[TowerTalk] HyGain And Cushcraft

[kq2m at kq2m.com]

Hi Dave,

No need to buy new.

In my opinion, dollar for dollar, the HG105CA, HG155CA, HG205CA (Now 
LJ105CA, LJ155CA, LJ205CA) are the best 5L monobanders ever made and the 
only high band antennas in use at my station since 1998.  Exceptional 
combination of Gain, bandwidth, F/S and F/B rejection and durability to 
the most extreme weather - Blizzards, Tornadoes, hurricanes, ice storms.

They make up my 4-stacks on 10 and 15 and my 3-stack on 20.

And if you modify them, as I have with each one, you can improve the 
extreme weather durability, bandwidth, and ease of maintenance even 
further.

Now, if you want an 8L killer on a 60' boom that, when pointed at 
Southern G, nulls out
Northern G and GW, sure, there are bigger and better and way more 
expensive antennas.  But for contesting when a broader pattern is an 
advantage?  There is nothing better.  And the low SWR across 28.0 - 
29.2?  Incredible.

Sure, the machining of the MFJ's absolutely sucked and you have to be 
prepared to redrill holes and do other initial maintenance to the 
antenna and the clamps, but that is also true of most antennas unless 
they have already built in machine-shop hourly rates to produce a nicer 
antenna with holes that line up properly.  But as mentioned by others, 
the Hygain element to boom clamps and boom to mast clamps are 
exceptional, so good in fact that I have used them on other antennas!

I have 11 of the CA series antennas in use at my station, another 4 
already built as spares and a few still in unopened boxes, in reserve.

Best antennas ever in my view and unparalleled contest performance for 
that I $ spent.

And my heavily modified T2X's, as flawed as they are, are still in use 
after almost 40 years.  :-)
But you have to use them appropriately and with the right antennas.  You 
can't overload them.

73

Bob, KQ2M


On 2026-04-15 00:11, David Gilbert via TowerTalk wrote:
> Does anybody actually buy a new Hy-Gain or Cushcraft antenna anymore 
> when there are more modern designs available?
> 
> Dave   AB7E
> 
> 
> 
> On 4/14/2026 9:50 PM, Jim Brown via TowerTalk wrote:
>> https://www.lintonnews.com/itu-corporation-re-purposes-linton-armory-facility-to-house-iconic-amateur-radio-manufacturing-free-article/ 
>> _______________________________________________
>> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
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