|
New to Ham Radio?
My Profile
Community
Articles
Forums
News
Reviews
Friends Remembered
Speak Out
Strays
Survey Question
Operating
Contesting
DX Cluster Spots
Propagation
Resources
Calendar
Classifieds
Ham Exams
Ham Links
List Archives
News Articles
Product Reviews
QSL Managers
Site Info
eHam Help (FAQ)
Support the site
The eHam Team
Advertising Info
Vision Statement
About eHam.net
|
| Reviews Summary for Cushcraft A50-5S 6 Meter Beam |
|
Reviews: 19
|
Average rating: 4.2/5
|
MSRP: $169
|
|
Description: 5 element 6 meter beam 50-54 MHz, 10.5dBi gain, 24 dB F/B, 1000 watt rating, 12 foot boom, 11 lb, 2.9 sg ft wind surface area
|
|
More info: http://www.cushcraft.com
|
|
You can
write your own review of the Cushcraft A50-5S 6 Meter Beam.
|
KR4WM
|
Rating: 4/5
|
Jul 17, 2008 07:53
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Working great since 1995
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
|
I guess I have an "older" model, the A50-5 (no "S"). It weighs a lot considering the band it's cut for! (Maybe dirt daubers have built nests in the ends of the elements?) Almost double the weight of an M2 6M5 I have (that won't tune above 49MHz for squat). It would be a 5 were it not for the coax connector setup being flimsy, but otherwise, it's a great antenna! My score in the 2008 ARRL June VHF contest will attest to it- over 80,000 points (quite good for being in a virtual black hole of VHF operations)! -KR4WM
|
|
WB3ILM
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Jul 17, 2008 07:12
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Best there is
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
|
I have had an A50-5 for more than 20 yrs. Has worked for me and as for junk , no way put up and only had it down 4 times to clean and adjust. #1 for me!
|
|
KA1JY
|
Rating: 1/5
|
Jul 17, 2008 04:13
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
fly weight junk
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
It is hard to believe how low the expectations are of the people giving this antenna a good review. Personally I have never seen any cushcraft antenna worthy of a 2/5. The products they manufacture are junk. Somewhere along the same quality as radio-shack.
Typical CC antenna. Fly weight hardware. 6-32 bolts and wimpy connection points. This won't last long and is strictly a toy. Worth every bit of 1/2 of what they charge. If you need an ulta-light weight toy antenna for a field day that you plan on tossing out when the day is over then this is the antenna for you. If you need something that is rugged and will stand up to ice and winds and stay on the tower for years steer clear of EVERY cushcraft product. I put this one up just to check out 6 meters. It does work. Plan on tuning the gamma match the pre-measured adjustments are a joke. Also plan on cutting the driven element U-bolt. It comes with in a 1/8 inch of the feed point. Probably why the gamma adjustment is so far off.
I broke the feed point bracket with a 3 inch 12 point box wrench. Pretty wimpy hardware. Oh and the ground crimp on the bracket let go when I hand tightened the pl259 connector to it. Also the gramma match end clip does not clamp to the driven element because the both holes are not drilled correctly.
Again it is a disposable toy antenna but it does work. The design is basically a wide band application and it proved to be fairly broad with expected lower than optimal forward gain and front to back. A reasonable compromise if you need wide band. The elements can be re-arranged if you prefer slightly higher forward gain. I plan on using it until I can find a real antenna for 6.
|
|
W0RMS
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Aug 1, 2007 21:21
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Nice Beam
|
Time owned: 6 to 12 months
|
|
Very nice beam for the money...I work most all stations I hear with the A50 at 30 feet and running 100 watts. Been a ham for 40 plus years and just got around to trying 6 meters....am really having a ball!!!!
|
|
KD2E
|
Rating: 3/5
|
Aug 1, 2007 18:46
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
survivor!
|
Time owned: 6 to 12 months
|
|
True, KVW is missing the whole idea...BUT...for a 12 footer, If MFJ did not wreck it...the HyGain 64BS was always a better antenna!
