TV channels & antenna towers in Merrimac, Virginia

Merrimac is a small community of about 1,790 people in Virginia. Within 70 miles of the town center we count 54 licensed TV transmitters: 27 full-power, 9 Class A, 10 low-power and 8 translators. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 8 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 5 at good or strong strength.

By distance, 1 transmitter is within 25 miles, 11 between 25 and 45 miles, and 42 farther out. Nine of the 25 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 3 (WHSV-TV), CBS on channel 6 (WTVR-TV), NBC on channel 4 (WRC-TV), Fox on channel 27.2 (WCAV), 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 (weak signal) and Univision (weak signal). 10 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 Merrimac are in different directions: ABC 254° WSW (70 mi), CBS 158° SSE (70 mi), NBC 58° ENE (63 mi), Fox 214° SW (39 mi) and PBS 57° ENE (64 mi). Aim at the farthest one you want first, or use a multi-directional antenna.

Four network stations, WCAV, WVAW-LD, WVIR-CD and WVIR-TV, transmit from the same tower site about 39 miles southwest of Merrimac (214° SW). Point at that site and a single antenna setting picks them all up.

Of the 4 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Merrimac at fair strength or better, 50% arrive from the southwest; the rest are spread across two other directions.

WTVR-TV (CBS), WRC-TV (NBC) and WETA-TV (PBS) lie beyond the radio horizon of their transmitter as seen from Merrimac. Past that point signals fade quickly, so antenna height matters more than amplification.

The farthest main network tower for Merrimac is WTVR-TV (CBS), 70 miles away with a weak 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 8 stations at fair strength or better, Merrimac ranks 346th of 381 places in Virginia: fewer than the typical Virginia town (16). Its nearest major network tower is 38 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 Linton Hall, 34 miles away.