Washington/Baltimore Metro Capital Area Digital TV Channels and Free Reception.

Washington D.C.

You might want to watch this 8-minute video from the Consumer Electronics Association

Getting the most from America's New High-Definition Television System is simple and inexpensive. You just need an antenna for sets made after 2007, and a Converter Box if you have an older TV. No need to get cable, satellite or a new TV to enjoy America's DTV Channels.

"Multicasting" allows stations to broadcast up to six new channels in the space of their old one. Channel 9, for instance, is now DTV channel 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, etc. Cable and satellite would have you believe they carry most of these new channels, but they don't...

Cable and satellite strip and leave out most broadcast channels to save space for other $ervice$. To get genuine HDTV just add an antenna and converter to your existing setup. You'll be amazed how many HDTV channels you can tune, and how much better everything looks over-the-air!

Find the keys to complete your HDTV System!

43 Washington D.C. HDTV Channels
Station Chan. RF Channel Network

WRCDT 4.1 48 NBC

WRCDT2 4.2 48 NBC

WTTGDT 5.1 36 Fox

WJLADT 7.1 39 ABC

WJLADT2 7.2 39 Ind

WUSADT 9.1 34 CBS

WUSADT2 9.2 34 Ind

WFDCDT 14.1 15 USI

WDCADT 20.1 35 MyN

WHAGDT 25.1 55 NBC

WETADT 26.1 27 PBS

WETADT2 26.2 27 PBS

WETADT3 26.3 27 PBS

WETADT4 26.4 27 PBS

WNVTDT 30.1 30 Ind

WNVTDT2 30.2 30 Ind

WNVTDT3 30.3 30 Ind

WNVTDT4 30.4 30 Ind

WNVTDT5 30.5 30 Ind

WWPBDT 31.1 44 PBS

WWPBDT2 31.2 44 PBS

WWPBDT3 31.3 44 PBS

WWPBDT4 31.4 44 PBS

WWPBDT5 31.5 44 PBS

WDCWDT 50.1 51 CW

WDCWDT2 50.2 51 Ind

WVPTDT 51.1 11 EDU

MHzNet 53.1 30 Ind

WNVCDT 57.1 24 Ind

WNVCDT 57.1 57 Ind

WNVCDT2 57.2 24 Ind

WNVCDT3 57.3 24 Ind

WNVCDT4 57.4 24 Ind

WWPXDT 60.1 12 i

WWPXDT2 60.2 12 Ind

WWPXDT3 60.3 12 Ind

WWPXDT4 60.4 12 Ind

WFPTDT 62.1 28 PBS

WFPTDT2 62.2 28 PBS

WFPTDT3 62.3 28 PBS

WPXWDT 66.1 43 i

WPXWDT2 66.2 43 Ind

WPXWDT3 66.3 43 Ind

WPXWDT4 66.4 43 Pax

WPXWDT6 66.6 43 Ind

25 Baltimore Area HDTV Channels

WMARDT 2.1 52 ABC

WMARDT2 2.2 52 ABC

WMARDT3 2.3 52 Ind

WBALDT 11.1 59 NBC

WBALDT2 11.2 59 Ind

WJZDT 13.1 38 CBS

WMPTDT 22.1 42 PBS

WMPTDT2 22.2 42 PBS

WMPTDT3 22.3 42 PBS

WMPTDT4 22.4 42 PBS

WMPTDT5 22.5 42 PBS

WUTBDT 24.1 41 MyN

WGPTDT 36.1 54 PBS

WGPTDT2 36.2 54 PBS

WGPTDT3 36.3 54 PBS

WGPTDT4 36.4 54 PBS

WGPTDT5 36.5 54 PBS

WBFFDT 45.1 46 Fox

WBFFDT2 45.2 46 Ind

WNUVDT 54.1 40 CW

WMPBDT 67.1 29 PBS

WMPBDT2 67.2 29 PBS

WMPBDT3 67.3 29 PBS

WMPBDT4 67.4 29 PBS

WMPBDT5 67.5 29 PBS

All 69 of these new channels, and many more, are Free! No cable or satellite is needed for any of them. Just select an Antenna, using the information below, to receive crystal clear HDTV signals Free in the Baltimore / D.C. Area.

Antenna Selection Guide
The CEA, Consumer Electronics Association, and NAB, National Association of Broadcasters, created the AntennaWeb to help you with the rest. Free! An example of how it works is presented below.

NOTE that all TV stations are transmitting on different channels now. To avoid confusion, however, the new tuners and converter boxes allow a station to keep its old channel number while automatically switching you to its new RF Channel. Some of the new RF Channels are VHF but most are UHF.

RF Channels on your list numbered less than 14 are VHF. They need a broader antenna than UHF channels; the ones numbered 14 and up. Since HDTV is 91% UHF, you probably won't need to use a broad antenna.

