Over the Air HD - My Slight Problems

So, i decided that since i can basically write about anything i want to here (the benefits of first class) that i would mention what sick and twisted (don't forget demented) things are on my mind.

i bought a cheap (relatively) indoor antenna for my room here in Purgatory (actually Purgatory is a ski area in the state i am currently in) to go with my new HDTV (TC-32C3), as i don't have cable.  Indoor antennas come in a variety of shapes and sizes.  However, most of the ones you can find in a place like Target are not that great (functional, but not perfect).  Sometimes you'll even take it home and find out it was an open box.  i didn't think i really needed that great of an antenna, as most of the stations are about 20 miles away.  Well, the antenna works ok (signal strength of 70-80% on many of the stations).  i found about 24 stations.  How many Spanish language and religious stations does one metro area need anyway?      

The problem here seems to be that most cheap and modern indoor antennas are made primarily for the UHF band.  What happens when the station still broadcasts on VHF?  Now the reception gets a little dicey.  VHF (sometimes represented with dipoles - like rabbit ears) are tricky.  Back where i used to be - in my decent sized open dungeon i could get some channels from about 30-35 miles away (including the ever pesky KING, a VHF broadcast).  Here two networks broadcast on VHF, the ABC affiliate and the NBC affiliate.  i can get hit-or-miss reception on the ABC affiliate, but i can't even get the TV to recognize the NBC affiliate exists.

Maybe if i had my older (yet flimsier made) antenna, i would be able to get better/stronger signals.  My older antenna was a Philips version of the silver sensor.  It is basically a "fisbone like" antenna.  Maybe if i could get it here i would have better results.

So why would i even want over the air HD? 
Well, i have an HDTV with only my Xbox 360 currently available as an input source.  Secondly, i really doubt this room will ever get cable.  Over the air HD in some cases is better looking than the HD equivalent you get on cable (and over the air you can get info from the program itself).  There are actually a surprising number of sub-channels out there.  The new one i found was TheCoolTV, which actually plays music videos all day (and they have an 80s at 8 thing).