[SolidBrass]

RF out is still useful depending on your setup. If I am using a VCR or DVD, I hook up direct video. Before the digital switch, I used RFin/out through the VCR to the TV plus the video out. With VCR off, the RF passed through to the RF of the TV and I could use the VCR tuner instead of TV tuner. With VCR on, the RF was routed from antenna to VCR tuner then video in of the TV. If you are using OTA signals for HD, passing RF through should not mess up the HD signal to an HD TV. However, going from a DVD converted to RF might cause some loss, which is why I use video out to the TV when using this type of device.

Using this scenario with the STB, I would (and do/did) use the RF passthrough from the STB when not using the STB. However, with the STB on, RF from SAT goes to STB tuner out to video connections on TV. Using the RF out on the STB while using the SAT antenna could reduce your quality out to TV, so video out is the way to go. To receive HD from SAT to HD TV, the STB has to have the HD tuner. Therefore, CW 600, 700, and 800 will only give SD out unless you are using OTA signals, which should work fine with RF in/out passthrough.

I'm still using an older, good quality TV, logistics and money are the drivers here. I don't have a central switch yet, so the TV becomes part of the device switching using RF and video connections. Using the attic antenna, I am not receiving all the locals since the digital switch. Either the digital signal is not penetrating as much as the analog did or the digital converter is not sensitive enough to pick up the signal. I temporarily used a homemade antenna outside and things improved. Now that the weather is cooler, I hope to get things rewired (several rooms in the house are wired from the attic) to use an external antenna and upgrade the cables. Then when other conditions improve, I will upgrade the TV.