San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose and Bay Area Digital TV Channels and Free Reception.

San Francisco

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!

San Francisco HDTV Channels
STATION / CHANNEL / RF CHAN. / NETWORK

KTVUDT 2.1 56 Fox

KRONDT 4.1 57 MyN

KRONDT2 4.2 57 MyN

KPIXDT 5.1 29 CBS

KGODT 7.1 24 ABC

KGODT2 7.2 24 ABC

KGODT3 7.3 24 Ind

KUNODT 8.1 15 Ind

KQEDDT 9.1 30 PBS

KQEDDT2 9.2 30 PBS

KQEDDT3 9.3 30 PBS

KQEDDT4 9.4 30 PBS

KQEDDT5 9.5 30 PBS

KNTVDT 11.1 12 NBC

KNTVDT2 11.2 12 NBC

KDTVDT 14.1 51 USI

KBWBDT 20.1 19 Ind

KBWBDT2 20.2 19 Ind

KBWBDT4 20.4 19 Azt

KRCBDT 22.1 23 PBS

KRCBDT2 22.2 23 PBS

KTSFDT 26.1 27 Ind

KTSFDT2 26.2 27 Ind

KMTPDT 32.1 33 Ind

KICUDT 36.1 52 Ind

KICUDT2 36.2 52 Ind

KCNSDT 38.1 39 Ind

KTNCDT 42.1 63 Ind

KBCWDT 44.1 45 Ind

KSTSDT 48.1 49 HBC

KFTYDT 50.1 54 Ind

KTEHDT 54.1 50 PBS

KTEHDT2 54.2 50 Ind

KTEHDT3 54.3 50 PBS

KCSMDT 60.1 43 PBS

KCSMDT2 60.2 43 Ind

KCSMDT3 60.3 43 PBS

KKPXDT 65.1 41 Ind

KKPXDT2 65.2 41 Ind

KKPXDT3 65.3 41 Ind

KKPXDT4 65.4 41 Ind

KFSFDT 66.1 34 Tel

KFSFDT2 66.2 34 USI

KTLNDT 68.1 47 Ind

All 44 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 San Francisco/Monterey Area. 21 more around Sacramento...

Antenna Selection Guide
To find the perfect antenna, first list the RF Channels around San Francisco which you want to watch. 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 San Francisco Address or ZIP Code

A San Francisco/Monterey NOTE: The RF Channel Lists show one RF Channel less than 14 in San Francisco and two in Monterey. They are the ONLY VHF Channels on the new HDTV line up... and the ONLY ones which need broad VHF antennas. The rest can be tuned on slender UHF antennas.