TV channels & antenna towers in Fairfax, Virginia

Fairfax 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, 4.9 miles to the ENE.

Open Fairfax in the live finder

43TV transmitters within 70 miles

10networks over the air

4.9 mito the closest tower

24,013population

Network channels in Fairfax

Station	Channel	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
FOXWTTGFox	5	14 mi	53° NE	Strong	Washington, DC
IONWPXW-TVION	66	14 mi	53° NE	Strong	Manassas, VA
CWWDCWCW	50	14 mi	62° ENE	Strong	Washington, DC
NBCWRC-TVNBC	4	14 mi	62° ENE	Strong	Washington, DC
TLMWZDC-CDTelemundo	44	14 mi	62° ENE	Strong	Washington, DC
UNIWFDC-DTUnivision	14	14 mi	62° ENE	Strong	Arlington, VA
MeTVWDME-CDMeTV	48.1	14 mi	62° ENE	Fair	Washington, DC
ABCWJLA-TVABC	7	14 mi	59° ENE	Good	Washington, DC
PBSWHUT-TVPBS	32	14 mi	59° ENE	Strong	Washington, DC
CBSWUSACBS	9	14 mi	59° ENE	Good	Washington, DC
PBSWETA-TVPBS	26	14 mi	59° ENE	Strong	Washington, DC
IONWWPX-TVION	60	37 mi	318° NW	Weak	Martinsburg, WV
CBSWJZ-TVCBS	13	49 mi	46° NE	Fair	Baltimore, MD
ABCWMAR-TVABC	2	49 mi	46° NE	Good	Baltimore, MD
NBCWBAL-TVNBC	11	49 mi	46° NE	Fair	Baltimore, MD
CWWNUVCW	54	49 mi	46° NE	Good	Baltimore, MD
FOXWBFFFox	45	49 mi	46° NE	Good	Baltimore, MD

Over-the-air TV in Fairfax

Fairfax is a town of about 24,000 people in Virginia. Within 70 miles of the town center we count 43 licensed TV transmitters: 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 20 at good or strong strength.

By distance, 21 transmitters are within 25 miles, 6 between 25 and 45 miles, and 16 farther 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 strongest network signals here 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

Point your antenna ENE, at about 58°. The main network towers for Fairfax sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

11 network stations, WTTG, WPXW-TV, WDCW, WRC-TV and WZDC-CD and others, transmit from the same tower site about 14 miles northeast of Fairfax (53° 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 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, so signals arrive fairly directly and a well-placed antenna should hold them steadily.

Antenna and amplifier advice for Fairfax

The farthest main network tower for Fairfax is WETA-TV (PBS), 14 miles away with a strong estimated signal. That is why we suggest an indoor antenna here.

WMAR-TV (ABC), 49 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.

WTTG 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.

Other stations near Fairfax

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	4.9 mi	66° ENE	Good	Fairfax, VA
WDCAFull power	14 mi	53° NE	Strong	Washington, DC
WMDO-CDClass A	14 mi	62° ENE	Fair	Washington, DC
WRZB-LDLow power	14 mi	62° ENE	Fair	Washington, DC
WWTD-LDLow power	14 mi	62° ENE	Fair	Washington, DC
WDCO-CDClass A	14 mi	62° ENE	Fair	Woodstock, VA
WIAV-CDClass A	14 mi	62° ENE	Good	Washington, DC
WJALFull power	14 mi	59° ENE	Good	Silver Spring, MD
WDDN-LDLow power	17 mi	52° NE	Fair	Washington, DC
WDWA-LDLow power	24 mi	33° NNE	Weak	Damascus, VA
WFPTFull power	29 mi	359° N	Fair	Frederick, MD
W10DE-DLow power	34 mi	73° ENE	Weak	Washington, DC
WMPTFull power	39 mi	73° ENE	Good	Annapolis, MD
WQAW-LDLow power	39 mi	73° ENE	Poor	Lake Shore, MD
WDVM-TVFull power	39 mi	281° WNW	Good	Hagerstown, MD
WUTBFull power	49 mi	46° NE	Good	Baltimore, MD
WMPBFull power	50 mi	34° NE	Fair	Baltimore, MD
W13DV-DLow power	53 mi	226° SW	Poor	Rapidan, VA
WMJF-CDClass A	54 mi	44° NE	Poor	Towson, MD
WVPYFull power	56 mi	278° W	Fair	New Market, VA
W08EE-DTranslator	59 mi	317° NW	Poor	Martinsburg, WV
WLZH-LDLow power	61 mi	41° NE	Poor	Baltimore, MD
W13DW-DLow power	66 mi	83° E	Poor	Annapolis, MD
WMDEFull power	66 mi	83° E	Poor	Dover, DE
WWPBFull power	66 mi	328° NNW	Fair	Hagerstown, MD

How Fairfax compares with the rest of Virginia

With 32 stations at fair strength or better, Fairfax ranks 14th of 381 places in Virginia: more than the typical Virginia town (16). Its nearest major network tower is 14 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 Centreville, 6.6 miles away.

Setting up an antenna in Fairfax: step by step

Place the antenna high on a window or wall that faces the towers. Upstairs is better than downstairs.
Point it toward 59° ENE, the direction of WETA-TV (PBS), 14 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, VA?

ABC is on channel 2 from WMAR-TV, broadcasting from 49 miles NE of Fairfax. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CBS in Fairfax, VA?

CBS is on channel 9 from WUSA, broadcasting from 14 miles ENE of Fairfax. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is NBC in Fairfax, VA?

NBC is on channel 4 from WRC-TV, broadcasting from 14 miles ENE of Fairfax. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is Fox in Fairfax, VA?

Fox is on channel 5 from WTTG, broadcasting from 14 miles NE of Fairfax. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is PBS in Fairfax, VA?

PBS is on channel 26 from WETA-TV, broadcasting from 14 miles ENE of Fairfax. Estimated signal: strong.

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

43 transmitters within 70 miles of Fairfax; 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?

Point your antenna ENE, at about 58°. The main network towers for Fairfax sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

What kind of antenna do I need in Fairfax?

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 49 miles away would take an outdoor antenna.

Do I need an antenna amplifier in Fairfax?

Is there an app to find TV towers in Fairfax?

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; signal estimates ignore terrain.