TV channels & antenna towers in Rockville Centre, New York

Rockville Centre has 53 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CW and ION. About 40 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is W20CQ-D, 13 miles to the NE.

53TV transmitters within 70 miles
9networks over the air
13 mito the closest tower
24,201population

Network channels in Rockville Centre

StationChannelDistancePoint antennaEst. signalLicensed to
IONWPXU-LDION35 18 mi291° WNW FairAmityville, NY
ABCWABC-TVABC7 19 mi289° WNW GoodNew York, NY
CWWPIXCW11 19 mi289° WNW FairNew York, NY
UNIWXTV-DTUnivision41 19 mi289° WNW GoodPaterson, NJ
MeTVWJLPMeTV33.1 19 mi291° WNW FairMiddletown Township, NJ
CBSWCBS-TVCBS2 20 mi281° W GoodNew York, NY
FOXWNYWFox5 20 mi281° W GoodNew York, NY
NBCWNBCNBC4 20 mi281° W StrongNew York, NY
TLMWNJUTelemundo47 20 mi281° W StrongLinden, NJ
IONWPXN-TVION31 20 mi281° W GoodNew York, NY
ABCWTNHABC8 64 mi34° NE PoorNew Haven, CT

Over-the-air TV in Rockville Centre

Rockville Centre is a city of about 24,200 people in New York. Within 70 miles of the town center we count 53 licensed TV transmitters: 23 full-power, 5 Class A, 23 low-power and 2 translators. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 40 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 16 at good or strong strength.

38 of them are within 25 miles of Rockville Centre, 6 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 9 are more than 45 miles out. Six of the 11 network stations in range are licensed to New York, so most of the network channels you will find here come from New York's stations.

The strongest network signals here are ABC on channel 7 (WABC-TV), CBS on channel 2 (WCBS-TV), NBC on channel 4 (WNBC), Fox on channel 5 (WNYW), CW on channel 11 (WPIX), ION on channel 31 (WPXN-TV), Telemundo on channel 47 (WNJU), Univision on channel 41 (WXTV-DT) and MeTV on channel 33.1 (WJLP). Spanish-language viewers can pick up Telemundo (strong signal) and Univision (good signal). 13 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 Rockville Centre

Point your antenna WNW, at about 283°. The main network towers for Rockville Centre sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

Five network stations, WCBS-TV, WNYW, WNBC, WNJU and WPXN-TV, transmit from the same tower site about 20 miles west of Rockville Centre (281° W). Point at that site and a single antenna setting picks them all up.

Of the 9 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Rockville Centre at fair strength or better, all arrive from the west, so this is an easy place to aim.

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

Antenna and amplifier advice for Rockville Centre

The farthest main network tower for Rockville Centre is WNYW (Fox), 20 miles away with a good estimated signal. That is why we suggest an indoor 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 Rockville Centre

Full-power independents, low-power stations and translators that relay a bigger station's signal. Showing the closest 25 of 42; see all in the finder.

StationDistancePoint antennaEst. signalLicensed to
W20CQ-DLow power13 mi 45° NEFairHempstead, NY
WLIG-LDLow power14 mi 54° NEWeakPlainview, Etc., NY
WNYZ-LDLow power17 mi 291° WNWFairNew York, NY
WNYN-LDLow power17 mi 253° WSWFairNew York, NY
WNJJ-LDLow power17 mi 253° WSWFairNew York, NY
WNYK-LDLow power18 mi 291° WNWFairTeaneck, NJ
WNMF-LDLow power18 mi 291° WNWFairNew York, NY
WHTV-LDLow power18 mi 291° WNWFairNew York, NY
WNYD-LDLow power18 mi 291° WNWFairNew York, NY
W02CY-DLow power18 mi 291° WNWWeakNew York, NY
W09CZ-DLow power18 mi 294° WNWFairRoslyn, NY
WXNY-LDLow power19 mi 289° WNWFairNew York, NY
WDYJ-LDLow power19 mi 289° WNWFairNew York, NY
WFUT-DTFull power19 mi 289° WNWGoodNewark, NJ
WTBY-TVFull power19 mi 289° WNWFairJersey City, NJ
WDYA-LDLow power19 mi 289° WNWFairNew York, NY
WDVB-CDClass A19 mi 289° WNWFairEdison, NJ
WNYE-TVFull power19 mi 291° WNWGoodNew York, NY
WMBQ-CDClass A20 mi 281° WPoorNew York, NY
WNETFull power20 mi 281° WFairNewark, NJ
WNWT-LDLow power20 mi 281° WGoodNew York, NY
WLIWFull power20 mi 281° WGoodGarden City, NY
WMBC-TVFull power20 mi 281° WGoodNewton, NJ
WKOB-LDLow power20 mi 281° WFairNew York, NY
WNDT-CDClass A20 mi 281° WFairManhattan, NY

How Rockville Centre compares with the rest of New York

With 40 stations at fair strength or better, Rockville Centre ranks 63rd of 1,012 places in New York: more than the typical New York town (23). Its nearest major network tower is 18 miles away, against a state median of 22 miles.

34% of New York's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an indoor antenna. The nearest larger city is Hempstead, 3.5 miles away.

Setting up an antenna in Rockville Centre: step by step

  1. Place the antenna high on a window or wall that faces the towers. Upstairs is better than downstairs.
  2. Point it toward 281° W, the direction of WNYW (Fox), 20 miles away. Closer stations usually come in even off-axis.
  3. Run a full channel scan on your TV (usually Settings → Channels → Auto program; the name varies by brand).
  4. Expect around 40 stations, each with a few subchannels. If one you want is missing, turn the antenna 5–10° toward it and scan again.
  5. Rescan every few months, or whenever a channel disappears; stations occasionally change frequency.

Frequently asked questions

What channel is ABC in Rockville Centre, NY?

ABC is on channel 7 from WABC-TV, broadcasting from 19 miles WNW of Rockville Centre. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CBS in Rockville Centre, NY?

CBS is on channel 2 from WCBS-TV, broadcasting from 20 miles W of Rockville Centre. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is NBC in Rockville Centre, NY?

NBC is on channel 4 from WNBC, broadcasting from 20 miles W of Rockville Centre. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is Fox in Rockville Centre, NY?

Fox is on channel 5 from WNYW, broadcasting from 20 miles W of Rockville Centre. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CW in Rockville Centre, NY?

CW is on channel 11 from WPIX, broadcasting from 19 miles WNW of Rockville Centre. Estimated signal: fair.

How many channels can I get with an antenna in Rockville Centre?

53 transmitters within 70 miles of Rockville Centre; around 40 of them are likely to be receivable with indoor 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 Rockville Centre?

Point your antenna WNW, at about 283°. The main network towers for Rockville Centre sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

What kind of antenna do I need in Rockville Centre?

Indoor antenna (up to ~25 miles). The main towers are close. A flat indoor antenna near a window facing the towers should pull in the major networks.

Do I need an antenna amplifier in Rockville Centre?

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 Rockville Centre?

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

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 Rockville Centre; signal estimates ignore terrain.