HELP! Clarification on OTA Please?

[lawtyger]

As some of you may recall from previous posts, I am closing on a new house in January and will take the HDTV plunge. After much consideration and debate, I decided to purchase a Mits 65-413 thus saving the money that I would have spent for the tuner, etc. on a 65-613 (which will not be used to purchase a Yamaha RX-v1400).

We are still planning on getting BHN cable, but when I called today, I almost thought I was going to go into shock. My parents are about to sign up with BHN and got the switch from DTV rate options of $29.95 (on premium channels), $39.95 (2 premium channels), or $45.95 (4 premium channels). I however, will be starting new and when I called BHN to get the prices I was told that the comparable package rates were $56.90, $76.90, and $86.90. Needless to say, I'm telling my parents to leave all the DTV equipment right where it is so that when their 12 month deal with BHN is up, they have options.

My question is: Since both my parents and I will have HDTV's with NO inegrated tuners, should the need ever arise ARE there STB's that we can purchase that will let us put up an antenna and at least get OTA HD local channels? (please, please say yes!). Or. . .

I'm personally not a big fan of premium channels so what I would envision doing is INSTEAD of paying BHN $56.90 for just digital cable, I would get Direct TV Total Choice without local channels for $33.95 and then use the Direct TV (Non-HD) receiver/equipment to run an antenna and thus get the local available HD and non-HD channels. Bascially, going this route it seems like I would essentially get the same thing BHN wants to charge me $56.90 for - - - except through DTV it would cost me $33.90 (for now, please leave additional room charges out of the equation).

Am I missing anything in my thought process?

Thanks for any and all responses, advice, or input!

Chris

[Floyd]

I wonder what is required to get those BHN "switch-from-satellite" rates.

Is it the presence of equipment? I doubt it, since you could say "they came and took it out allready"

More likely, it is just a copy of the satellite bill. Maybe you could get your parents bill and dummy it up to get the discount?

[chupacabra]

My question is: Since both my parents and I will have HDTV's with NO inegrated tuners, should the need ever arise ARE there STB's that we can purchase that will let us put up an antenna and at least get OTA HD local channels? (please, please say yes!). Or. . .

Yes, check out the big electronic stores, you have a few choices, now is a good time because there are plenty of open item or clearance sales.

I bought a Samsung SIR T151 OTA tuner for 259.00 open box at Best Buy works pretty good.

[lawtyger]

More likely, it is just a copy of the satellite bill. Maybe you could get your parents bill and dummy it up to get the discount?

The thought has crossed my mind :D Seriously though, my parents were told to just show a copy of a bill or cancelled check to the installer. If I don't get a decent BHN rate, I'll simply use my parents DTV, get an STB and put up an antenna. Hopefully they will have some type of "welcome to the neighborhood deal!"