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You can
write your own review of the Cushcraft R-8.
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N1FDX
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Rating: 3/5
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May 3, 2009 08:33
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Worked well but needed repair often.
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I had the R8 up for about 6 years. In that time while it was working if I could hear I could ussually work them. The performance was maybe 4 or 5 however I rated it a 3 because at least every six or so months I would have to take it down and repair either a trap or a bad conection between sections or something. I am in the process or replacing it with a Butternut HF9V which has turned into a project but does perform a bit better. My website has details.
http://home.comcast.net/~n1fdx
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N7GR
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 30, 2009 18:25
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Excellent Antenna
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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My antenna has been in the air (un-guyed) for 9 years. It has survived 9 Montana winters and done quite well. So survivability is not an issue. I found the antenna well designed and easy to put together.
I chase DX and have been at it for awhile. The proof of how effective an antenna is how consistent it is with respect to varying conditions. Since I have been a ham for 35 years I ought to know.
Right now, my DXCC totals are 337 Mixed, 334 phone and 332 cw. Not bad for a vertical mounted 7 feet above the ground 8 feet from my house. Another test is IOTA, I am currently at 670 and am waiting on another 20 or so. Again, not bad for a vertical.
The truth is this antenna works and works well. Yeah it can be a bit noisy at times but what vertical isn't. Just the other morning I worked VK9LA, VK9AA, 3B8CF and VQ9LA all in a span of 10 minutes on 40m cw. From here, that is haul any way you cut it.
I am very satisfied with its performance. So much so that I sold a beam I was going to put up on a tower. Sure it takes me awhile to get through the pile-ups than the guys with the big stuff, but I get through and that is all that really matters.
I don't think you will go wrong with this antenna. Cushcraft has done a nice job in designing this antenna for tight spaces that does an effective job for the ham that likes to dx but has limited space.
Good job Cushcraft. Please keep up the good work.
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K1YPB
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 30, 2009 16:16
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Does what it is supposed to
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have had this antenna going on ten years now with absolutely no problems. It works as it is supposed to operate. I agree that it is a bit top heavy and it does wave around a bit in the wind, but I have never had any issue with it. I live on a small suburban lot, and it is mounted on the edge of our deck about 15 feet above the ground. It allows me to get on the bands. It takes power with no problems and the SWR is reasonable. I believe that careful attention to the assembly specifications are very important for proper operation. The extra time spent on this aspect will be well rewarded with good performance.
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KB3IMJ
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 30, 2009 09:26
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Works as advertised
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have owned this antenna for the last 4 years.The antenna works as advetised on 6-40 meters.The only thing that I would suggest is to guy this antenna between the two traps-I have mine guyed in two places and it has survived some pretty nasty noreasters here.Rich AB3IY
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PA7KK
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Rating: 2/5
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Feb 10, 2009 23:44
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R8 does not like winds
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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A friend of mine purchsed a R8. Strong winds bend
it. He has not faced a storm yet... He has put
a wooden broom stick inside and hopes for the best. The antenne performs ok when it comes to DX. Aluminum does not like bending so that because of metal fatigue is a major problem.
So the design re. material choice is not good.
PA7KK
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K9AUB
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Rating: 4/5
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Nov 24, 2008 13:55
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Excellent performer
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I've constructed and owned a lot of verticals over the years, both commercial and homemade. Cushcraft does a very good job with their trapped verticals, as good as or better than other all-band verticals such as Hy-Gain, Butternut, MFJ, Gap, etc. All stainless steel hardware is a VERY nice touch. The R8 is an excellent performer provided you do YOUR part... feed it with high quality coax (I like 9913), adjust it carefully for low SWR, then put it up in the clear. You don't need to stretch for height; a couple of feet above your roof is plenty good and much easier to install or take down for repairs. Like all verticals, it's inferior to a dipole for the first few thousand miles. After that, the vertical takes over, and really shines on the long DX paths, 8000-10,000 miles. Don't go crazy pumping power into this - or ANY - trap antenna if you have an SWR higher than 2:1, unless you like repairing and replacing traps. And no, antenna tuners don't fix the problem at the antenna, so watch that QRO power! The only weakness I can say is that it's not as mechanically strong as it could be. It will stand up to typical summer breezes, but expect it to do poorly in winter wind with ice on the antenna. Save yourself some grief and install some Dacron guy ropes tied just above the bottom trap, and tie them off well. This solves all worries about losing the antenna in heavy wind or ice, and doesn't affect performance. Treat it right and it'll last you a lifetime, giving you great performance along the way. An excellent vertical.
