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.