Most of the existing mathematical models for binary communication channels describe low error rate wire lines satisfactorily. For typical high error rate channels, like the ultrahigh frequency (UHF) or very high frequency (VHF) wideband data channel encountered in military uses, finite-state as well as denumerable infinite state Markov chain models do not achieve an accurate characterization. The above models, including some more recent compound models, are compared against data from the actual channel using the multigap distribution as a tool. A modification of a compound model is shown that allows more accurate modeling of a wider class of channels including the high error rate radio channel.