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Reviews For: Cushcraft R-7

Category: Antennas: HF: Verticals; Wire; Loop

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Review Summary For : Cushcraft R-7
Reviews: 39MSRP: 510.00
Description:
HF Vertical
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.cushcraftamateur.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00393.9
W6JBR Rating: 2009-10-28
Excellent Antenna! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
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!
WB9YCJ Rating: 2009-08-14
13 years -still impressive Time Owned: more than 12 months.
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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Earlier 5-star review posted by WB9YCJ on 2003-06-03

I live about 10 minutes from the ocean.
Its been up for seven years and no problems. Combined with skill brings plenty of DX.
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Earlier 5-star review posted by WB9YCJ on 2001-07-23

In addition to my below write-up, I have recently learned that my R-7 also resonates on 6 meters. SWR is under 2:1 from 50.0 through 50.5 MHz !
I can also qso up to 54 Mhz using the internal antenna tuner in my TS-570sg. It appears the second harmonic of the 12 meter (25 MHz) portion of the antenna is in play here.
I get excellent signal reports from stations 50 miles out on ground wave. No need to buy an R-8.
W3WW Rating: 2008-12-14
Super Antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
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.
KE7RJF Rating: 2008-11-24
BAD Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
IT WONT WORK. Thats Final
IK2SAI Rating: 2008-11-06
Fantastic Time Owned: more than 12 months.
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.


AB3CX Rating: 2007-03-28
Fine Antenna Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
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.
OE3SGU Rating: 2006-10-01
All you need to work DX Time Owned: more than 12 months.
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!
SM5SRR Rating: 2006-07-19
Good vertical Time Owned: more than 12 months.
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)
VE3XYD Rating: 2005-10-16
Great DX Antenna Time Owned: N.A.
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.
K7ABV Rating: 2005-09-11
works for me Time Owned: more than 12 months.
use this antenna from a portable location, only during the summer...have worked 180 countries with it and 200 watts..not a beam, but works fine for a portable location only up 8 feet from the ground...