Despite a couple of possible hindrances, you have a very good opportunity to get reliable reception.
Did you verify your tuner is ATSC/8VSB capable? (Check the specifications in the user manual, which should be fairly easy to find online with a make/model number search.)
Did you set it to 'Air' or 'Antenna' mode, then scan for channels?
Though there are DIY antenna designs that would work in your situation, a simple UHF only antenna is not up to the task. A GH4n or larger would be a viable DIY design to consider if you are intent on building your own.
http://clients.teksavvy.com/~nickm/gh_n_uV.html
If you want to consider a factory built antenna, I'd suggest a Winegard HD-7694P pointed at about 5° per a compass.