TV channels & antenna towers in Washington, Virginia

With roughly 128 residents, Washington is a small community in Virginia. Within 70 miles of the town center we count 44 licensed TV transmitters: 20 full-power, 9 Class A, 8 low-power and 7 translators. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 13 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 5 at good or strong strength.

By distance, 2 transmitters are within 25 miles, 9 between 25 and 45 miles, and 33 farther out. Nine of the 18 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 7 (WJLA-TV), CBS on channel 9 (WUSA), 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 (fair signal) and Univision (weak signal). 8 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 Washington are in different directions: ABC 74° ENE (60 mi), CBS 74° ENE (60 mi), NBC 75° ENE (60 mi), Fox 199° SSW (53 mi) and PBS 74° ENE (60 mi). Aim at the farthest one you want first, or use a multi-directional antenna.

11 network stations, WTTG, WPXW-TV, WDCW, WRC-TV and WZDC-CD and others, transmit from the same tower site about 59 miles east of Washington (73° ENE). 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 Washington at fair strength or better, 86% arrive from the east; the rest are spread across one other direction.

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

The farthest main network tower for Washington is WETA-TV (PBS), 60 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 13 stations at fair strength or better, Washington ranks 216th of 381 places in Virginia: fewer than the typical Virginia town (16). Its nearest major network tower is 40 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, 32 miles away.