TV channels & antenna towers in Fairfax Station, Virginia

Fairfax Station has 43 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, PBS and CW. About 32 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is WDCN-LD, 7.5 miles to the NE.

Open Fairfax Station in the live finder

43TV transmitters within 70 miles

10networks over the air

7.5 mito the closest tower

12,030population

Network channels in Fairfax Station

Station	Channel	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
CWWDCWCW	50	16 mi	54° NE	Strong	Washington, DC
NBCWRC-TVNBC	4	16 mi	54° NE	Strong	Washington, DC
TLMWZDC-CDTelemundo	44	16 mi	54° NE	Strong	Washington, DC
UNIWFDC-DTUnivision	14	16 mi	54° NE	Strong	Arlington, VA
MeTVWDME-CDMeTV	48.1	16 mi	54° NE	Fair	Washington, DC
FOXWTTGFox	5	16 mi	46° NE	Strong	Washington, DC
IONWPXW-TVION	66	16 mi	46° NE	Strong	Manassas, VA
ABCWJLA-TVABC	7	17 mi	52° NE	Good	Washington, DC
PBSWHUT-TVPBS	32	17 mi	52° NE	Strong	Washington, DC
CBSWUSACBS	9	17 mi	52° NE	Good	Washington, DC
PBSWETA-TVPBS	26	17 mi	52° NE	Strong	Washington, DC
IONWWPX-TVION	60	39 mi	322° NW	Weak	Martinsburg, WV
CBSWJZ-TVCBS	13	52 mi	44° NE	Fair	Baltimore, MD
ABCWMAR-TVABC	2	52 mi	44° NE	Good	Baltimore, MD
NBCWBAL-TVNBC	11	52 mi	44° NE	Fair	Baltimore, MD
CWWNUVCW	54	52 mi	44° NE	Good	Baltimore, MD
FOXWBFFFox	45	52 mi	44° NE	Good	Baltimore, MD

Over-the-air TV in Fairfax Station

Fairfax Station, Virginia has a population of about 12,000. There are 43 licensed TV transmitters within 70 miles: 25 full-power, 6 Class A, 11 low-power and 1 translator. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 32 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 19 at good or strong strength.

20 of them are within 25 miles of Fairfax Station, 7 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 16 are more than 45 miles out. Nine of the 17 network stations in range are licensed to Washington, DC, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Washington's stations.

The best-placed network stations are ABC on channel 2 (WMAR-TV), CBS on channel 9 (WUSA), NBC on channel 4 (WRC-TV), Fox on channel 5 (WTTG), PBS on channel 26 (WETA-TV), CW on channel 50 (WDCW), ION on channel 66 (WPXW-TV), Telemundo on channel 44 (WZDC-CD), Univision on channel 14 (WFDC-DT) and MeTV on channel 48.1 (WDME-CD). Spanish-language viewers can pick up Telemundo (strong signal) and Univision (strong signal). 10 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 Fairfax Station

Point your antenna NE, at about 51°. The main network towers for Fairfax Station sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

11 network stations, WDCW, WRC-TV, WZDC-CD, WFDC-DT and WDME-CD and others, transmit from the same tower site about 16 miles northeast of Fairfax Station (54° NE). Point at that site and a single antenna setting picks them all up.

Of the 16 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Fairfax Station at fair strength or better, all arrive from the northeast, so this is an easy place to aim.

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

Antenna and amplifier advice for Fairfax Station

The farthest main network tower for Fairfax Station is WETA-TV (PBS), 17 miles away with a strong estimated signal. That is why we suggest an indoor antenna here.

WMAR-TV (ABC), 52 miles northeast, is the exception: the nearest listed affiliate of its network is 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 that one.

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 Fairfax Station

Full-power independents, low-power stations and translators that relay a bigger station's signal. Showing the closest 25 of 26; see all in the finder.

