[DarkStar]

Hokay! I think I created more confusion than I eliminated, but at least now I know that a bigger pre-amp is NOT the answer to the problem. Based on that insight I ordered a ChannelMaster FLATenna 35 (mod. CM 4001 HD) in the hopes THAT will improve my signal capturing ability. Failing that, then I will have to escalate to the 50.00 CM antenna.

Now to the matter of the channels: The information I gave you was from the information the computer generated guide gave ME. The reason I subsume, that I was given this list of channels is because they are channels whose signals were detected by the combination of my extant antenna, pre-amp and TV tuner/dongle which were then fed into Window's Media Center software. The OTA channels I am supposed to have the capability of receiving are: WOI as channel 5, KCCI as channel 8 and it's - I don't know the correct terminology - 'sub-channels'? 8.2 and 8.3, Iowa Public Television (IPTV) as channel 11(KDIN)- out of Des Moines, but also as channel 21(KTIN) out of Fort Dodge and its sub-channels 11.2 and 11.3, etc, WHO as channel 13 and its sub-channels 13.2 and 13.3, KCWI (f.k.a. KDMI) as channel 19 and its sub channels - which for reasons that are completely obscure to me, show up again as channel 23 and its sub-channels, then there is KEFB as channel 34 and its sub channels and finally ION-HD and its sub channels. There are also some shopping channels listed, but I could give less of a fig about them.

Out of all of these channels, the ones I am particularly wanting to be able to receive are KCCI and KDIN. Being able to receive ION-HD would be a nice bonus, but one that I could just as easily live without.

I surely hope this is more helpful than my last post. :-/