The new Cushcraft

[EX_AA5JG]

What are Cushcraft antennas like now that MFJ has taken them over?  Same level of quality as before, or have things changed?

[KH6DC]

No experience with the new MFJ owned Cushcraft.  Owner of R8 and R7 when it was owned by Laird Technologies and another company before or maybe Cushcraft itself (sorry can't think of the name right now).  Read reviews of missing parts, components not fitting correctly, broken parts, etc.  Quality control is excatly the same as MFJ so you be the judge.  All I can say is that it's not the same as previous owners of the company.

73, Delwyn KH6DC

[K7CB]

I don't have any experience with Cushcraft either...BECAUSE of the reviews I've read.  I seriously considered a Cushcraft R-8 vertical.  It gets a high rating for performance...but a great many of the reviewers commented that while the antenna performs well, quality assurance was very poor with reports of missing or damaged parts.  In the case of the R-8, the biggest problem was the matching network suffering from cold solder joints and loose parts.  So, I decided against getting the antenna for that fact and have avoided all MFJ products.

Supposedly, MFJ is addressing their QA issues so we'll see if they get better.

[ONAIR]

Had a Cushcraft 11 Meter "Ringo" up for many years back in the '70s, and never had a problem with it.  Worked good on 10 Meters as well, by sliding the top element just a few inches into the next lower element.

[W5DQ]

What are Cushcraft antennas like now that MFJ has taken them over?  Same level of quality as before, or have things changed?

73s John AA5JG

John,

I put up a 6BTV this weekend which had a QC stamp of Nov 2011. Everything was there and it all went together as indicated it should. Only issue I had was the hose clamps used to assemble the antenna seemed to be a bit weak. I am no Olympic weightlifter (you've met me) but have good upper body strength and I stripped out 2 of them trying to get the tubing from slipping after what I considered a solid tightening. I ended up taking some 80 grit sandpaper and scuffing the ends where the tubing comes together and that roughness, with a slight dap of No-Ox with the so-called weak hose clamps seems to work at a level where the clamps didn't strip out. The ones in the antenna had a weird look to them like maybe they weren't aligned right during manufacturing? The screw part seems to have a slight tilt to them vice being level like some others I had that you'd break your wrist trying to strip those out. I may go buy some known good quality ones and replace the originals just to be safe.

Other than that, the antenna looks and feels just like my buddy Tom's 5BTV that is 20 years old.

Hope this helps.

Gene W5DQ

[WB2WIK]

What are Cushcraft antennas like now that MFJ has taken them over?  Same level of quality as before, or have things changed?

73s John AA5JG

John,

I put up a 6BTV this weekend which had a QC stamp of Nov 2011. Everything was there and it all went together as indicated it should. Only issue I had was the hose clamps used to assemble the antenna seemed to be a bit weak. I am no Olympic weightlifter (you've met me) but have good upper body strength and I stripped out 2 of them trying to get the tubing from slipping after what I considered a solid tightening. I ended up taking some 80 grit sandpaper and scuffing the ends where the tubing comes together and that roughness, with a slight dap of No-Ox with the so-called weak hose clamps seems to work at a level where the clamps didn't strip out. The ones in the antenna had a weird look to them like maybe they weren't aligned right during manufacturing? The screw part seems to have a slight tilt to them vice being level like some others I had that you'd break your wrist trying to strip those out. I may go buy some known good quality ones and replace the originals just to be safe.

Other than that, the antenna looks and feels just like my buddy Tom's 5BTV that is 20 years old.

Hope this helps.

Gene W5DQ

The 6BTV is made by Hustler, and has nothing to do with MFJ.

The quality issues are with Hy-Gain and Cushcraft antennas, since those companies were acquired by MFJ.

I just worked a guy last night who just bought a Hy-Gain AV-620 and stated, "It took 8 hours to put it together because of missing parts and bad solder joints in the matching unit."

That's not very encouraging.

[W5DQ]

What are Cushcraft antennas like now that MFJ has taken them over?  Same level of quality as before, or have things changed?

73s John AA5JG

John,

I put up a 6BTV this weekend which had a QC stamp of Nov 2011. Everything was there and it all went together as indicated it should. Only issue I had was the hose clamps used to assemble the antenna seemed to be a bit weak. I am no Olympic weightlifter (you've met me) but have good upper body strength and I stripped out 2 of them trying to get the tubing from slipping after what I considered a solid tightening. I ended up taking some 80 grit sandpaper and scuffing the ends where the tubing comes together and that roughness, with a slight dap of No-Ox with the so-called weak hose clamps seems to work at a level where the clamps didn't strip out. The ones in the antenna had a weird look to them like maybe they weren't aligned right during manufacturing? The screw part seems to have a slight tilt to them vice being level like some others I had that you'd break your wrist trying to strip those out. I may go buy some known good quality ones and replace the originals just to be safe.

Other than that, the antenna looks and feels just like my buddy Tom's 5BTV that is 20 years old.

Hope this helps.

Gene W5DQ

The 6BTV is made by Hustler, and has nothing to do with MFJ.

The quality issues are with Hy-Gain and Cushcraft antennas, since those companies were acquired by MFJ.

I just worked a guy last night who just bought a Hy-Gain AV-620 and stated, "It took 8 hours to put it together because of missing parts and bad solder joints in the matching unit."

That's not very encouraging.

Steve,

You're abslutely right! Egg is on my face here. Not sure why I would have thought CC for the 6BTV. Guess I just messing with too many antennas lately and got'em mixed up.

I stand corrected.

Gene W5DQ

[N1UKX]

Well, I just ordered an AV-640 Hy-Gain to be shipped Friday.  Hope I have better luck....LL

[N1UKX]

My AV-640 was shipped when they said it would.  Upon opening the box, I noticed the parts bags all had QC initials on them.  I inventoried the parts and all the pieces were there.  The antenna seems to be well made.  No visible QC problems in the matching unit.  Seems they're doing something right with their revamped quality control.  So far I'm a happy customer....LL

[WB4AUW]

My AV-640 was shipped when they said it would.  Upon opening the box, I noticed the parts bags all had QC initials on them.  I inventoried the parts and all the pieces were there.  The antenna seems to be well made.  No visible QC problems in the matching unit.  Seems they're doing something right with their revamped quality control.  So far I'm a happy customer....LL
[/I would suggest that you play the lottery very soon.quote]

[N1UKX]

Could also mean that they're trying to improve their quality control.....LL

[KE4YOG]

If MFJ ever corrected the QC issues they would be dangerous!