newbie needs advice

[tjsully]

Hi.  I am looking for advice on getting started with hdtv.  I have been offered a gift from a relative of a new television ($1500 limit).  My current setup is a 10 year-old 27" tv that gets its signal from a pair of rabbit ears on top of the cabinet.  I do, however, have a Yamaha HTR-5830 receiver and surround-sound system, which I can only take advantage of right now when I play a dvd (have a combo vcr/dvd player).

I do not have cable or satellite and do not want them.  After reading some posts and doing a little internet research it seems like I could use a digital antenna.  I checked out antennaweb.org for my zip code (Hales Corners) and saw that all the major stations should be available to me.  The site recommended a "medium directional antenna".

Someone at work tried the antenna solution, but with poor results.  He lives near UWM, which I think is much closer than I am to the station towers.

My questions:

-  Will an antenna solution work for me?

-  What type is best?  Brand?

-  Given my budget, what type of tv would you recommend (lcd, plasma, rear-projection, hdtv-ready vs. built-in receiver, etc.)?

-  Any other suggestions, advice?

Thanks in advance for all help.

[mhz40]

I'm sure you will get some good ideas here, but first things first...
There is no such thing as a 'digital' antenna.  Any decent antenna will do, so don't blow the budget on one.
It would also help us help you if we knew what area of town you are in.
Close to the city will be most difficult for OTA due to multipath... but not necessarily impossible.
Given the fact you dont want 'pay' tv, you are gonna have to have a 8VSB tuner on-board, which most larger sets of today already have.  Start there and work your way into a category.  Most likely your going to end up with a direct view CRT or budget LCD.  Good luck!

[tjsully]

for the feedback.  I didn't realize I didn't need a special antenna to receive a digital ota signal.

I live in Hales Corners.