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You can
write your own review of the Cushcraft X-7.
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OE5BAL
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 13, 2009 10:49
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2 different versions of X7
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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It is a great antenna, I have bought it in used condition and refurbished. It is built very solid.
But attention:
There are 2 different versions of the X7 - I have two different installation guides! One is dated with 12/97, the other with 8/98. A fast look into the documents shows no difference, but if you check the detail dimensions, you will see it.
The difference is in the length of element 3 to 7 (more than 9 cm !!!) and the type of the traps: in the version from 8/98 the traps are named T6 and T9, in the version from 12/97 they are named TB (not T8) and T9. If you check both part lists, you will see that the particular parts are the same. The difference is only to see in figure 5 from chapter 3 - "Element Assembly". I can imagine that this is the cause of some problems if you mount a used antenna with a downloaded manual from the internet. In case of difficulties: contact Cushcraft (MFJ) to get hints to identify your version or how to identify the type of your traps!
--- best DX !
Fred, OE5BAL
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IW0HEX
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 3, 2009 08:19
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great antenna
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I bought my X7 second hand. Now I used it since 2 years and I worked more then 300 DXCC !!! Great antenna, solid; SWR is about 1 to 1.6 in all bands so no problem is SSB, RTTY e CW. I have to clean all contacts after 2 years and I use DX Engineering balun 4:1 for LP cell.
73s de IW0HEX Pasquale
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PY1BR
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 2, 2009 08:42
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Great antenna
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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After 9 years I moved to a new QTH where the X7 is already installed and working as before, excellent performance. Although the previous QTH was close to the sea its mechanical parts are in excellent conditions. I still live in a big city so this antenna is the best we can have installed in a top of a building. I’m very happy with XM240 and X7 in the same tower.
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W2MV
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 5, 2009 06:57
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Excellent So Far
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I've only had my new X7 up for six days, but I notice a world of difference between it and my old Cushcraft A3S. I can work anything that I can hear, and calling CQ a few times created a pileup! That would not happen with the A3, which was a nice antenna, but the X7 is definitely a level above. Too bad 15 and 10 have been dead so I can't really say anything about performance on those bands...yet.
It would have probably taken me 2 days to put the thing together and double-check everything, so I had
Hudson Valley Towers do the work. With 2 guys and a helper, they took about half a day to assemble it.
It's a big antenna and not easy to maneuver compared to other antennas, but it was worth it for me.
Thw SWR is <2:1 at band edges on 20M, and <1.5:1 in the center. On 15 and 10 the SWR is even lower.
All 7 elements are pinned to the boom, unlike the A3, so they will stay level.
Stay tuned for further updates.
Alan, W2MV
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VK2CA
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 5, 2009 05:47
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10 years and still going strong
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Just thought that I should write something after having come up to 10 years with the X7. I thought when I spent a full day (two guys on it) putting the thing together that I never wanted to pull it apart. Glad to report that besides relocating QTH's where it was dismantled, but not completely, I have never had reason to pull this antenna down.
It has always performed flawlessly. It is excellent on 20/15 but really rocks on 10m. No problem with full power at anytime. This ia a big antenna and has some weight behind it but the perfomance is worth the effort of getting it in the air. I always thought JA's were everywhere with my old 3 element but not with the X7 - have to point at Japan now...hi. Excellent FB and very tight pattern.
Highly recommended as a beam to buy and keep.
Cheers....Allan VK2CA
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K9VSK
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 26, 2008 06:58
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Addendum to previous
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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This antenna is built to survive! Just had a major ice storm with winds of 30 mph - the beam looked very sad for almost a week until the ice melted - every element is back to where it should be!
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VY0PW
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 27, 2008 19:49
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Excellent choice
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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My X-7 replaced a 20 year old A-3S. It sits on top of a 56ft US tower. Turn it with a HAM IV. The X-7 is quite a bit bigger and heavier but boy what a difference in performance. Listening the X-7 is at least 2 S-units above the A-3S and transmit wise probably the same. The X-7 is very well build and fairly easy to put together.
When mine arrived there were two parts missing. Called John at Cushcraft he was very helpful and replaced it fairly quickly.
Only "problem" I have is cannot get the SWR below 1.4 in the phone portions of the bands. Otherwise very flat over the bands.
The X-7 works quite well on 17 and 12m where it acts as a dipole. Signals here are quite a bit better than on my R-5 vertical. The tuner in my ICOM rig has no problem matching it on the WARC bands.
Summary: Very well made, a real pile up cracker and stands well up to high winds. It delivers all what Cushcraft promises.
Very highly recommended.
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KG5I
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Rating: 4/5
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Dec 28, 2007 15:46
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Very nice antenna
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Mine has been up on the tower about 2 years now. Yes it works great, but it was difficult to install. The weight factor plays in here. I also have the 40 meter add-on which adds to the weight. I was finally able to get it installed at the top of my 60 ft tower. I was alone at the top with my friend down below pulling on the gin pole rope. We did it, but it was not easy. There are nearly 100 pounds of aluminum up there, but even with the strong winds it stays put. The antenna works great and I must say I had great support from Cushcraft ordering spare parts. I bought this antenna from a previous owner and it needed some replacement hardware. As expected, a 7 element beam will work well and this one does. I'm not a contester, just a casual operator. My previous beam was a Cushcraft A4 which worked great too. I need to increase the element length on 40 mtrs, but I'm not taking this down until something breaks or falls off.
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G4WBB
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 24, 2007 03:46
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Great antenna
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have had this antenna up for many years and normaly use it at 35ft, it has survived very strong winds with no problems. It took about 12hrs to build due to checking dimensions 2 to 3 times. The swr is no more than 1.6 to 1 on any band.
it performs very well and I have not had any problems or maintenance issues.
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ON4CT
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 11, 2007 11:14
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quality
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have mounted a 5 year old second hand X7 on my 24 m tower.
There was already some alu corrosion between the stainless parts and the alu parts, so cleaning was needed. Pay attention to the balun, some bad soldering is mentioned, but not in my case. There was a lot of white alu oxyde on the bolts of the balun.
Carefull checking, mounting and treating the elements and parts was time asking, but it's pays of.
As an engineer in mechanics I can tell you that this antenne is very well built.
The X7 replaced a 25 years old TH6DXX.
The antenne is not in balance when pulling it up.
The X7 is one year up and survided without any throuble a 130 km/h storm in jan. 2007.
The pattern is sharper than my TH6DXX, it works very well on 10 an 20m, moderate on 21 mc.
Some users mention it is also usuable on 24mc and 18mc, but there is a 3:1 swr on those bands.
I have a rotary dipole on WARC above the X7 and the dipoles beats the X7 hands down.
73
DIRK
ON4CT
ex on4adz
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