It really needs to be guyed! My experience with Cushcraft antennas has been less than stellar😛 hustler 6 btv is superior to most of the other verticals. I've had mine since 1978 with hardly any problems, I an only remember 1 trap cover. The match box on the Cushcraft is it's weak point! 73 / ki0ad
Hello friend, you could tell in great detail this support used in this installation, I found very interesting as it greatly facilitates its installation even when alone. Awaiting return. Sincerely
Looks to be mounted with the feed point pretty close to ground. The manual says to mount at least 10 feet above ground. Does it make a difference in performance?
I bought this antenna for 2 pcs. Now I am facing both of them . RF Choke inside the matching box was burned. I do not know to find the replacement part. I bought this antenna form distributor in Indoensia for MFJ product. I have sent and email to MFJ website but never got replying. If you do not mind , could you please advise the range of RF Choke. Now both of my Cuschraft R9 can not be used.
I am considering either the Hy-gain av680 or the Cushcraft R9 for my backyard very little room installation. Which antenna is built better and performs the best and is the easiest to install and maintain?
@VA3DLO BTW I purchased one & then sold it after 2 months, don't buy it, it's not worth it, too much noise, buy the comet H-422 it's 10 times better I swear to God.
@VA3DLO yeah brother, I purchased a second hand, it's amazing, lightweight & easy to assemble, the R9 is much heavier & very difficult to assemble also requires guys to be strapped , check the comet H-422 reviews on eham & thank me later, I used it without rotator & still kicking really good, listen to my advice and don't get the R9. With the Comet H-422 am covering Russia & Europe easily imagine.
@VA3DLO subscribed 👍, I needed a vertical antenna, & I found that R9 is the latest in the market, but then I found out it's not good, however, I asked many experts in HF ham & they advised me that any vertical antenna for HF base stations are not doing well & you will get high noise, they only might benefit you for field days, believe me when you use the Yeasu FT-857D with ATAS-120 antenna it performs much better than the R9., I really don't know any good vertical antennas for HF. Sorry.
@VA3DLO it looks to big to not be seen. I wire antenna would be more stealth but it depends on what space you have to work with and what results you want from an antenna
THUMBS DOWN. Crap. MFJ bought Cushcraft some years ago. Terrible support and mediocre construction. Lightweight and 31 ft tall means that in a decent wind it will bend over severely. Just like the R8. Not for $640.
@VA3DLO :: That was kind of rude. Most people don't know mfj bought out Cushcraft and High Gain. You can put an LOL on the end it doesn't make it any less rude.
@VA3DLO:: I guess I can live with that. That's the problem with the internet as I know all too well. You don't know context. You don't know what the other person is actually thinking and what actually comes out on the screen. That'll work for me. Most people don't know that MFJ bought Cushcraft and High Gain AND Mirage and Ameritron amps. As a result the quality has decreased. I own products from both. At this point I'm a SteppIR owner and would never think of downgrading. 73
@VA3DLO :: as with anything, something is worth whatever people are willing to pay for it. That's why you may see one price on Zillow for example for a piece of property that Zillow says is worth $300,000 and they turn around and sell it for $900,000, which I've actually seen that happen. A friend of mine has the R8 and it is properly mounted and in 30 mph winds the center radiator bends almost all the way over to the ground. This happens on a regular basis. We're in our snow season. Usually the snow falls and then the next day the sky is clear and the winds come raging in. The R9 being taller but of similar design is going to do the same thing. To answer your question and get back to it, I don't know what I'd pay for it. I also don't think I'd buy it R9. Depending upon the circumstances I would buy a 40 foot vertical and lay down radials. I know that not everyone can do that but not everyone knows that you don't have to lay down the radials stretched out. You can zig-zag them if you need to. Based on my advice a friend of mine put up a butternut, which is kind of similar, in a h o a. He could get it up ten feet off the ground but had a problem with radials. I suggested to him that he pulled the grass up in his backyard and lay down that 1/2 square galvanized wire mesh all over his backyard including under the new patio he poured and then he put the sod back down. The antenna kicks but! Do the same thing with a 40 foot vertical and I would assume you would get similar results. Just cuz you got a small backyard and h o a doesn't mean you can't put a flag on the top of it and get the job done. Just not with this antenna in my opinion. There's all kinds of ways that you can mount a full size vertical even the one that MFJ sells. I just don't know that I would put so much money into antenna known for not being able to handle ice buildup and winds. If you combine the two you're going to end up with broken radios.
