° W | Good | Utica, NY |
| CWWFXVCW | 33.2 | 68 mi | 279° W | Weak | Utica, NY |
| ABCWUTRABC | 20 | 68 mi | 279° W | Poor | Utica, NY |
Over-the-air TV in Ballston Spa
Ballston Spa, New York has a population of about 5,380. Our map shows 30 licensed TV transmitters inside a 70-mile radius: 11 full-power, 3 Class A, 9 low-power and 7 translators. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 15 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 7 at good or strong strength.
3 of them are within 25 miles of Ballston Spa, 17 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 10 are more than 45 miles out. Three of the 9 network stations in range are licensed to Albany, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Albany's stations.
The strongest network signals here are ABC on channel 10 (WTEN), CBS on channel 6 (WRGB), NBC on channel 13 (WNYT), Fox on channel 23 (WXXA-TV), CW on channel 45 (WCWN) and ION on channel 55 (WYPX-TV). 2 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 Ballston Spa
Point your antenna SSW, at about 198°. The main network towers for Ballston Spa sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.
Six network stations, WYPX-TV, WXXA-TV, WCWN, WNYT and WRGB and others, transmit from the same tower site about 26 miles south of Ballston Spa (197° SSW). Aim there first: one setting covers all of them.
Of the 7 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Ballston Spa at fair strength or better, 86% 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 Ballston Spa, so signals arrive fairly directly and a well-placed antenna should hold them steadily.
Antenna and amplifier advice for Ballston Spa
The farthest main network tower for Ballston Spa is WXXA-TV (Fox), 27 miles away with a fair 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.
An amplifier only helps here if you run a long cable (over about 50 feet) or split the antenna to several TVs. Otherwise better placement does more. See the amplifier guide.
Other stations near Ballston Spa
Full-power independents, low-power stations and translators that relay a bigger station's signal.
| Station | Distance | Point antenna | Est. signal | Licensed to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WNGN-LDLow power | 16 mi | 85° E | Fair | Troy, NY |
| WNGX-LDLow power | 16 mi | 85° E | Fair | Schenectady, NY |
| WNCE-CDClass A | 21 mi | 15° NNE | Fair | Glens Falls, NY |
| W18FE-DTranslator | 26 mi | 276° W | Weak | Gloversville, NY |
| WZPJ-LDLow power | 26 mi | 197° SSW | Fair | Albany, NY |
| WYBN-LDLow power | 27 mi | 198° SSW | Fair | Cobleskill, NY |
| WMHTFull power | 27 mi | 198° SSW | Good | Schenectady, NY |
| WNYAFull power | 27 mi | 198° SSW | Fair | Pittsfield, MA |
| WFNY-CDClass A | 27 mi | 285° WNW | Fair | Gloversville, NY |
| WVBG-LDLow power | 32 mi | 191° S | Weak | Greenwich, NY |
| W20EH-DTranslator | 33 mi | 107° ESE | Poor | Pownal, Etc., VT |
| W30DM-DTranslator | 39 mi | 73° ENE | Poor | Manchester, Etc., VT |
| WUCB-LDLow power | 42 mi | 235° SW | Poor | Cobleskill, NY |
| W32FW-DTranslator | 43 mi | 126° SE | Poor | Adams, MA |
| W28DA-DTranslator | 50 mi | 143° SE | Poor | Pittsfield, MA |
| WYBM-LDLow power | 50 mi | 120° ESE | Poor | Westmoreland, NH |
| W23EU-DTranslator | 58 mi | 47° NE | Poor | Rutland, VT |
| WPNY-LDLow power | 68 mi | 279° W | Poor | Utica, Etc., NY |
| W22DO-DTranslator | 68 mi | 279° W | Poor | Utica, NY |
| WWDG-CDClass A | 68 mi | 279° W | Poor | Utica, NY |
| WVVC-LDLow power | 68 mi | 273° W | Poor | Utica, NY |
How Ballston Spa compares with the rest of New York
With 15 stations at fair strength or better, Ballston Spa ranks 749th of 1,012 places in New York: fewer than the typical New York town (23). Its nearest major network tower is 26 miles away, against a state median of 22 miles.
42% of New York's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an amplified indoor or attic antenna. The nearest larger city is Saratoga Springs, 6.5 miles away.
Setting up an antenna in Ballston Spa: 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 198° SSW, the direction of WXXA-TV (Fox), 27 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 15 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 Ballston Spa, NY?
ABC is on channel 10 from WTEN, broadcasting from 27 miles SSW of Ballston Spa. Estimated signal: good.
What channel is CBS in Ballston Spa, NY?
CBS is on channel 6 from WRGB, broadcasting from 27 miles SSW of Ballston Spa. Estimated signal: good.
What channel is NBC in Ballston Spa, NY?
NBC is on channel 13 from WNYT, broadcasting from 27 miles SSW of Ballston Spa. Estimated signal: good.
What channel is Fox in Ballston Spa, NY?
Fox is on channel 23 from WXXA-TV, broadcasting from 27 miles SSW of Ballston Spa. Estimated signal: fair.
What channel is CW in Ballston Spa, NY?
CW is on channel 45 from WCWN, broadcasting from 27 miles SSW of Ballston Spa. Estimated signal: good.
How many channels can I get with an antenna in Ballston Spa?
30 transmitters within 70 miles of Ballston Spa; around 15 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 Ballston Spa?
Point your antenna SSW, at about 198°. The main network towers for Ballston Spa sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.
What kind of antenna do I need in Ballston Spa?
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.
Do I need an antenna amplifier in Ballston Spa?
An amplifier only helps here if you run a long cable (over about 50 feet) or split the antenna to several TVs. Otherwise better placement does more. See the amplifier guide.
Is there an app to find TV towers in Ballston Spa?
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 New York cities
- Saratoga Springs6.5 mi
- East Glenville8.4 mi
- Mechanicville11 mi
- Scotia13 mi
- Schenectady14 mi
- Northumberland16 mi
- Rotterdam16 mi
- Cohoes17 mi
- Amsterdam18 mi
- Latham18 mi
- Colonie20 mi
- Edinburg20 mi
- Watervliet20 mi
- Troy20 mi
- Roessleville21 mi
- Westmere21 mi
- West Albany22 mi
- West Glens Falls22 mi
- Glens Falls24 mi
- Albany25 mi
- Glens Falls North25 mi
- Hudson Falls25 mi
- Gloversville25 mi
- Rensselaer25 mi
More: all TV stations in New York · Northeast region · antenna buying guide · how to aim an antenna. Distances are straight-line from the center of Ballston Spa; signal estimates ignore terrain.