Test Results - 4248, 4251, 3017, 9095, 8800

Results Definition:

XX-XX = Measured signal strength level
0-XX-XX = Signal locks on briefly but keeps dropping out
0-50 = Signal was detected but not able to lock
N/A = No signal detected

Note: Signal level refers to the Dish 6000 indicator which measures the signal quality based on percentage of errors. As long as the indicator stays above 48-50%, the signal will lock. I assume that if you have over 50% errors, the Dish 6000 does not have enough good signal to decode properly. A reading of 100% would indicate no errors in signal. I have found that at 47% I will see pixelation in the picture and below 46% the picture will drop out completely.

Date: 04/17/01

I tested a few different antennas to see which one worked best for my location. I live along the foothills in Burbank and there are two large mountain ridges that block my line of sight with Mt. Wilson by about 2000-3000 feet. Multipath is very severe here, some channels I could not get with any antenna. I made all tests within about 2 hours. I also tested the first antenna (4248) again at the end to verify that conditions have not changed.

****Channel Master 4248 (Long Range Yagi) With CM-7775 Pre-amp

MT. WILSON, LOS ANGELES, DIST= 15.5 MILES

KTLA 31...54-56, solid signal, no dropouts
KCOP 32...N/A
KNBC 36...54-55, solid signal, no dropouts
KCAL 43...N/A
KABC 53...0-50
KCET 59...0-50
KCBS 60...0-50
KTTV 65...0-50

MT. SOLEDAD, SAN DIEGO, DIST= 113 MILES

KABC 25...86-91, very strong signal
KCBS 55...74-78, strong signal

****Winegard 9095 (Long Range Yagi) With CM-7775 Pre-amp

MT. WILSON, LOS ANGELES, DIST= 15.5 MILES

KTLA 31...48-51, steady signal, marginal strength
KCOP 32...N/A
KNBC 36...46-60, no lock, rapid fluctuations
KCAL 43...N/A
KABC 53...N/A
KCET 59...N/A
KCBS 60...0-50
KTTV 65...0-50

MT. SOLEDAD, SAN DIEGO, DIST= 113 MILES

KABC 25...68-71, very steady signal, no dropouts
KCBS 55...48-54, locks in, but drops out 3-4 times a minute

****Winegard 8800 (8-Bay Bowtie) With CM-7775 Pre-amp

MT. WILSON, LOS ANGELES, DIST= 15.5 MILES

KTLA 31...0-50
KCOP 32...N/A
KNBC 36...0-50
KCAL 43...N/A
KABC 53...0-50
KCET 59...0-50
KCBS 60...0-50
KTTV 65...0-50

MT. SOLEDAD, SAN DIEGO, DIST= 113 MILES

KABC 25...64-72, good signal
KCBS 55...68-70, fair signal in good weather, drops out in bad weather

****Channel Master 4251 (Long Range Parabolic) With CM-7775 Pre-amp

MT. WILSON, LOS ANGELES, DIST= 15.5 MILES

KTLA 31...0-50
KCOP 32...N/A
KNBC 36...0-50
KCAL 43...N/A
KABC 53...0-50
KCET 59...N/A
KCBS 60...0-50
KTTV 65...0-50

MT. SOLEDAD, SAN DIEGO, DIST= 113 MILES

KABC 25...75-78, steady signal
KCBS 55...53-55, drops out 3 times a minute

****Channel Master 3017 (Medium Range Yagi) With CM-7775 Pre-amp

MT. WILSON, LOS ANGELES, DIST= 15.5 MILES

KTLA 31...N/A
KCOP 32...N/A
KNBC 36...0-50
KCAL 43...N/A
KABC 53...N/A
KCET 59...N/A
KCBS 60...0-50
KTTV 65...0-50

MT. SOLEDAD, SAN DIEGO, DIST= 113 MILES

KABC 25...56-64, good signal, can drop out in bad weather
KCBS 55...40-50, can lock in good weather only

Conclusion:

4248 best for multipath rejection, good long distance signal strength.
4251 best long distance capability, but not good for multipath.
9095 Winegard quality, but not as good as 4248 in severe multipath.
8800 high quality construction, but average performance.
3017 Good medium sized UHF/VHF antenna when used with a clear line of sight.