@VA3DLO :: you got some different issues that you're talkin about. So let's address the antenna first. A comet hvu is a compromise antenna and does not enjoy good reviews. You might put its model number into Google and follow it with eham review and get to read what a cross-section of users have to say about it. Never take one website's opinion for anything on anything for that matter. But the common age for you does not enjoy solid recommendations. It is very much a compromise antenna because people like short antennas. If it's the best you can put up because you may be in a Home Owners Association well then that's what you got to do. I'm not sure what you mean by a $900 antenna. You are corrected of propagation is crappy to a large extent it's not going to matter what antenna you are using. But that's not completely correct. I use a $2,500 HF antenna on a router. It has gained on all bands except 80m. It does not do 160 so that's not an issue. When the conditions are poor depending on the circumstances I can point my antenna where I need to and make contact at a time when other people may not be able to. There's actually times when a person with a crappy antenna can make a contact when the guy that's got the more expensive antenna can't! Now then, you mentioned talking to stations on 40m. 40 tends to be a night time band and has good performance around the world. I like 80 meters that is a long wavelength, 40 in my opinion is a great band for working DX. It just depends on a lot of factors really. I can't give you an absolute statement other than to tell you to visit websites that teach propagation theory. If you have a compromised antenna you're going to have a harder time hearing those stations. Band conditions are such that even with 1 KW they might not hit hard on your needle. But then again does it really matter how high they hit on your needle or whether or not you can hear them well enough to communicate with them? I've had stations that barely move my needle that I could hear loud and clear. Keep in mind also that being up in Canada you are getting further north above the equator. Radio performance the further north or south of the Equator that one goes is affected. That's why those of us in the states get happy when Alaska comes in for example. Or Easter Island down at the opposite end of the globe. Hawaii on the other hand, they come in loud and clear. They're right there on the equator and they get to talk just about anywhere they want it seems.
Cool antenna if you can only have one, but I think I'd guy it in ANY installation.
It really needs to be guyed! My experience with Cushcraft antennas has been less than stellar😛 hustler 6 btv is superior to most of the other verticals. I've had mine since 1978 with hardly any problems, I an only remember 1 trap cover. The match box on the Cushcraft is it's weak point! 73 / ki0ad
Hello friend, you could tell in great detail this support used in this installation, I found very interesting as it greatly facilitates its installation even when alone.
Awaiting return.
Sincerely
Looks to be mounted with the feed point pretty close to ground. The manual says to mount at least 10 feet above ground. Does it make a difference in performance?
I bought this antenna for 2 pcs. Now I am facing both of them . RF Choke inside the matching box was burned. I do not know to find the replacement part. I bought this antenna form distributor in Indoensia for MFJ product. I have sent and email to MFJ website but never got replying. If you do not mind , could you please advise the range of RF Choke. Now both of my Cuschraft R9 can not be used.
Wow.... good antenna ,best regards here from Germany and best 73/55 by 13OA330
I am considering either the Hy-gain av680 or the Cushcraft R9 for my backyard very little room installation. Which antenna is built better and performs the best and is the easiest to install and maintain?
can't wait to get my hands on those.
@VA3DLO BTW I purchased one & then sold it after 2 months, don't buy it, it's not worth it, too much noise, buy the comet H-422 it's 10 times better I swear to God.
@VA3DLO yeah brother, I purchased a second hand, it's amazing, lightweight & easy to assemble, the R9 is much heavier & very difficult to assemble also requires guys to be strapped , check the comet H-422 reviews on eham & thank me later, I used it without rotator & still kicking really good, listen to my advice and don't get the R9.
With the Comet H-422 am covering Russia & Europe easily imagine.
@VA3DLO subscribed 👍, I needed a vertical antenna, & I found that R9 is the latest in the market, but then I found out it's not good, however, I asked many experts in HF ham & they advised me that any vertical antenna for HF base stations are not doing well & you will get high noise, they only might benefit you for field days, believe me when you use the Yeasu FT-857D with ATAS-120 antenna it performs much better than the R9., I really don't know any good vertical antennas for HF. Sorry.
I wonder which is the better antenna, the Cushcraft R9 or the Hy-gain AV-680?
@VA3DLO I ended up putting up a DX Commander all band vertical. Having to put out radials is a pain in the butt when you don't have much room.
@VA3DLO DX Commander has a RUclips channel. Just type in DX Space Commander bring up his RUclips channel and you can go from there and see everything.
blends into the sky ? umm no
@VA3DLO it looks to big to not be seen. I wire antenna would be more stealth but it depends on what space you have to work with and what results you want from an antenna
how well does it resonate on full 80M without a tuner?
😉
Yes with 1:9 😁
Does it come with the truck
intresting that no bottom radials where present ?
not required.
I’m going to save to buy this antenna, it looks great! w0xs
Did you? If so, how good it is?
But...will it core a apple?
+John Adams no - just a banana.
Is my antena, top vertical R9 73 de IS0HMZ
that thing can't survive an ice storm...
