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write your own review of the Cushcraft R-7000.
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K7PP
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Rating: 2/5
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Aug 11, 2010 19:11
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OK for some
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Even a great antenna will suffer in poor conditions but I'm afraid the R 7000 is more susceptible to the weather out here on the Pacific Coast of Washington than most.
I've had the antenna up for years. It has performed fairly well on the upper bands but getting it to work on 40 and 20 has been a chore. I don't operate 30 so that's not been an issue.
I've had the top trap apart more times than I can count. Each time I seem to fix something different.
Today, I finally gave up and removed the top trap and it's four extra feet of tubing.
Guess, what? 20 meters is now flat across the whole band. All the other bands above 20 are also flat.
The antenna now works better than ever.
I'm not sure if I'm going to bother trying to fix the top trap again.
Bottom line is that from now on I'm going to stick with monoband verticals without traps.
If you live in an area that is dry and not to windy then, perhaps, otherwise I would try something else.
Regards,
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K6SDW
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Rating: 4/5
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Jun 29, 2010 17:01
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Not junk
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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The previous review not withstanding, I use this antenna camping and I've had amazing results, easily working Europe when Propagation is good....I've been a ham for 45 years and know antennas somewhat and I had doubts about this too, but the damn thing works!!!
I have no connection to the manufacturer but it ain't junk!! Yes, it's a compromised antenna but it ain't junk........
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W4KVW
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Rating: 1/5
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Jun 29, 2010 14:13
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JUNK
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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This by far is the WORST antenna I "EVER" owned or operated on.The sections NEED too be attached to each other with self tapping SCREWS or the sections move around in the wind & lose contact with each other causing the SWR to go up & down. Save your money & pass on one of these pieces of GARBAGE!
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EA7AQV
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Rating: 5/5
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May 10, 2010 04:40
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After more than 5 years stored in bad conditions it works...
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I have bought a Cushcraft R7000 2nd hand that had been stored more than 5 years in very bad conditions, an after making a general manteinence (cleaning ALL electrical connections, rewiring CT1 trap, and fixing all the traps connections with 4 mm rivets), and making a new base hardware (the aluminium 10 mm plate), and guying it with 2 levels of Dyneema 3 mm cords, it works ok, outperforming my dipoles in all bands, and it has been ok, in spite of one 80 km/h winds storm...
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KZ2T
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Rating: 4/5
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Apr 18, 2010 18:44
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Overhal of the R-7000
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I purchased my R7000 a little over a month ago for $50.00 from a Ham that was moving. The antenna had two bad traps and was only working on two bands - 10 and 12 meters.
I finally got time to take each trap apart to see what the issues were (if any). If any of you have this antenna and are afraid to go into them, email me and I'll give you detailed steps on how to do it - it's easy. I wish I had taken photos and written notes, sorry, I didn't.
CT1 (I think) has the trap that also has a capacitive device that is shielded from the outer can wall by some hard foam or plastic type material. The metal part of that device slides into into it and is held in place by a pop rivet that was very loose. Also, the aluminum wire that was used to wind the coil was in bad shape and looked like it had arc'd just below where it exits and attaches to the outside of the can. I drilled out the pop rivet and used a screw with a lock washer on both sides to reattach the metal part of the capacitive device. It no longer “wobbles.” I rewound CT1 with wire (that would give me enough turns) from a bad trap that was in CT2. I rewound CT2 with 12 awg solid copper wire. One trap was exactly 12 1/2 turns and the other trap was 14 turns.
I had to bore out the holes to use my pop rivet tool to reattach the wire for rewinding the traps. The existing hole was too small for the head of the rivet tool to fit properly. I also used a small 1/8 lock washer on the rivet for extra pressure on the connection.
I used new hex screws to replace the crappy ones that the antenna came with. I believe they were #8 ½” Hex screws. I snipped off the sharp ends because I was afraid that it may screw in too close to the center rod of the trap and arc. I also used 2” solid steel clamps to hold them in place after I closed them up. I used sealent on the tops and around the sides of the rubber at the top of all the traps to prevent water from getting down into the traps.
