I use one of the standard receivers from the house to use in MH. Once we get out of our "local" area we loose local channels. We don't much care about them. When we get to larger cities we use the antenna for local channels if we want them.
Yes, the receiver knows where it is at.
We get our local news via the computer.
Not sure what part of WA you are in. Most of the local channels we get are out of Spokane. We can get them down to around Lewiston, over to Butte,MT area. and West to Wenatchee. I have not checked on the west side.