@OFFICIAL VA3DLO ...Had 2 friends that "owned" one and they came down in ice storms.
THUMBS DOWN. Crap. MFJ bought Cushcraft some years ago. Terrible support and mediocre construction. Lightweight and 31 ft tall means that in a decent wind it will bend over severely. Just like the R8. Not for $640.
I’ve had an R7 up at two different QTH’s and it’s been great! It looks like it will blow over, but it never does.
This is dangerous.😬
MFJ .. cushcraft ?? confused
+rob b MFJ owns Cushcraft (and HyGain too)
@VA3DLO :: That was kind of rude. Most people don't know mfj bought out Cushcraft and High Gain. You can put an LOL on the end it doesn't make it any less rude.
@VA3DLO:: I guess I can live with that. That's the problem with the internet as I know all too well. You don't know context. You don't know what the other person is actually thinking and what actually comes out on the screen. That'll work for me. Most people don't know that MFJ bought Cushcraft and High Gain AND Mirage and Ameritron amps. As a result the quality has decreased. I own products from both. At this point I'm a SteppIR owner and would never think of downgrading. 73
@VA3DLO :: as with anything, something is worth whatever people are willing to pay for it. That's why you may see one price on Zillow for example for a piece of property that Zillow says is worth $300,000 and they turn around and sell it for $900,000, which I've actually seen that happen.
A friend of mine has the R8 and it is properly mounted and in 30 mph winds the center radiator bends almost all the way over to the ground. This happens on a regular basis. We're in our snow season. Usually the snow falls and then the next day the sky is clear and the winds come raging in. The R9 being taller but of similar design is going to do the same thing.
To answer your question and get back to it, I don't know what I'd pay for it. I also don't think I'd buy it R9. Depending upon the circumstances I would buy a 40 foot vertical and lay down radials. I know that not everyone can do that but not everyone knows that you don't have to lay down the radials stretched out. You can zig-zag them if you need to. Based on my advice a friend of mine put up a butternut, which is kind of similar, in a h o a. He could get it up ten feet off the ground but had a problem with radials. I suggested to him that he pulled the grass up in his backyard and lay down that 1/2 square galvanized wire mesh all over his backyard including under the new patio he poured and then he put the sod back down. The antenna kicks but! Do the same thing with a 40 foot vertical and I would assume you would get similar results. Just cuz you got a small backyard and h o a doesn't mean you can't put a flag on the top of it and get the job done. Just not with this antenna in my opinion.
There's all kinds of ways that you can mount a full size vertical even the one that MFJ sells. I just don't know that I would put so much money into antenna known for not being able to handle ice buildup and winds. If you combine the two you're going to end up with broken radios.
@VA3DLO :: you got some different issues that you're talkin about. So let's address the antenna first.
A comet hvu is a compromise antenna and does not enjoy good reviews. You might put its model number into Google and follow it with eham review and get to read what a cross-section of users have to say about it. Never take one website's opinion for anything on anything for that matter. But the common age for you does not enjoy solid recommendations. It is very much a compromise antenna because people like short antennas. If it's the best you can put up because you may be in a Home Owners Association well then that's what you got to do. I'm not sure what you mean by a $900 antenna.
You are corrected of propagation is crappy to a large extent it's not going to matter what antenna you are using. But that's not completely correct. I use a $2,500 HF antenna on a router. It has gained on all bands except 80m. It does not do 160 so that's not an issue. When the conditions are poor depending on the circumstances I can point my antenna where I need to and make contact at a time when other people may not be able to. There's actually times when a person with a crappy antenna can make a contact when the guy that's got the more expensive antenna can't!
Now then, you mentioned talking to stations on 40m. 40 tends to be a night time band and has good performance around the world. I like 80 meters that is a long wavelength, 40 in my opinion is a great band for working DX. It just depends on a lot of factors really. I can't give you an absolute statement other than to tell you to visit websites that teach propagation theory. If you have a compromised antenna you're going to have a harder time hearing those stations. Band conditions are such that even with 1 KW they might not hit hard on your needle. But then again does it really matter how high they hit on your needle or whether or not you can hear them well enough to communicate with them? I've had stations that barely move my needle that I could hear loud and clear.
Keep in mind also that being up in Canada you are getting further north above the equator. Radio performance the further north or south of the Equator that one goes is affected. That's why those of us in the states get happy when Alaska comes in for example. Or Easter Island down at the opposite end of the globe. Hawaii on the other hand, they come in loud and clear. They're right there on the equator and they get to talk just about anywhere they want it seems.
BS!...This antenna must be guyed or it WILL come over in a hard wind!
I wish I had the real estate on the property of my apartment but I can only dream of having it! KC9QVE Marion,IN