|
|
W4KVW
|
Rating: 3/5
|
Aug 1, 2007 17:57
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
5 ELEMENTS
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
5 element M2 vs 5 element Cushcraft = M2 KICKS that Cushcraft BUTT!The 6M6X even kicks the A506S butt.Cushcraft is made like a CHEAP TOY & NOT for SERIOUS hams who wish for the antenna to last a VERY LONG TIME!FACTS = TRUTH & they do HURT when YOU make the WRONG choice! }:>)
M2 RULES as I said
|
|
K1XT
|
Rating: 4/5
|
Aug 1, 2007 17:19
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Nice for 12 foot boom
|
Time owned: 3 to 6 months
|
|
This is a nice antenna for 12 foot boom. The M2 is on an 18ft boom so it should be better as the boom is 1/3 longer. Comparisons sould be made within the same category.
|
|
W4KVW
|
Rating: 3/5
|
Aug 1, 2007 16:12
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
NOT GOOD!
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
|
I no longer own this antenna but it worked OK I thought until I put an M2 6M5X up & realized the Cushcraft was NOT very good!The M2 is QUIETER, hears BETTER, & is built(solid as a rock)MUCH better with BETTER gain & front to back rejection!The Cushcraft can NOT compare with the M2 ANYTIME nor ANYWHERE!If you like figures check the Contest Results for the VHF bands for the last 10 years & see for yourself which is a WINNER "OVER & OVER" again!M2 RULES the VHF bands without a doubt! {:>)
|
|
N3DG3
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Aug 1, 2007 16:09
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Nice, Compact Beam
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
I have had mine at 35 feet for about a year, and work all I hear from Eastern PA, including Europe, into Eastern Europe (Slovenia), most of Western Europe, Caribbean Islands, Central and South America and all Continental US States, while giving the Big Guns aggressive competition, versus their 100+ foot towers and long boom, stacked arrays. Just got a typical QSL card today from a DX Mobile Station stating "you were the strongest signal on the band", which is what I am often told on-the-air.
I have some concern over the years ahead, about any loosening of hardware or elements, which could be more securely mounted and in the same plane with predrilled holes, a la M2. The boom could be longer and optimized, indeed. But for a small, compact 12 foot boom and low price, she does fine for me on a short tower, just outside the city.
If she fades or falls in the years ahead, I'll probably try the M2 6M5X which still has only 5 elements on a longer boom, more wind load, and, at twice the price of this 5 element beam. Is it worth it ???
For now, I like the compact, value and results of the Cushcraft A50-5S.
|
|
V73NS
|
Rating: 4/5
|
Aug 1, 2007 15:30
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Great, but needs better connector
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
First - the Review Summary list the gain as 10.5dBd which is not correct, it is 10.5 dBi as stated on the Cushcraft site. Subtract 2.15 dB from the dBi figure and you have the dBd gain.
I like this antenna with the exception of the $0.29 SO-239 type connection the supply. The connector is so poorly constructed I replaced it before I did any work to assemble the antenna.
Supplied is an all aluminum body with an acrylic insert and a center connection which then passes through to the threaded part to attach the feed. This would be difficult to weather proof and protect from UV.
Also, since I am using N connectors on my RG-216/U phasing / stacking harness (larger OD than RG8 and will not work with PL-259's) I opted to replace the feed connection with an Amphenol UG58 N female panel connector.
I soldered the mounting stud from an RF transistor to the center pin. I also made a sleeve from a Teflon standoff to slip over this joint to protect it mechanically from side to side movements. The jam nut holds this in place and makes the assemble a lot stronger. The same could be done with a UHF panel mount.
From a marker of commercial antennas I would have hoped they would offer the amateur market a better connection. When they don't... make your own!
|
|
If you have any questions, problems, or suggestions about Reviews,
please email your Reviews Manager.
|
|
|
|
|
