Need antenna advice: want improved high VHF channels

[Studly]

During the summer only, I have about 1 out of every 5 evenings where I lose reception on channel 9 and 11 VHF.

Here's my current setup:

Antenna placed in attic: Channel Master 4221 - 4 bay (4 bowties)
Preamp: Winegard AP-8700
Also have a Radio Shack FM filter installed.
TV channels: All the main channels I watch are located on the same antenna farm 27 miles away.

I have all the highest quality (quad shield) coax cable and connectors, and have two splitters installed going to three TVs. Since I get great reception most days, I don't think I have any problems with the cable or connectors.

What's odd is before I put in the splitters and added the other TVs, without a preamp, I got a perfect signal when the coax went just to one TV. No channels ever dropped out.

I know splitters degrade the signal, which is why I got a preamp, but it seems odd that before I got the high VHF channels fine using my UHF antenna.

Anyway, during summer only, maybe 1 out of every 5 evenings I'll lose reception or get degraded reception to channel 9 and occasionally ch 11. Normally, I get 6 bars out of 10 for signal strength on those channels. My other channels always come in great.

I'm wondering, what's the easiest and best way to get those high VHF channels to come in better? Should I just move my UHF antenna to the roof top (would require a bit of work to install a mast, rerun some coax, install a mast, ground it, etc.)? Or should I add a high VHF antenna (preferably a compact one) to my existing UHF one in my attic? Or should I replace my UHF with a combined UHF/VHF antenna in the attic?

I'd prefer to keep the attic location for the antenna since we're in Minnesota and I like that it is protected from the weather and my coax is already set up for the attic antenna location. So my first choice would be to get a new antenna for the attic, but if that wouldn't work, then I'd be willing to move everything to the roof top.

My TV fool report: http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d99000a8e33b9a4

Thanks very much for your advice!

[signals unlimited]

Easy fix!

Add an Antennacraft Y5713 Hign VHF antenna. Follow the steps below.

1) Change the mast (if needed) to allow for 24" of seperation between the High V and your 4 Bay.

2) Install a short coax/matching transformer to the High V

3) Connect the FM trap to the short jumper and add another short jumper to the output of the trap.

4) Connect a jumper (from the UHF antenna) equal to the length of the High V/FM trap combination.

5) Install a UVSJ signal combinder where the two coax meet. Connect both lines to the proper terminals on the combinder.

6) Connect a coax cable from the output of the UVSJ to the input of your 8700 pre-amplifier. Be shure that the amplifier built in FM trap is switched on.

Your VHF problem will go away.

[Studly]

Thanks much for the tips! So is it better to have one separate VHF and one separate UHF antenna and combining their signals, than having one combined UHF/VHF antenna?

[signals unlimited]

In your case YES there are advantages to the seperate antennas.

The UVSJ has excellent bandpass capability. This improves the performance of the system across the UHF/VHF spectrum.

This configuration allows you to place the FM trap where needed, only on the VHF signal.

This also allows more aiming flexability. You could (if needed) aim seperate directions for UHF or VHF stations.

The 4 bay is easier to aim and has lots of gain.