Best TV antenna for San Antonio, TX
San Antonio TV market · 16 stations · tower locations from FCC records, checked October 30, 2026
The short answer
- Get an antenna rated for VHF-high (channels 7–13) and UHF; many flat "HD" antennas are weak on VHF-high.
- Most towers are 20 miles southeast of San Antonio; aim southeast. Exceptions: KNIC-DT (15 miles north), KMYS (25 miles west-northwest), KPXL-TV (34 miles west-northwest), KCWX (46 miles north).
- From most of San Antonio an indoor antenna by a window often works; go to the attic or roof if you're in a basement, behind a hill or want the VHF stations.
- Nothing special is needed for NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0): the same antenna works.
Measured from central San Antonio. Hills, buildings and trees matter as much as miles, so use your zip below and the address-level maps linked at the bottom before you buy.
Check from your zip code
Where San Antonio’s TV towers are
The channel number on your TV isn’t the frequency the station uses. The “real channel” decides which antenna you need: 2–6 is VHF-low, 7–13 VHF-high, 14–36 UHF.
| Station | Real channel | Tower from San Antonio |
|---|---|---|
| KGMM-CD (Merit Street 24) | 36 · UHF | 2 miles south |
| KVDF-CD (CRTV 31) | 31 · UHF | 2 miles south |
| KCOR-CD (Univision 34) | 27 · UHF | 4 miles south-southeast |
| KLRN (PBS 9) | 9 · VHF-high | 14 miles southeast |
| KNIC-DT (UniMás 17) | 18 · UHF | 15 miles north |
| KABB (FOX 29) | 30 · UHF | 19 miles southeast |
| KVDA (Telemundo 60) | 15 · UHF | 19 miles southeast |
| KHCE-TV (23) | 16 · UHF | 20 miles southeast |
| K25OB-D (NEW TANG DYNASTY 14) | 25 · UHF | 20 miles southeast |
| KWEX-DT (Univision 41) | 24 · UHF | 20 miles southeast |
| WOAI-TV (NBC 4) | 28 · UHF | 20 miles southeast |
| KENS (CBS 5) | 29 · UHF | 20 miles southeast |
| KSAT-TV (ABC 12) NextGen TV only | 12 · VHF-high | 21 miles southeast |
| KMYS (ROAR 35) NextGen TV only | 32 · UHF | 25 miles west-northwest |
| KPXL-TV (ION 26) | 26 · UHF | 34 miles west-northwest |
| KCWX (2) | 8 · VHF-high | 46 miles north |
Also in the San Antonio market but more than 70 miles from San Antonio: KVAW (130 miles west-southwest), KYVV-TV (142 miles west).
The VHF stations to plan for
KLRN (PBS 9), KSAT-TV (ABC 12) and KCWX (2) broadcast on VHF-high (real channels 9, 12 and 8). If those drop out while UHF stations come in fine, the antenna is the likely cause: pick one that lists VHF-high reception, or extend the rabbit-ear dipoles on an indoor model.
Which type to buy
- Indoor antenna: fine if you’re within roughly 20 miles of the towers with a window facing them, and if it lists VHF reception. Put it high and near the window.
- Attic or outdoor antenna: the better choice beyond about 20–25 miles, behind hills, or for the VHF stations. Outdoors beats attic; roofing and insulation absorb signal.
- Preamplifier: helps with long cable runs, several TVs on one antenna, or fringe distances. It can make things worse if you’re very close to the towers, because strong signals overload it.
- Skip anything sold as a special “4K”, “HD” or “NextGen TV” antenna. Antennas don’t have formats; only the bands and the gain matter.
Questions
What kind of antenna do I need in San Antonio?
You need an antenna rated for VHF-high (channels 7–13) and UHF; many flat "HD" antennas are weak on VHF-high. From most of San Antonio an indoor antenna by a window often works; go to the attic or roof if you're in a basement, behind a hill or want the VHF stations.
Which way should I point my antenna in San Antonio?
Most towers are 20 miles southeast of San Antonio; aim southeast. Exceptions: KNIC-DT (15 miles north), KMYS (25 miles west-northwest), KPXL-TV (34 miles west-northwest), KCWX (46 miles north).
Why can't my antenna get KLRN (PBS 9) or KSAT-TV (ABC 12)?
KLRN (PBS 9), KSAT-TV (ABC 12) and KCWX (2) broadcast on VHF (real channels 9, 12 and 8), even though your TV shows a different channel number. Many flat and "HD" indoor antennas are designed mainly for UHF and pick up VHF poorly. An antenna with longer VHF elements, mounted higher, usually fixes it.
Do I need a new antenna for NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) in San Antonio?
No. NextGen TV uses the same channels, so any antenna that gets your stations today will get their NextGen TV versions. What you need is a TV or converter box with a 3.0 tuner. In San Antonio, the NextGen TV signals come from KSAT-TV and KMYS's transmitters.
Check your exact address
Distances don’t account for hills or buildings. For a signal prediction at your address, try the FCC’s DTV reception maps or the RabbitEars signal search.
San Antonio: NextGen TV status and shutoff timeline →
Tower locations: FCC Licensing and Management System (each station’s latest filing). Zip and city locations: USPS zip code centroids. Distances are straight-line from the center of San Antonio.