Station	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
WDCN-LDLow power	7.5 mi	47° NE	Fair	Fairfax, VA
WMDO-CDClass A	16 mi	54° NE	Fair	Washington, DC
WRZB-LDLow power	16 mi	54° NE	Fair	Washington, DC
WWTD-LDLow power	16 mi	54° NE	Fair	Washington, DC
WDCO-CDClass A	16 mi	54° NE	Fair	Woodstock, VA
WIAV-CDClass A	16 mi	54° NE	Good	Washington, DC
WDCAFull power	16 mi	46° NE	Strong	Washington, DC
WJALFull power	17 mi	52° NE	Good	Silver Spring, MD
WDDN-LDLow power	20 mi	46° NE	Fair	Washington, DC
WDWA-LDLow power	27 mi	31° NNE	Weak	Damascus, VA
WFPTFull power	32 mi	1° N	Fair	Frederick, MD
W10DE-DLow power	36 mi	68° ENE	Poor	Washington, DC
WDVM-TVFull power	39 mi	286° WNW	Good	Hagerstown, MD
WMPTFull power	41 mi	69° ENE	Good	Annapolis, MD
WQAW-LDLow power	41 mi	69° ENE	Poor	Lake Shore, MD
W13DV-DLow power	50 mi	227° SW	Poor	Rapidan, VA
WUTBFull power	52 mi	44° NE	Good	Baltimore, MD
WMPBFull power	53 mi	33° NNE	Fair	Baltimore, MD
WVPYFull power	55 mi	282° WNW	Fair	New Market, VA
WMJF-CDClass A	57 mi	43° NE	Poor	Towson, MD
W08EE-DTranslator	60 mi	319° NW	Poor	Martinsburg, WV
WLZH-LDLow power	64 mi	40° NE	Poor	Baltimore, MD
W13DW-DLow power	67 mi	80° E	Poor	Annapolis, MD
WMDEFull power	67 mi	80° E	Poor	Dover, DE
WWPBFull power	68 mi	330° NNW	Fair	Hagerstown, MD

How Fairfax Station compares with the rest of Virginia

With 32 stations at fair strength or better, Fairfax Station ranks 14th of 381 places in Virginia: more than the typical Virginia town (16). Its nearest major network tower is 16 miles away, against a state median of 21 miles.

33% of Virginia's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an indoor antenna. The nearest larger city is Burke, 2.9 miles away.

Setting up an antenna in Fairfax Station: step by step

Place the antenna high on a window or wall that faces the towers. Upstairs is better than downstairs.
Point it toward 52° NE, the direction of WETA-TV (PBS), 17 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 32 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 Fairfax Station, VA?

ABC is on channel 2 from WMAR-TV, broadcasting from 52 miles NE of Fairfax Station. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CBS in Fairfax Station, VA?

CBS is on channel 9 from WUSA, broadcasting from 17 miles NE of Fairfax Station. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is NBC in Fairfax Station, VA?

NBC is on channel 4 from WRC-TV, broadcasting from 16 miles NE of Fairfax Station. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is Fox in Fairfax Station, VA?

Fox is on channel 5 from WTTG, broadcasting from 16 miles NE of Fairfax Station. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is PBS in Fairfax Station, VA?

PBS is on channel 26 from WETA-TV, broadcasting from 17 miles NE of Fairfax Station. Estimated signal: strong.

How many channels can I get with an antenna in Fairfax Station?

43 transmitters within 70 miles of Fairfax Station; around 32 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 Fairfax Station?

Point your antenna NE, at about 51°. The main network towers for Fairfax Station sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

What kind of antenna do I need in Fairfax Station?

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. Picking up ABC from up to 52 miles away would take an outdoor antenna.

Do I need an antenna amplifier in Fairfax Station?

Is there an app to find TV towers in Fairfax Station?

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 Virginia cities

More: all TV stations in Virginia · South region · antenna buying guide · how to aim an antenna. Distances are straight-line from the center of Fairfax Station; signal estimates ignore terrain.