|
New to Ham Radio?
My Profile
Community
Articles
Forums
News
Reviews
Friends Remembered
Strays
Survey Question
Operating
Contesting
DX Cluster Spots
Propagation
Resources
Calendar
Classifieds
Ham Exams
Ham Links
List Archives
News Articles
Product Reviews
QSL Managers
Site Info
eHam Help (FAQ)
Support the site
The eHam Team
Advertising Info
Vision Statement
About eHam.net
|
| Reviews Summary for W2GD Antenna & Tower Installation, Repair, Painting |
|
Reviews: 81
|
Average rating: 5.0/5
|
MSRP: $(missing—add MSRP)
|
|
Description: Description: Plans, installs, maintains, and repairs amateur radio antennas, towers, rotators and related cabling. Also paints rusting towers and performs Insurance Estimates. Nearly 50 years of amateur radio experience. Will provide service anywhere worldwide, with clients in the USA, Carribean, and South America. Member of the CQ Contest "Hall of Fame". Supports towers 20' to over 200', for Big Gun DXers, Contesters, and Little Pistols. Supports all types of antennas and towers. No task too small, no project too large. Reasonable rates. Contact John directly for a consultation and estimate.
John Crovelli W2GD/P40W
w2gd@hotmail.com
908-391-5611 (c)
|
|
Product is in production.
|
|
More info: http://
|
|
Email Subscription
You are not subscribed to this review.
Subscribe!
My Subscriptions
Subscriptions Help
|
You can
write your own review of the W2GD Antenna & Tower Installation, Repair, Painting.
|
W1RM
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Feb 7, 2012 08:33
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Solved a long standing problem!
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
|
I've had SWR issues with my Force 12 C31XR on 15 and 10 meters for some time. After sending John some photos and several emails, he diagnosed the problem as a) guy wires too close to the antenna and b) adjustment of the coils on the beam. The solution was to lower the top set of guys by about 5 feet, replace the metal guys with Phyllistran and adjust the spacing on the coils on 15 and 10. Bingo! The C31XR now behaves itself as it should! Thanks John!!
|
|
N2WAV
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Jan 26, 2012 04:47
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
good
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
John is a great guy. I had tried for two months to find someone to repair my antenna.
I found him on eham. He came over soon after I contacted him. I hired him to repair my antenna which he was able to do during the holidays thanks to the mild winter.
I will use him again in the future.
|
|
N3EON
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Dec 14, 2011 05:59
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Top Notch
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
|
I contacted John about doing a rotor swap. John returned emails promptly and within five days of my call was at my front door. His expertise is obvious in his efficient and meticulous work. He was thorough in ensuring that the replacement rotor worked perfectly and completed the work within a reasonable amount of time. With John, you definitely get what you pay for and more - responsiveness, courtesy and the benefit of his many years of experience.
|
|
KC2TN
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Dec 12, 2011 20:18
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Excellent, - Experience at it's BEST!
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
|
I contacted John because I knew of his abilities and experience level. I had a big job that I had been waiting to complete since June of 2010. That's when a vicious storm with 100mph straight-line winds ripped through Atco, NJ. This storm created a 100’wide swath of destruction akin to a tornado. Fortunately, while my house was not in the direct path of this storm, I was close enough for it to bend the heavy duty mast on my 80’ Self Supporting tower. This basically put me out of commission for a year and a half while I planned a rebuild project. When I called John he was quick to set up a date and review the overall project. He detailed back to me everything and every detail I needed accomplished, thereby putting my mind at ease that he TOTALLY understood what I needed. I had sent him photos which he reviewed prior to arriving at my location. Once on site he went right to work. I needed a crane to remove the bent mast out of the top of tower. John quickly interfaced with my crane operator and set out a plan to get the old antennas down and the old mast removed. He then coordinated the lifting and placing of the new mast without a hitch. Finally he placed my new 40M beam. John said it would be a full day’s work and he was right on target with his estimate. I would not hesitate one bit to bring John back in the future for additional work. He’s very reasonable and reliable.
|
|
WA3MKB
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Sep 25, 2011 04:53
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Absolutely the best
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
I moved to a new QTH over Christmas of 2009. Shortly afterward I decided that I’d like to have 100 feet of Rohn 55 with beams for 40 through 2 meters. I read all the reviews on eham.net. John Crovelli had the most reviews and the highest rating. It was a simple decision.
My first e-mail to John was followed by a quick response with details of what to expect. That was followed by 2 more e-mails and John agreed to do a site visit to talk over the planned project with me. He checked out my property and gave me alternatives that would serve my needs. His expertise was obvious and invaluable.
For the next year, I acquired tower hardware and antennas and got the concrete work done for the tower base and the anchor points. John was just an e-mail or a phone call away when I needed advice or information. He steered me to the right rotator (actually had 2 options), the right guying material (Phillystran) and a list of suppliers so that I could get the lowest cost on what I ordered. John also gave me detailed advice on each step that I could complete myself to keep the cost down and to assure that I would have the best possible installation. We decided that the safest and lowest cost way to install the tower and antennas would be to assemble the tower in two pieces and raise it with a crane. Then we would lift each antenna with the crane. The cost of the crane was offset by the savings in labor that would have been required to raise the tower a section at a time and to tram the antennas to the top.
E-mails followed to assure that everything needed would be here and ready to go. Installation was to be a two-day process. John had come a week early to prepare all guy cables with me. The first day, John and his partner worked with me to assemble the tower sections and install the rotator and mast. We also inspected antennas and assured that they were properly assembled. John’s attention to detail is amazing. Nothing was overlooked. He has unbelievable knowledge of what needs to be done and how to do it.
