bardot861

Hi:
Just purchased a Toshiba32" HL83 LCD widescreen, high def ready.
Is there any way short of buying a set top decoder box and just seeing which high def programming one can access - that a person can make an educated guess on whether it is necessary to subscribe to high def programming service in order to get high definition reception?

I had in mind - in my situation in Southern Rhode Island - with current use of an older Channel Master - amplified roof antenna - we are able to access about 16 different channels in standard definition. Antenna web shows there are about 5 different channels providing some over the air high def programming in our area. Is it posssible to extrapolate from our analog reception - to what we can expect when using a terrestrial set top box? Have heard digital signals do not allow snow or interference. The signal is either present in adequate strengh or you just will get a blank screen. We do get some audio drop out on a few of the more distant stations - but actually, even those stations when we switch to reception through our VCR - results in all audio being present. Though picture is not great on some of those stations (ie PBS channel 2 wgbh Boston, PBS channel 44 wgbx Boston, ).
With use of terrestrial set top box - can one realistically expect better reception of even the sd broadcast? What about High Def Programming services? Can one hook up VCR to Zoom for example? The DVI connection obviously is not present on the VCR - so how would connection be done?
Appreciate any thoughts on these issues.
Barry