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Reviews For: Cushcraft MA8040

Category: Antennas: HF: Verticals; Wire; Loop

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Review Summary For : Cushcraft MA8040
Reviews: 17MSRP: 310.00
Description:
Vertical antenna for 80/40 with cap hat
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.cushcraftamateur.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
24.5174.4
VA2DV Rating: 2006-10-04
So far so good Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After getting a little bored about easy DXing
on 20m , i finally decided to install something
for the low bands.I was down to 2 models : The Cushcraft MA8040V and the Butternut HF2V.Both antennas were the same price so i opted for the Cushcraft since the top-loaded design was better
according to my trusty antenna handbook.
My installation scheme is less than ideal.The vertical is very close to the house , about 12' from it.I have 4 66' radials for 80m and 4 33' radials for 40m.They are bent in many weird shapes since my backyard is not very large.
Now the results.The noise level is higher than my previous horizontal longwire but the angle of radiation is definately lower and the DX stations
are coming in nicely.Not a contester or avid DXer
antenna but really nice if you dont have a lot of space.The current price is OK in my book as the
telescoping aluminium is almost impossible to get here locally.The bandwiths are exactly as predicted in the manual.SWR on 40 is a little higher but i suspect interraction with the proximity of the QTH.The antenna seems well-built but i will probably add some guy wires for safety.I should be able to work some nice DX this winter !
DB9EX Rating: 2006-03-01
good designe Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have my MA8040V now since a couple of month and I am very satisfied with the antenna.
Installation went very easy with the very good instruction the only thing is that I have to re solder the Jumper wire because it was very bad soldered from the factory. The Installation took about 2 hours without the Radials. I have no space to place the radials according the schoolbook and have do to space problems only three 65 foot and four 35 foot Radials with a loot of angles in the layout.
The SWR on 40m is 1:1.2 on the whole Band and 100 kHz on 80m. Once you have write down the length of the top section you can very easy tune the Antenna from the CW to the SSB portion of the 80m Band. Once I hear a new DX Station on the 80m SSB Band but the antenna was tuned to the Digital part of the Band. The DX Station was calling by numbers and was actual by number 5, so I took the decision to go down to the backyard during darkness and shortening the Antenna to the SSB portion. If I was back in the shack the DX Station was by number 8 and I was the second Station by number 9 in the log.
It is a good engineered Antenna with good performance what can be improve by the Radial system the only question is if the Antenna survive also 20 years like some HF-2V Antenna.
You can find some detail picture on my web page: www.db9ex.de/html/ma8040v.html

I have order the MA160V also and would like to use it in alteration to the MA8040V on the same base section what should be the same as the MA8040V and report it as soon I have receive the Antenna.
K1NG Rating: 2006-01-27
Outstanding! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I live on a small lot in the western suburbs of Chicago, in the black hole! Since moving here from R.I., I have used several vertical antenna's, including 5BTV, SteppIR BigIR, and the ma8040v, and most recently, the new cushcraft ma160v. I have two ma8040v antenna's ground mounted w/dx engineering radial plates. Each antenna has 60 total radials beneath them. the assembly was pretty straight foward, there are quite a few peices of hardware consequently, inventory the peices parts prior to assembly as well as reviewing the assembly steps. Time to assemble was about 2.5 hours for the first antenna, and 1.5 hours for the second ma8040v.I have these phased and steerable, 56' spacing and each antenna is the same dimensions. I can defeat the array and drive one antenna. I spent several weeks using just one to determine how effective they were...40m 2:1 is the entire band w/ minimum vswr about 1.2:1. on 80m (stinger lengthened for the cw band) the 2:1 vswr 3.500 to 3.620, cushcraft advertises 100khz bandwidth, it seems I get a bit more...One complaint both of the ma8040v's required the loading coils mounting holes needed to be redrilled for the hardware to fit. This happened on the ma160v also! I called cushcraft tech support because the antenna's weigh about 9lbs w/ the majority of the mass being at the top, I was worried about wind survival. The manual does not speak to wind speed survival or antenna guying. Cushcraft responded quickly and told me to use a ss hoseclamp of proper size, placed about one foot below the 40m coil, and dacron line to ground stakes spaced 120 degree's apart. This has done the trick and I recommend this to everyone using the ma8040v. Now the antenna's remain secure in at least the 50mph winds of late. I have no reason to think they will fail do to winds in my area. BTW, I see no impact on 40m, due to changing 80m to 75m. These antenna's are well made, light weight and radiate very well. They are by far the best verticals I have used to date. The 5BTV's were good too, the steppIR was novel, robust, fairly effective and having the opportunity to house the radiator was pretty cool. The lack of 80m, cost$$$, and what became a real pain was the sloooooooow band changing, which seemed to take longer as the weeks passed. Additionally, when a band change was made,a loud noise was heard in my headphones until the antenna finished the band change. I have worked lotsa dx on 80/40 with these antenna's, instant bandswitching, 2kw power handling ( I run no more than 700w cw) low angle of radiation and easy assembly and installation plus $199.95 !!!

