Indoor antenna not cutting it: how does this one look?

[I8AZuk]

First, my apologies to those of you that also monitor the DTV USA Forums...I posted this same question there first while waiting for my TVFool account to get validated.

I have what would seem like easy requirements given my location: TVFool (http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3dcc49d08c220df2).

I'm specifically interested in the following stations, all of which are at 297*: KTVK (IND), KPHO (CBS), KAET (PBS), KSAZ (FOX), KPNX (NBC), and KNXV (ABC). The antenna will be connected to a SiliconDust HDHomerun Dual (ATSC) receiver feeding multiple HTPCs.

Based on the tvfool data I've tried getting an RCA 1650 to pick up the channels I want, but I suspect that the chicken wire in the stucco walls is causing problems. However, even with the antenna behind a WNW-facing window I still get a lot of dropped audio and pixelation for several stations. I've tried this antenna both with the amplifier and without (still connected but unplugged) - it made some difference, but I still get dropouts. My house may indeed be in the shadow of the house across the street - I'm not sure if that really plays a part in reception at such close range.

I'm now looking at an outside eave location with almost clear LOS to the transmitters at 297*. I believe putting something like an RCA ANT751R at that spot (20' high) will provide better reception. Ideally I'd prefer to join the coax from the new antenna with a line that was previously run between the attic and a structured wiring cabinet. It's at this wiring cabinet where I'd connect the HDHomerun receiver to the antenna and to the home LAN.

My questions:
1) Is this a reasonable antenna for my needs, given my location? Too little? Too much?
2) If I'm on the right track for the antenna, are there comparable alternatives I should look at?
3) Is there a practical limit on the length of RG6 between the antenna and the receiver? Am I likely to need an amplifier in my ideal setup, in which there would be about 75' -80' of cable between the two, with one junction (a union - not a splitter)?
4) If an amplifier is necessary, can it go at the end of the run just before the receiver? Or do I need to get it closer to the antenna?

Thanks in advance for all your help!

[teleview]

Install the ANT751 antenna above the roof in such a manner that your roof and house are not blocking reception all directions.

Aim the ANT751 at about 286 degree magnetic compass direction.

Try and locate the antenna so the house next door is not blocking reception to South Mountain.

Here is how to aim antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html.

Yes use the coax that goes from the attic to the structured wiring cabinet.

The Digital Tv transmissions are Strong signal strength at your location , no amplifier is required.

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Amplifiers Do Not -pull- signal through coax , amplifiers do not -pull- signal from antennas.

Amplifiers Do Not work like a vacuum cleaner motor.

And the metal reception elements of a antenna Do Not work like a vacuum cleaner hose.

Antennas Do Not pull in signals.

Antennas receive the signals that arrive at the metal reception elements of the antenna.

The amplifier , amplifies the signal that it starts with at the input of the amplifier.

Splitters and long lengths of coax reduce signal strength.

If there is less signal to start with then less signal will be amplified.

The best place for a amplifier is closer to the antenna where the signal is the strongest.

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---->Your location has Strong signal strength , a amplifier is not required.<----

[GroundUrMast]

I agree that in your situation no amplifier should be needed. In fact, an amplifier would be at risk of overloading.

To answer your question, 4) If an amplifier is necessary, can it go at the end of the run just before the receiver? Or do I need to get it closer to the antenna?
An amplifier is best located upstream of the loss(es) that it's to overcome. The closer an amplifier is to the antenna, the more coax and splitter loss will be connected to the output of the amplifier... the amplifier can then be effective at overcoming those losses. Amplifiers can not 'pull' signal from an antenna, out of the air or out of the coax. Amplifiers can only 'push' signal through loss on the output side of the amplifier.

If installed at the end of the run, you can only hope that an amplifier would have less noise than the tuner... if this is true, you would get a small benefit, if not, the amplifier may actually add more noise to the total system, making reception worse.