Perth TV Transmitter Sites and Locations

All TV antennas in Perth receive their signal from a transmission antenna.  These can be located on a tower, or a building and are generally at the highest possible elevation in order for the signal to be radiated effectively across the intended coverage suburbs.  Site locations, licences, and special conditions are regulated by ACMA.  Operators responsible for running and maintaining the transmission equipment and antennas are TX Australia, Swan Broadcasting and Broadcast Australia.  With introduction of television in Perth in 1959, the original transmission site was and is still located in Bickley on Television road, broadcasting Channel 7 (TVW).

Shortly after in 1960, ABC (ABW) began broadcasting from a nearby tower on television road, which also broadcasts SBS beginning in 1986
Nine Network (STW) beginning in 1965 from a site in Walliston on Lawnbrook Road
Network Ten (NEW) beginning in 1988 are transmitted from a tower in Carmel on Welshpool road

List of frequencies from Bickley/Carmel site

FM and DAB+ services for digital radio are also transmitted from these sites along with mobile services

While all four sites physically use a different tower in independent locations, they are within 1km of each other, and generally known among the trade as the “Bickley” site.
Most of the TV antennas you see on roofs that appear to point to the hills, are receiving their signal from the towers in this site.  With an ERP (Effective Radiated Power) of 82kw, a lot of power is used to transmit the signal throughout the Perth metro area, giving good coverage even to the furthest and newest established suburbs past Alkimos.  A direct line of site can result in perfect reception even upto 200km away, this is in most situations not the case

To alleviate terminal reception problems in certain black spots around the Perth area, re transmission sites have been introduced over the years to transmit the same channels on different frequencies in order to avoid SFN related interference with main transmitters.   The introduction of these sites allow antenna installers alternative sources of receiving a signal.

Scarborough

Introduced in 2013 during the digital switchover, this transmitter is located on top of the Rendezvous hotel, formerly known as Observation City.  The purpose of it’s introduction was to provide a solution to terminal TV reception problems in various areas of Scarborough.  With a very modest low ERP of just 164 watts, coverage was only intended for the suburb of Scarborough.  We have been able to successfully pick up signals and achieve a lock on all channels as far as Padbury.  Due to the transmitter generally having good line of site along the coast, many properties around Trigg, North Beach, and Cottesloe can receive transmissions with the correct antenna, tuning and amplification.  Trouble spots as far as inner Suburbs of Nollamara can receive a perfect signal too due to good line of site.

List of frequencies for Scarborough site

Perth City

Introduced in 2013, the Perth City transmitter is located atop of the Bankwest tower on St Georges Terrace.  The unique advantage of a 247 meter height above ground level and a very central location to all suburbs and and unidirectional dispersion of signal gives very good coverage to many areas.  Certain isolated black spots in suburbs close to the metro area can make use of this transmitter around Victoria Park and Burswood where the main Bickley tower is blocked by large apartment buildings.  We have been able to pick this transmitter up as far as from trouble areas like Clifton Hills in Kelmscott, and similar areas in Kalamunda and Gooseberry Hill where there is direct line of site.

Channels and frequencies are the same as Scarborough.

Roleystone

The Roleystone tower is located on Canns Rd, commencing transmissions in 2004 from Seven Network, Nine Network, and SBS and later expanding to inlude ABC and Network Ten.
The coverage of this tower primarily was intended for the suburb of Roleystone, which has many black spot areas where signal from the Bickley/Carmel tower are very weak despite physically being located very close.

Surrounding suburbs and areas can pickup transmission from this tower, notably the Clifton Hills area in Kelmscott.  We have noticed residual signal can be received from as far as south of the river suburbs such as Willeton.  Manual tuning may be required to filter out non preferential frequencies.

Transmissions originally began on the higher end of the UHF spectrum and during the restack moved to lower frequencies.  As such many legacy antennas installed in the early 2000’s may not be optimal.

List of frequencies for Roleystone Site

Two Rocks

The Two Rocks tower provides coverage primarily to Two Rocks and the signal can be picked up adequately from antennas in Yanchep and Gabbadah.  With the right antenna setup, transmissions can be picked up from the long troublesome area of Seabird which had terminally weak signal.  TV Antenna installations in Guilderton in some instances can use this tower.

List of frequencies for Two Rocks site

Mandurah/Singleton and  Mandurah/Waroona

Introduced in 2013, the Mandurah/Singleton and Mandurah/Waroona are two separate transmitters located on the same tower, about 10KM east of Pinjarra
Their radiation pattern and intended coverage areas differs, hence the names.  Signals are vertically polarized

The Mandurah/Singleton cell has good coverage spanning from Mandurah to Singleton.
The Mandurah/Waroona cell has stronger coverage south of Mandurah, all towards Waroona.
There is generally a very broad overlap of signal radiation and with the right antenna setup and a combiner it is possible to pick up
channels from both towers in some areas.  Heavy bushland and high trees in various areas effects signal and often high masts are required.

Channels for Mandurah/Waroona

Channels for Mandurah/Singleton