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| Reviews Summary for Hudson Valley Towers |
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Reviews: 18
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Average rating: 5.0/5
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MSRP: $Reasonable Priced
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Description: Plans, installs, maintains all tower accessories,including antennas, rotors, switches, cabling, lightning protection, tower painting and in shack help. Years of Experience, meticulous and friendly
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More info: http://www.hudsonvalleytowers.com
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W3JK
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Rating: 5/5
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May 11, 2009 19:33
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A splendid repeat performance
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Ray had installed the TH7 stack on a rohn 25 tower a couple of years back for me. He kept reminding me to put up a 2-element 40m antenna along with the TH7 and I didnt do it at that time. The topic came up again this January and in the meantime Ray had started Hudson Valley Towers. I ended up ordering an Optibeam OB17-4 only to realize that I needed an entirely new tower and the whole nine yards. Ray and Lee worked with me on a bunch of options and we decided to go with a Rohn 45 tower. I ordered all the parts including rotor etc.
The entire job took around 45-50hrs to complete. This included bringing down the existing TH7 stack, the rohn 25 tower, pouring new foundation for the Rohn 45, setting up the new tower sections with torque arms, dual thrust bearings at the top with a prosistel rotator. I am surrounded by trees in the back and its next to impossible to bring a crane or other equipment to hoist the antenna up the tower. The antenna is a beast in size and weight. (It weighs around 225lbs.) Ray and Lee had to tram this antenna up at a 35-40 degree gradient. I initially wondered if they would agree to tram the antenna and not insist on some kind of a crane or other heavy equipment, however they came up with a unique plan to tram up the antenna with adequate precautions such as back guying the mast and including the gin pole. Please once again remember that the antenna weighs 225lbs and its on a 40ft boom. The entire setup was a complex one and short of me taking down 100ft tall pine trees, it was dealing with the limited circumstances and surroundings.
The antenna went up in a nice and clean way avoiding every tree limb and branches in its way. This entire project was performed on time and per the schedules set out by Ray and Lee. The entire experience was very professional and I am now enjoying a new mega antenna and an additional band.
If you live in the Tri-State area or the Northeast, I would highly recommend Hudson Valley Towers to do your tower and antenna installations. If you live overseas or another state, then fly them over to do your job.
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WA2PJI
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 27, 2009 18:30
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Outstanding Service!
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Time owned: months
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I asked Ray and Lee to work on my Hy-gain crank-up, replace parts on my yagi (Mosley CL-33) and put up a couple of new VHF antennas. Since my tower is 20+ years old, I wanted to make sure that it still had structural integrity and that any problems would be addressed.
Before Ray and Lee began any work, they sat with me and listened. After I asked questions and indicated my wishes, we formulated a plan and they executed it flawlessly. They are careful, practical, and thoroughly professional, making sure to communicate with me throughout the job. They explained each step and pointed out options as they proceeded, for example on how to best mount the new VHF yagis. Their capacity to communicate, awesome technical knowledge, and pride in what they do make them a first rate operation!
I highly recommend them for your tower or antenna work. These guys know what they are doing!
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W2LK
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 18, 2009 14:38
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Excellent work
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Time owned: months
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My crankup tower developed a problem but I could not get the original installer to come back and fix it. I learned that Ray, whom I knew, did tower work so I called him and he responded quickly. At about this time my rotator failed. He came over with Lee, his partner, fixed the tower problem and removed the rotator. When it was fixed, he returned and reinstalled it. He also corrected several small problems he found with the original installation. He arrived when he said he would and did the work very professionally at a fair price. I highly recommend him.
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AA1J
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 3, 2009 06:05
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Top Notch Operation !
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Time owned: months
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I purchased a large antenna that Ray and Lee took down from a tower removal in New Jersey. I bought it at a reasonable price and they delivered it to me in CT. Friendly, knowledgeable attitude, excellent communication and prompt delivery. I would not hesitate to use them for more extensive work. Dave Johnson, AA1J
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K2JMY
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 7, 2009 15:38
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responsive safe fair
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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RAY W2RE did an excellent job in taking down my heavy 4L 20 M beam along withn a 2 L 40m beam Replacing them with a 4L Steppir beam and a new Prop Pitch Rotating system.Work was pricise. His electrical and mechanical knowledge was excellent.Very prompt in his time committed for the work.Uses good safe equipment which results in a safe strong installation. Very Fair in costing the work. HIGHLY RECOMMEND him for any antenna installation work TED K2JMY
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WU2X
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 7, 2009 09:24
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Experienced / Equipped -- Highly recommended
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Sometimes it makes sense to do as much yourself to save money, and sometimes it does not. Something like raising a antenna might seem trivial on the surface, but in the real world things get much more difficult. Especially when you are dealing with a large and/or expensive antenna(s). Even though I have a crank-up/tilt over tower, the logistics of putting my 185 pound antenna (Mosley Pro-96-3) on top of my tower was difficult. Enter Hudson Valley towers. Ray not only possesses the first hand knowledge of installing hundreds of arrays, he also has the right equipment to properly and safely raise/tram large arrays up in difficult situations. They are cheap insurance when you need to have any type of tower work done right the first time.
