[TowerTalk] Cushcraft MA5B

[Steve Hunt]

I owned an MA5B for several years and was happy with it. Up until then 
I'd only ever used dipole/doublet antennas and it was a definite "step 
up" in performance. It seemed well constructed and went together easily, 
although I know of some folk who have suffered "quality control" issues 
- in particular, traps marked the wrong way round. Of course, it's only 
a dipole on 17m and 12m, and I found the narrow 20m bandwidth frustrating.

I've also owned the Butternut HF5B. I couldn't say I noticed much 
difference in performance, but the MA5B was a lot easier to assemble and 
tune.

Since then I've moved to a home-built hexbeam. That is definitely a 
further "step up" in performance for little extra size; plus it's a beam 
on all five bands. There's a table comparing the two on my web site: 
http://www.karinya.net/g3txq/hexbeam/broadband/

Good luck,
Steve G3TXQ


Tearlach Sinclair wrote:
> I'm looking at small beams for when I get my tower up next spring. One that seems to fit my bill is the Cushcraft MA5B. Does anyone on this reflector own or know someone who owns or has talked with someone using this antenna? Any info I can gather from users will be greatly appreciated.
> 73,
> Tearlach de w8sco
>
> There's nae man sae deif as he tha' winna hear.
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