TV channels & antenna towers in Sterling, Virginia

Sterling has 40 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, PBS and CW. About 33 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is WDCN-LD, 14 miles to the SE.

Open Sterling in the live finder

40TV transmitters within 70 miles

10networks over the air

14 mito the closest tower

27,822population

Network channels in Sterling

Station	Channel	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
FOXWTTGFox	5	18 mi	99° E	Strong	Washington, DC
IONWPXW-TVION	66	18 mi	99° E	Strong	Manassas, VA
ABCWJLA-TVABC	7	19 mi	102° ESE	Good	Washington, DC
PBSWHUT-TVPBS	32	19 mi	102° ESE	Good	Washington, DC
CBSWUSACBS	9	19 mi	102° ESE	Good	Washington, DC
PBSWETA-TVPBS	26	19 mi	102° ESE	Strong	Washington, DC
CWWDCWCW	50	19 mi	104° ESE	Strong	Washington, DC
NBCWRC-TVNBC	4	19 mi	104° ESE	Strong	Washington, DC
TLMWZDC-CDTelemundo	44	19 mi	104° ESE	Strong	Washington, DC
UNIWFDC-DTUnivision	14	19 mi	104° ESE	Strong	Arlington, VA
MeTVWDME-CDMeTV	48.1	19 mi	104° ESE	Fair	Washington, DC
IONWWPX-TVION	60	24 mi	311° NW	Fair	Martinsburg, WV
CBSWJZ-TVCBS	13	47 mi	61° ENE	Fair	Baltimore, MD
ABCWMAR-TVABC	2	47 mi	61° ENE	Good	Baltimore, MD
NBCWBAL-TVNBC	11	47 mi	61° ENE	Fair	Baltimore, MD
CWWNUVCW	54	48 mi	61° ENE	Good	Baltimore, MD
FOXWBFFFox	45	48 mi	61° ENE	Good	Baltimore, MD

Over-the-air TV in Sterling

Sterling is a town of about 27,800 people in Virginia. There are 40 licensed TV transmitters within 70 miles: 24 full-power, 6 Class A, 9 low-power and 1 translator. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 33 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 21 at good or strong strength.

23 of them are within 25 miles of Sterling, 4 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 13 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.

For the networks, the best local options 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). 9 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 Sterling

Point your antenna ESE, at about 102°. The main network towers for Sterling sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

11 network stations, WTTG, WPXW-TV, WJLA-TV, WHUT-TV and WUSA and others, transmit from the same tower site about 18 miles east of Sterling (99° E). Aim there first: one setting covers all of them.

Of the 17 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Sterling at fair strength or better, 65% arrive from the east; the rest are spread across two other directions.

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

Antenna and amplifier advice for Sterling

The farthest main network tower for Sterling is WRC-TV (NBC), 19 miles away with a strong estimated signal. That is why we suggest an indoor antenna here.

WMAR-TV (ABC), 47 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 Sterling

Full-power independents, low-power stations and translators that relay a bigger station's signal.

Station	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
WDCN-LDLow power	14 mi	129° SE	Fair	Fairfax, VA
WDCAFull power	18 mi	99° E	Strong	Washington, DC
WFPTFull power	19 mi	20° NNE	Good	Frederick, MD
WJALFull power	19 mi	102° ESE	Good	Silver Spring, MD
WMDO-CDClass A	19 mi	104° ESE	Fair	Washington, DC
WRZB-LDLow power	19 mi	104° ESE	Fair	Washington, DC
WWTD-LDLow power	19 mi	104° ESE	Fair	Washington, DC
WDCO-CDClass A	19 mi	104° ESE	Fair	Woodstock, VA
WIAV-CDClass A	19 mi	104° ESE	Good	Washington, DC
WDDN-LDLow power	20 mi	91° E	Fair	Washington, DC
WDWA-LDLow power	21 mi	65° ENE	Weak	Damascus, VA
WDVM-TVFull power	32 mi	264° W	Good	Hagerstown, MD
W10DE-DLow power	39 mi	91° E	Poor	Washington, DC
WMPTFull power	44 mi	89° E	Good	Annapolis, MD
WQAW-LDLow power	44 mi	89° E	Poor	Lake Shore, MD
W08EE-DTranslator	46 mi	313° NW	Poor	Martinsburg, WV
WMPBFull power	46 mi	49° NE	Fair	Baltimore, MD
WUTBFull power	48 mi	61° ENE	Good	Baltimore, MD
WVPYFull power	49 mi	267° W	Fair	New Market, VA
WMJF-CDClass A	52 mi	58° ENE	Poor	Towson, MD
WWPBFull power	53 mi	327° NNW	Good	Hagerstown, MD
W13DV-DLow power	57 mi	213° SSW	Poor	Rapidan, VA
WLZH-LDLow power	58 mi	53° NE	Poor	Baltimore, MD

How Sterling compares with the rest of Virginia

With 33 stations at fair strength or better, Sterling ranks 1st of 381 places in Virginia: more than the typical Virginia town (16). Its nearest major network tower is 18 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 Reston, 5.4 miles away.

Setting up an antenna in Sterling: step by step

Place the antenna high on a window or wall that faces the towers. Upstairs is better than downstairs.
Point it toward 104° ESE, the direction of WRC-TV (NBC), 19 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 33 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 Sterling, VA?

ABC is on channel 2 from WMAR-TV, broadcasting from 47 miles ENE of Sterling. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CBS in Sterling, VA?

CBS is on channel 9 from WUSA, broadcasting from 19 miles ESE of Sterling. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is NBC in Sterling, VA?

NBC is on channel 4 from WRC-TV, broadcasting from 19 miles ESE of Sterling. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is Fox in Sterling, VA?

Fox is on channel 5 from WTTG, broadcasting from 18 miles E of Sterling. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is PBS in Sterling, VA?

PBS is on channel 26 from WETA-TV, broadcasting from 19 miles ESE of Sterling. Estimated signal: strong.

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

40 transmitters within 70 miles of Sterling; around 33 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 Sterling?

Point your antenna ESE, at about 102°. The main network towers for Sterling sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

What kind of antenna do I need in Sterling?

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 47 miles away would take an outdoor antenna.

Do I need an antenna amplifier in Sterling?

Is there an app to find TV towers in Sterling?

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

Nearby cities in other states

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