How to Get Local Weather Channels on DirecTV

Unlike broadcast TV and cable services, DirecTV is primarily a national service where everyone's signal comes from a central location -- or to be precise, an orbiting location. However, the sheer amount of data that can be transmitted by a satellite to your dish means you can still get localized video: you just need to know how to navigate the channels to find it.

DirectTV transmits a signal for hundreds of local stations from around the country, but, because of broadcasting laws, blocks reception for all but those that serve your area. To check the local channels available in your area, use DirecTV's Local Channels Lookup tool (see Resources) in which you can type in your Zip code and get a list of the available stations and numbers. These will usually have numbers in the single and double digits. While broadcasting rights may vary, generally you'll get any channels that are available through over-the-air broadcasting, including any localized weather channels. Note that the available channels may change over time for licensing reasons.

DirecTV carries two national weather stations: WeatherNation on channel 361 and The Weather Channel on 362. With both stations, you can use interactive features to get local forecasts at any time. Depending on your receiver type, you can access these using either the red button or the ACTIVE button on your remote. The first time you select WeatherNation, you'll need to type in your Zip code to set up this feature. You can add up to five Zips for instant access whenever you use the feature.