Further, I know a poster was trying to be helpful, but the suggested Direct DB4e, according to my research, can only receive UHF only and will NOT be able to receive LA channels 7 (KABC), 9 (KCAL: 2nd OTA owned by CBS), 11 (Fox), and 13 (MyTV/2nd OTA owned by Fox). Those channels are on the VHF Hi-band. You will need an OTA antenna that can receive both UHF and VHF Hi-band, unless you are willing to live without the above listed channels. If I am error about the Direct DBE4, please do correct me.
Most of the country is OTA UHF only, so a good number of folks are unaware of the VHF Hi-band use in other cities, but some places, especially the really big cities, have OTA's on both UHF and Hi-band VHF. As per your excitement, at my last count there are about 160 OTA channels in the Los Angeles. Most of them are foreign language: Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Armenian, and more, and religious. However, there are a number of good English language channels that one can't get via Dish or most, if any, MVPD's today such as COZI TV, MeTV (Also at channel 20 on the Dish LA LIL's and that has guide data while 56.3 does not), MOVIE, Bounce, GetTV, Antenna TV, This TV, Living Well in HD, MHz Worldview (great foreign detective and crime dramas all with English subtitles), and more I can't think of.
One thing I don't like is that because the OTA channels in Los Angeles continue to grow in number, you will occasional want to rescan for new channels so that your Dish STB can receive them. A process that can reset the custom labels you took the time to place because the Dish Scan does not always display the unique label. One good thing about the TiVo is that it will automatically detect a new OTA channel broadcasting and ask if you want to add it to your list, and this all happens with no initiation from the user and won't mess up previous settings. A much more civilized way to hand new OTA's going on air rather than having to rescan yourself every month or so.
As for placement, if indoor works for you, great. But, especially in Los Angeles, you are FAR better off with your antenna outside on the roof and as high as you can. Getting OTA reliably or at least all the desired channels, in Los Angeles can be extremely challenging and highly dependent on your location. This is one reason people in the LA area LOOOOOVVVVEEEE cable or sat and even a PRIMARY reason they get the service because getting good, reliable OTA is such a hassle in many parts of the LA area and even impossible in others. Aside from the places where it is impossible to receive OTA signals, there are plenty where you can't see the obstruction, usually hills even just a few miles away, but it is indeed making it very difficult to receive the stations you want.
The good news is the VHF-Hi band channels are most easily obtained and even in difficult locations, but I will tell you the most notorious channels that may present problems in reception: KCET, 28 (former PBS now independent public TV; KOCE, 50 (PBS); KDOC, 56, KLCS, 58 (PBS); are the most notorious (KVCR, 24 PBS out of San Bernardino is NOT located on Mount Wilson and requires a separate antenna IF you can get it at your location, but Dish provides that station as part of the LA LIL DMA package so I would not even bother trying to get that OTA), and may require a very high placement OUTSIDE using a pretty high pole to compensate beause those stations are at lower power than most and don't handle "first effect" (common in Los Angeles) very well, so a higher placement of the antenna OUTSIDE is often a sufficient compensation. Also, less notorious are KNBC, 4; KCBS 2; and a few other desirable channels, but reception of those is easily solved by getting the antenna on the roof and OUTSIDE. Unfortunately, you can have great reception of the LA OTA's, until inclement weather, and I mean even cloud cover let alone rain storms. That is mostly due to the stupid ATSC standard that the U.S. adapted for our OTA. In other words, you can for months with high signal points and steady reception, making you think you are in prime locations for receiving OTA, but then thicker clouds roll in or even rain, and that will be just enough to expose that you are NOT in such a prime area as your lack of compensations for where you are located rear its ugly head. First to go are the lower powered desirables, and then constant break-ups of the desirables on UHF, while VHF Hi-band usually is all that is reliable until the weather changes for the better. Again, the most effective counter measure to this is are simple: the antenna being OUTSIDE and given sufficient HEIGHT. Then you can get them all in even bad weather. Of course, there are plenty of location in the LA area when even outdoor height will NOT make things any better, which is why so many in LA pay for the cable or satellite.