Also, I used "Antiseize" on all aluminum connections before sliding the antenna back together. Also, when tightening down the stainless steel clamps you have to be careful to not over tighten and strip the threads. Over tightening will simply loosen the connection and cause the antenna to detune by sliding down into itself while it's up in the air. What I did to ensure I had a tight fit was wait for the moment that turning it down became harder and then tried to rotate the sections with my hand. If it rotated I slowly tightened more, and then tried to rotate it by hand. When I couldn't rotate the connection with significant effort, I stopped tightening.
The antenna IS WORKING AS DESIGNED. It is outperforming the dipoles that I have in my attic.
Again, if you have one of these and need instructions, email me. If you'd like me to do it for you, email me and maybe we can work somthing out.
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NG0G
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 16, 2010 12:29
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9 years great service
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I bought this used 9 years ago. It has survived a cross country move, and 5 Iowa winters. Ice storms, snow, temps to -25F, and 60 mph winds. I worked 3Y0X on it on both 40 and 20 with 100 watts. Finally after the most brutal Iowa winter in anyone's memory, it has developed an intermittent in one of the traps. I'll have it fixed this weekend. I have nothing but good things to say about this antenna. If you are unhappy with yours and can't stand the sight of it anymore, send it to me.
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N8LB
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Rating: 2/5
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Aug 21, 2009 19:23
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problems
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have owned a cushcraft r7000 for 10 years now and have had several problems. I have taken apart, cleaned and reinforced all traps four times now. The last time I used larger SS screws and SS clamps when necessary. I also sealed all traps with bear glue and things have been fine for two years now.
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W4NSC
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 17, 2009 19:37
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Great Anatnna
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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got mine used 7 years ago works great!
I see that MFJ has purchased Cushcraft and i hope they will start to remake the R-7000 and the R-5.
if you use, love and want a new one send MFJ a e-mail let them know that hams want these 2 products.
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AF1RE
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 1, 2009 10:57
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The R-7000 Works Very Well
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I purchased this used antenna online and have used it for over a year. I use 100w from a Ten-Tec Omni D. Initially it was mounted at 30' on a push-up pole, now it is mounted at 20' on a tower just above the roof line.
Acting upon advise given online, prior to installation I water proofed the traps, secured the trap wires to the coil form with rivets, and replaced all the clamps with high quality SS ones.
The performance is outstanding. If I can hear it, I can work it, with the exception of Japan and New Zealand. I can hear them, but can't get through. I hadn't heard these countries until the R-7000 was moved. I feel my reach has increased since lowering it ten feet to a permanent structure.
Upon moving the antenna I took the opportunity to adjust the length and now only use a tuner on 40m. I will adjust that band soon and then waterproof all clamped connections.
I have an amp in the closet and look forward to trying to stress this gem with a little power soon. Seventy-plus countries and counting.
I highly recommend the R-7000
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HB9DSU
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 5, 2008 13:31
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I don't understand...
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Time owned: months
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...what's wrong with the reviews on Eham. OK - I'm no mechanical egnineer or PhD in electronics, but I've been a ham for 25 years and I earned TWO DXCC Honor Roll from two different countries. I dare saying that I know a thing or two about ham radio and HF antennas, although purely fom the user/practitioner point of view. Now, I see 0 ratings about the R-7000, and people saying it's "terrible". I have worked the second DXCC HR *only* using the R-7000 and 1 kw out PA. I also enjoyed memorable qso's such as working VK6 from HB9 in the midst of the CQWW phone contest USING the FT817 at a blasting 5 watts! Now, I decided to write this review after comparing the R-7000 on 40 meters with a full size inverted L for 160, tuned at the base. The R-7000 consistently outperforms a antenna that's 40 meters long, both on DX and local signals. In short - the halfwave design rocks, and this is as good a multiband vertical as you can get. I wonder if people who are giving bad reviews are actually using the same antenna... 73, Pete
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