Question about getting distant HD Locals

[bpearse]

I am in San Francisco area and am considering getting the HR10-250 HD PVR. The issue, of course, is the MPEG4 transition. If I get this setup, can I qualify for distant HD locals (from LA)? What about when the big 12 areas (including mine) start their MPEG4 HD local transmissions? Will I still qualify for distant HD locals since I cannot get MPEG4 with my PVR? And in both cases, if I get distand HD locals, can I still get my San Francisco SD locals or does it all have to be distant locals (from LA)?

These issues are really making it hard to buy an HR10-250.

 

[Hogarth]

Qualification for distant network services is determined by federal legislation. (SHVERA)
Your receiver's inability to receive MPEG-4 signals will not affect your qualification whatsoever.

You may get an excellent OTA signal, depending on your distance from San Fran.
OTA is, and will remain, MPEG-2 and will be less compressed than any DirecTV signal.

With that in mind, I'd jump at the HR10-250 and worry about the rest later.