Antenna guide / New South Wales / Smiths Lake
Which way to point your TV antenna in Smiths Lake
Point it 12° north north east at the Middle Brother transmitter, 77 km away.
- Bearing
- 12° NNE
- Transmitter
- Middle Brother
- Distance
- 77 km
- Polarisation
- Vertical
- Band
- VHF
- Expected signal
- Fair
What antenna you need
Middle Brother broadcasts on VHF, so use a VHF antenna (or a combined one). Mount it with the elements standing upright.
Channels from Middle Brother
| Network | Channel | Band | Polarisation | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 11 | VHF | Vertical | 131 kW |
| ABC | 7 | VHF | Vertical | 131 kW |
| NBN (Nine) | 12 | VHF | Vertical | 131 kW |
| Prime7 | 8 | VHF | Vertical | 131 kW |
| SBS | 6 | VHF | Vertical | 131 kW |
If Middle Brother is blocked
Hills and tall buildings can block the first choice. These are the next best transmitters for Smiths Lake:
- West Wallsend: 238° WSW, 107 km, horizontal, UHF. Expected signal: fair.
- Elizabeth Beach: 23° NNE, 5.3 km, vertical, UHF. Expected signal: good.
There is also a low-power local transmitter at Smiths Lake, 332° NNW, 0.3 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 12°, 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