OTA Signals Using Cable Input?

[RobW]

This may be a dumb question, but when I had an analog television and I turned off BHN before I moved, I could actually use the cable (plugged into the antenna input) as an antenna to tune in local stations. I assumed I would be able to do the same with HD, but my television says that no signal was detected. The HDTV tuner is built in, so that isn't the issue. Is it possible to get OTA HD this way? Also BHN is coming out soon to exchange my DVR for an HD DVR. Is there a noticeable difference in quality between OTA and cable HD. I was told there is because of the compression cable companies use.

Thanks

[bdraw]

There is a difference between OTA and Cable HD, but honestly most people can't see it, I can during football and other fast paced video that really requires alot of bandwidth.

As for just plugging in the cable to watch Cable HD, you need a TV with a QAM tuner, just having an HD tuner built in, isn't enough. Many TVs with HD tuner's built in also include a QAM tuner, but not all.

If your TV doesn't have a QAM tuner, you can pick up an antenna and get the same channels OTA, but without the compression.