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Reviews For: Cushcraft R-8

Category: Antennas: HF: Verticals; Wire; Loop

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Review Summary For : Cushcraft R-8
Reviews: 105MSRP: 450 to $480
Description:
40-6m omnidirectional vertical antenna
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.cushcraftamateur.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
001054
K1YPB Rating: 2009-03-30
Does what it is supposed to Time Owned: more than 12 months.
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.
KB3IMJ Rating: 2009-03-30
Works as advertised Time Owned: more than 12 months.
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
PA7KK Rating: 2009-02-10
R8 does not like winds Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
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
W2LGA Rating: 2008-09-12
Great Antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Owned mine for over 3 years now. Mounted 10' up on a 1 1/2 inch pipe.
Have worked all over the world with many DX contacts as well USA contacts.
SWR remains perfect on all bands and signal stays strong right out of the box.
Antenna MUST be guyed as it can not take winds as it is top heavy.
I use the R8 in conjunction with a Spiro D52 dipole and a Super gainer for my uhf/vhf.
KI4PJY Rating: 2008-06-20
Trouble Tuning Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
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
W8JJI Rating: 2008-04-20
Just ok Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Works as advertised but could never get a decent SWR on 17 meters. Never less than 1.7 , too high for me.

Also , the R-8 is advertised to be 28 feet tall mine measures 25 ft tall. (?)

Definitly use guy lines as the R-8 is top heavy.
WB2HWA Rating: 2007-12-28
good antenna electrically but poor mechanically Time Owned: more than 12 months.
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.
KB2MMO Rating: 2007-09-04
Great antenna Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have had wonderful results with the R8.I have it on a 10 foot mast in my yard and have it grounded to a 8 foot pipe.I do not need an antenna tuner on any bands as I get a 1.1 to a 1.8 SWR on all bands.
I have made it all over the world on 100 watts....
I Highly Recommend it
EC4ALB Rating: 2007-09-04
It is not as good as it is said Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.

Have been buying the antenna for 3 months, once mounted infinite SWR in all the bands, first box MN8 was defective, soon 30 and 40 meters impossible to fit SWR by clouds, the coils with but of 800 watts fail, and when it rains they fill of water.
In the end gave back and I have returned to put a GAP TITAN DX
KK0DJ Rating: 2007-06-20
Careful to guy it! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Fellow Hams... I had my first R8 up on the roof on a tripod with 3' of pipe. I guyed it in one place, about 2/3 the way up the vertical with dacron cord. It played extremely well for years. I fed it with RG8X - about 60' to the shack. No SWR issues or anything. However! One day last winter we had a heck of an ice storm. My family and I were comfy in the basement family room enjoying a movie when we heard a loud thump. My son went outside and looked around. He looked up on the roof and started laughing. He said "Dad, come here... quick" ... there was my R8 twisted and down. As one fellow ham put in his review - it was bent up like a banana. I tried to fix it, but ended up using the insurance to get another. Now, the problem is procrastination. I have one R8 in the basement in parts - some bent and one ready to assemble. Gotta get one of those "round tuits" so I can get it back up. Moral of the story? It's a wonderful antenna. The warning is - guy it in two or three places up and down the antenna and check it before winter! I'm going to assemble my new antenna, install a swivel mount on the peak of my roof, install the antenna, true it up and then guy it with dacron again, but with three points of connection. 73 from Iowa!