This is my second attempt to do a Winegard vs. Jack antenna comparison.Here's my test setup:Antennas: Winegard Sensar III with Wingman attachment and King Controls Jack antenna head unit.Tuner: SiliconDust HDHomeRun Tech3 connected to computer via network cable.Cable: 30ft. of RG-6 quad shield with power injector inserted at tuner end.I'm camped out in the boondocks of south Florida and thought it would be good spot to do a test. There are no structures around to cause multipath problems or block the signal. I'm far enough away from the transmit sites that overloading would not be a problem.For the antenna connection, there is no added amplification. The only thing in the line is a power injector that sends 12 volts to the amplifier built into the antenna.I started with the Winegard attached to the crank-up assembly on the roof of my coach. I aimed the antenna toward West Palm Beach which is 142° from where I'm camped. For measuring signal level I used the setup software for the SiliconDust HDHomeRun tuner. The software displays levels in DBs rather than percent. I peaked for maximum signal, and scanned through the channels. I did not reposition the antenna for stations coming from other locations.I then installed the Jack antenna. I had to rotate the antenna 90° so that it pointed in the same direction as the Winegard.Here are my findings:As expected, the Winegard did better for the VHF channels, but the Jack was better on all the UHF channels.SCVJeff did a thorough test using a spectrum analyzer and came up with different results. It's possible I have a defective Winegard or he had a defective Jack. Many people have reported having better reception with the Jack and others worse.I have opted to stick with the Winegard because of it's better VHF performance.I think more testing is needed.

Something didn't click..oops no luck posting the image

I will have both types of ant. for this coming season, should be interesting.Thanks for taking the time to figure this all out and post the results.

Does your Winegard have the "UHF" ad-one? From all reports that really does address UHF response.

Hi Tom:It looks like you have so far just used the S.D. tuner you purchased to locate and scan for the RF channels. All the channels found are not very far from your location (only up to 45 miles).I am not familiar with the tuner used. Since you are most likely there for a while have you connected your television to the cable and scanned for the channels? I would use the TV's strength meter to zero in the signal by moving the antenna. Then record the reading. Do this for each channel.Then do the same for the other antenna.Are both antennas getting all of the same stations? How do your television's strength readings compare when comparing the number's?At the moment you have nothing to verify readings taken from the tuner and your computer.Since the television stations output from their transmitters may vary considerably from each other the numbers don't say much yet.It's possible the dB numbers recorded from the first and second run came from slightly better or worse connections.If the trend you think you are seeing is correct the strength readings taken from your television set should trend the same. By the way the television set is "real world" for sound and picture received. Also for it's strength meter for the signals actually reaching the set.I am not knocking any of your numbers yet. Just waiting for additional testing.Mark

Something's wrong with those UHF numbers.. Is it possible that (assuming the Batwing works properly) the AGC in your tuner if affecting those results? That's why you really cannot make critical measurements unless you can switch off ALL automatics that can fool your testing. Is there a Wingman on the Batwing?

Winegard vs. Jack antenna (again) | Good Sam Community

MNtundraRet
Navigator
Feb 25, 2014
Hi Tom:

I have been using TVFool to try to locate your camping position. It looks like you are located near the town of Okeechobee (possibly SW of town along the lake).

I have been to the Palm Beach area and traveled all around the state at least ten times in the 70's and 80's. The state is rather flat like a Monopoly board which should work better for comparisons.

I would expect either the Jack or Winegard to work equally well for stations found.

I am beginning to think Jeff's testing done in San Diego area of California may have been skewed because of the foot-hills. I do not think he has the option to haul the equipment used to a relatively flat area of the country for testing.

The two antennas may not be all the different except for the RF channels from 7 and lower going in Winegard's favor.

Mark
Tom_M1
Explorer
Feb 25, 2014
MNtundraRet wrote:
Hi Tom:

It looks like you have so far just used the S.D. tuner you purchased to locate and scan for the RF channels. All the channels found are not very far from your location (only up to 45 miles).

I have both a HDHomeRun and HDHomeRun Tech3. I use both of them at home on my Home Theater PC (HTPC) using Windows 7 Media Center. I brought the Tech3 with me to use in my motor home.

I am not familiar with the tuner used. Since you are most likely there for a while have you connected your television to the cable and scanned for the channels? I would use the TV's strength meter to zero in the signal by moving the antenna. Then record the reading. Do this for each channel.

