Information for Antenna Manufacturers and Distributors

The CSV file below provides a summary of data collected from the DTV.gov/maps prediction tool for each zip code in the US and its territories. For a single reference point within each zip code approximately corresponding to the center of that area, the strongest signal from a station affiliated with each of NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, PBS, and Univision was selected, and analysis conducted to determine summary factors such as arc (described in field 5), the strongest signal as well as the third strongest and weakest signals received at that location from the selected station set, and flags to indicate the presence of high and low band VHF stations. We make this information available to assist antenna manufacturers, distributors, and retailers in selecting the appropriate inventory for their stores, so that they can provide consumers with antennas that are likely to successfully receive their desired stations.

Download ZIP Code Data for Antenna Manufacturers and Distributors (.CSV file)

Using DTV Reception Maps Tool: Guidance for Retail Sales Staff

It should be noted that the analysis was only performed at the internal reference point in each ZCTA, and that the locations of individual consumers in that ZCTA will experience variations from these predictions. The farther a viewer’s location from the analyzed point, the more significant the difference is likely to be. Therefore the data includes the physical area encompassed within the ZCTA boundary, which can indicate that amount of variability within that ZCTA. Further, we do not recommend that this data be used to predict reception conditions at a consumer's individual location. The dtv.gov/maps reception tool is the appropriate tool for that purpose. Not only will the www.dtv.gov/maps tool provide predicted signal strength at the consumer’s precise address; it will also enable the consumer and anyone providing assistance (e.g., a retail sales associate) to take into account all stations of interest, rather than only the affiliates of six networks as described above.

Description of the Columns in the .CSV file

(1) Zip – ZCTA (Zip Code) from http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/places2k.html

(2) Size - area of ZCTA in square miles. Larger ZCTA signifies that the location used for computation (see (3) and (4) below) may be less representative of the ZCTA as a whole.

Columns (3),(4) latitude and longitude of the Census defined internal point of ZCTA in decimal degrees, from the census.gov file.

(5) Arc – the smallest angle in degrees that encompasses all of the compass bearings (listed in 16,22,28,34,40,46) to the selected stations.

(6) Strongest, (7) 3rd Strongest, (8) Weakest - the predicted signal strength in dBm of the, respectively, strongest, third strongest, and weakest of the selected stations. If there are fewer than 3 available, 3rd Strongest shows "NA". If there are none available, all three fields will show "NA".

(9) Low VHF Flag – if any of the selected stations broadcasts on RF channel 2-6, this field is set as "LOW VHF".

(10) High VHF Flag – if any of the selected stations broadcasts on RF channel 7-13, this field is set as “HIGH VHF”.

(11) Weakest VHF - the predicted signal strength in dBm of the weakest selected VHF signal, if any. If there are no VHF signals selected, the field shows "NA".

Columns (12),(18),(24),(30),(36),(42) - Network affiliation.

Columns (13),(19),(25),(31),(37),(43) - Callsign of strongest signal affiliated with network.

Columns (14),(20),(26),(32),(38),(44) - RF channel of callsign.

Columns (15),(21),(27),(33),(39),(45) - distance in miles to TX site.

Columns (16),(22),(28),(34),(40),(46) - compass bearing in degrees from magnetic N to TX site.

Columns (17),(23),(29),(35),(41),(47) - predicted signal level in dBm at RX site.