Update: I was reading on the "NoCable" website that they had a new 30 mile (without amplifier) HDTV indoor antenna being sold on Amazon for $20. They claimed on their website that they have tested many indoor HDTV antennas, and wanted to design one that was better than the rest. I decided to order one to try out. I can return the one I have currently for no return shipping if the new one is better.
https://www.amazon.com/NoCable-Detachable-Reversible-Performance-Materials/dp/B075B3KQQD
The NoCable brand antenna arrived today, so I did a comparison test - all the testing was done within less than a 1 hour window. It was a clear day, no rain. I recorded the signal level from all 14 received transponders with my 1st antenna. I then installed the new antenna in exactly the same location on the wall, and had the TV do a channel auto-scan.
The new antenna came up with a few additional channels, and some of the weaker channels with antenna #1 were coming in at good bit higher signal level. For instance, an example of a few channels with Ant 1 vs Ant 2:
Ch 5 was 5~6% with Ant 1, now 23~25% with Ant 2.
Ch 7 was 16~18% with Ant 1, now 23~25% with Ant 2.
Ch 22 was 13~15% with Ant 1, now 18~20% with Ant 2.
Ch 28 was 14~15% with Ant 1, now 21~23% with Ant 2.
Ch 56 was 5~6% with Ant 1, now 8~10% with Ant 2.
There were only 2 out of 14 received transponders that didn't have any increase in signal level, so this new antenna is definitely a better performer. According to the DTV channel reception maps, this antenna gets two transponders 35~36 miles out from me (so did un-amplified Ant 1, but at lower signal level). Ch 13, which comes in at 26~27% signal level, and Ch 20 which comes in at 35~35% signal level.
Guess the first antenna is getting sent back. I also like the new antenna because it mounts on the wall with supplied push-pins, and has a white side and black side, so I mounted with the white side showing. The coax cable is also much heavier than the cable on antenna #1 - maybe that helps contribute to the better performance. Highly recommend this indoor antenna if you live someplace where there are transponders 35 miles or less from you. NoCable also has an amplified version of this antenna and claim it's good for 50 miles.