Digital is 0's and 1's. A weak analog signal will look crystal clear in digital. If you can't see the picture but hear the sound in analog, you won't get anything but a black screen in digital. There is no gray area with regards to digital. It's either there, or it isn't.
"here is no gray area with regards to digital. It's either there, or it isn't."
The last part of what you said is right. The first part is not. Analog signals can be viewed even when very very weak. The picture may be snowy or goshty,or whatever, but you can view it. Digital drops out when the signal gets real low. As soon as the digital information becomes to corrupted then you have an unusable signal. You can prove this with a dish. Turn the dish. Once the signal drops below something like 20-25 percent then the ditital dish won't work. Analog will.
Just a side note. I do agree that on cable or dish, and I am sure with a good strong digital brodcast signal that digital is notably better in terms of picture quality.
I already have a converter that cost $200 after rebates because I am a sucker for technology and wanted to see what was being broadcast;found the same stuff as regular channel only you can see the actor's zits now. And lots of PBS stuff.Hardly use the darn box. Currently over-the-air tv is on 68,down from 83, channels, scattered through the VHF and UHF spectrum.About 15 TV channels were changed to cellphone and two-way radio uses. HDTV signals are only on UHF channels,so all over the air free TV will be UHF only after 2009/Barring other changes you will probably need a good UHF antenna.Amplified rabbit ears are a waste because they tend to just amplify the noise and you still don't get a picture.(Tried a deluxe Philips set,took 'em back.Whew!) If you lived in a rural area and have learned to accept a somewhat snowy or weak picture but enjoyed the programming;well tough! Big brother thinks you shouldn't watch less than perfect pictures so you get no reception. I hate decisions like this.
If you have a decent all channel antenna the UHF portion will continue to bring in a signal usable by the HDTV box or set.
And your current or new analog set(notice analog sets are being sold by the millions still?and very cheaply ,too!They are not selling off old stock,those are brand new sets at WalMart and other stores.)will still work with your current DVD player and VCR. The longer range plan is to make everyone view using a unit which checks for your Digital Rights Management certificate through the DVI connector and there is to be no way for the consumer to record without buying rights linked to his own viewer.For now you can run the output of a HDTV converter box through your current VCR or DVD recorder using the channel3/4,S-VHS or composite jacks. You will of course be limited to 480 or less resolution probably also letterboxed/I.E. with blank or black space above the viewable picture;and if that format is not broadcast as part of the DTV signal,too bad. Eventually they can choose to just broadcast in the encoding format that requires DVI connections(and monthly payments!) I cannot understand how so called conservatives so hate the poor having free tv since it is PAID FOR BY ADVERTISING. All those subscrition satellites can of course track everything you watch as can satellite radio,OnStar,your GPS cellphone(you really believe that buton turns off GPS HA!HA!). Let them collect and sell your info but I bet you ccan't get the same info about the elite ,and certainly not as cheaply. For now ,enjoy what you find on tv and remember this is actually yet another Clinton legacy endorsed by Bush.Like Internet over powerlines,they keep telling you a quart can be stored in a pint bottle----but only if something is left out.. HDTV was supposed to revitalize American electronics industry,funny thing is all the boxes are made in China ! Any law passed by Congress can be changed ,no one has succeeded in changing the laws of nature.