Antenna guide / Western Australia / Northam
Which way to point your TV antenna in Northam
Point it 128° south east at the Mawson transmitter, 61 km away.
- Bearing
- 128° SE
- Transmitter
- Mawson
- Distance
- 61 km
- Polarisation
- Horizontal
- Band
- UHF
- Expected signal
- Good
What antenna you need
Mawson broadcasts on UHF, so use a UHF antenna. Mount it with the elements lying flat, side to side.
Channels from Mawson
| Network | Channel | Band | Polarisation | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC | 45 | UHF | Horizontal | 492 kW |
| GWN7 | 40 | UHF | Horizontal | 492 kW |
| SBS | 43 | UHF | Horizontal | 492 kW |
| WDT (10) | 42 | UHF | Horizontal | 492 kW |
| WIN (Nine) | 41 | UHF | Horizontal | 492 kW |
If Mawson is blocked
Hills and tall buildings can block the first choice. These are the next best transmitters for Northam:
- Bickley: 234° SW, 69 km, horizontal, VHF. Expected signal: fair.
There is also a low-power local transmitter at Northam, 250° WSW, 2.3 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 128°, 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