Then do the same for the other antenna.

My TV only displays signal strength in percentage, which is true for most TVs. Once the signal reaches a set level, it displays 100% so it's not very useful for comparison purposes. The HDHomeRun Tech3 is the commercial version of the HDHomeRun. The HDHomeRun is a dual tuner device that decodes the received signal and streams it out over a network connection.

The Tech3 is described as a "Digital Broadcast diagnostic/troublshooting" device that provides RF diagnostics including signal strength, SNR, and constellation plots.

Are both antennas getting all of the same stations? How do your television's strength readings compare when comparing the number's?

Both antennas receive the same stations.

At the moment you have nothing to verify readings taken from the tuner and your computer.

The numbers are the signal level that the tuner receives. The computer is just displaying this information.

Since the television stations output from their transmitters may vary considerably from each other the numbers don't say much yet.

The signals definitely vary, but that is not the issue. Each antenna is receiving the same signals. What I'm trying to do is measure how each antenna processes the signals. For instance, if the signal for channel 12 is 0db then my measurements would indicate that the Winegard has 8db of gain and the Jack has 5db of gain for that channel.

It's possible the dB numbers recorded from the first and second run came from slightly better or worse connections.

The same cable was used for both tests. The cable went directly from the antenna to the tuner. If there is a bad connection, it would have to be inside the Winegard. The only way to know is to find another antenna to test.

If the trend you think you are seeing is correct the strength readings taken from your television set should trend the same. By the way the television set is "real world" for sound and picture received. Also for it's strength meter for the signals actually reaching the set.

The HDHomeRun is also "real world". It's main purpose is for watching TV. The Tech3 happens to have some added diagnostic features.

I am not knocking any of your numbers yet. Just waiting for additional testing.

Mark

SCVJeff wrote:
Something's wrong with those UHF numbers.. Is it possible that (assuming the Batwing works properly) the AGC in your tuner if affecting those results? That's why you really cannot make critical measurements unless you can switch off ALL automatics that can fool your testing.

Is there a Wingman on the Batwing?
If the tuner has AGC it should affect signals from both antennas in a similar manner. The HDHomeRun Tech3 is the commercial version of the HDHomeRun and is described as a diagnostic tool, so it would make no sense to take signal level readings after an AGC section.

My Winegard does have the Wingman attachment.
Tom_M1
Explorer
Feb 25, 2014
n7bsn wrote:
Does your Winegard have the "UHF" ad-one? From all reports that really does address UHF response.
Yes. That is what the Wingman is.
SCVJeff
Explorer
Feb 25, 2014
Something's wrong with those UHF numbers.. Is it possible that (assuming the Batwing works properly) the AGC in your tuner if affecting those results? That's why you really cannot make critical measurements unless you can switch off ALL automatics that can fool your testing.

Is there a Wingman on the Batwing?
MNtundraRet
Navigator
Feb 25, 2014
Hi Tom:

It looks like you have so far just used the S.D. tuner you purchased to locate and scan for the RF channels. All the channels found are not very far from your location (only up to 45 miles).

I am not familiar with the tuner used. Since you are most likely there for a while have you connected your television to the cable and scanned for the channels? I would use the TV's strength meter to zero in the signal by moving the antenna. Then record the reading. Do this for each channel.

Then do the same for the other antenna.

Are both antennas getting all of the same stations? How do your television's strength readings compare when comparing the number's?

At the moment you have nothing to verify readings taken from the tuner and your computer.

Since the television stations output from their transmitters may vary considerably from each other the numbers don't say much yet.

It's possible the dB numbers recorded from the first and second run came from slightly better or worse connections.

If the trend you think you are seeing is correct the strength readings taken from your television set should trend the same. By the way the television set is "real world" for sound and picture received. Also for it's strength meter for the signals actually reaching the set.

I am not knocking any of your numbers yet. Just waiting for additional testing.

Mark
n7bsn
Explorer
Feb 24, 2014
Does your Winegard have the "UHF" ad-one? From all reports that really does address UHF response.
ScottG
Nomad
Feb 24, 2014
I will have both types of ant. for this coming season, should be interesting.
Thanks for taking the time to figure this all out and post the results.
Fizz
Explorer
Feb 24, 2014
Something didn't click..
oops no luck posting the image

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