The DTC-100 will let you have 2 off air antenna's hooked up to it so not a problem. My experience was exactly the opposite of yours. I found digital cable to be slow and buggy when changing channels. Plus all the channels weren't digital I think only the upper ones were. Yes Sat does encounter rain fade but honestly I have only seen it for about an hour a year if you added it up and I am in Florida so we know about rain. I also agree that some installs do require more equipment but I would never go back to cable. I have 5 dishes BTW. :)