On day 2, John arrived early with his partner. When the crane arrived, all was ready. We raised the tower in 2 pieces, and then raised a Mosley Pro-96, a 6-Meter 7-element and a 2-meter 12-element antenna. John stayed on the tower about 5 hours to run and install hard line, coax and rotator controls. He then took my camera to the top and shot several photos for me. I hope to have my web site, WA3F.com, up in Oct or Nov of 2011. Check it out for photos of the whole installation and John at work.
How good is he? John installed my tower and antennas as though they were his own. Everything was done correctly the first time. I feel so strongly that he is the one to do all my work that before he left the site, I contracted him to do the first annual tower and antenna inspection.
If you have tower or antenna work to be done, call or e-mail John Crovelli. You’ll be glad you did.
|
|
WX2U
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Sep 17, 2011 06:53
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Remarkable Job !!
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
I decided way back in February of this year to put up a nice array. Since I no longer climb and I'm not getting younger, I started looking for a local installer. After reading the reviews on John's work, I started corresponding with him. Once I made the agreement that he was the one to make it happen, for the next six months, emails continued so that I was well prepared for his visit. John gave me his materials list. He also gave some great recommendations to think about as we prepared.
As the days got closer, my anxiety increased. In July, the concrete was poured for the guy anchors. In August, the antennas arrived on site.
I gave John the final email that we were good to go and the install was scheduled.
John arrived exactly when he said he was to arrive. On his visit, I expected to learn a lot. Once out of his car, it wasn't five minutes that he started teaching. Once John inspected the project in hand, we went right to work. I worked with him the entire time. We talked about a lot of different things not taking focus off the project.
The 1st day was the stripping of old aluminum and installing new guy wires. The rain came the next day and pushed us to a third day.We were able to put up the 6 meter beam and the rotatable dipole. The biggest thing I learned from John is perfection takes time. So if you are in a hurry to get a tower project completed, think again.
The third and final day was the raising of the TH11-DX. It was very nerve-wracking. But for John, it was just another day at the office.
I now have that array that I've always wanted and I know that everything was correctly done and inspected. John treated my tower as if it was his. If you want a professional job, I would recommend John anytime...
|
|
N2SO
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Sep 8, 2011 02:27
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Fine KIO Hex Beam Roof Tower Installation
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
I had decided on a Hex Beam on a roof tower due to yard space considerations, but was very nervous about the the feasibility of the installation as well as how it would look. Through a series of e-mail messages and reviews of photos of the house and roof that I sent, John was able to calm my concerns and suggest how the roof tower could be fastened to the roof. Aside from calming my fears and nervousness, John made suggestions on what parts and supplies I needed on hand. On the day of installation, we even went shopping together at our local Home Depot to get the required roof supports as well as rent the necessary cutting equipment. John always had the odd missing tool, bolt, wire and tape that we needed in his well stocked car trunk. The tower construction and installation went without a hitch. And even though the weather took a turn for the worse as the day progressed, the beam was hauled up and installed without a problem. I am now enjoying working DX with my Hex Beam and YES!, it did survive Hurricane Irene. John is a friendly, intuitive and careful planner and installer. Based on my experience, I would not hesitate to recommend him without qualification.
73, Charles, N2SO
|
|
N4ZR
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Aug 26, 2011 07:49
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
A biig day's work very well done
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
This is the second time I used John's services, and I could not be more pleased. He spent about 5 hours on the tower, which says something all by itself. A good bit of that time was spent standing on a bolt-on step on the mast above my top tri-bander, repairing the linear loading on my 40-meter yagi. This task required some extraordinary maneuvering to bring the broken loading element within reach. That completed, he came down the tower, replaced the balun on my lower tribander, and then reinstalled the tower end of my low 40-meter dipole. I was ready at that point to stop, but John was determined to complete my full list, which involved re-rigging two lazy-vee dipoles for my 80-meter array. He hung in on the tower for another hour, completed all the work on the two dipoles, and only then came down.
My station today has more antenna capability than has been the case for the last 4 years. John's not cheap, but to me he's worth every penny, for both his skills and his attitude. Now that I'm not climbing so much, it's great to have John available.
|
|
W2GW
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Jul 21, 2011 04:33
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Perfect Job - Once Again
|
Time owned: months
|
Two years ago, W2GD did a great job of replacing my tribander. But recently, running too much power on RTTY in a rain storm, I burned up one of the 15-meter traps. Yesterday, John came back to my QTH and fixed the problem.
I fully agree with the favorable comments others have posted here about John. In my view, he is highly competent. He works quickly, but always puts safety first. He is good company, and his rates are reasonable.
Thanks again John.
|
|
KB3Z
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Jul 15, 2011 12:21
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Excellent Job
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
|
This is the first time that I have had John perform an installation at my house. I have a 50 foot Rohn 25G and I asked him to take down my 28 year old Hygain TH5DX and replace it with a K4KIO Hexbeam. John had already read up about he Hexbeam and he knew exactly what to do. I was even able to help him out with some of the Rope work on the ground. John is like EF Hutton. When John speaks you should listen to his advice. And good advice it is. My hexbeam is working just fine, and if I need to do any additional tower/antenna work, I will definitely call John again. You will not be sorry!
|
|
If you have any questions, problems, or suggestions about Reviews,
please email your Reviews Manager.
|
|
|
|
|
