TV channels & antenna towers in Vancouver, Washington

Vancouver is a city of about 173,000 people in Washington. Within 70 miles of the town center we count 52 licensed TV transmitters: 10 full-power, 5 Class A, 17 low-power and 20 translators. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 20 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 19 at good or strong strength.

By distance, 20 transmitters are within 25 miles, 7 between 25 and 45 miles, and 25 farther out. Six of the 8 network stations in range are licensed to Portland, OR, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Portland's stations.

The best-placed network stations are ABC on channel 2 (KATU), CBS on channel 6 (KOIN), NBC on channel 8 (KGW), Fox on channel 12 (KPTV), CW on channel 32 (KRCW-TV), ION on channel 22 (KPXG-TV) and Trinity on channel 24 (KNMT). 3 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 SSW, at about 205°. The main network towers for Vancouver sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

Seven network stations, KPXG-TV, KGW, KPTV, KRCW-TV and KATU and others, transmit from the same tower site about 9.0 miles southwest of Vancouver (207° SSW). 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 Vancouver at fair strength or better, all arrive from the southwest, so this is an easy place to aim.

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

The farthest main network tower for Vancouver is KOIN (CBS), 9.2 miles away with a strong estimated signal. That is why we suggest an indoor antenna here. Viewers who do not need that station can often manage with less.

KPXG-TV is only 9.0 miles away with a strong signal. Signals that strong can overload an amplifier, so start without one and add it only if distant channels are missing. Read when an amplifier helps.

With 20 stations at fair strength or better, Vancouver ranks 65th of 398 places in Washington: more than the typical Washington town (17). Its nearest major network tower is 9.0 miles away, against a state median of 19 miles.

16% of Washington's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an indoor antenna. The nearest larger city is Portland, 8.0 miles away.