TV channels & antenna towers in Rainier, Washington

Rainier is a small community of about 1,990 people in Washington. Within 70 miles of the town center we count 38 licensed TV transmitters: 15 full-power, 11 low-power and 12 translators. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 14 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 4 at good or strong strength.

0 of them are within 25 miles of Rainier, 6 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 32 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 11°. The main network towers for Rainier 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 54 miles north of Rainier (17° NNE). Aim there first: one setting covers all of them.

Of the 8 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Rainier at fair strength or better, 88% arrive from the north; the rest are spread across one other direction.

KOMO-TV (ABC), KIRO-TV (CBS) and KING-TV (NBC) lie beyond the radio horizon of their transmitter as seen from Rainier. Past that point signals fade quickly, so antenna height matters more than amplification.

The farthest main network tower for Rainier is KIRO-TV (CBS), 54 miles away with a fair estimated signal. That is why we suggest an outdoor directional antenna here. If you only watch the closer stations, a smaller antenna may do.

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 14 stations at fair strength or better, Rainier ranks 266th of 398 places in Washington: fewer than the typical Washington town (17). Its nearest major network tower is 46 miles away, against a state median of 19 miles.

24% of Washington's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an outdoor directional antenna. The nearest larger city is Lacey, 12 miles away.