Most can use an indoor antenna. They work just fine with older TVs using a converter box, and with all new TVs. You'll need an outdoor antenna if you're more than 15 miles from transmission towers, but most towers are located very near town and are powerful enough to reach you.

EXAMPLE...
We'll use a site near Tampa, Florida
Select AntennaWeb.org then ENTER:
11565 66th Ave, Seminole FL 33772

A Map appears, press Continue. Next a Channel List appears, press "Show Digital Stations Only," and this list appears. The strongest stations are at the top. Record the RF channels, with colors, you like. You'll need both for the Antenna Charts.

Cross-checking this List with Tampa's RF Channel List reveals a shortage of stations here, and WTSP is not on RF Channel 10, etc. If you have any doubts check with TVFool.com for another List, as below.

Tampa's HDTV Channel List from TVFool.com

Example Street Level Map and Station Table from AntennaWeb.org

What's important is for you to get-a-feel for where desirable stations are located and how far away they are. Since the stations in our example are greater than 15 miles away, we'll need an outdoor antenna. Only two of our RF channels are VHF (numbered less than 14).

Press "View Street Level Map" on your AntennaWeb Example Page to see the map at right. We'll need to aim our antenna(s) in those directions to receive the channels listed. A rotor could be used to receive both RF Channel 24, CBS in St. Petersburg, and all of the other RF Channels using one antenna.

The Color Code associated with each station is used to determine which antenna type we should use to receive it.

Antenna Color Codes
A Color Code represents an antenna's reception strength. Within 15 miles of stations an indoor antenna can be used (in the Yellow, Green and Light Green Zones). Farther away you'll need an outdoor antenna. Our Example calls for antenna types red, blue and violet. If we plan to use one antenna it would need to be a violet type to cover the others. Furthermore, two of our desirable RF channels are VHF, needing broader VHF antennas.

HDTV Antenna Color Codes

Small Multi-Directional Antennas
DESCRIPTION		The smallest of TV antennas receive UHF and VHF RF Channels from all directions.
APPEARANCE		Good looking home interior designs.
USE		For use where signal strength is high and with No pre-amplifier.

Medium Multi-Directional Antennas
DESCRIPTION		Larger and slightly more powerful, may be placed in interior attic.
APPEARANCE		These antennas include novel stick, wing shaped or disk antennas.
USE		An amplifier is recommended for 20 feet long, or more, cables from the antenna, or when more than one TV or VCR is used by a single antenna located AWAY from reflecting structures or in valleys.

Large Multi-Directional Antennas
DESCRIPTION		Bigger in size, these antennas receive more signal power. Better for greater distances from signal source and areas with low signal strength. May work well in interior attic.
APPEARANCE		Styles include element antennas. These antennas can be used to reject simple ghosting.
USE		When mounted at rooftop heights (30 feet) outdoors, amplified antennas can be used in light green color code areas away from reflecting structures or low areas.

ALL OUTDOOR ANTENNAS ARE DANGEROUS AND CAN SERIOUSLY HURT YOU.
WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU HIRE A PROFESSIONAL
FOR ALL ANTENNA WORK OUTSIDE YOUR HOME.
THIS DATA IS PROVIDED TO KEEP THEM HONEST!

Small Directional Antennas
DESCRIPTION		Picture quality is excellent when no signal reflecting structures are around.
APPEARANCE		Multi-element rooftop antennas.
USE		Suitable for far edge of light green color code areas. Amplified antennas with rooftop mounting can be used in these areas if the area is free of signal reflecting structures and is not in a low area.

Medium Directional Antennas
DESCRIPTION		Most popular rooftop antenna because of its modest size.
APPEARANCE		Multi-element rooftop antennas.
USE		If there are ghost producing reflective structures near TV receiver antenna location, this kind of antenna is best for yellow, green, light green and red color code areas. Amplified antennas with rooftop mounting can be used with the blue color code.

Large Directional Antennas
DESCRIPTION		Large antennas used in weak signal areas for maximum possible TV reception.
APPEARANCE		Multi-element rooftop antennas.
USE		Can be used in any color code area, but requires an amplifier and roof mounting for blue and violet color codes.

ANTENNAS WHICH WILL WORK IN OUR EXAMPLE ARE:
A Small Directional UHF Antenna pointed 10° lead spliced into
A Large Directional UHF/VHF Antenna pointed between 92-95°
Or one Large Directional UHF/VHF Antenna with a rotor for pointing.

Having gone thru this Example - ENTER YOUR DC/Baltimore Address or ZIP Code

Note on the Washington/Baltimore Area: The RF Channel Lists show only one RF Channel, 12, is VHF. It needs a broader VHF antenna, the rest need only a slender UHF antenna. Note, too, that most homes in town are within 15 miles of stations - where indoor antennas should work just fine!