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To check whether you may receive a TV station over the air, enter your address or city and state in the FCC’s DTV Reception Maps tool. Search for the station by its call sign or name in the results. The map predicts coverage; it cannot guarantee that your particular antenna and TV will receive the station reliably.
Check the FCC map for your location
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Open the FCC DTV Reception Maps. Enter a street address with city and state, or a city and state. The FCC advises including the state and leaving out apartment details and special characters in address searches.
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Review the predicted station list and map near your selected location. Look for the station’s call sign or network. Signal categories such as strong, moderate, weak, or no signal are model predictions, not results from a test at your home.
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When shown, note the station’s call sign, network, virtual channel, and broadcast band. A virtual channel number is the number viewers see on the TV; it may differ from the broadcast frequency carrying the signal.
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The FCC describes the tool as a way to “check for the DTV signals that are available at your location.” Its prediction assumes an outdoor antenna 30 feet above ground. That is a modeling assumption, not a required antenna height or a promise of reception.
Understand what the prediction can—and cannot—tell you
A predicted signal means the FCC model estimates that a station’s broadcast may reach the location. It does not confirm that a signal will make it through a particular building or work with a specific TV and antenna. The FCC says actual reception can be affected by terrain, buildings, trees, weather, and receiving equipment; very hilly areas can be especially challenging.
Indoor reception may differ substantially from a prediction based on an outdoor antenna. A signal categorized as weak may still be worth testing, while a favorable map result is not a guarantee of reliable viewing. Only a test with an antenna and tuner at the intended location can show whether your setup receives the station.
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Test the station with your TV and antenna
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Connect an antenna suited to the station’s broadcast band and the conditions at your location. The FCC’s consumer guidance says the appropriate choice may be an indoor antenna or an outdoor rooftop antenna, depending on where you live.
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- Easy to Install: Plug the coaxial cable from your digital indoor HDTV antenna into the ANT/IN connector on the back of your TV, point the TV antenna toward your local TV tower and scan for channels. (Check "dtv gov maps" for available channels).
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Connect the antenna to a digital television. If your television is analog-only, the FCC says you also need a digital-to-analog converter box to watch digital broadcasts.
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Open the TV’s channel setup menu and run its channel scan. Menu names vary by television. A scan lets the tuner search for the digital stations the connected antenna can receive.
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Check the scanned channel list for the station. If it does not appear, try a different antenna position or orientation and scan again. If the station has changed broadcast frequency, rescanning may be necessary to find its current signal.
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Choose an antenna based on the map and your setup
Use the map’s station details as a starting point, not a product guarantee. Consider the predicted signal, the station’s broadcast band and direction, nearby obstructions, and where you can place or mount an antenna. Avoid choosing solely by a manufacturer’s advertised range; the available sources do not establish a best brand, model, or range rating.
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| Option | When it may fit | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Indoor antenna | When easier placement and installation are priorities, and an indoor position can receive the signal. | Walls and nearby buildings can interfere; indoor performance may differ from the FCC map’s outdoor-antenna assumption. |
| Outdoor or rooftop antenna | When a more favorable outdoor position is possible, particularly if indoor reception is limited. | May require mounting and suitable cable. The FCC map does not guarantee a result for any specific installation. |
If the station does not appear after scanning
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Move or rotate the antenna, then run another channel scan.
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Consider whether walls, trees, nearby buildings, or terrain may be obstructing the signal. The FCC specifically warns that these conditions can affect reception.
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Confirm you are checking the station’s call sign or network rather than assuming its virtual channel matches its broadcast frequency.
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For station-specific information, look up the station through the FCC’s Public Inspection Files or contact the station using its official information.
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