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Reviews For: Cushcraft X-7

Category: Antennas: HF: Yagi, Quad, Rotary dipole, LPDA

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Review Summary For : Cushcraft X-7
Reviews: 33MSRP: 675.
Description:
http://www.cushcraft.com/amateur/x9.htm
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.cushcraftamateur.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00334.7
N8PE Rating: 2000-03-28
OK Performance... but mine had serious quality pr Time Owned: unknown months.
I would rate the performance of my X7 as OK to good, but not substantially better to me than a conventional 3-el trapped tribander.


One piece of advice: open up the matching network and carefully inspect the soldering BEFORE raising the antenna. Mine had a very poor, loose connection to the center pin of the SO-239 connector. The antenna was essentially disconnected from the feedline, yielding zero received signals, and of course, nearly infinite VSWR.


Cuscraft sent a replacement matching network, WHICH HAD EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM. I informed them that I would re-work the soldering, but they sent a third unit anyway. They routed the third one through the engineering department to be checked.


Why isn't every matching network checked electrically before shipment? This is really the only component with any potential for errors which won't be obvious by visual inspection during assembly. It is also cannot be checked and repaired once the antenna is on the tower. It needs better QC scrutiny.


On the positive side, mechanical assembly was time-consuming but straightforward, with only one hole needing to be re-drilled. The antenna appeared to handle a heavy ice buildup with less sagging than a similarly-sized Force 12 antenna here in town.
K5CFE Rating: 2000-03-28
Related Comments on the Cushcraft X-7 Antenna Time Owned: unknown months.
I installed the Cushcraft X-7 on a Glen Martin 70' tower with hazer a couple of years ago. My comments on the performance and assembly are similar to those above on the X-9, particularly the comment on lightweight hose clamps. Shortly after inital testing the matching transformer failed. Cushcraft was very prompt in replacing it and no more problems. I have been very pleased with the performance of the X-7 as well, with many Q5 DX contacts to report. In 40 years of hamming, this is my first rotatable gain antenna and I still feel it was an excellent cost/performance trade-off for those on a modest budget.
73 Chuck Sirmans
k5cfe@flash.net
KI8FH Rating: 2000-03-15
Finally on the air Time Owned: unknown months.
Having never received the parts from Cushcraft that I needed --I made them myself. The X7 was mounted on a 25 foot tower. I got rid of all hose clamps and riveted the elements together which made it a much more solid antenna. The SWR was flat on all bands 20-15-10; and I was able to work any station I heard. The Cushcraft X7 is a real champ of an antenna. I was able to work some 40 meters even though I did not add the 40 meter kit. I give the antenna a 5 but the parts support a real zero. I would recommend this antenna to anyone but be careful before you buy if you need support from the company you may never get it. I have not heard one word from the company parts support even though I have e-mail and phone several times. Do you know what it is like to look at an antenna that cost over $500 dollards laying on the ground and not in the air for lack of parts? Beware.