Antenna Help for Moorpark, CA

[tuningmeister]

Friends,
I would like to upgrade my antenna, and look for your comments.

Here's the results of my signal search
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapp ... d22c14c77e

I live 48 miles from Mt Wilson where all the major transmitters are, all are 80 or 81 Magnetic (93 true). I have an high-end antenna from the analog days (although a couple of the ears are missing). When I moved here I had pretty good success with it after adding a Radio Shack booster, although in certain atmospheric conditions certain channels would deteriorate.
Now, it works pretty well with the digital channels, but again some channels suffer in, for instance, the dry weather (and strong winds) we are now experiencing. Basically channels 7 9 11 13 get 'no signal' message (I am using a convertor box). And, anyway, not infrequently some channel in the so-called VHF area will break up a bit from time to time. All the "UHF" channels are coming in clearly (28, 50, 56, 58 are the mostly PBS stations).

BTW, I am confused by the continuing use of these UHF and VHF designations. Aren't the actual channels on which the digital shows transmitted now completely different? Are these designations just for convenience, a hold-over from previous terminology? or is there an actual difference in the bands in which 2- 13 and 14- 69 are transmitted?

Because of a very tall tree next to the house, I am unable to use roof-top position, and found a spot on the ground, where with a 20' pole I am clear of immediate trees. There are some slightly taller trees about 1/4 mile away, and a ridge at about the same angular height about 3/4 mile away.
There is about 75' of cable from the antenna to the TV, I believe it is RG 6.

So would a particular kind of outdoor antenna improve my reception? Is this Radio Shack booster (circa 1991) good enough, or are there other products that are better? Would it help to use a better cable style? Any other things I haven't thought off?

I have one somewhat related question. As I said, I use a convertor box (I don't want to spend lots of money, and my old $110 Chinese-made 20" TV is quite adequate) {well, if I want HDTV I can watch the Simpsons or PBS from their internet broadcasts on my computer, now that hi-speed cable finally got installed in my neighborhood). But what I wonder is, are the tuners in a digital TV of any better quality, would they be able to pick out a dicey signal and show something where the convertor box wouldn't, or is it all pretty much one and the same? I know there certainly were differences in the tuners on analog TVs, from one brand to another.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Michael

[tuningmeister]

Addendum ----

Actually, today all the channels are breaking up part of the time. But 7 -13 say 'no signal' much more than other channels do.
I certainly need to get a better rig.

Thanks,
Michael