Well Larry, I actually do have some measure of expertise in this area. I
can tell you with a strong level of confidence that those amplified (I use
the term lightly) "bar" antennae (quarter wave dipoles) are not effective
unless you are in a strong signal area (within about 40 miles of the
transmitters) and do not suffer high levels of multipath (no mountains or
big buildiings to reflect the signals and cause ghosting). You would be
much, much better off if a) you put a real antenna on a rotor outdoors or b)
put a real antenna on a rotor in your attic space or c) put a real antenna
in a fixed orientation in your attic space or d) got minimal cable for local
reception. Since this thread is pretty far OT (of course its pretty tough
to say exactly what isn't OT in this group) you are welcome to email me
directly if you need specific advice or directions.

Joe C.


"Larry L" wrote in message
...
A couple days ago the wind blew hard enough to break the 10 year old
supports on our TV antenna mast. We have a tile roof and a falling
antenna
could get very expensive so I took the damn thing down.

Then I took a trip to Radio Shack and found a long bar like "amplified"
antenna that I could just tack on the gable eves of the house.

In the past ( old antenna ) we got several channels with 3 and 6 ( my
beloved PBS) being the weakest and 10 and 13 being among the strongest.

Now, I get 3 and 6 far better :-) but don't get 13 worth a damn.

I know less than nothing about such things, and don't watch much TV so I'm
not going to pay for a dish or erect another tall mast antenna like the
one
I took down. But, I'd like to get 13 ( CBS ) to watch Andy Rooney tell
it
like it is G Anybody got any clues on why this antenna would reverse
my
reception? I "think" all the towers are towards Sacramento, north of me,
btw.

Suggestions? from somebody that understands how Andy get into that box in
my
living room ?