What is the Best TV Antenna For Sydney and Greater Sydney?

A quick answer to this complicated question is that, unfortunately, you cannot take a one size fits all approach when purchasing an antenna. The ‘best’ antenna for your installation scenario will depend on which transmission tower you are receiving your free-to-air TV signal from, the distance you are from that transmitter and whether there are any obstructions or interference.

 If You Live in Sydney or the Greater Sydney Region, Keep Reading to Discover Which Antenna is Best for Your Area.

UHF or VHF?  

In Australia free-to-air (FTA) TV is transmitted in two different bands: Very High Frequency (VHF) and Ultra High Frequency (UHF). VHF receives channels 6-12, while UHF receives channels 28-51. 

As different bands receive different channels, the antennas required for these two bands are quite different.

Before you can select the best TV antenna for Sydney or Greater Sydney you will need to find out the frequency that your nearest broadcast tower is operating in, and whether or not that frequency requires a UHF or a VHF digital TV Antenna:For Greater Sydney the Artarmon tower (VHF) is the main transmitter  and covers most of the Metro areas. Kurrajong (UHF) is the main tower in the Northwest and Razorback (UHF) is the main transmission tower in the Southwest. 

Choosing the Best Antenna for Your Area

If you are receiving a signal from the Artarmon transmission tower (VHF, channels 6-12), George from Jim’s Antennas Sydney recommends using a Matchmaster DR3006 antenna. This antenna performs well for the majority of homes in the area. However, if a higher gain antenna is required.  George will use the Hills Silver Bullet or Black Arrow. 

For those receiving a signal from either the Razorback or Kurrajong tower (which are both UHF Horizontal transmitters) George recommends using the Matchmaster gx 400 as it comes with a lifetime manufacturer warranty and has an inbuilt low pass 4G LTE filter. 

Additional/Specialised Equipment

If living in a poor reception area such as Bilpin or if you have multiple FTA TV points you may need to add an amplifier to your antenna system or have your antenna installed on a higher mast. These additional pieces of equipment will help achieve an acceptable level of signal and significantly improve your viewing experience. 

For those who live close to transmitter towers, an attenuator may be required to reduce the incoming signal. While having a strong signal is often thought of as a good thing, a signal can actually be too strong. If it is too high it will cause pixelation or can burn out your TV’s tuner. Typically a good signal strength is between 60-65dBuv. 

In areas close to the beach, George and his team also prefer to use galvanised mounts and aluminium antennas to avoid rusting and corrosion. 

Recommended Brands

When choosing an antenna we always recommend going for an Australian made product, as they have been specifically designed for our weather conditions. 

The preferred brands of the Jim’s Antennas Sydney team include Hills, Matchmaster or Digitek. 

Not only does each brand produce antennas and aerial equipment that can withstand strong winds, hot sun and salty air, but they also generally offer better warranty periods and conditions compared to their overseas counterparts.

We hope that this article has helped you find the best free-to-air antenna for your location. If you require assistance installing a new antenna or are experiencing TV reception issues, don’t hesitate to give your local Jim’s Antennas expert call on 131 546 or book a free onsite no obligation quote.