|
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
|
|
You can
write your own review of the Cushcraft MA5B Mini Beam.
|
VE3BXB
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Jun 2, 2009 18:18
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Very reliable Mini Beam with great performance
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
I wish to say that I have owned this MA5B for about 3 years and using a light weight rotor is a big mistake. I had to replace my light weight type of rotor. The twisting of the antenna with high winds sure destroyed the old rotor. I would highly recommend the use of a stronger rotor rated at least 10 square feet or more. I know that the manual recommends the use of a light weight rotor but this is not a good idea.
One of the concerns that I have is that I have heard that some people are mentioning the limitation on the use of using no more than about 500 watts of power. I have never hooked up an amp with the beam and I am not sure what the real situation is regarding this power issue. It seems to me that the loading coils can be problem but I haven't heard of anyone actually melting the coils due to excessive power. I know in the manual that comes with the antenna, it states very clearly that the antenna is rated for 1000 watts but I don't think that I would take a chance on going more than say 500 watts.
Other than the power limitations and rotor issues being a subject of debate , I have to say that it performs very well.
I see that when I am using my G5RV wire antenna, there are times when I hear poorly when compared to the MA5B beam. It is amazing how much more you can hear and transmitt further compared to the wire antenna. I sure have no regrets purchasing this beam
For the money, it is a very hard antenna to beat.
If you are ever considering an antenna of this size, you won't regret it. Good job Cushrcraft
|
|
G4YPV
|
Rating: 5/5
|
May 7, 2009 16:53
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Excellent so far
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
|
Only had the beam in the air for one week so may be slightly premature but this beam has brought my IC756 PRO III to life. It's amazing what there is to be heard when I switch from the wire to the beam. Only problem is waiting for the council ordering me to remove it!
|
|
W4HIJ
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Apr 11, 2009 21:28
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Excellent and resilent performer!
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
What can I say that hasn't already been said? This is a great little antenna! The only real beef I have with it is that it seems to be particularly narrow banded on 20 meters. If you set it up for phone you can forget using it for PSK on 14.070.
At least that's the case with the limited range of the auto tuner in my Yaesu FT-450AT. Maybe that's more of a indictment of the rig's tuner than the antenna but I have had broader banded antennas on 20. I still give it a 5 though because it does a fine job otherwise.
I don't remember the exact year I bought mine but I know it's been up at least five years now with no degradation in the performance. It has survived many strong winds and storms and keeps on plugging. I don't ever think about it or worry about it and that's a good thing to be able to say about an antenna.
|
|
N4CQD
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Apr 5, 2009 15:25
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Excellent antenna
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
|
I've been using the Cushcraft MA5B Beam for about 3 years, and it performs as well today as it did the day I assembled it. For a "Mini" beam, it delivers great signals, was fairly easy to put together and was light enough for me to carry and install onto the tower mast with no assistance at all. Cost was reasonable for a Yagi. Low profile and great performance.
|
|
K0IYA
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Feb 8, 2009 12:54
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Still Happy Six Years
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
Having owned a MA5B for 6 years with no problems, I thought it was due some praise. With neighbors behind and both sides of me with LARGE trees a small yagi was required. Having qso'd with several hams in the UK and listening to there MA5B's and how happy they where, I ordered mine. After about 6 hours of putting it together, fine tuning and mounting to my 50ft. free-standing tilt over tower, it was up! (Tip: use a couple self tapping screws on the element sections to prevent wind-mailing) Now six years later with 317 countries confirmed and thousands of qso's, I am still happy with my purchase. With consistant very good-reports, front/back, side rejection and problem/worryfree operating it is easy to see this little antenna was a great buy! One thing not metioned that often is how really well the rotatable dipole 12/17 works. Only 3 days ago I was working EU on 17m and saw a dxpedition cluster sighting in the caribbean. I tuned to the freq. and the station was 3 by 3. I turned the dipole to the station and he was now 5/9! I am still amazed this antenna has such good gain. Many, many times I have turned the antenna to a station after first making contact and been told you came up 3 or 4 S units. I use a 811H amp. (Caution: I would not use over 1KW with this antenna)
For price, performance, durability and compact size no other 5 band Yagi compares. One suggestion, buy a bigger rotator than a TV type one. These cheap rotators will strip out in a year or so from normal usage and turning in the wind. Taking down a rotator is a big hassle. I now use a Yaesu G-450A after learning this lesson.