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Correction on my previous review. I suggested guying it with Dacron rope a few inches ABOVE the bottom trap. I meant to say BELOW the bottom trap, and ABOVE the first top hat wires. (I should never type when I'm tired!) You want those guys to be about 1/2 way up the antenna for best strength and stability.
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KB6HRT
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 22, 2008 22:21
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It's GREAT
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Have had an R-8 for 12+ months, Ground mounted with great results low SWR 1.2 all bands for SSB, had an R6000 before the R8 and it did a good job as well, did guy the R8 just to be on the safe side, have a total of three antennas that will do 20m and 40m, this antenna has a great signal to noise ratio. Over 2000 miles it almost always beats out my dipoles. I would buy another if It had to be replaced, well made, no problems, just a plesure to use. KB6HRT
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KI4PJY
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Rating: 3/5
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Jun 20, 2008 18:21
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Trouble Tuning
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I purchased an R8 from another ham that had used the antenna for some time. The aluminum rods have become oxidized at connections of aluminum and other metals. I have been unable to clean these connections and dismantle radials. I did assemble but the SWR is way out of wack pegging the meter. Does the antenna need to be upright to tune.
Thanks
New to HF
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WB2HWA
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Rating: 3/5
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Dec 28, 2007 11:24
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good antenna electrically but poor mechanically
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have owned two! cushcraft r8 and neither survived the wind here in Buffalo NY. Although the antenna is noisy, it did perform well and gave you eight bands with one antenna plus there did not seem to be any need for radials. I mounted the antenna five feet above my second story roof. Initially the antenna was advertised as self supporting so no guy ropes were used. It lasted one winter and landed in the driveway. After shopping I didn't see anything similar that seemed like it would meet my needs so I put up a second r8. I used the guy kit but unless you are mounting it on a pole near the ground you might want to save your money. The kit is primarily made up of ground stakes and some rope. After several months the guy rope broke at the antenna requiring that it be lowered for tlc. Given the size of the antenna and the pitch of the roof this wasn't easy. The pitch and tension of the ropes are critical. When I complained to cushcraft when the second r8 came down I was told that my ropes must have been to tight.
For any future customers I would suggest mounting this on a pipe and wouldn't go more than six or seven feet above ground. The question may come down to are you more annoyed with guy ropes or ground radials.
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K3EY
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 21, 2005 07:39
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It Works
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Like the reviewer stated below and I agree, this antenna bends way too easy but unlike him I don't give one whit, let it bend because it still works fine. I live on a hill and it's windy up here. The R8 bent like a banana the first year I put it up, it's on a 21 foot pipe. That bend has been there for so many years I lost count, it was right after the R8 replaced the R7. The R7 on the other hand bent and kept on bending and broke in two which is why I bought the R8. I do agree that to advertise with a perfectly straight R8 showing on mountain top is deceptive because after the first wind that thing will look like a banana. The banana effect doesn’t affect it’s performance because it still works and works great. I worked a ton of DX on CW, most of the time if I can hear them I can work them and that includes plenty of QRP at one watt, down to milliwatts. I had the AP8 vertical years ago that they no longer make. I did have a ground radial system under it as it was ground mounted. It never bent because the house protected it from the wind. Hind sight being 20/20 I should have kept it because performance wise I see absolutely no difference except in maintenance which now is a nightmare on a 21 foot tall pipe versus ground level. My next vertical is going back on the ground.
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