Good luck. While this is a very good forum, I have found the TiVo forum to have more OTA users (since TiVo's have been able to receive OTA from day one) and more from LA who share their unique frustrations and solutions. There is a lot of good OTA info there. Again, good luck and enjoy.
Most of the country is OTA UHF only, so a good number of folks are unaware of the VHF Hi-band use in other cities, but some places, especially the really big cities, have OTA's on both UHF and Hi-band VHF. As per your excitement, at my last count there are about 160 OTA channels in the Los Angeles. Most of them are foreign language: Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Armenian, and more, and religious. However, there are a number of good English language channels that one can't get via Dish or most, if any, MVPD's today such as COZI TV, MeTV (Also at channel 20 on the Dish LA LIL's and that has guide data while 56.3 does not), MOVIE, Bounce, GetTV, Antenna TV, This TV, Living Well in HD, MHz Worldview (great foreign detective and crime dramas all with English subtitles), and more I can't think of.
One thing I don't like is that because the OTA channels in Los Angeles continue to grow in number, you will occasional want to rescan for new channels so that your Dish STB can receive them. A process that can reset the custom labels you took the time to place because the Dish Scan does not always display the unique label. One good thing about the TiVo is that it will automatically detect a new OTA channel broadcasting and ask if you want to add it to your list, and this all happens with no initiation from the user and won't mess up previous settings. A much more civilized way to hand new OTA's going on air rather than having to rescan yourself every month or so.
As for placement, if indoor works for you, great. But, especially in Los Angeles, you are FAR better off with your antenna outside on the roof and as high as you can. Getting OTA reliably or at least all the desired channels, in Los Angeles can be extremely challenging and highly dependent on your location. This is one reason people in the LA area LOOOOOVVVVEEEE cable or sat and even a PRIMARY reason they get the service because getting good, reliable OTA is such a hassle in many parts of the LA area and even impossible in others. Aside from the places where it is impossible to receive OTA signals, there are plenty where you can't see the obstruction, usually hills even just a few miles away, but it is indeed making it very difficult to receive the stations you want.
The good news is the VHF-Hi band channels are most easily obtained and even in difficult locations, but I will tell you the most notorious channels that may present problems in reception: KCET, 28 (former PBS now independent public TV; KOCE, 50 (PBS); KDOC, 56, KLCS, 58 (PBS); are the most notorious (KVCR, 24 PBS out of San Bernardino is NOT located on Mount Wilson and requires a separate antenna IF you can get it at your location, but Dish provides that station as part of the LA LIL DMA package so I would not even bother trying to get that OTA), and may require a very high placement OUTSIDE using a pretty high pole to compensate beause those stations are at lower power than most and don't handle "first effect" (common in Los Angeles) very well, so a higher placement of the antenna OUTSIDE is often a sufficient compensation. Also, less notorious are KNBC, 4; KCBS 2; and a few other desirable channels, but reception of those is easily solved by getting the antenna on the roof and OUTSIDE. Unfortunately, you can have great reception of the LA OTA's, until inclement weather, and I mean even cloud cover let alone rain storms. That is mostly due to the stupid ATSC standard that the U.S. adapted for our OTA. In other words, you can for months with high signal points and steady reception, making you think you are in prime locations for receiving OTA, but then thicker clouds roll in or even rain, and that will be just enough to expose that you are NOT in such a prime area as your lack of compensations for where you are located rear its ugly head. First to go are the lower powered desirables, and then constant break-ups of the desirables on UHF, while VHF Hi-band usually is all that is reliable until the weather changes for the better. Again, the most effective counter measure to this is are simple: the antenna being OUTSIDE and given sufficient HEIGHT. Then you can get them all in even bad weather. Of course, there are plenty of location in the LA area when even outdoor height will NOT make things any better, which is why so many in LA pay for the cable or satellite.
Good luck. While this is a very good forum, I have found the TiVo forum to have more OTA users (since TiVo's have been able to receive OTA from day one) and more from LA who share their unique frustrations and solutions. There is a lot of good OTA info there. Again, good luck and enjoy.
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I've always had problems receiving ABC 7 and FOX 11. Wow there's so many OTA channels. Last time I checked was probably last year, and there were around 100. Well the ones I picked up. What I dislike is that the more there are the worser the quality becomes on some channels. 
