Ya I got an antenna on the gable end of my house. It is a uhf/vhf antenna from radio shack. In total it cost me about $180. That includes grounding rod, coax, copper grounding wire, base, etc, etc. Then I went and got a small tv with a digital tuner. I now have 12 channels(7 digital and 5 analog) vs the 5 I had before. I still don't have a HDTV and if I did all stations will not be broadcasting in HDTV after the total changeover next year anyway. I may pick up a DTV converter box at Best Buy so I can pick up the xtra stations on our larger analog tv. The want 69 bucks but could soon be one at Wally world for 50. I watch less and less tv due to all the commercials so may not spend the money on any fancy HDTV. Oh and there is the 40 dol coupon you can order from the Government to reduce the cost of the converter box. I'm still waiting for my coupon. I'm not gonna double check this so ifin its sounds fucked up so be it.

Please be aware that "digital TV" and "HDTV (High Definition)" are not the same thing. The mandatory switch that all broadcast networks will be going through in a year is to "digital TV".

So, if you have a TV that's more than a few years old, that's when you need one of the digital converter boxes. If you have a High Definition TV, or a TV that was purchased within the last couple of years, no converter is needed.

I don't know any details about the converters, mainly because I don't think many are available yet. But, as far as an antenna, whatever you are currently using will work just fine. Antennas that are being sold for a higher price because they're "digital" or "HDTV" antennas are a scam. If you have one that works now, it will work for the digital signal once you get a converter box.

Personally, I say you take the plunge and get an inexpensive High Def TV. There are about a dozen free, over-the-air digital and/or HD channels available in the Duluth area already.

For the record, I do have an HD-capable tv (720p/1080i) that does not have an internal digital/HD tuner. Thus, I'm not really interested in a digital-to-analog converter boxes covered by the gov't coupon.

I think I once heard it worded. All HDTV is digital but not all digital is HDTV. It takes up more space in the bandwidth to send out HDTV. I also think it may take more expensive equipment to send out HDTV so some stations may never go high definition. However they will "all" go to digital next year. Where I live I need an outside antenna high in the air or I will not receive a good enough signal thus my outside antenna. Oh and yes they had a decent pile of the converter boxes at Best Buy. I haven't seen any inexpensive HDTV's. But then I live a simple life using as little of earths resources as possible. If I already have something that works I usually will not go out and buy something because every one else does. However, if everyone was like me the economy of America would fall apart in two weeks. So go out and buy your HDTV I live off your leftovers. thanks

+1 on whatever you have laying around. Just try a pair of old rabbit ears. I live in Morley Heights and that is all I need to get all of the digital channels.

I use OTA digital tuner that is built into my Satellite receiver and i get all channels just fine with an antenna behind my TV (I live in lakeside) Also don't be fooled by expensive antennas, in my experience the older the rabbit ears the better, and if you live outside the city use antennaweb.org to find out how you will fair with the signals. They do error on the side of caution so you can add a few miles to each location. As far as a tuner the Echostar TR50 won cnets best in show at CES. It will be out in a few months and sounds like it will be awesome.

http://www.satelliteguys.us/2008-consumer-electronics-show-ces-forum/120656-video-echostar-tr50-atsc-dvr.html

Echostar will also be selling a converter box for digital(not HD) that will be $40 in July, so with the government rebate it will be free.