TV channels & antenna towers in Rockdale, Texas

Rockdale, Texas has a population of about 5,610. There are 42 licensed TV transmitters within 70 miles: 15 full-power, 9 Class A and 18 low-power. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 15 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 9 at good or strong strength.

0 of them are within 25 miles of Rockdale, 13 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 29 are more than 45 miles out. Six of the 16 network stations in range are licensed to Austin, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Austin's stations.

For the networks, the best local options are ABC on channel 25 (KXXV), CBS on channel 42 (KEYE-TV), NBC on channel 36 (KXAN-TV), Fox on channel 44 (KWKT-TV), CW on channel 46 (KNCT), ION on channel 17.5 (KVAT-LD) and Univision on channel 62 (KAKW-DT). Spanish-language viewers can pick up Univision (fair signal). 2 full-power stations in range have no network listed in our data; these are typically public television, religious, shopping or independent stations.

The main network towers around Rockdale are in different directions: ABC 339° NNW (51 mi), CBS 244° WSW (53 mi), NBC 245° WSW (53 mi) and Fox 337° NNW (49 mi). Aim at the farthest one you want first, or use a multi-directional antenna.

Five network stations, KNVA, KXAN-TV, KTBC, KEYE-TV and KVUE, transmit from the same tower site about 53 miles southwest of Rockdale (245° WSW). Aim there first: one setting covers all of them.

Of the 14 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Rockdale at fair strength or better, 36% arrive from the southwest; the rest are spread across four other directions.

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

The farthest main network tower for Rockdale is KEYE-TV (CBS), 53 miles away with a good estimated signal. That is why we suggest an outdoor directional antenna here. Skip that station and you may get away with a smaller antenna.

At this distance a low-noise preamplifier mounted on the mast, right below the antenna, helps more than an amplifier near the TV. It boosts the signal before cable loss eats into it. See the amplifier guide.

With 15 stations at fair strength or better, Rockdale ranks 473rd of 1,039 places in Texas: more than the typical Texas town (14). Its nearest major network tower is 32 miles away, against a state median of 26 miles.

32% of Texas's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an outdoor directional antenna. The nearest larger city is Hutto, 33 miles away.