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W2EG
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 1, 2008 12:12
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Reliable, Reasonable, Good Work!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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To start, 'in the interest of full disclosure' (as the professional reviewers like to say), I am a recently-joined member of HVCDX, in which Ray and Lee are also members.
Thinking of the right words for my review, I read the previous reviews. I was struck by how often the same things were said.
Ray and Lee showed up when they said, came well-equipped, and worked out a plan of 'attack' as well as alternates (in case of appearance by Murphy). They clearly knew what they were doing and were able to overcome the obstacles we encountered. And did I say they were REASONABLE with their charges?
The work entailed some tower maintenance (on a 72' US Tower HDX-572MDPL with a 20' mast and stacked antennas), some repair work on my 3 el SteppIR, installation of a pre-amp on another antenna, and a general inspection of everything. I especially appreciated their willingness to listen to my thoughts and opinions (though I hardly have any expertise in tower work). As Ray put it, "it's YOUR station," and he clearly did not forget that.
Wx conditions were hardly ideal (it never got over 35 degrees, but at least the sun was shining 'til afternoon when it clouded up and the wind picked up a bit). Nonetheless, we got done what was needed and I enjoyed working with these fine professionals.
If your project is in or near the Hudson Valley, these are the go-to guys!
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WB2KLD
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 26, 2008 06:37
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Professionally done work for a fair price
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Since I broke my knee in an MVA I haven't been able to climb. I had delayed maintenance and new install work to be done on two of my three towers. So, when I learned that fellow HVCDXers started a tower company, I contacted them and scheduled HVT to do the aerial work for me. I had no reservations since I had seen several of the installations Ray had done, including his own very impressive antenna farm, and had worked as part of the ground crew when Lee helped a retiring ham disassemble his station.
To make their jobs easier, I had everything lined up and ready to go and I helped Lee as part of the ground crew.
With a poor forecast Ray called early to inquire about our local wx condx ( I am 100 miles north of their home base). He said "lets try it, as long as there is no ice, OK".
I was laying out prepared material when Ray & Lee arrived promptly at the scheduled time, offloaded their gear and, after reviewing the "plan of attack", Ray belted up and headed aloft on the 60 footer. At 37F & misting rain Ray reported the mist was actually snow flakes.
Well, all went smoothly and professionally. New guys, installation of several pullies and ropes for wire antennas, replacement of broken 160 dipole on the 60 footer, then a new WARC beam, install an additional set of guys and more pullies and ropes for wire arrays on the 50 footer. Smoothly done, all in about 5 hours.
The guys put the analyzer on all the new feed-lines and then insisted the antennas be loaded up, at normal power levels "just to be sure".
I also booked for some additional work next spring; new rotor installation and conversion of the 50 foot "Amerite" tower to Rohn 25.
Based on their e-mail the next morning with some ideas for consideration, they discussed my installation during the ride back. Nice follow up guys!
In summary, quality work at a reasonable price.I know from past employment as "Chief" at WMYY and WOCD-TV what tower crews get. HVT is every bit as professional and competent as the big names in tower work but their fee schedule is designed to fits the amateur radio operators budget.
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K2PUT
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 4, 2008 08:21
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Willing and Able
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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When it came time to install antennas at our new EOC in Putnam County, Ray was willing to volunteer his time and provide his expertise in getting them installed. His knowledge was very impressive on how to install multiple antennas on the tower. I would recommended him for any installation.
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K1XV
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 19, 2008 13:55
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On time, on budget, great work
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I have a Tri-EX 70 foot sky needle crank up with three HF yagis on it, a 2 element 40, a Force 12 C-31xr tri-bander, a 7 element 12& 17 yagi, plus a small 2m/440 to boot. In addition, I have several wire antennas with long coax runs.
The tower and antennas were put up 5 years ago by someone else, and had a number of issues right from the start. It was always hard to get the original installer to come back.
At this time, I was looking to have coax replaced on the HF yagis, and new coax runs to two wire antennas, plus other miscellaneous work. After broken promises and non-responses from other antenna installers, I contacted Ray and Lee. Though they are about 160 miles away, they promised to come to take care of everything within two weeks. I ordered my coax and waited. Ray and Lee arrived at 8:30 am on a Sunday morning as promised, and by 2:30pm everything was done, and done expertly. It turns out two of the three HF coax cables needed to be replaced on the tower. The third was OK, and the cable to the VHF/UHF antenna was also OK.
At no point was it necessary for Ray and Lee to engage in any head scratching. They insisted that, once the work was completed, we run through all the antennas on all bands at legal limit to make sure all was OK. I do not recall the previous installer wanting such a “smoke test”.
The price was entirely fair, and conformed to their quote. I got some ideas for new 160 and 80 meter antennas, and I think I will call them back for further work next year.
It isn’t easy getting expert help here in the wilds of southern Vermont. Based on my experience, I can recommend these gentlemen without reservation. All I had to provide was the coax, reasonable weather, and a check. Call them.
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