# Is it worth me getting an OTA antenna for HD?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-me-getting-an-ota-antenna-for-hd/342896>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [February 3, 2006, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-me-getting-an-ota-antenna-for-hd/342896 "2006-02-03T20:23:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![DarrenS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@DarrenS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarrenS)\
**Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-me-getting-an-ota-antenna-for-hd/342896/1 "2006-02-03T20:23:31Z")

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I’ve read about receiving OTA signals on various other fora, and it’s left my head spinning. UHF, VHF, directional vs. non…

Here’s the situation: I already get HD through my cable company. However, Adelphia SoCal doesn’t provide that many channels - only 5 HD ( the major networks like ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, one PBS station, and HBO HD ) I believe there are lots more, like TNT.

I’ve checked which stations should be available to me via AntennaWeb but I don’t properly understand the results.

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**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\
**Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-me-getting-an-ota-antenna-for-hd/342896/2 "2006-02-03T20:27:02Z")

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> [@DarrenS](#):
>
> I’ve read about receiving OTA signals on various other fora, and it’s left my head spinning. UHF, VHF, directional vs. non…
> 
> Here’s the situation: I already get HD through my cable company. However, Adelphia SoCal doesn’t provide that many channels - only 5 HD ( the major networks like ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, one PBS station, and HBO HD ) I believe there are lots more, like TNT.
> 
> I’ve checked which stations should be available to me via AntennaWeb but I don’t properly understand the results.

No, you can only get broadcast channels with an OTA antenna, which are basically all the channels your cable provider offers, except WB and UPN, soon to be CW.

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**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\
**Post date:** [February 4, 2006, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-me-getting-an-ota-antenna-for-hd/342896/3 "2006-02-04T00:22:55Z")

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My cable company does not currently offer HD, so would this be an option for me to receive certain networks in HD?

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**Author:** ![Airblairxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Airblairxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airblairxxx)\
**Post date:** [February 4, 2006, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-me-getting-an-ota-antenna-for-hd/342896/4 "2006-02-04T01:12:45Z")

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Yes, it would. Go to [www.antennaweb.org](http://www.antennaweb.org), input your address, and it will tell you what stations you can (hypothetically) receive and what type of antenna you need. They’re color-coded according to type and power, make sure you get one good enough for your needs.