Hi all, I'm totally newb at this HD world. I need your help. First of, I'm in Los Angeles. I just picked up the Vizio P50HDTV plasma last weekend. Currently I'm running Dish Network to the Vizio. The picture looks ok but not all impressive as the one I saw demo in the stores. I've checked the local HD at my area. I got quiet a few (see list below)

KJLA-DT
KCOP-DT
KAZA-DT
KFTR-DT
KTLA-DT
KOCE-DT
KDOC-DT
KTTV-DT
KCAL-DT
KCBS-DT
KMEX-DT
KPXN-DT
KRCA-DT
KCET-DT
KABC-DT
KLCS-DT
KNBC-DT
KXLA-DT
KSCI-DT
KVEA-DT
KTBN-DT
KWHY-DT
KVMD-DT
KVCR-DT

According to AntennaWeb, most of this are about 15 miles away at about 19 or 20 degree. Question is what kind of HD antenna should I get? I don't really want to spend more than $50. Also, is there a way to get HD on Dish Network without getting their HD receiver? They are charging more than I can afford. Can I get some type of tuner and hook it up with the receiver that I have at the moment? I'd love to have Discovery HD. Thanks for the help.

Al,

Edit: I'm an apartment complex so I can only go with the indoor antenna. I have no access to the roof. Thanks.

"Question is what kind of HD antenna should I get?"

Need to know what channels those call signs are broadcast on to answer that, post your entire antennaweb.org results for Digital Only. Check the local HD reception forum here also for a thread for your area to see what others are using around you. Once you determine what antenna you need, attach it directly to the plasma to use the built in ATSC tuner for OTA reception.

"Also, is there a way to get HD on Dish Network without getting their HD receiver? They are charging more than I can afford. Can I get some type of tuner and hook it up with the receiver that I have at the moment? I'd love to have Discovery HD."

No. If you want their HD content, you will need their HD receiver and their HD package.

Just because a channel is transmitting DTV does not mean the signal is HD.
Watch Channel 7 News, this is always in HD but you will also notice some street reports are done with a SD camera.

Just because a channel is transmitting DTV does not mean the signal is HD.
Watch Channel 7 News, this is always in HD but you will also notice some street reports are done with a SD camera.

True but I'm not sure what that has to do with the original questions.

"Question is what kind of HD antenna should I get?"

Need to know what channels those call signs are broadcast on to answer that, post your entire antennaweb.org results for Digital Only. Check the local HD reception forum here also for a thread for your area to see what others are using around you. Once you determine what antenna you need, attach it directly to the plasma to use the built in ATSC tuner for OTA reception.
He is in Los Angelos. Easy to look up as all the broadcast stations for LA are located up on Mt Wilson at over 6000'. Some of the stations on his list are probably in San Diego, but maybe we can ignore this for now?

The bottom line is that all of the digital stations in LA are currently on UHF. However, the upper VHF analog stations will switch their digital channel to upper VHF 7 to 13 in 2009 after the analog shutdown. So if he is going to put a permanent antenna, he needs UHF and upper VHF coverage. The Channel Master 4228 8 Bay appears to be popular with the AVSForum members in LA for outdoor or attic mounts.

wackii, are there any obstruction such as tall buildings in the 20 degree direction (warning: Antennaweb uses magnetic north, not true north!) towards Mt Wilson? My suggestion is that you get a Silver Sensor indoor UHF antenna, ideally with rabbit ears for VHF. If you can find it, try the Terk HDTVi (non-amplified) antenna (Frys Electronics may stock it) for around $25(?). Circuit City carries the Philips Silver Sensor PHTV1 for $25, but it does not have rabbit ears. OTOH, it will be ok for digital reception until 2009. Skip the over priced indoor antennas with built-in amplifiers for now. Stick to something simple as I have seen reports from people who get the digital LA stations at 40 or 50 miles with a small indoor UHF antenna.

Thank you guys. I found the antenna line-in from the roof top. I gave that a try and was able to pick some HD channels. This is cool. Thanks all.