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Reviews For: Cushcraft R-6000

Category: Antennas: HF: Verticals; Wire; Loop

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Review Summary For : Cushcraft R-6000
Reviews: 69MSRP: 310.00 (Street price)
Description:
6m, 10m, 12m, 15m, 17m, 20m; 3db gain; 1.2:1 typical; 19' tall
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.cushcraftamateur.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00694
M0VOC Rating: 2004-05-26
No problems Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had this ariel for more than 12 months and had no complaints it's worked well on all bands and been exposed to sea spray and winds on a twenty ft mast I have noticed a slight increase of swr on 20 mtrs in heavy rain but nothing that the inboard tuner on ic746 won't cope with but as suggested by cush craft I did spray a coat of yatch varnish on it to help stop salt corrison.And also a good bead of silacon sealer around the top of the two traps my own idea
KB9UWU Rating: 2004-05-24
No complaints here! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had my R6000 on a 5ft tripod on the roof for over 4 years. Not once a problem. Some of the caps are even off of the 6/10m stubs and water still hasnt hurt it. NO PROBLEMS in 4 years.
IZ3ESV Rating: 2004-04-16
A very good "Piece of Aluminium" - Part 2 Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After a month, I can confirm my first good impressions. I noticed a slight rain-sensitive behaviour, which shifts SWR in some bands. This can be corrected with an ATU. It is a problem concerning impedance, not really resonance. Antenna will not suffer in performance.

I must say that I got several good reports. When the band is open, signal are rounded and strong, and it's a pleasure to operate. An open band is almost necessary also with bigger and multi-element systems, indeed!

It is amazing on the DX contacts: I usually do work CW with a barefoot 100 Watts, and I can break up pile-ups in two-three attempts. I worked on 10-12-15-17 3B9C both Phone and CW, easily and almost immediately; I got 9N7, ZL, V31, HF0QF (Antarctica, Phone on 20 M), DU9, TJ and 257 QSOs on the RA DX Contest (single band 20M) with not too much effort in about a monthly activity.

This toy does work. Really well. I finally have a complete system for the upper HF and I hope to have it for long long time.

By the way, I must rate this R6000 as a five star stuff. It is a high-level compromise and won't regret it.

--... ...-- de Tony, IZ3ESV

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Earlier 5-star review posted by IZ3ESV on 2004-03-19

First of all, I don't agree with the guys saying this aerial is a piece of junk. All materials are extremely good, and construction specifications and standards are something like italian made stuff don't really know...

I got mine used from a QRP enthusiast who decided to change his antenna system; he assured me that the R6000 has been great, used mostly on 20 meters. Well, my aim was to have a multiband system for the upper-HF, and the antenna was perfect for that.

So I put it up yesterday afternoon, with a little, little work. I am not a technician but with a careful reading of the instructions everything has gone right. It is really lightweight, low-profile, almost "handsome" and professionally-looked and it is a good choice for urban-environment hams.

Something I would suggest: RESPECT TOTALLY dimensions stated on the charts; the aerial is critically designed and you must follow specs as manufacturer indicates. Otherwise, antenna won't work at all! On the second hand, test it and try it at ground level before placing it on the top side: little corrections are allowed on the stubs, sometimes they could be necessary.

Anyway, my first impressions are really positive: SWR is as stated, always close to or less than 1.2:1 (typically); tuner is not necessary, except for band's edges, but with auto tuners in RTXs or a good old T network there is no problem indeed. Bandwidth is impressive, for a vertical: 10 and 15 are really really wide, you can change quickly SSB and CW, and this is a good choice for multipliers stations or simple contest chasing.

By the way, I cannot express nothing about performance: it is too early to say anything by now and I hope to be able to say something in the next months.

First impressions are really good: finally I have access to all upper-HF bands, WARCs included, with little expense, and a performing (let's hope) antenna. At a first glance it seems a beautiful WYLIWYG (What You Listen Is What You Get) aerial.

Suggested to hams who don't want to have big systems but prefer low-profile, good materials and fun on a single radiator!

--... ...-- de IZ3ESV, Tony
WA6BFG Rating: 2004-02-24
Great Antenna Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just don’t get it all the bad things being said about this antenna. I put mine up about 3 weeks ago. I was extremely careful on the various dimensions. Checked them over and over again. My R6000 is mounted on a Rohn 25G 30 foot tower. The antenna is great all bands 6 thru 20 are very broad I have to use my tuner on the rig on sum edges but not often. I am using a Kenwood TS-2000 also have an AL-811 amp and it handles the power with no problem. I have got many reports of phenomenal signal reports both tx es rx. Today we worked VK2AXB Grant he asked me what kind of BEAM I was running and he was flabbergasted that it was 100 watts es the R6000. I have a local ham friend hr W6DU we worked back to back same stations, we both are using 100 watts and TS-2000. W6DU is using a 3 element beam at 40 feet. We worked a station mid west and a New York station I had a better sig on rx and better reports from the station we where working...
NI1N Rating: 2004-01-03
scrap metal Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
This antenna is just awful. I've had one up for 3 months now and it is already permanently bent from the wind. I don't live in a wind tunnel either; I'm in a relatively calm area in south-western Virginia.

I read all over the place how you shouldn't believe the claims of commercial antenna manufacturers when they say their verticals don't need radial systems. Now I've found that out myself the hard way.

I was looking for alternatives to the R-6000, but I cannot put up a tower. I decided to try a Comtek 4-square array on 20 meters. After putting just 1 of the ground-mounted 20 meter verticals up and attaching just 4 4/10-wavelength radials to it, I gave it a try just to see if things were on track. With only the 4 radials, it already out-performed the R-6000 (which is 15 feet off the ground). When all of its 120 radials were attached, the one 16-foot ground-mounted vertical was substantially better than the R-6000.

