She should be asking her satellite company.

Without analyzing it too deeply, my answer would be, Yes, she can get what's called an A/B switch. You can find them easily in places like Radio Shack. The input from the antenna would be hooked up to, for example, the "A" side of the switch, and the input from the satellite would be hooked up to the "B" side. She will have to physically get up off the couch or chair and walk over to it and switch the knob on the front of it from A to B (or from B to A) to switch between satellite and antenna.

It's been soooooooo many years since I've had to deal with an A/B switch that it's entirely possible that there might be a remote controlled version now...

Many of the satellite receivers have an antenna option built in but I suppose the new ones don't. Haven't dealt with satellite for a lot of years but the simple answer is yes, she can use both so don't panic. It'll work out one way or another, just the details aren't totally clear until she sees what she has. That someone who told her that was full of it.

Now there is another point though. Is she getting a strong signal from the local channel? If it's weak she might not receive it when it goes digital unless the signal strength grows. The thing with digital signals is that they're very clear when they come in, but if it isn't a strong signal there's no signal so it's not going to be the varying degrees of snow and fuzziness like on analog. If she's far from the transmitter or repeater she may not get a signal. Small chance of that though. Just have to try it and see.

I'm sure that it can and will work, and chances are that it might need the A/B switch. I had one on one TV for a bit.
Mine was the $14.99 from Radio Shack, but I see the remote control one is only $39.99.

A friend got his converter box hooked up to his TV recently, and now he gets so many more channels than b4. I'm excited about getting it on mine now.

Sue

Here is a link that might be useful: A/B switch at Radio Shack

Thanks for the answers. I told her I thought it might be something similar to the Nintendo system setup on my tv, but couldn't remember what kind of switch I have. I will pass along this info to her.

Cynic said "That someone who told her that was full of it." I had to laugh as that is almost exactly what I told her. And yes, the signal from that local station is very strong.

Sue, I'll bet the people at the local Radio Shack will be able to help her out.

Thanks again,
Shirley

Shirley - hope you check back in and see this.

Dish Network will soon have converter boxes that will work for what your DSis wants (if she is a Dish Netork customer)

Their converter box will be able to convert the locals to digital, and also get the channel that the dish program comes through.

Tell her to wait to use her coupons on those - if she has Direct TV, I am sure they will have some too, specific to their setups.

Thanks for the info, iowagirl. I'm not sure which satellite system she has. I'll pass this info on to her.

Shirley