Well, here's an update.
I added a channels direct 3414 powered amp and am now picking up 54 rock solid channels. Woohoo! I haven't replaced any cabling yet nor moved the antenna up higher. I still plan to do that in the future but it's great to know the combination I have works so well. So 87.98 shipped for the two items, about what I pay for a month of DirecTV. Now to convince my wife that we don't need the weather channel
Thanks guys!
Txinga