Antenna Selection of course

[burnett317]

I live in Bellevue, WA zip 98004 Hills, houses and trees. I'm currently using a Radio Shack VU-190XR on the roof with high quality RG-6 100fot run and it hits a splitter.
Get most channels real- 25, 31, 48, 41 (drops at times), 38,36, and 18.... 33 sometimes.
All are fairly close just not all together. To test I built a 4 bow tie antenna design I found on the internet and plugged it directly to the TV indoors. It works fine, but then 18 drops off so I don't think it has enough Gain to feed both TV's.
Is the VU-190XR too directional? Any thoughts on the Lacrosse, or the antennas direct C2 or C4 (but aren't they just fancy bow ties?)
The VU is about 6 years old if that makes a difference, maybe replace the balun?
I've probably made this more difficult than it actually is, but what drives me nuts is the closest channel PBS at 4.9 miles away drops sound now and then.
Been to Antennaweb.org and TVfool.com.
Oh, and my wife won't let me put a longer pole on the roof.

thank you for any advice

[hdtvlabs]

I don't think VU-190XR is too directional for you. Nearly all of your channels are N-W with a very low spread angle.
You shouldn't have any problem picking up PBS which is 4.9 miles away. Not with VU-190XR, and not with a homemade bow-tie.

Does the antenna point into the right direction? Is the line-of-sight blocked? Have you tried to remove the splitter?

[burnett317]

The antenna is pointing about 236 magnetic north. I've replaced the long run coax, I'll pull the splitter and see what happens.
The house next door semi-blocks me and I'm just under the brow of the hill. I may have to sneak in a 10' pole.
I take it the home made bow tie antenna does not have near the same gain as the rooftop.

Thank you for your reply and suggestions.