I just bought a Sharp Aquos LC46D43U on black friday at Sears. This is my first move into the HD world and im having some trouble trying to clearly capture many of my local stations. I can use my regular old cheap-o RCA antenna that I used with my previous tube TV but cant get anything to come through clearly. So I picked up a $23 Philips HD antenna. It will pick up a few of the higher channels like 71 and something else but I cant get it to receive the more important channels (well to me anyways I normally always watch 7 and 9) The reception is pretty poor on any of the channels I get though so im wondering if I need an antenna with a little more quality? While I was trying to adjust the Philips antenna one of the ears broke off so its going back to Walmart today. I was looking at a few antennas on Newegg? So far ive been looking at indoor antennas should I start considering outdoor? My zip code is 52405 if this helps at all.
Using my older antenna I can start to receive channel 7 and 9 when I hold the antenna way up to the ceiling but it still isnt very clear. :confused: Your help is much appreciated!

You are 25 miles from most network TV transmitters so an outdoor antenna even a small on would be more reliable. Your digital stations are on UHF channels so a UHF only antenna would be OK for now. You might receive signals from an indoor antenna but you need to check your setup on the TV. I don't think any channels use channel 71so your TV may be in the cable mode. It needs to be in the antenna mode and you should try scanning for digital stations. If you get some they will show up as 20.1 or 28.1 etc when watched. They will not be unclear as in fuzzy or snowy or with ghosts. They may break up into large blocks or drop out completly if you or the antenna move.
With digital stations you get perfect pictures or no pictures with little in between.
John

Wow thank you very much I appreciate the help! I think I will shop around on Newegg or something like that for an outdoor antenna and see what I can find. If im set on having an indoor antenna do you think even moving the antenna to my upper level of the house would help more?

I can use my regular old cheap-o RCA antenna that I used with my previous tube TV but cant get anything to come through clearly. So I picked up a $23 Philips HD antenna. It will pick up a few of the higher channels like 71 and something else but I cant get it to receive the more important channels (well to me anyways I normally always watch 7 and 9) The reception is pretty poor on any of the channels I get though so im wondering if I need an antenna with a little more quality?
I agree, check that you are doing a digital OTA channel scan. The digital stations will come in with clear pictures or with a lot of breakups or not at all. If they are fuzzy or noisy, those are analog stations. There is no broadcast channel 71. The top broadcast channel is UHF 69.

Check antennaweb.org with your location, but add 100' or more to the antenna height under options to get a more complete list. The digital stations antennaweb shows for your zip code are:

* yellow - uhf KIIN-DT 45.1 PBS IOWA CITY IA 133° 26.1 45 [2209: VHF 12]
* yellow - uhf KWKB-DT 20.1 CW IOWA CITY IA 133° 25.5 25
* yellow - uhf KWWL-DT 7.1 NBC WATERLOO IA 346° 29.8 55 [2009 VHF 7]
* yellow - uhf KPXR-DT 48.1 ION CEDAR RAPIDS IA 337° 22.9 47
* yellow - uhf KGAN-DT 2.1 CBS CEDAR RAPIDS IA 341° 24.4 51
* yellow - uhf KRIN-DT 35.1 PBS WATERLOO IA 341° 24.4 35
* yellow - uhf KCRG-DT 9.1 ABC CEDAR RAPIDS IA 341° 24.4 52 [2009 VHF 9]
* yellow - uhf KFXA-DT 28.1 FOX CEDAR RAPIDS IA 291° 20.8 27

The last number on each line is the current actual digital broadcast channel for the station. All of your digital stations are currently on UHF. However 3 of them will be moving to their upper VHF channel in February 2009 after the analog shutdown as marked above.

If you want to try an indoor antenna, I suggest you see if you can get a Silver Sensor UHF antenna combined with VHF rabbit ears. A good outdoor antenna for you might be the Channel Master 4221 4 bay bowtie, although it might not pick up the VHF 7 station in 2009.

So in all reality I should be able to at least get the 2 channels I want? (7 and 9) I wonder why the Philips unit wasnt able to get 7? I will play with it again tonight when I get home and try and be sure its not scanning in cable mode. I will probably return the antenna and see what a new one does. If I find that im still unable to get 7 would this be an indicator that id need an outdoor antenna?

I am considering this indoor antenna....Anyone have any opinions? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882145017