I want to use an OTA HD antenna...

I use one of these DB4 Multi Directional HDTV Antenna. Search for it on Amazon. Just this weekend I unhooked my cable and had this antenna in the attic. I had RG6 coax run from the attic to the crawlspace. I ran this to my TV. Good results. I dropped cable Monday morning saving $100 month now. But you need a TV with a digital tuner. Otherwise you need some kind of box. I'm feeling real good right now about the savings. Time Warner raised their price by about 8% starting Jan 1st.

HD is UHF. So, Radio Shack U-75R is perfect, and at $29 it's cheap.

Much better than "high tech" but smaller antennas. I installed it inside my attic, works like a champ, picks up channels from far away, no problems. Run the coax straight into your TV if it has an HD tuner, or your external HD tuner box.

I live in Playa Del Rey just north of the LA airport. I heard a piece on NPR where the guy screwed in his old rabbit ears to his new digital flat screen and was amazed at the digital stations he picked up.

On Monday I hooked up my FM tuner's TERK antenna ($30 anywhere) to my digital capable bedroom TV. It worked like a champ. I got 48 digital stations off the air. Many are hi-def. Lots of stations are already broadcasting a HD signal and one of their digital feeds with a non-HD signal of the same show on another digital feed (Ex: NBC is channel 4. On digital I get HD in Channel 4.1 non HD in channel 4.2 and RAW Tv-- a non edited news feed--on 4.3). What is really cool is the embedded info that shows up in the station ID window. It shows the name of the station, the name of the show and run/play times for the show and a little progress bar that indicates where you are in the broadcast, kind of like playing a You Tube video on computer.

Other stations are broadcasting seperate shows on each seperate feed. Some stations are broadcasting on digital but not sending out content (Ex: Channel 7 is ABC and they have 4 feeds my TV picks up but the screen is just black, yet the menu shows the TV getting a digital signal).

Then, I just screwed in a longish pice of coax. Worked really well on most channels with some digital breakup on a few. I think that in general if you can get your digital tuner TV to simply receive a signal with a cheap antenna the digital aspect will resolve itself. No need for big expensive attic antennas unless you live outside of town.

My TV also picks up basic cable plus all local HD and a few non local (Food Network for example) if I just split my cable signalout of my converter box from the living room.

I can't wait for "the switch." I may be able to dump the whole cable thing and save $100 a month.

Do bare in mind here when using OTA broadcast reception, as with any other source component, signal integrity is key.

The use of antennas will allow a certain level of signal strength to be realized at your location. The better the receiver, or antenna, the better the strength of signal you will realize.

In this instance of attaining 'SOURCE INFO OFF THE AIR' the more better the receiver/antenna and it's resident installation, the better the signal will be.

An example of this might be, having a $100 CDP as a source on a system valued at $35K.

OR using rabbit ears on a $3K display.

Greater attention to detail in the area of antennas for OTA use is something I'd recommend whole heartedly... as mo' is betta.

Think about it this way... if you like what you are getting with minimal effort or expense thus far, just think how much more improvement lays ahead with a bit more effort in that area? ..and a very good setup won't be enourmously expensive at any rate and likely will run under $500 if a contractor is employed. DIY installs could be less than $200 for the simple hardware. filters, lightening protection, and amps will be a little more of course.

...and your actual geographic location in proximity to the towers, and surrounding edifices or landscape will dictate much of your needs.

the hidden benefit here, if greater attention is paid to the OTA antenna upgrade is accomplished, is for the radio enthusiast. your AM/FM reception will improve dramatically too. In essence, you kill two birds with one stone.