I have never done this before and always used a cable box for HD. I have the 42HL67 which has the intergrated tuner or whatever can someone list everything I need to get local HD OTA? And the process. Thanks.

I have never done this before and always used a cable box for HD. I have the 42HL67 which has the intergrated tuner or whatever can someone list everything I need to get local HD OTA? And the process. Thanks.


All you would need would be a hook up an atenna. Depending on your location an indoor antenna might work fine. If you are not near the transmitting towers you would need an outdoor antenna. You can check antennaweb.org to see what
is being transmitted in your area and your distance from the transmitters. (I'm not familiar with that particular TV but if it has a digital tuner you are good to go with OTA and antenna.)

Thank you for the info!! Do you know hor what is a decent range for OTA HD? THe average distance for the antenna near us is about 28 miles or so. Thanks

Thank you for the info!! Do you know hor what is a decent range for OTA HD? THe average distance for the antenna near us is about 28 miles or so. Thanks
Typical coverage range for broadcasting is 60 to 70 miles, but this is highly dependent on the terrain and where you live. If you post your zip code and some info such as whether you live in house or condo/apartment, if a rooftop or attic mounted antenna is possible, surrounded by tall trees, and so on, we could provide recommendations on the antenna setup to look at. Check the OTA digital TV sticky FAQ at the top of this forum. A useful website for antenna info is http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ISSUES/erecting_antenna.html.

Thank you. I live in apartment for now, but this weekend we are moving into a townhome, but they won't let us put an outside antenna up. I just bought a antenna since it was cheap. It was an RCA 14.99 indoor one. Our new place won't have any big trees around. Our zip will be 50266. Thank you for your help!!

A directional UHF antenna would be fine. All the major stations are 20.3 miles from you and at the same direction 24.9-25.9 degree from east. Check www.tvfool.com and enter your address for details. Some of the indoor directional antennas you can try are
1) Philips Silver Sensor
2) Terk HDTVa (amplified version).. there are other versions like HDTVi (non amplified) and HDTVo(outdoor version). I would suggest to use the HDTVa.. because I have got amazing result using that.. I also live in an apt

Of course first you should try with the RCA antenna you bought (assuming it can do UHF).. and try pointing at approx 25 degree. Try pointing towards a window or something which has minimum obstructions. If you can put up an outdoor antenna or an attic antenna you will surely get all the channels.. there are many options like DB2, Channel Master etc.. you have to try it to see whether you can come out of the shackle of the cable/dish guys

Thank you. I live in apartment for now, but this weekend we are moving into a townhome, but they won't let us put an outside antenna up. I just bought a antenna since it was cheap. It was an RCA 14.99 indoor one. Our new place won't have any big trees around. Our zip will be 50266. Thank you for your help!!
Give the RCA antenna a try. 19 miles is pretty far for an indoor antenna, but you are in flat country, so it might work.

Plugging your zip code into antennaweb, your digital stations are:
* yellow - uhf KDIN-DT 11.1 PBS DES MOINES IA 24° 19.2 50
* yellow - uhf KDMI-DT 23.1 MNT DES MOINES IA 24° 19.2 56
* yellow - uhf WHO-DT 13.1 NBC DES MOINES IA 24° 19.2 19
* yellow - uhf KCWI-DT 23.1 CW AMES IA TBD 24° 19.2 23
* yellow - uhf KDSM-DT 17.1 FOX DES MOINES IA 24° 19.2 16
* yellow - uhf KCCI-DT 8.1 CBS DES MOINES IA 25° 17.8 31
* red - uhf KFPX-DT 39 ION NEWTON IA TBD 59° 33.8 39

The last number on each row is the current digital broadcast channel for the station, all of which are currently UHF. However, a check of the FCC post February 2009 analog shutdown DTV channel selection shows KCCI-DT CBS 8, KDIN-DT PBS 11 and WHO-DT NBC 13 will all be switching their digital channel to their current upper VHF analog channel.

So if you put up a permanent antenna, you need an antenna for upper VHF 7 to 13 and UHF. But for now, see what you can get with an indoor UHF antenna aimed at 25 degrees.

Also, if you own your townhouse, the HOA can not legally stop you from putting up an antenna on the roof. The FCC rules allowing outdoor antennas trump the HOA. But at your ranges, an attic antenna should work if the indoor does not.

As afiggatt says, the FCC has rules about mounting antennas on your own property--You might want to check them out on the FCC website to know your rights, and at your distance I would guess that you could mount a pretty small and thus inobtrusive antenna outdoors. Another thought, if your current RCA antenna doesn't get the channels you want, is to make one as detailed in the thread below. You could build the first one listed very quickly, and I would not be surprised if you could get your channels from inside with that one, at a cost of a few dollars (coat hangers). There are other simple models in the thread as well. The advantage is that you can experiment very inexpensively, and if you like the reception of your homemade antenna, even if you don't like its looks then you can buy a more professional model.

In any case, don't be afraid to move it around and try to point it out of a window in the direction of the transmitters, or in the attic as suggested.

http://www.lumenlab.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=9613&st=0