Note: Use the best coax you can afford to prevent loss. Also, NO RG58/59,etc. if using amp.)
|
|
N0MUD
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Nov 20, 2008 15:56
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Exellent Beam
|
Time owned: 3 to 6 months
|
I bought my MA5B from HRO and I put the antenna together inside my home,put the hats on outside, I had a NON-ham neighbor and friend both put it up on the 30 ft tower because I am disabled and can't climb anymore. So if you scroll all the way up and take a look at the picture, it gives you the impression that the antenna should be mounted on the mast in a 45 degree angle. The same picture is on page one of the owners manual. I called John David spoke with him and Marina and I was politely corrected on the way I had mounted my antenna, so I contacted my NON-ham friends, they came back over, one climbed a ladder, while the other and me held the ladder while the other leveled the elements the way they are supposed to be. NOT at a 45 degree angle as the picture gives you the impression it is to be mounted.
After I got the antenna up and checked the SWS's, I have very low SWR's on all bands, which I am very pleased. I have a Cushcraft A-3 on a 60ft tower. I worked a Ten Ten contest and had the option to use either antenna at the flip of a switch. Because the A3 is so high I get more noise and when I switch to the MA5B my noise level drops completely right off. The MA5B is very lite and even tho I am disabled I can carry it with no problems. As I worked the ten ten contest the only complaint was to close to the mic. I had absolutely no complaints on the MA5B, after getting it leveled out like John David told me to do and he even admitted the picture does the antenna no shame and also said they do have to get a better picture. As I said at the beginning I built the antenna inside my home, carried it out to the back porch where my wife lowered it down to me and then I carried it to the front driveway and explained to my NON ham friends how I wanted it mounted and they did it like I thought it should have been because of the picture. No complaints from them when they had to make the adjustments because it was my fault. If you looking to buy one of these antennas try to find someone in your area that may have one and check it out. Even if you can't find one to use go ahead and buy one anyway because you will definately enjoy it. I use a Radio Shack TV rotor and it handles the antenna with no problems, it is NOT to heavy for the rotor so at least you don't have to put a heavy rotor on it unless you already have one then go ahead. As I mentioned I also have the Cushcraft A-3 and it just depends on which one gives me the best signal report and depends on the noise level between the two.
So 73s, go buy one you won't regret it..
Mike, NØmud
|
|
N1IZE
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Nov 20, 2008 13:16
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
EXCELLENT ANTENNA
|
Time owned: 3 to 6 months
|
I decided to follow-up all the critques I wrote and use this time to step back and be appreciative.
I want to formally thank those 30+ hams I wrote to prior to me purchasing the MA5B. They wrote and critqued the antenna, but I needed a more personal take on their experience. All responded both the pro's and cons who I wrote and spoke with.
Some were even so gracious as to give me their personal landlines and I called them. They sent me pictures and gave me user data, which was useful to me. Don't get me wrong I did not get in touch with every good review, I balanced it with those that had some negative comments and experiences. I too appreciate their candor concerning their use of the MA5B.
My final decision if you look at all the reviews I wrote was to let everyone know how GREAT an antenna the MA5B is. I love the antenna, it works great and I have better signals no matter where I talk whether in country or abroad. The antenna may not be 10db gain on the bands and it is dipole on 12-17mtrs but for the size, price and most of all performance- It puts a kink into those beams costing 3x's more and having maybe 2-3 db more gain. Please feel free to write me I have pictures of my set up etc... I thank all the hams again for ur input- (actman81@yahoo.com)
|
|
K9CHP
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Nov 11, 2008 06:10
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Recommended!
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
I have a Cobra Ultra-Lite, multi-band which I will keep using for 40/80/160m but now, only as spare for 20-10m, as the MA5B performs so much better! I can switch between the two antennas at a flick of a switch and in many cases, the DX I can hear and work with the MA5B is in the noise level or worse in the Cobra. Sure the latter is a little lower and non-directable etc. but at the end, it is what you hear that counts and the MA5B is a world of a difference. And I can bust my way through some pile-ups barefoot, as I don't have an amp (should I say yet?). THe MA5B is well built, easy enough to put together, no parts missing and directions were clear enough for me. Putting it on the mast is definitely a two person job, not because of the weight but the size and momentum it can built while erected are better controlled by four hands.
