[Antennas] ANTENNA INFO - Criticism of poor manufacturing practices...

Sun, 8 Jun 2003 13:31:31 -0400

Agreed.  W8OKN

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "W1GOR" <[email protected]>
To: "Gary Smith" <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, June 08, 2003 12:28 PM
Subject: [Antennas] ANTENNA INFO - Criticism of poor manufacturing
practices...

> Gary,
>
> I fully understand your comments regarding Cushcraft's poor quality
control.
> I suppose that it was your apology that triggered my response.  It seems
> that people in general tend to apologize for their negative comments.  My
> advice is for everyone to make their comments, and criticisms without
> feeling the need to feel guilty for making those comments.  If you feel
that
> a product is badly designed, constructed, or, in some way fails to meet
your
> personal standards, publicize it through these reflectors.  You are
> providing valuable feedback for those of us who may be considering the
> purchase of the very product that you are dissatisfied with.  Your
comments
> will most likely result in further consideration before any cash
> transactions take place.
>
> If the product is good, say so... and add as much positive feedback as
> possible to substantiate your claims.  If the product is not to your
> satisfaction, publish the details to give other buyers something to think
> about.  Regarding Cushcraft, I have owned several different antennas and
> have found, over the past 25 to 30 years, that their quality control has
> been deteriorating.  My earlier Cushcraft VHF beams were furnished with
> small amounts of extra hardware, just in case you drop that critical screw
> in the tall grass...  These days, consider yourself lucky if all of the
> hardware is in the bag, and nothing that cannot be locally replaced is
> missing.
>
> No need to be sorry for your comments... I, for one, value them quite
> highly...
>
> 73, Larry - W1GOR
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Gary Smith" <[email protected]>
> To: "David S McCallum" <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>
> Sent: Saturday, June 07, 2003 21:11
> Subject: Re: [Antennas] ANTENNA INFO
>
>
> > Hi David,
> >
> > I have the Cushcraft and it's a piece of junk.  When I
> > bought it, the first thing I noticed was the poor
> > construction.  Burrs on the tubing, aluminum chips all
> > over everything in the box.  The assembly was
> > straightforward, but tuning it was a bear.  I used one
> > of the MFJ meters to tune it and was never able to get
> > it to resonate the way it should.  I use a local 2m
> > repeater on 147 Mhz and run about a 3:1 SWR because
> > the antenna won't go any lower.
> >
> > Sorry to be critical of Cushcraft but, in my opinion,
> > they have really slipped in the quality arena over the
> > past 5 years.  You'd be better off building a j-pole
> > antenna from 1/2" copper tubing.  I have one of those
> > that I built for about $20, and it really kicks butt.
> >
> > Hope this helps.
> >
> > 73 es gd DX,
> >
> > Gary
> > WA1TJB
>
>
> - - -
>
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> Larry Wilson KE1HZ [email protected]
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