The ma160v is about 37' tall @ 1.805mHz, has a 50kHz bandwidth, comes w/400' of radial wire. It uses the same radial length and number as the ma8040v, plus it also comes with guy dacron line, guy assembly parts and the GROUND ANCHORS!!! All for $199.95. My first contacts on 160m from the black hole were DK8, EI7, LZ, and SP!!! I really like these antenna's, if you have questions, you may call me 630-236-1743 or e-mail john.olsen at us.army.mil
AC0DV Rating: 2006-01-21
Good DX Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Use a G5RV for my main antenna... got the MA8040 for a backup.. and also for the once in a blue moon weird DX contact that needs vertical versus horizontal.

As with a lot of verticals.. this is much noisier than the longwire.

In addition... as with verticals... be prepared to work on the ground system. It comes with a spool of 400' #18 enamel covered ground wire. Enough for 4 65' and 4 35' radials. You need probably 3 and maybe 4 times that many. (in my opinion.) I still only have the radials they sent put down. I can get a 2000' spool of #18 enamel magnet wire on the net for $60.00... so I'll have a LOT more radials in the spring.

On a few closer contacts.. went from S7-S8 to S2-S3 when switching from the longwire to the vertical. OTOH... on a few LONG DX (australia) contacts.. it didnt' change the receive/transmit by very much... so with more radials... this could end up being a much better DX antenna.

(I'm considering changing the 102' G5RV to a 140' Cobra Ultralite OR a 135' windom.. or a 135' end fed ZEP... or just a 135' 80 Meter dipole with ladder line feed. I can't decide on which. (Maybe build them all? hi hi.)

I'd buy it again... but I wouldn't use it as my "Main" antenna... only as a backup and perhaps an every now and again antenna to help out.

(RIght now I'm trying to use it with the MFJ 1026 noise cancelling signal enhancer... no luck yet.)
N6JET Rating: 2005-02-13
The perfect small lot antenna for 80 and 40 meters Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I live on a small lot and did not have enough room to install all 8 of the recommended radials. I was able to install one radial for each band. I was very pleased with the performance of the MA8040. I compared it to my existing Hy-Gain DX-88 and the MA8040 definitely gives me bigger ears. I am very much looking forward to the 160 meter version, which they say will be out sometime soon.
W6PH Rating: 2005-01-12
Excellent DX antenna Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I received one of the first production models just prior to the CQWW CW DX Contest. Assembly was easy and I installed it on the ground in my back yard according to the instructions. I set it up for the lowest part of 80 meters. My bandwidth came out to be 75 KHz. On 40 meters I could cover the whole band. I operated a total of 12 hours on all three evenings from my NH QTH. My location is in a depression with terrain rising in all directions except the south. The results were very gratifying. On 80 meters, I had 196 QSOs, 17 zones, and 70 countries. On 40 meters, I had 219 QSOs, 28 zones, and 85 countries. In particular, I worked 2 JA stations
on 80 meters which I never did before in the last 30 years from NH. With few exceptions, I was able to work everything I could hear. This antenna has four 66 ft radials and four 33 ft radials laying on the ground. Although the instruction manual states that two people are needed to erect this antenna, I was able to install it by myself without any problem. To go on 75 meters, it is necessary to adjust the top element which is very easy. My upper element dimensions are 72 inch for the lowest part of 80 meters CW and 34.5 inches for the lowest part of 75 meter phone. This antenna is only about 27 feet tall and is fairly inconspicuous. Now I am thinking of phasing two of them! A great performer for a small antenna.
K4VGA Rating: 2005-01-09
Great 40/80 meter vertical Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Very pleased with antenna, low SWR, easy/fun to assemble and very impressive looking overall. I would definately recommend adding this one to your antenna farm!