Looking for local HDTV Help

[asr2k]

I live in New Berlin and want to rcieve local HDTV channels. I have DirecTV and have a few channels in HD. Can I call TW and subscribe to an HD local package or would it be easier to buy an antenna? I'm not a big fan of a roof antenna, but I wouldn't mind putting one in my attic. Any tips would be appreciated.

[Gregg Lengling]

You should be able to receive all channels with an attic antenna (except for fox). Channel 58 might take a little alignment but I don't see any real problem. Plus all it costs you is the one time cost of the antenna and not the monthly fees for TWC. It sounds like if you already have Directv HD channels you probably have a dual Sat and Over the air receiver. So go for it......you'd probably be suprised that with rabbit ears you'll probably get 4, 10 and 12 without a problem

[asr2k]

Thanks for your reply. I do recieve HBOHD and HDNet from my dual sat dish. A few months ago, I bought some rabbit ears at Radio Shack, they were terrible. They were pretty easy to install, straight out of the box and plug into the ant-in on the back of my receiver. Do you reccomend any specific attic antenna? I've always had cable or sat, so I have never had to research an OTA. So any tips or reccomendations would be very helpful. Thanks.

[Gregg Lengling]

I'll leave that to the others that have attic antennas. I'm using 2 outdoor antennas on my tower...so the types I'm using may not fit in your attic. Plus you have to make sure that you have a decent shot at the NE side of Milwaukee from your attic without having to point thru aluminum siding or something like that, because that would attenuate the received signals.

[StarvingForHDTV]

Originally posted by asr2k
Do you reccomend any specific attic antenna?

I use the Channel Master 4221 4 Bay Bow UHF antenna in my attic. It works great. I pick up all of the digital and analog Milwaukee area stations from southern Mequon (analog 4 or 6 would come in better with a VHF antenna, but they are digital now, so it doesn't matter to me). I don't know if it will work as good for you at your location. You can see Channel Master's UHF antennas here:

http://www.cmnc.com/pages/u1.htm

Starving

[ugyvel]

.[Quote] Do you reccomend any specific attic antenna? I've always had cable or sat, so I have never had to research an OTA. So any tips or reccomendations would be very helpful. Thanks.[Quote]

I have a standard Radio Shack (the swept back look) outdoor antenna laying across the rafters in the attic. Get great HD and NTSC reception with it in central Mequon. Bought it about 5 years ago at Radio Shack for $24.99.

I don't know the model number, but I've heard a number of good things about a variety of cheap Radio Shack antennas. Go get a cheap basic one and see if it works!

[drgingras]

Although I use a roof-mounted Channelmaster, I agree with the Radioshack idea for attic locations. Locally available, relatively inexpensive, and RS has a very liberal return policy.

Dave