What channel is PBS on antenna in Portland-Auburn?
PBS is channel 10.1 (WCBB).
It broadcasts on RF 20 (UHF), which any digital TV can receive.
Our terrain predictions put PBS on WCBB within antenna reach of about 77% of people in the Portland-Auburn market, and an indoor antenna is likely enough for about 55% (an estimate, not yet checked against real scans). Check your ZIP.
Updated from FCC data
Lost PBS? Rescan your TV first
Most missing channels come back after a Rescan Asking your TV to search for channels again. Fixes most missing channels. More in the glossary . If PBS still doesn't appear, the antenna needs to point toward the WCBB tower and handle UHF Higher frequencies (RF 14–36). Most stations are here; almost any antenna picks it up. More in the glossary .
Where PBS 10.1 comes from
-
Works on any digital TV
WCBB RF 20 · UHF
WCBB's own transmitter.
Which way to point for PBS around Portland-Auburn
Aim at the WCBB tower . It stands apart from the main tower site, so it may need its own aim.
| From | Point | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Lewiston, ME | east-northeast (61°) | 9 mi |
| South Portland, ME | north-northeast (21°) | 39 mi |
| Sanford, ME | northeast (36°) | 63 mi |
| Westbrook, ME | north-northeast (29°) | 35 mi |
| Augusta, ME | southwest (228°) | 18 mi |
The antenna you need for PBS in Portland-Auburn
PBS reaches ordinary TVs on UHF, so any antenna that picks up UHF will do. Close to the towers an indoor antenna by a window often works; farther out, height matters most: attic beats window, roof beats attic.
The best antenna for all of Portland-Auburn · VHF Lower frequencies (RF 2–13). Needs an antenna with longer elements; many flat indoor antennas are weak here. More in the glossary
If 10.1 doesn't come in
PBS is also on:
- 26.1 WMEA-TV
Other networks in Portland-Auburn
Questions about PBS in Portland-Auburn
What channel is PBS on antenna in Portland-Auburn?
Why did PBS 10.1 disappear from my TV?
What antenna do I need for PBS in Portland-Auburn?
Where this comes from
- Stations, towers, channels and power: FCC Licensing and Management System (LMS) public database, data of .
- Networks and subchannels: our affiliations dataset, built from Wikipedia (used under CC BY-SA 4.0), the network field stations file with the FCC, and station websites; checked . Credits.
- Towns and distances: US Census Bureau: Vintage 2025 city population estimates (SUB-EST2025) and 2026 Gazetteer place coordinates; distances are straight-line from each town's Census centre point.
- Market area: Market area: counties assigned by FCC service-contour coverage of each market's full-power stations (FCC LMS market list, Census 2020).
Updated How we work this out