Point it at the station that serves you, with an antenna that covers its band, along a path clear of hills.
Six practical steps, from finding your station to the final channel scan. Each one shows how to do it with Tower Aim, our app, using ISED Spectrum Management System broadcast data.
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Read this, then follow the steps below for the detail.
Point the antenna at the TV station that serves your area. Many Canadian stations broadcast on VHF, so check the band before you buy or climb. Check that no hill blocks the path, then fine-tune and run a channel scan on every TV.
Systemic Studios makes Tower Aim, the app this guide uses for each step. Roof work is dangerous: if your antenna is hard to reach, use a professional antenna installer.
Do steps 1 to 4 on the ground, before you get the ladder out.
Your antenna should face the station that serves you, which is not always the closest. Tower Aim recommends a station based on published power and distance, not a signal measurement, from ISED Spectrum Management System broadcast data dated 6 October 2026: 274 Canadian digital TV stations across 137 sites, plus 558 US stations near the border. Search by postal code, city or town, or use your location.
92 of Canada's 274 digital TV stations broadcast on VHF. Tower Aim tells you whether a UHF antenna is enough, or whether you need high VHF, or low VHF support, for the stations around you.
Most Canadian stations are horizontally polarized and some are mixed. Tower Aim shows the polarization, RF channel, call sign and power for each station.
Tower Aim shows the elevation profile along the path, from the terrain map saved to your phone on first use. Tower Aim Installer adds finer terrain. Trees and buildings are not included, so treat it as a guide.
Face the bearing shown and follow the live compass arrow until it confirms you are on target. AR aiming works on supported phones.
Turn in small steps while someone watches the signal screen on the TV, then run a full channel scan on every TV. Near the border, US stations may be the stronger choice; Tower Aim lists them alongside Canadian stations.
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What to check at each step, and where to find it in the app.
| Step | What to check | In Tower Aim |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Find your station | Which station serves you | A recommended station based on published power and distance, not a signal measurement, with estimated reception; ISED Spectrum Management System broadcast data dated 6 Oct 2026, plus US border stations |
| 2. VHF or UHF | Whether your antenna covers the band | Whether a UHF antenna is enough, or you need high VHF or low VHF support |
| 3. Polarization | Horizontal or mixed | Shown for each station, with its RF channel, call sign and power |
| 4. Terrain | Hills between you and the station | Elevation profile from a one-time terrain download; finer terrain with Installer |
| 5. Aim | The bearing to the station | Live compass arrow that confirms when you're on target; AR aiming on supported phones |
| 6. Fine-tune and rescan | Signal quality on the TV, then a channel scan | RF channels for each station, with US border stations listed alongside |
| On the roof | What's saved on your phone | Station data built in; terrain map saved on first use |
Real Tower Aim screens in Toronto, Montréal and Windsor.
See the recommended station, its call signs and power, and whether you need VHF or UHF.
Look at the elevation profile to the station before you climb.
Near the border, the best station can be in the US. In Windsor, Tower Aim recommends a Detroit station.
Tower Aim: TV Antenna Finder
We make it. These are the parts that match the steps above.
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ISED Spectrum Management System broadcast data dated 6 Oct 2026: 274 Canadian digital TV stations across 137 sites, including low-power stations, with channels, frequencies and power. The recommended station is based on published power and distance, not a signal measurement.
92 of the 274 stations are VHF, so Tower Aim tells you whether UHF is enough or you need high VHF or low VHF support.
558 US stations near the border are listed alongside Canadian stations, so you can compare before you aim.
A terrain line of sight from a one-time terrain download, with finer terrain in Tower Aim Installer.
A live compass arrow that confirms when you're on target, plus AR aiming on supported phones.
The app follows your phone's language, in English or French.
See what's worked for neighbours nearby, once enough reports are in.
Antenna installers, electricians and AV professionals can add Tower Aim Installer, an optional subscription, for jobs, readings from your own meter, photos and branded PDF reports.
Ce guide en français.
Confirm the station, record the job and hand over a report on site.
Features, screenshots, Tower Aim Installer and support.
At the station that serves your area, with an antenna that covers its band. Tower Aim recommends a station based on published power and distance, not a signal measurement, and shows the bearing, band, polarization and terrain to it.
It depends on the stations around you. 92 of Canada's 274 digital TV stations broadcast on VHF, most of them high VHF. Tower Aim tells you whether a UHF antenna is enough, or whether you need high VHF or low VHF support.
Not always. A stronger station further away, or one with a clear path over the hills, can serve you better than a small one nearby. Tower Aim recommends a station based on published power and distance, so check the terrain to each option too.
Often, near the border. Tower Aim includes 558 US stations near the border, listed alongside Canadian stations, so you can see the bearing and terrain to each before you aim.
From ISED Spectrum Management System broadcast data (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada), dated 6 October 2026: 274 digital TV stations across 137 sites, including low-power stations, plus 558 US stations near the border from the FCC.
Yes. The app follows your phone's language, so it shows in French when your phone is set to French.
The station data is built into the app, and the terrain map is saved to your phone on first use. Open the app once on Wi-Fi before you head up.
No. Your phone cannot measure TV signal. Tower Aim recommends a station based on published power and distance, and shows "Estimated reception" from Excellent to Poor. It is an estimate, not a measurement. Installers can record readings from their own meter with Tower Aim Installer.
iPhone with iOS 17 or later, and Android 8.0 or later.
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Systemic Studios