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Just bought the hbu33 as you guys recommended and I placed it in the attic. I simply connected the coaxial and ran it to a tv. Im getting some breaking up though somehow. Its pretty bad on some channels. I must need an amplifier or put it on the chimney but Im really trying to avoid that. My roof is pretty simple its 1/2 plywood and shingle I put the roof up so Im sure of this. Could it be my cables? I am using basic coaxial. Well at least I got it going for now I need to tweak it out. Do I have to point this thing directly at the sears tower? Im guessing that there is some tolerance, isnt there? Any tips will be appreciated.I am going to get a splitter for 4 tvs so I think I definitely need a amp, right? let me know what you think. Thanks
p.s
Do I have to ground the antenna?
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Cables could be bad, have they been wet, kinked, crushed or stapled?
Connections are more likely a problem, especially if the connectors were installed in the field. Loose or corroded shield to connector junction is easily hidden. The contacts inside the F connector on the TV, splitter or balun can be spread and then fail to make reliable contact with the cable center conductor.
Point at the Sears tower. Five degrees either way is high precision in the case of this type antenna.
An amplifier may change the symptoms, it won't fix the problem. Many amplifiers will be overloaded by the powerful signals, which would cause more trouble for you. I don't believe you have a signal level problem... I think you have a signal quality problem. Amplifiers will only reduce signal quality.
If you can't find a place in your attic that offers clean signals, at least try the antenna outside. My experience with the attic is in conditions with similar signal strength as your case. My roof is of similar construction as yours. I had to put my primary antenna outside.
If the antenna stays in the attic, the splitter should have a grounding lug. Run a #14 or 12 wire from the splitter to a reliable ground.
http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=901