HDTV transmitter/antenna information

thanks so far everyone.

I may just end up putting an antenna and rotor up on the roof and trying it.

Dweller I did go to the website you mention and it looks hopeful.

Dan ed my brother has the mother of all UHF antennas in his garage and maybe I will borrow it try that as well.

Agaffer I have a great big tree in the line of connection to the local sattelite and besides I am cheap.

Just a little update...

I bought a Winegard 8200P antenna (one of the top antennas you can buy) on the advice of a local dealer, and put it into my attic first - to see what channels I could receive. I can get all the networks except for CBS which is very much what antennaweb.com told me when I entered my address etc. on their website (FWIW I think the info from antennaweb is spot on and worth a look).

I fine tuned the direction my antenna aimed with a compass and went from no signal to a peak of 40 so I am close to getting CBS. My next step is to buy an amplifier and as a last resort is to mount it on the roof with a rotor.

I think the OTA HD is very much decided on where you are located, I am in a smallish city (120,000 or so) and the nearest transmitter is about 25 or so miles away and is reported to be pointing due north (away from me) at the nearest 'big' city, also Kalamazoo is located in a valley in SW Michigan, this all makes a big difference.

Elizabeth, I agree that any antenna will do to get some channels and do not know your situation but, you do need VHF and UHF to get all of the channels in my area and I am sure throughout the USA this applies as well.

the bottom line is you have to do a little research, antennaweb.com is a good start, and have a little luck with your location to get OTA HD channels.

thanks again everyone

Phil

Ozzy

FWIW - In Kalamazoo CBS and NBC are both VHF and I can not get CBS yet but the UHF are coming in fine

go figure....