My experience includes installing an antenna in my attic and getting GREAT reception on all the TVs in my house but one. They all were connected thru single unsplit sections of RG59 cable to a 4-way splitter that was then connected to the antenna's output.
"Why should three TVs get much improved reception and one not show any improvement?", I wondered.
The answer turned out to be old cable ends. After cutting off the old connector and 6" or so of cable from BOTH ends, then installing new connectors the reception thru that cable improved to compare with the others in the house.
Lesson? Your lack of obvious improvement over rabbit ears may simply be that the signal isn't getting from the antenna in the attic to your TV. Try new cable or at least new ends on the cable. Follow the cable path if you can and make sure it hasn't been crimped, slashed, bent sharply or cut along it's course. A single nail accidently thru a cable can short or cut the circuit.
