Combined Locks, WI: Antenna plus run suggestions

I'm looking for some suggestions/advice in running a UHF/VHF antenna to my home theater pc setup. My first question revolves around what antenna would work well indoors. I am more than likely going to run the cable from the attic. I have looked at the ClearStream2 Complete, but am open to other suggestions. I have attached my TV Fool results in an image file for reference.


As for my second question, I'm looking for suggestions on if I need a pre-amp or signal booster. When I built the house I only put in 2 cable jacks, one in the living room and one in the master bedroom. In the living room I currently have one cable jack behind my component cabinet. That current cable run needs to stay active as my cable modem is hooked up to it. The second jack I can just disconnect from the current splitter in the basement and hook up to the splitter for the antenna so I am not too worried about that one.

So back to the living room. I'm looking to add a second line running to the box in the wall and swapping for a 2 jack plate. I have an unfinished basement, but the current cable was run from the basement to the main level in a different area of the house so I cannot just follow that up and add the new faceplate. I wish it was that easy. Anybody have any tricks of the trade for locating the specific location I need to drill up?

Thanks for your suggestions!

Thanks for the info. That seems like a good deal and would work well in the attic. I will definitely consider.

Another thought is, I have a walk out basement which faces North. North is where all the signals are broadcast from. The basement is unfinished right now and I thought about putting something like the ClearStream 2 Complete (UHF/VHF) down there since it is a smaller antenna style. This would allow 2 things for me. The first is a lot shorter run to its destination and the second is a lot less work and no crawling in the attic at this time. Sure, when we finish the basement in a few years I will have to do something then. I may move/add another HTPC in the basement theater room when that occurs. All the more reason to maybe not wire in the attic at this time since I may need to centralize or re route cables.

Thoughts on this idea?

I have a hard time believing that base radio shack model has the same VHF gain as the Clearsteam 2. There has to be some reason they claim the antenna is worth 119.99 vs. the $20 the basic dipoles are. Although, that is why I am here asking. I had an amplified RCA indoor antenna at my prior home about 15 - 20 miles south of my current home. I forget if it is exactly this model or similar. It was the highest dB gain on the market at the time I purchased it for an indoor antenna. http://www.bestbuy.com/site/RCA+-+Am...8280843&st=rca antenna&cp=1&lp=1 This gave me trouble on the 1 VHF station in our area at the old home. Distance definitely was a factor on that. My brother in law has this current antenna. Maybe I should try that one first since I already own a dipole.

Thank You! Sorry about that.

Thank you for all the input! You have been very helpful.