To everyone; I've tried the C. Crane, with varying results. If the antenna happens to be in the basement, or near a noise source, it still is not perfect.

To Ernie: you need to send me an invoice for that response. Wow!

So, a follow-on question. Can I use the center conductor for an RG-6 going up to the attic, and then connect that to some uninsulated wire that would be laced back & forth through the attic to add up to 100+ feet? And send another wire out of the house to ground to the earth? Sounds like, from you description, that this would be the ticket.

I've also thought about making my own dual loop, using old 5 gal paint buckets. Wrap each with a loooong length of wire, orient them 90 degrees off from one another, and locate them in the attic. Would that work? Quicker than stapling up long wire runs after the house is complete.