Im a definitely a newbie and am looking for all the help I can get. Just found out I can't get locals in HD from Dish Network but may can by over air antenna. I went to antenna web .org and
the antenna type is violet -vhf that I will need. It is a Large Directional Antenna with pre-amp. It says I am 37.7 miles from ABC, 19.9 from CBS, and 20.2 from NBC. The ABC local is in a different city than CBS and NBC. My zipcode is 24088 in Va and am trying to get CBS and NBC from Roanoke, VA and ABC from Lynchburg , VA. It also says the compass orientation is 358 for CBS 359 for NBC and 50 for ABC. Any chance at getting all 3 of these in HD? Will the preamp be built into the antenna? Where can I buy this type of antenna? Looking at getting a somebody with knowledge in this area to install it but wanted to find out if I have a good shot getting these channels living in a rural area and how much it will cost me for everything and where I can get it that accepts return just incase. Thanks for any help you can give me.

Violet means BIG antenna - and the pre-amp is sold separately.

Have you considered the idea of getting the North Carolina stations instead ? They are only reds and blues, compared to violets for the VA ones.

Im a definitely a newbie and am looking for all the help I can get. Just found out I can't get locals in HD from Dish Network but may can by over air antenna. I went to antenna web .org and the antenna type is violet -vhf that I will need. It is a Large Directional Antenna with pre-amp. It says I am 37.7 miles from ABC, 19.9 from CBS, and 20.2 from NBC. The ABC local is in a different city than CBS and NBC. My zipcode is 24088 in Va and am trying to get CBS and NBC from Roanoke, VA and ABC from Lynchburg , VA. It also says the compass orientation is 358 for CBS 359 for NBC and 50 for ABC. Any chance at getting all 3 of these in HD? Will the preamp be built into the antenna? Where can I buy this type of antenna?
You are in a complicated location. You are looking at getting a rooftop or attic antenna with a rotator. Plugging your zip code and 400' for antenna height under options to get a more complete list of possible stations (color codes are not valid for this), antennaweb.org show the following digital stations which I sorted into closer and really long range:

* yellow - uhf WPXR-DT 38.1 ION ROANOKE VA 354° 20.9 36
* yellow - uhf WDRL-DT 24.1 IND DANVILLE VA 82° 28.4 41
* green - uhf WXII-DT 12.1 NBC WINSTON-SALEM NC 213° 40.0 31
* red - vhf WBRA-DT 15.1 PBS ROANOKE VA 354° 21.0 3
* violet - uhf WDBJ-DT 7.1 CBS ROANOKE VA 354° 20.9 18
* violet - uhf WGPX-DT 16.1 ION BURLINGTON NC 161° 50.5 14

* green - uhf WFMY-DT 2.1 CBS GREENSBORO NC 177° 72.2 51
* red - uhf WXLV-DT 45.1 ABC WINSTON-SALEM NC 177° 72.6 29
* red - uhf WMYV-DT 48.1 MNT GREENSBORO NC 177° 72.6 33

The last number on each line is the actual broadcast channel. WBRA-DT PBS 15 is on low VHF 3. You will need to get a full range VHF/UHF antenna, not just UHF. You have the major stations in 2 directions: Roanoke at 354° and Lynchburg at 47°. However, the Lynchburg digital stations are not showing up, but antennaweb sometimes has old data for the digital stations.

With a rooftop antenna, the pre-amp is separate. See http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ISSUES/erecting_antenna.html for info on antennas. You should look at getting the Winegard HD7084P VHF/UHF antenna. See http://www.winegard.com/offair/vhfuhf.htm for specs. Solidsignal.com and warrenelectronics.com are reputable on-line dealers.

If you want an installer and advice from those in your area, check the local threads for the cities closest to you.

Thanks for the help!