Reddit reviews Antennas Direct ClearStream 5 High Gain VHF TV Antenna, 65+ Mile Range, Multi-directional, Indoor, Attic, Outdoor, All-weather Mounting Hardware, Adjustable Mast Clamp, 4K Ready, Black - C5

Antennaweb.org indicates you get poor reception in your zip code at ground level. Are you SURE your antenna is at 30 feet?

The Fire TV Recast has a somewhat finicky tuner. It might allow a shorter cable run from a rooftop antenna - which is good.

Your antenna is a decent one, but not really designed for VHF channels like FOX, PBS, NBC, and CW. (12, 10, 8 and 5).

The Clearstream 5 is one of the few VHF antennas outside of rabbit ears. It's pricey and I can't say whether it's good or bad. You could also more easily and cheaply try the VHF Retrofit Kit. It would allow you to join with your existing antenna. It's basically like fancy rabbit ears about 31.5" across.

I get 11 channels right next to Gainesville High School.:

• 5.1 WUFT-HD (PBS)
  
• 5.2 WUFT-CREATE (PBS)
  
• 5.3 WUFT-DT (PBS)
  
• 9.1 WNBW-DT (NBC)
  
• 9.2 WNBW-DT2 (MeTV)
  
• 20.1 WCJB-DT (ABC)
  
• 20.2 WCJB-DT2 (CW)
  
• 28.1 WGFL-DT (CBS)
  
• 28.2 WGFL-DT2 (My11)
  
• 51.1 WOGX-DT (Fox)
  
• 51.2 WOGX-DT2 (Movies!)
  
  
  
  I used to work at Gainesville Television Network. In order to pull in the stations above, you'll need an attic to put an antenna in - or you can mount one on the roof or outside pole.
  
  Antenna 1: Amazon Basics clone of the Leaf antenna
  
  Antenna 2: Clearstream 5
  
  Combiner: Channel Plus Combiner/Splitter
  
  Signal Booster: Motorola Signal Booster
  
  Take those items and some lengths of RF cable (CATV style cable) and connect as such:
  
  Cable from each antenna into the two ports labeled "IN" on the combiner.
  
  One cable from the "OUT" labeled port of the combiner to the "RF Input" connector on the signal booster.
  
  One cable from the signal booster "RF Output 1" to your TV.
  
  One cable from the signal booster "Power 12vdc" connector to the included power adapter, which is then plugged into the wall for power.
  
  This will pull in the above 11 stations nearly anywhere in Gainesville. Of course, your results may vary depending on your location and such.

>I couldn't pick up KTBC (FOX) even upstairs

Fox is a VHF station, and mohu leaf will struggle with that since it is mainly UHF.

to pick up VHF you need either:

1. cheap rabbit ears. This website will show how to get the most out of it.
   
   
2. DIY loop antenna which is what the clearstream5 is.
   
   
3. outdoor LPDA antenna which are big.
   
   >There's an unused satellite dish on the roof
   
   could always use its "mast" for an outdoor antenna
   
   >but the coax run from it was cut at the roof line
   
   if you do an outdoor, than you'll probably want a new coax. It is better to have 1 long uninterrupted/broken cable with an amplified signal than have the signal go through split wire.
   
   >(cement fiberboard) siding on all 4 sides upstairs - could that negatively affect reception in the attic?
   
   sure. outside signal strength will always be better than indoors. That being said you have very, very strong signals coming from 217degrees which is less than 10 miles away. Thus you should still be able to pick up a strong signal in the attic. Cement fiberboard isnt as big an obstruction as metal.
   
   >There's no power in our attic either
   
   wont need it if you use a preamplifier. This image shows how one works.
   
   >I've also never dropped coax down inside walls
   
   where is your house "cable box" located?
   
   >Ideally, instead of spending an entire weekend or two fumbling around at it myself, I'd rather pay someone to do everything right the first time in half a day and be done with it.
   
   understood. Based on your tvfool, an installer should be able to fix everything up for you relatively easily. I wouldnt recommend getting a rotor since almost all of the channels you would be interested in getting is in the ~216degree direction. Make sure that an outdoor antenna is properly grounded.
   
   >How did you find them, how did it go, how much did you pay, etc.?
   
   get a list of installers from your local lowes/home depot/sears/hardware store. check online 1, 2.
   call them and price shop. Obviously the cost will depend on what equipment you buy and installation fees (hourly vs total). They should be able to ballpark it for you or give a free estimate.
   
   good luck!

ok so your signal is all over but most of it is from the south from 140 to 170 degrees .. so that is at least a 30degree spread... next you have a mixture of VHF and UHF but most of your channels are low

a Antennas Direct C5 would probably be best for you and lucky for you they are on sale right now

http://www.amazon.com/ClearStream-Indoor-Outdoor-HDTV-Antenna/dp/B002E1UNWS


also if you are a risk taker EBAY has a $15 off $75 deal now

This guy has an open box
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ANTENNAS-DIRECT-C5-ClearStream-5-UHF-VHF-DTV-Antenna-/182059240602

and also get a Antenna Mount J Pole for another $20 .. you can mount it to the side of your house or the roof and you put lots of shingle sealer under the plate before you bolt it down..

or put it in your attic

if its on the roof you need a ground wire.. in the attic you don't need a lightning ground wire..

you can also pair that with a Channel Master Preamp
and I would get a recertified 7777 amp for that . it should get you a ton of tv

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Channel-Master-Titan-2-Preamplifier-TV-Antenna-Signal-Booster-High-Gain-CM-7777-/251980501514

Should I get something like the RCA or something like this: Direct C5 ClearStream 5 High Gain Digital VHF Antenna. Does one get a better reception than another?

The ClearStream 5 (Found here) covers the VHF range and is very directional. The part that I just don't understand is that inside the attic, we get a very pixelated channel 8.1, but on the rooftop a few feet lower in elevation, nothing came in at all.

Thanks for the reply! I think I can get by with mounting something to the eave and it would be great if I could get both bands in one *modest* antenna. Do you think something like either of the following would yield decent results?

https://www.amazon.com/Element-Bowtie-Indoor-Outdoor-Antenna/dp/B00C4XVOOC/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1550821519&sr=1-3&keywords=bowtie+antenna+hdtv

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SVNKT86/ref=emc_b_5_i

https://www.amazon.com/ClearStream-Indoor-Outdoor-HDTV-Antenna/dp/B002E1UNWS