TV channels & antenna towers in McChord Air Force Base, Washington

McChord Air Force Base is a town of about 2,510 people in Washington. There are 38 licensed TV transmitters within 70 miles: 15 full-power, 11 low-power and 12 translators. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 16 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 11 at good or strong strength.

3 of them are within 25 miles of McChord Air Force Base, 18 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 17 are more than 45 miles out. Four of the 8 network stations in range are licensed to Seattle, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Seattle's stations.

For the networks, the best local options are ABC on channel 4 (KOMO-TV), CBS on channel 7 (KIRO-TV), NBC on channel 5 (KING-TV), Fox on channel 13 (KCPQ), CW on channel 51 (KUNS-TV), ION on channel 33 (KWPX-TV), MeTV on channel 44.1 (KFFV) and Trinity on channel 20 (KTBW-TV). 7 full-power stations in range have no network listed in our data; these are typically public television, religious, shopping or independent stations.

Point your antenna N, at about 1°. The main network towers for McChord Air Force Base sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

Four network stations, KUNS-TV, KOMO-TV, KING-TV and KIRO-TV, transmit from the same tower site about 35 miles north of McChord Air Force Base (11° N). Aim there first: one setting covers all of them.

Of the 8 full-power and Class A network signals that reach McChord Air Force Base at fair strength or better, 63% arrive from the north; the rest are spread across two other directions.

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

The farthest main network tower for McChord Air Force Base is KIRO-TV (CBS), 35 miles away with a good estimated signal. That is why we suggest an amplified indoor or attic antenna here. If you only watch the closer stations, a smaller antenna may do.

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.

With 16 stations at fair strength or better, McChord Air Force Base ranks 210th of 398 places in Washington: fewer than the typical Washington town (17). Its nearest major network tower is 32 miles away, against a state median of 19 miles.

60% of Washington's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an amplified indoor or attic antenna. The nearest larger city is Lakewood, 2.9 miles away.