TV channels & antenna towers in Amherst, Virginia

Amherst is a small community of about 2,210 people in Virginia. There are 22 licensed TV transmitters within 70 miles: 12 full-power, 5 Class A, 3 low-power and 2 translators. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 11 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 9 at good or strong strength.

By distance, 1 transmitter is within 25 miles, 11 between 25 and 45 miles, and 10 farther out. Four of the 13 network stations in range are licensed to Charlottesville, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Charlottesville's stations.

The strongest network signals here are ABC on channel 3 (WHSV-TV), CBS on channel 7 (WDBJ), NBC on channel 10 (WSLS-TV), Fox on channel 27.2 (WCAV), CW on channel 21 (WWCW) and ION on channel 38 (WPXR-TV). 3 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 Amherst are in different directions: ABC 341° NNW (43 mi) and Fox 48° NE (42 mi). Aim at the farthest one you want first, or use a multi-directional antenna.

Four network stations, WVIR-TV, WVIR-CD, WCAV and WVAW-LD, transmit from the same tower site about 42 miles northeast of Amherst (48° NE). Aim there first: one setting covers all of them.

Of the 8 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Amherst at fair strength or better, 75% arrive from the southwest; the rest are spread across two other directions.

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

The farthest main network tower for Amherst is WHSV-TV (ABC), 43 miles away with a good estimated signal. That is why we suggest an amplified indoor or attic antenna here.

WDBJ (CBS), 66 miles southwest and WSLS-TV (NBC), 66 miles southwest, are the exception: the nearest listed affiliates of those networks are far enough away to need an outdoor antenna. Some local stations in our data carry no network tag, so check the other stations table below before buying a bigger antenna just for those.

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.

With 11 stations at fair strength or better, Amherst ranks 271st of 381 places in Virginia: fewer than the typical Virginia town (16). Its nearest major network tower is 37 miles away, against a state median of 21 miles.

36% of Virginia's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an amplified indoor or attic antenna. The nearest larger city is Lynchburg, 13 miles away.