A directional TV antenna on a roof mast, aimed toward distant transmitters

How to Aim Your TV Antenna in Potomac, MD

Every transmitter near Potomac, with the compass direction and distance from town, and the one direction that picks up the most channels.

Point East 101° on a compass — 71 miles of range covers this whole market

19/38stations in the beam

85/156free channels

54%of what's available

The other 19 stations sit northeast of you (35°). A rotator, or a second antenna facing that way, is what it takes to add them.

8 of these stations broadcast on VHF frequencies. Many antennas sold as "HDTV" or "4K" are UHF-only and will miss them entirely, whichever way you point.

Every Transmitter Near Potomac, MD

Sorted by compass bearing, so neighbouring rows are neighbouring towers.

Station	Network	Channel	Bearing	Direction	Distance	Subchannels
WLYH	Independent	49	29°	NNE	69 mi	1
WMPB	PBS	67	39°	NE	37 mi	5
WMJF	MeTV Toons	39	52°	NE	42 mi	7
WUTB	Roar	24	56°	NE	37 mi	1
WBFF	FOX	45	56°	NE	37 mi	3
WNUV	CW	54	56°	NE	37 mi	4
WMAR	ABC	2	56°	NE	37 mi	9
WBAL	NBC	11	56°	NE	37 mi	7
WJZ	CBS	13	56°	NE	37 mi	6
WWDD	Daystar	49	57°	ENE	62 mi	1
WQAW	Jewelry TV	69	93°	E	33 mi	12
WMPT	PBS	22	93°	E	33 mi	5
WDDN	Daystar	23	105°	ESE	9 mi	2
WDCW	CW	50	115°	ESE	12 mi	3
WTTG	FOX	5	126°	SE	9 mi	3
WDCA	MyNetworkTV	20	126°	SE	9 mi	4
WETA	PBS	26	127°	SE	10 mi	5
WJLA	ABC	7	127°	SE	10 mi	6
WUSA	CBS	9	127°	SE	10 mi	5
WHUT	PBS	32	127°	SE	10 mi	2
WPXW	Ion	66	127°	SE	10 mi	8
WIAV	Roar	58	131°	SE	10 mi	2
WDCO	Roar	10	131°	SE	10 mi	1
WDME	MeTV	48	131°	SE	10 mi	8
WRZB	HSN2	31	131°	SE	10 mi	4
WFDC	Univision	14	131°	SE	10 mi	4
WZDC	Telemundo	44	131°	SE	10 mi	2
WRC	NBC	4	131°	SE	10 mi	4
WWTD	HSN2	49	131°	SE	10 mi	5
WNVC	World	41	180°	S	11 mi	1
WDCN	The Country Network	6	180°	S	11 mi	1
WDWA	Daystar	23	199°	SSW	18 mi	2
WNVT	World	23	203°	SSW	30 mi	1
WDVM	Independent	25	263°	W	43 mi	4
WWPX	Ion	60	303°	WNW	54 mi	8
WWPB	PBS	31	317°	NW	58 mi	4
WJAL	Altavision	68	326°	NNW	71 mi	2
WFPT	PBS	62	343°	NNW	16 mi	4

Marked rows fall inside the recommended beam.

What Antenna Do You Need in Potomac, MD?

How far the transmitters are, which way they sit, and what that means for the antenna you buy.

The nearest transmitter is 9.1 miles away, and most of the lineup sits within 10 miles.

For Potomac we would start with a basic indoor antenna. Most of the lineup is transmitting from close by, so a flat indoor antenna in a window facing the towers should be enough.

The towers around Potomac are spread across 300° of the compass, so no single directional antenna will reach all of them. An omnidirectional antenna picks up every direction at once but with less reach, and a rotator lets a directional antenna turn toward whichever station you want.

Learn more about choosing an antenna

Before You Climb the Ladder

The limits of these numbers, and how to work around them.

These are true bearings, not magnetic. A compass app on your phone usually reads magnetic north, which differs from true north by a few degrees depending on where you are in the country. For antenna aiming that difference is small, but if you are lining up a long-range directional antenna it is worth checking your local declination.

Bearings are measured from the centre of Potomac. Over the distances involved, a few miles in any direction barely moves the angle, but your own address is what ultimately matters.

Hills and buildings are not in these numbers. A transmitter 20 miles away behind a ridge can be harder to receive than one 40 miles away across flat ground. Point at the recommended bearing first, then adjust a few degrees either way while watching your TV's signal meter.

See every channel available in Potomac, MD, including what each station carries.

How to Aim Your TV Antenna in Potomac, MD

Every Transmitter Near Potomac, MD

What Antenna Do You Need in Potomac, MD?

Before You Climb the Ladder

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