Cushcraft MA5V vertical

[KU0DM]

Has anyone used and had any luck with this antenna?
Good or bad experience?

What are your thoughts on this antenna?

Tnx, 73

[W5GA]

It works, not particularly well. A homebrew 40m vertical at the same height outperformed on any band in A/B testing at my QTH. A 4-BTV, properly installed (ie. with radials) runs circles around it.

[G0GQK]

Most users who sent their views to e-ham considered it to be a satisfactory antenna. It does not require radials, so for those who are unable to place wire around their property it makes it possible for them to transmit world wide. I cannot see how a five band antenna which does not include 40 metres can be compared to a 1/4 wave vertical which again, requires radial wires. It is simple to assemble and is ideal for portable operation.

G0GQK

[W2KG]

Well said, Mel.

[WC5B]

I have owned 2 of these, and I would recommend it again! This by far (for the money) is the best antenna I have ever used (when grounding and space) is an issue. Lets be honest. It is a give and take kind of antenna, but it works well for what it is.

When you open the box, it seems rather cheap and simple. The instructions are a bit lite, but most hams should not have two much of a problem. The antenna is very light weight.

As cheap as the antenna is, I had one that was battered by 3 years of trade winds and salt on the island of Oahu. It stood up to some pretty good abuse.

I had this thing in a cement bucket with a mast that barley crest the house. I did not think I would be able to even communicate with myself next door on this thing. Instead I worked some great dx. First contact was Caribbean on 40. I worked Africa and all of the US daily. Europe when the band opened over the poles. The Pacific Seafares use to pass me the freq to check around by saying, "Well lets give KH6OO a shot to relay with that Big Station out there". HAHA If they only knew.

Brought the silly looking cheap antenna to field day. You could just since the sarcasm. They ran two A3S's that year. In the first couple hours, I had logged 100's of contacts. They were sitting at about 10 per hour. Clearly upset, one of them went to get his R8. Nobody could tell a difference between the R8 and the MA5V on both ends of the QSO's.

It lead to a operator (far more intelligent in antenna design then anyone I have met) to use the opportunity to explain why the MA5V worked as well as it did. I learned a lot that day. When I came home, I bought another.

But, they do break down after a few years. But for the price, I consider it a consumable. If space and ground is hard to come by, its the only way to go.