TV channels & antenna towers in Mars, Pennsylvania

Mars is a small community of about 1,660 people in Pennsylvania. Within 70 miles of the town center we count 40 licensed TV transmitters: 17 full-power, 11 Class A, 8 low-power and 4 translators. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 25 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 16 at good or strong strength.

18 of them are within 25 miles of Mars, 11 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 11 are more than 45 miles out. Six of the 14 network stations in range are licensed to Pittsburgh, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Pittsburgh's stations.

The strongest network signals here are ABC on channel 4 (WTAE-TV), CBS on channel 2 (KDKA-TV), NBC on channel 11 (WPXI), Fox on channel 53 (WPGH-TV), CW on channel 22 (WPNT) and ION on channel 16 (WINP-TV). 4 full-power stations in range have no network listed in our data; these are typically public television, religious, shopping or independent stations.

Point your antenna S, at about 174°. The main network towers for Mars sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

Three network stations, WPGH-TV, WPNT and KDKA-TV, transmit from the same tower site about 14 miles south of Mars (178° S). Aim there first: one setting covers all of them.

Of the 11 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Mars at fair strength or better, 55% arrive from the south; the rest are spread across three other directions.

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

The farthest main network tower for Mars is WTAE-TV (ABC), 31 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.

WPGH-TV 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.

With 25 stations at fair strength or better, Mars ranks 398th of 1,015 places in Pennsylvania: more than the typical Pennsylvania town (24). Its nearest major network tower is 14 miles away, against a state median of 16 miles.

44% of Pennsylvania's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an amplified indoor or attic antenna. The nearest larger city is Cranberry Township, 5.1 miles away.