It might not be bad if you can't install a radial system for a vertical, but Cushcraft's claims that the R6000's small counterpoise system works just as well is rediculous.

On a side note, the completed Comtek 20-meter 4 square (with 480 radials total) is fantastic :)
YV3EDO Rating: 2003-12-26
NOT WATERPROFF Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I installed my R-6000 4 months ago in my farm, the instalacion was very easy, but the adjustment of the swr was a little tedious, especially in 20 mts, after that the best swr I could got are : 6m:?? (not used); 10m: 1.3; 12 mts: 1.2; 17 mts: 1.1; 15 mts: 1.1 and 20 mts 1.8 . Of reception it is a little deaf and of transmission it is on the average. The great disadvantage is when she's got wet (rain) the swr increase a lot and it is impossible to continue operating it.
AA2SM Rating: 2003-12-25
Excellent antenna. Easy to put together . Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Its a great verticle. I had no problems with instructions and when antenna is guyed with a good dacron rope, it was steady in the wind. I had no problem what so ever with the antenna being noisy. The SWR's were good on all bands. I can only think when I read about complaints, that the installer probably messed up. I have worked with beams and plenty of differant wire arrays. This antenna is one of the best. Made numerous DX contacts and enjoying it alot.
ZS6VJJ Rating: 2003-12-11
Obtained SWRs are not impressive Time Owned: more than 12 months.
During last 20 months I made a few of attempts to reduce SWRs on all bands and shift a resonance on 15 m. I had no support from the company.

Two months ago I bought a 10 years old R7. Now this R7 provides SWR less than 1,1 on all bands from the very first assembling and installation at exactly the same place where I had R6000 before. I have sold R6000 immidiatlly. I am considering to buy another R7 or R5 (if I manage to find) for my holiday location.
M0COM Rating: 2003-10-13
works like stink Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I BROUGHT THIS ANTENNA 18 MONTHS AGO. SAT DOWN AND READ THE PAPERWORK TWICE EVERYTHING WENT TOGETHER AS IT SHOULD AS PER THE INSTRUCTIONS FOLLOWED ALL THE MEASUREMENTS. THEN I SHOVED IT UP
IN THE AIR AT ABOUT 25 FEET (THIS ANTENNA NEED'S GUYING WHEN OUT IN THE OPEN)
AND WITH 100W AND A KENWOOD 570DGE I HAVE CLOCKED UP OVER 240 DXCC'S
AND ALL ON SSB THIS ANTENNA WORKS LIKE STINK.
N6IMR Rating: 2003-08-17
Does the job for what it is Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I posted a comment several months ago about a problem with 15 meters. I finally hauled the antenna down and found that the problem was ME, not the antenna.

On the 15 meter radiator I had used only a single clamp to connect two butt ends over an inner tubing sleeve, instead of 2 clamps as instructed by the manual. Turns out that these folks at Cushcraft knew more about it than I did. The single clamp had worked loose; the inner sleeve was thus released and had slid out of position; and the two butted-ends no longer were making contact. That'll do it every time -- no resonance on 21 MHz, crappy SWR.

So I guess the moral is: follow the damned instructions, even if you don't understand the manufacturer's logic.

But let me add this general truism about vertical antennas (versus horizontal antennas). This R6000 antenna is a LOT NOISIER (i.e., 2 to 3 S-units) than my horizontal dipole on 20M. I've made direct comparisons -- same receiver, switching between the two antennas. So, if you have the room on your lot, I'm still a strong believer that a good old-fashion low-tech horizontal dipole is a very good choice.

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Earlier 3-star review posted by N6IMR on 2002-08-17

I posted my first review back in late-May 2002, shortly after I got the antenna up and working. Now, 3 months later, this is a postscript to that review. About 6 weeks ago -- when the antenna was about 2 to 3 months old -- I lost 15 meters completely. SWR is 3+ all across the band. The other bands still seem fine. I've inspected it with binoculars from the ground, paying particular attention to the 15-meter radiator and fasteners; everything appears normal. I switched the RG8/U, but no change. As soon as I get time I'll pull it down, do a more complete check of connections and fasteners, and maybe shake it a little for good measure. Right now I'm wondering about the matching device in the black box. I'll report back when the mystery is solved. 73's.
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Earlier 4-star review posted by N6IMR on 2002-05-02

My R6000 is actually broader-banded than advertised -- except for 6 meters (more about that later). After some fiddling it is <1.5:1 across all bands. This antenna gets much better reports than my prior 20 meter groundplane at same height (~30' above ground at base). A word to wise re price: I got this from Ham Radio Outlet (March 2002) for $199 as part of package with IC-746. Assembly instruction text is mediocre. STUDY it before you take screwdriver to hand! I did study it for 2-3 hours, but I still could have saved a couple of hours of assembly/adjustment time if the instruction dimensions had been consistent with the diagram dimensions. All things considered, I would opt for this antenna again without hesitation. Oh -- the 6 meter anomaly: The SWR curve across 50-54 MHz is the inverse of what you would expect, despite much fiddling. SWR is <1.5:1 from 50-51 MHz, then high (>2.5:1) across middle part of band; then low again at 53.5 to 54 MHz. Haven't figured this one out, but (a) I really don't work 6M; and (b) my IC-746 internal tuner takes care of the wierd impeadance at mid-band. Again, this is a GOOD antenna for the price and the space limitations. 73's.