I just finished re-directing my TV antenna in the attic to some
favorite stations and boy it looks fabulous. :-)

However, I came across a very interesting phenomenon to which I have
no explanation: if I install the two "Top Wing Boom" elements that
come with the antenna, I get significantly worse reception. If I
removed them (as the situation is now), I get close to perfect
reception.

Is there an explanation to this?

The antenna is a Radio Shack VU-90XR VHF/UHF/ FM Antenna 150-2152.
Overview: http://tinyurl.com/52tjr
Manual: http://tinyurl.com/6yyke

I am just curious, that's all. :-)

Daniel