I have it mounted on a Radio Shack rotator and it seems to be doing the job quite well.
Just looking at my DX log since I got the antenna up 9 days ago and it is amazing. I have QSOs with places I never reached before and conditions have not improved that much (the proof is in switching back to my old antenna and not hearing these stations!)
While the MA5B is actually bigger than what it may look like in pictures, it passed the XYL test (she said, that's as big as it gets, but it is up there:))
I certainly am happy with the MA5B and can recommend it strongly if you need a smaller sized directable antenna.
I have a picture of it on my website www.K9CHP.net
|
|
EI6GRB
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Sep 17, 2008 08:38
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
A brilliant antenna
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
I puchased my MA5B only 2 weeks ago but am amazed at how good this antenna is.
It took about 6 hours all in all to build it, erect it and then tune.
This antenna must have more gain that Cushcraft claim because it is such an improvement on previous antennas I have owned. For example on my wire inverted vee dipole a s5 becomes a s9 on the beam.
The MA5B is perfectly resonant on all bands straight out of the box. 20m has swr under 2 from 14.130 to 14.300. You can lengthen the part of the front and back element after the traps to bring the frequency down a little if you want it lower into the cw portion.
It is a nice size for my small back garden and fits in quite well. No complaints from the xyl or neighbours anyway!
In the past 2 weeks with this antenna I have made a lot more contacts than normal and have found it easier to bust through a pile-up. I really recommend it.
|
|
N1IZE
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Sep 9, 2008 07:06
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Better than expected performance
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
Hello for those hams who are confused about what beam they should buy or those that have one and are in the market for another, or the NEW HAM.
This review is for you:
I have now had the enjoyment of using the Ma5B for a week, the contacts I have made are just not confined to the USA and the European contact and mid-east contacts have all given me from a 5-7 into isreal and 5/9+20 into England, Slovinia, Poland, France, England, Spain, Portugal, Ireland. CO-CA-SD- all over 5/9+ signals!
This 5 band antenna- 10-15-20 mtr 2element and rotable dipole on 12-17 mtrs and the gain/price beat out antennas 3x's the Ma5b's price and for the 1-4 db increase means nothing. The simplicity of the heavy duty yet inexpensive TV rotor combined withthe 26lb antenna is just a great antenna.
John David and Marina at Cushcraft are top shelf for information and assistance. The antenna is well made and should be built with two people. This is not to say that one person couldn't do it but the comraderie and mini-ham get together is memorable- Many thanks goes to John N1TVN, Curt N1DOS and Joeshine(affectionately-Joe) WA1EDX. The antenna errection went very well and by the numbers. We pre assemble the antenna in about 20 -30 mintues a week before and Last Sunday 9/2/08 Curt and John placed the finishing touches on the Ma5B on the ground while Joe and I were on the roof installing the 10ft tripod. We started at around 9:30 am and completed it by 3pm - about 5 hours. This was the best 5hours between joking and talking and working, the antenna went up and my CQ call went out. I hit hungy with a 5/9+10! on my wires(dipoles- a 5/5-5/7 signal would be all I would recieve from Hungry). The Ma5b displayed noise rejection on band that I can only say that what was a 5-7 noise level on my home brew 20mtr vertical was now about a 1 -3 or 0 noise floor. Same goes for any of my dipoles (wire, ocf(off center fed windom, bazooka).
I would be happy to send anyone a picture of my antenna installation and even assist them in making a crucial decision when purchasing a beam antenna. (actman81@yahoo.com)
The MA5B's antenna analysis about db gain, side rejection etc is better than what is illustrated on the chart in the assembly book for this antenna. Its form, fit and function is very desirable for those that do not have the space to put a full size beam up and some of these antennas may be price prohibited due to the heavy rotor, towers etc that need to be purchased for the full size antennas.. This is a great little beam...
|
|
If you have any questions, problems, or suggestions about Reviews,
please email your Reviews Manager.
|
|
|
|
|
