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write your own review of the Cushcraft R-7.
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WA2OOB
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 28, 2009 03:10
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Excellent Antenna!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I wanted to add this review based on my personal experience with the R7. Ignore the few bad reviews you might see. This antenna is fabulous. I know the R7 is no longer made, but If you can get one used- in decent/serviceable condition- you will be pleased.
I purchased my R7 from the original owner in 1995. It is still going strong 3 QTHs and 14 years later! I moved it with minimal disassembly, and it has never needed a retune. The SWR has been stable throughout it's life- in fact, I just checked all bands and confirmed that. I have it on a 10' mast, and it still amazes me how reliable and effective an antenna it is. It has survived torrential rains, and horrific Santa Ana winds- one blow even knocked the mast over! That fall caused a bend in the R7 that was easily tweaked back into true, with no ill effects.
Of course, a low and stable SWR can also be attributed to a dummy load- but this antenna definitely gets RF out! It has allowed me to work the world with 100W. Generally, anything I can hear I can usually work with just a call or two.
The R7 is also easily serviced. There are several articles online regarding refurbishment of the traps if they develop faults. I have had no trap issues. I did have to service the easily-accessed impedance matching assembly and repair some oxidized solder joints.
Simple, effective, reliable, serviceable, small footprint, half-wave, no radials needed, 7 HF bands plus 6M (undocumented- but checks out with my MFJ analyzer)- what more could you ask for in a vertical antenna?
73 es gud dx!
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WB9YCJ
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 14, 2009 20:11
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13 years -still impressive
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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See my previous R7 review (here) from 2003. Then, I stated my R7 had been up 7 years. Well, now its been up 13 years, in great shape and still packing a 360 degree wallop in all directions - even on 6 meters (6M w/ antenna tuner).
Many of us prefer the R7 (R5) over the R8 since the R7 does not need guying, provides 40- 6M and is only 20 ft tall.
Many of us wish Cushcraft could came back out with the R7 or similiar in the 20 ft tall area.
Used R7 (R5) antennas are becoming price attractive enuf to buy a spare for parts, field day, etc. Have fun.
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W3WW
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 14, 2008 15:40
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Super Antenna
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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After 12 years of service and 3 hurricane survivals, it still works perfect. I have it roof mounted several feet below a tri band yagi and a 40 meter dipole. I have it switchable and most of the time, not all, it will outperform the standard dipole on 40. It pulls a fairly close second on 10 through 20 as compared to the yagi mounted on a tower 30' higher. The SWRs are starting to climb after 12 years, but that can be expected. It must be time to dis-assemble and clean the connections. By the way, I am located about 1/4 mile west of the Indian River saltwater lagoon. That helps propagation and corrosion.
When this one hits the dust, I hope a new R8 works as well.
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IK2SAI
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 6, 2008 06:06
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Fantastic
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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My R7 is on my roof since october 1992.
i think that if you are looking for dxing/contesting and you have no room for some beam you simply can't go wrong with thi antenna.
Thi is not a compromise antenna.
This is a superb antenna.
I've worked about 30.000 qsos with just 100w with a score of 300 countries mixed.
Now, i run with an amplifier (800w) and i'm looking for my country number 310.
What is just fantastic is the 40 meter score, were most of the time i'm a pileup (split) winner and were i have more than 200 countries mixed. Keep in mind that i am living in central Milan city, with all noise etc.
During these 16 year of radio i have had some issues.
1) after a "tornado" were all tv antenna were fired down.... i have had a problem with the base part that was replaced. It was also replaced a trap that for mechanical issues doesn't worked any more. (if i remember well the 20 meters trap). It was in 1999.
2) in 2002 i discovered that the thermo rubber over one trap has an hole. I have recovered all traps with a new 3M thermo rubber and since than no problem at all.
3) this year (2008) just for safety i have replaced again the base unit with the isolator.
Any way the antenna seems to be like new!
The only problem with this antenna (for me) is to get a good swr accross the bands.
But performance are so strong that i simply can't immagine enything better.
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VE3TMT
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 19, 2008 20:33
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Couldn't be happier!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Well it has been almost two years since my last review and the R7 just simply continues to amaze me. Mounted only 15 feet off the ground this antenna is a pileup buster. I feed it with about 100' of RG213. Just for fun I operated a few hours in the CQWW CW contest and netted 3X, J7, KH6, VK, VP6, VP9, ZL and others. Just finished working T32YA on 30m and have worked the VP6DX stations 3 times, most of them on the first or second call. Not a single mechanical problem to speak of in the 3 years I've owned it. I don't use an amplifier so I don't have to worry about burnt traps. I can't explain how this antenna works as good as it does, but it does it well. It has survived numerous Canadian winters and winds gusting over 110 km/h without damage. If you are looking for a great performing vertical that doesn't require radials, take a good look at the R7. I can't wait to see how it performs when the sunspot numbers start to climb.
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AB3CX
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Rating: 4/5
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Mar 28, 2007 12:33
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Fine Antenna
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I'm using one that was previously owned by an SK ham. I'm not sure how old it is. The antenna fit right together and I tuned it for SWR using an MFJ-259. Have been using it now about 7 months. There is some SWR drift when it gets wet, but the rig tuner takes care of it. I'm working alot of DX with 200 watts here, and managed 1A4, XE4, T30, T32, KH8, 5W3, VK, JA, D60, J20, 5A1, plus Europe all the time. You get the idea, it is a fun antenna. I would say it cannot perform at the level of a true 1/4 wave vertical with extensive radials, but it's easy to erect and it works.
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OE3SGU
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 1, 2006 12:10
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All you need to work DX
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I used mine for 7 years. I was living in a condo and the only possible to operate on HF was a groundmounted vertical without radials, so I chose this one. Glad I did. I have worked 300+ countries with this antenna, mostly barefoot and lots of them on 40 meters. The antenna was just 2 meters off the ground, very close to the house! So if someone says verticals dont work-learn your part and rethink!
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SM5SRR
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Rating: 4/5
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Jul 19, 2006 13:52
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Good vertical
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Owned one for a couple of years back in CA in 1993 (AB6BC). I bought mine brand new and found it impossible to get an acceptable SWR on all bands as specified. Thinking things through and analyzing the traps, it turned out two of them were mounted upside down in the factory and had to be returned. Receiving new traps, tuning was a breeze with good SWR on all bands. This antenna performed very well considering it was mounted only a few feet up. Living in a valley (Concord), I always managed to have QSO's with Australia on 20m.
If you need a good vertical, this is the one!
73, Eskil/SM5SRR (AB6BC)
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VE3XYD
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 16, 2005 13:37
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Great DX Antenna
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Time owned: months
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Good DXing with this antenna. I run anywhere btw 100w to 300w of power and the antenna always delivered good results. Mine is installed about 10feet of the ground, with guide ropes it survived all the winter winds we get here in Canada. This model also doesn't take much space, I recommend for any ham who has limited space.
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