The latest pictures show the antenna aimed into the thick part of the trees in the direction of reception.
As Always , trees and tree leaves , plants and plant leaves , have a Negative Effect on Broadcast Tv Reception and so do buildings and other obstructions including your own roof and building.
Some and not all Negative Effects are.
Absorbing , Blocking , Reception.
Multi-Path Reflecting Tv Signals Bouncing All Around.
The Best Practice is to install the antenna at a location that has the least amount to no amount of obstructions in the directions of reception including your own roof and building.
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The Number 1 Action to take to Improve Reception Make The Tv Signals Stronger And More Reliable.
Is to install the antenna at a location that has the least amount to no amount of obstructions of any type or kind in the directions of reception.
Here are some , Above the Peak of the Roof antenna mounts.
http://www.ronard.com/Tripods%200703/4712.html.
Use the , ronard model #4712-50-10. 10 foot tripod antenna mount.
http://www.ronard.com/909911.html.
Use the , ronard(911) , 5 foot tripod antenna mount.
Buy the ronard antenna mounts at ,
http://www.solidsignal.com , or , buy from ,
http://www.ronard.com.
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As to a antenna system amplifier.
Antenna system amplifiers , Are Not For Powering Through Trees and Tree Leaves.
When the tree leaves come out in the spring , reception Will Degrade.
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As to the 4 way splitter.
Putting a terminator on on the unused port of the splitter will not improve signal strength.
The correct action to take is use a 3 way splitter.
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As to the radio shack antenna system amplifier , Put it in the trash.
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If you use a antenna system amplifier , then use a , RCA - TVPRAMP1R , or , Channel Master , CM7778 .
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If using a preamplifier then.
For 1 Tv connected use No splitter.
For 2 Tv's connected use a , Holland Electronics , HFS-2D , 2 way splitter.
For 3 Tv's connected use a , Holland Electronics , HFS-3D , 3 way splitter.
Buy the , HFS-2D and HFS-3D , splitters at ,
http://www.solidsignal.com , or ,
http://www.hollandelectronics.com.
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If using a antenna system amplifier and Antenna Is Aim At The Thick Of The Trees , Do Not Expect to have the Heavens Open Up and have Magic Tv Reception.
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Here are some places to buy antennas and etc. .
http://www.amazon.com,
http://www.channelmasterstore.com.
http://www.ronard.com.
http://www.solidsignal.com.
http://www.hollandelectronics.com.
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As you are discovering , coax that is outside exposed to the weather and rain can go bad.
And as a matter of fact , all coax every where outside and inside can be defective.
And so can , couplers , splitters , coax grounding coupler , and etc. .