TV channels & antenna towers in Lancaster, Virginia

Lancaster is in Virginia. There are 44 licensed TV transmitters within 70 miles: 20 full-power, 6 Class A, 16 low-power and 2 translators. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 10 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better.

By distance, 0 transmitters are within 25 miles, 1 between 25 and 45 miles, and 43 farther out. Five of the 18 network stations in range are licensed to Richmond, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Richmond's stations.

The strongest network signals here are ABC on channel 8 (WRIC-TV), CBS on channel 3 (WTKR), NBC on channel 10 (WAVY-TV), Fox on channel 35 (WRLH-TV), CW on channel 65 (WUPV), ION on channel 49 (WPXV-TV), Telemundo on channel 45 (WZTD-LD) and Trinity on channel 21 (WTPC-TV). Spanish-language viewers can pick up Telemundo (very weak signal). 7 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 Lancaster are in different directions: ABC 254° WSW (65 mi), CBS 182° S (66 mi), NBC 182° S (66 mi) and Fox 254° WSW (65 mi). Aim at the farthest one you want first, or use a multi-directional antenna.

Five network stations, WNLO-CD, WVBT, WAVY-TV, WTKR and WTPC-TV, transmit from the same tower site about 66 miles south of Lancaster (182° S). Point at that site and a single antenna setting picks them all up.

Of the 7 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Lancaster at fair strength or better, 57% arrive from the west; the rest are spread across one other direction.

WRIC-TV (ABC), WTKR (CBS), WAVY-TV (NBC) and WRLH-TV (Fox) lie beyond the radio horizon of their transmitter as seen from Lancaster. Past that point signals fade quickly, so antenna height matters more than amplification.

The farthest main network tower for Lancaster is WTKR (CBS), 66 miles away with a fair estimated signal. That is why we suggest an outdoor directional antenna here. Viewers who do not need that station can often manage with less.

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 10 stations at fair strength or better, Lancaster ranks 295th of 381 places in Virginia: fewer than the typical Virginia town (16). Its nearest major network tower is 43 miles away, against a state median of 21 miles.

31% of Virginia's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an outdoor directional antenna. The nearest larger city is Newport News, 47 miles away.