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Reviews For: Cushcraft MA5V 5 band vertical

Category: Antennas: HF: Verticals; Wire; Loop

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Review Summary For : Cushcraft MA5V 5 band vertical
Reviews: 69MSRP: 211.00
Description:
5 band vertical for amateur hf
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.cushcraftamateur.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00694.1
SANTANA Rating: 2002-07-11
fits the space profile Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I needed a lightweight small footprint for the space on my roof. I have it installed on a 5 foot mask on a chimney mount. I have a Cushcraft Ringo 2-meter installed 8 feet away from this one. I wanted to install a small beam, but I did not want to take the 2-meter Ringo down. I hit 15 repeaters from my house. The directions were easy to follow. As far as the burrs on the tubing, all you have to do is file them off, no big deal. I carried the finished antenna up the 35 foot ladder with one hand and u-bolted it to the mask myself. It only weighs 6 1/2 lbs. I run a Kenwood 570G and the first night I talked to London, during a special event concerning the Queens' birthday on 20 meters. The second time I used this antenna I made contacts on 20 meters also in Romania, France, and 5 miles from the Belgium boarder. He is posted on QRZ.
I also contacted Florida and Ohio. The bands open up better as the night progresses. I have only been on HF a limited time due to work responsibilities. The other bands I haven't contacted anyone on, but have heard different stations clearly on them. The most stations are on 20 meters. The internal tuner in the Kenwood 570G gives me a 1 to 1 swr reading all the time no matter what band I am on. I am 1100 feet above sea level and live in a row home in a small town.
I use a #10 wire in the attic for 40 and 80 meters which I have only contacted the west coast to the east coast with. From Washington to New York. I would like to install a Hybrid Quad some day, but I am partial to my 2-meter Ringo because 2 meters is very clear where I live and 15 repeaters covers alot of area and alot of different kinds of people. I am really surprised at this Cushcraft MA-5V, I never expected it to bust the pile-up during the Queens' special event. If you would like any more information on this antenna, write me. The top of the antenna is at least 40 feet high and 8 feet away from the 15 foot mask the 2 meter antenna is on top off. It only covers 5 bands, but it suited the weight and height characteristics that I needed. I plan also to install a 40 and 80 meter Alpha-Delta dipole when I figure out the best possible location. 73, I will write on the Kenwood 570G receiver also. I put that on line about 2 months ago. I hope this helps with deciding on an antenna. I always read these reviews posted here on all kinds of equiptment. Good Luck, KB3HQH
WK0C Rating: 2002-06-26
Small dog, big bite! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
For a 14.5 ft vertical, its performance is exceptional. instruction were clear and well written. Hardware was of good quality all the way through. Assembly took about an hour. Ground mounted it in my backyard next to a storage shed...space was limited. With initial settings found a 1.45:1 SWR on 20M. Similar results on the other bands. After tweaking the tuning for about 10 minutes I fired it up on 20M MFSK16 at 30 watts. First contact was into Poland...S-9 signal report, and the band wasn't exactely quiet. My experiences with the MA5V get better by the day...the more I use it, the more I like it! Highly recommend for any space or covenant restricted areas (the top radiating element comes off with one hose clamp...super lightweight and easy to remove for stealth during the day time hi hi).
K1MKF Rating: 2002-03-27
Great lightweight vertical Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just got my MA5V. After looking at Gap verticals I decided to get the MA5V based on it's price, size and windload. It was easy to assemble. Cushcraft only shorted me one hose clamp and I only noticed one mistake in the instructions. The floppy radials make it perfect for portable ops and mobile homes. It uses several turns of RG-58 as a balun, as many other HF antennas do, but you wrap the coax around a plastic pipe mounted on the antenna, nice touch. The vertical radiator sits on a fiberglass rod approx. 5 feet in length so the radiator is a little higher but also a little shorter than I thought. I hope to be on the air by this weekend. Stay tuned...
former_KX4AA Rating: 2002-03-04
WOW!!! Great little antenna. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I am really impressed. It went together in about an hour, simple to install and it works like a charm. If I can hearm 'em, I can usually work 'em. This little guy earns "2 thumbs-up" in my book.
G4WFQ Rating: 2002-02-15
GOOD VERTICAL Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Excellent small antenna.
Good sturdy construction, easy to assemble. Looks like it will last a good few years.
Good performance on all 5 bands! Easy to adjust SWR for each band.
If you need a low profile vertical that gives good DX performance, this will do the job!
KJ6H Rating: 2002-02-08
Pretty Good Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Not bad but during assembly one elements fit together peices jammed, luckly at about the right length. Bad fit. Also the transmatch leads JUST made it to the connectors when placed correctly on the boom. Element spacing was checked and rechecked. Not like it shows in the instructions with enough slack as to require use of the included tie raps. Upon placing an email to Chushcraft all I got was "Oh, well I guess you got one of the short ones". That's it, they never returned any of me emails after that. Overall performance is OK but Mini-Beam = mini performance, don't let anybody fool you, no free lunch.
My take? I wouldn't buy it again.
73 de TOD KJ6H
MI5UTC Rating: 2002-02-08
The best small antenna Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The first thing you notice when it arrives in the box is 'wow ' it is light. I had the antenna assembled in about an hour using the very easy to follow instruction book.I had an MFJ analyser to help me but didnt need it. Added the coax and put it up on my chimney about 20ft agl. Signals came booming in. SWR no higher than 1.7 on each band. This antenna is remarkable. Just what I was looking for, for HF. If you want a very unobtrusive antenna (that works ) then this is the one!
W9CSL Rating: 2002-02-03
Great mini-vertical Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I live in a Villa & used the R-8 for about a year, which by the way worked great, but really felt needed a low-profile antenna, so purchased the MA5V, it is so much smaller, easy to put up, take down, only about 14ft7in tall, and about 6.5#, it sure looks better but now I am scared will it work? I have it 9ft off gnd,7ft from villa
After 3 days using 5 to 25 watts max. have worked:CO8-CT3-EA8-G2-J37-JA6-OK1-P41-UA4-UN7-VE & several states. I am real pleased! Terry-W9CSL
WW0AA Rating: 2001-11-08
Answer for small space Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I needed a small footprint antenna for my new Icon 746 and selected the new Cushcraft MA5V....less than 2 hours out of the box and worked dx on 3 bands including a ct7....swr is less than 2.0 and auto tuner works with this antenna on all freqs. I have mounted 4 feet off ground in forest of pines 75' tall....very satisified with performance. Only complaint..I emailed Cushcraft while waiting for shipment and asked why they did not update their web site with info re: MA5V and still have not had any response !!!!