OTA HDTV SD signal as Sage input

[akenis]

I'm not into HDTV yet, especially since SAGE won't handle it yet. I am interested in getting a clear picture of the local broadcast stations and was wondering if I could use one of the $150 HDTV STB's and an attic antenae. What kind of output's do these boxes have? Will it downmix an HD encoded show to SD? Anything that I could plug into a PVR card and get a descent picture?

I've heard that the local digital broadcasts are digitized from the analogue feed to the towers and wasn't as clear as say Direc TV signals. Any comments here?

Direc TV just recently started offering local channels, but they're off of a different satelite. Reception requires another dish, different multiswitches and receivers. In lieu of local channels I've got the NYC and LA feeds of all the major networks. It's kind of nice having the ability to record a late showing off of the LA feed if there are conflicts. The only thing we're missing out on is the local news and PBS and WB.

Thanks,

Andrew

[kny3twalker]

when tuning DTV stations
the image looks much better than the svideo output via the DirecTV box

[JUC]

I have Dish Network, but switched from directTV a year ago. While local programming does come from a different satellite, it does not require an additional dish. Only 1 dish, 1 receiver and no multiswitches or anything that i know of...
JUC

[dagar]

On CONUS commercial DBS (either D* or E*) you need to have a LNB to hit each bird (there are currently 3 for each -- I think, though that is changing soon). The triple LNB is on a single oval dish. Since they are Ku-Band (spot beams) a larger dish would be helpful, but that is another thread on another board