We started with Comcast but when they tried to charge $185 for "installation" in a new Villages home instead of the $41 quoted on the phone, we disconnected and have been using amplified rabbit ears (from Radio Shack) ever since. The quality of reception varies quite a bit. Since digital is "all or nothing", antenna placement is quite critical. We only get a dozen channels: CBS (6.x), ABC (9.x), CW (18.x), and whatever seems to be broadcasting through 27.x, 40.x, and 45.x
I talked with a x-Motorola engineer who was quite knowledgeable about antennas and lives locally. The Villages is not a good location for OTA reception but with proper equipment and placement (the higher the better), you should be able to pull in virtually every channel within 60 miles. There are several site on the web that will help you through the process of selecting the right gear. The people with whom I have talked at Radio Shack vary in their opinions from "forget about OTA reception around here" to "with the right antenna ..."
Rabbit ears are OK for now, but we would like to pull in a few more channels (PBS for sure) and not have to fiddle with the rabbit ears all the time. I plan to try the Winegard MS2000 (discovered 10 minutes ago via this thread, thanks Virginians) before exploring more substantial systems. I have looked at satellite systems and there is a package of just local stations (all we want) for about $12/month. That is appealing because of consistently good signal, and the possibility of combining the "satellite box" with a DVR.
As others have noted, the FCC guarantees your right to receive OTA transmissions and FCC Federal Statutes supersede homeowner regulations. I doubt that anyone would complain about a small external antenna (like the Windeard MS2000) but it would be interesting to know if anyone has installed a big outdoor antenna in the Villages. I think that the Antenna Police would try to have it removed, but in the end would have to defer to the FCC statutes.
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