Antenna guide / New South Wales / Merriwa
Which way to point your TV antenna in Merriwa
Point it 22° north north east at the Soma Mountain transmitter, 98 km away.
- Bearing
- 22° NNE
- Transmitter
- Soma Mountain
- Distance
- 98 km
- Polarisation
- Horizontal
- Band
- UHF
- Expected signal
- Fair
What antenna you need
Soma Mountain broadcasts on UHF, so use a UHF antenna. Mount it with the elements lying flat, side to side.
Channels from Soma Mountain
| Network | Channel | Band | Polarisation | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 44 | UHF | Horizontal | 49 kW |
| ABC | 41 | UHF | Horizontal | 49 kW |
| NBN (Nine) | 43 | UHF | Horizontal | 49 kW |
| Prime7 | 42 | UHF | Horizontal | 49 kW |
| SBS | 40 | UHF | Horizontal | 49 kW |
If Soma Mountain is blocked
Hills and tall buildings can block the first choice. These are the next best transmitters for Merriwa:
- West Wallsend: 127° SE, 139 km, horizontal, UHF. Expected signal: fair.
- Mt Cenn Cruaich: 305° NW, 154 km, vertical, VHF. Expected signal: fair.
There is also a low-power local transmitter at Merriwa, 289° WNW, 4.3 km away, carrying 5 channels. Local transmitters fill in reception holes, so if your street sits in one, aim here instead. It often uses a different polarisation, so check the channel list on your TV after retuning.
How to line it up
Stand where the antenna is going, hold your phone flat and open Compass. Turn until it reads 22°, then aim the front of the antenna that way. The iPhone Compass app uses true north by default, which is what these bearings use.
Bearings and signal estimates come from each transmitter's licensed power and distance. They do not account for terrain, so treat them as the starting point. The government's mySwitch tool can check an exact street address.
Aerial Pointer shows a live compass that turns you onto the transmitter, ranks every option for your exact spot and works with no signal.
Get Aerial Pointer for iPhone