If you just `Out-File` or `> filename` in the Powershell that ships with Windows (not the most recent cross-platform powershell), then
```powershell
Get-ChildItem * | Out-File filename.txt
```
outputs UTF16 with a BOM at the start. If you want plain old ASCII or UTF8, use `-encoding`
```powershell
Get-ChildItem * | Out-File -encoding ASCII filename.txt
Get-ChildItem * | Out-File -encoding UTF8 filename.txt
```