|
New to Ham Radio?
My Profile
Community
Articles
Forums
News
Reviews
Friends Remembered
Speak Out
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 Hudson Valley Towers |
|
Reviews: 25
|
Average rating: 5.0/5
|
MSRP: $Reasonable Priced
|
|
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
|
|
More info: http://www.hudsonvalleytowers.com
|
|
Email Subscription
You are not subscribed to this review.
Subscribe!
My Subscriptions
Subscriptions Help
|
You can
write your own review of the Hudson Valley Towers.
|
AA1J
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Feb 3, 2009 06:05
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Top Notch Operation !
|
Time owned: months
|
|
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
|
|
K2JMY
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Jan 7, 2009 15:38
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
responsive safe fair
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
|
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
|
|
WU2X
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Jan 7, 2009 09:24
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Experienced / Equipped -- Highly recommended
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
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.
|
|
W2EG
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Dec 1, 2008 12:12
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Reliable, Reasonable, Good Work!
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
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!
|
|
WB2KLD
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Nov 26, 2008 06:37
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Professionally done work for a fair price
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
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.
|
|
K2PUT
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Nov 4, 2008 08:21
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Willing and Able
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
|
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.
|
|
K1XV
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Oct 19, 2008 13:55
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
On time, on budget, great work
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
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.
|
|
KB2HNY
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Oct 4, 2008 19:04
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Solid
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
In 2006 Ray W2RE installed a 60ft Rohn 25G tower with phillistrand, Sommers XP508 amtenna and Yaesu G-1000SDX rotor. He first had to do site preperation by clearing near 20 tress with his chain saw. He did the base and guy points by digging the holes with shovel. He poured the concrete. He bought the tower, rotor and antenna used and brought it with his flat bed trailer to my qth. The project took about 30+ hours and he was very reliable and courteous. I am glad to see he has a ground man and partner, WW2DX with him now. I wouldnt hesitate to use them for future antenna and tower needs.
73, KB2HNY
|
|
W3JK
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Oct 3, 2008 21:20
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Nothing but sheer Excellence !!!
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
Ray overheard me on the air one day talking about my tower project. He called me offline to give me a few tips and then I realized that he also installed towers and antennas for a lucky few that knew him.
He changed my complete plan on my tower and antenna. (made me cancel the one that I ordered, he didnt like it). I trusted his opinion and told him to give me new plan, approach and quote. Within 24hrs, I received an email with clear details, timelines, his approach, items that he will bring, items that I need to buy and more than anything a clear estimate of costs. All of a sudden I realized that my project had become from one of self help compromise to a sit back, relax and watch the pro.
He has a day job and does this at his leisure and hence lets you know in advance of his potential availability and when and he plans to work on your project. It was clock work and I had to ensure that Ray wasnt going to show up when I didnt have the parts for him. It has been a complete pleasure to deal with him and if you are serious Dx'er or contester then you are in for a nice experience. He is an avid contester and when he makes suggestions on your setup, its based on his experience.
Our simple project had now turned into a great friendship and at the end of the day, what you hear from Ray is what you get in terms of service.
If you want to spend top dollars or want to be suggested on fancy stuff, then call other tower and antenna installers, but if you want good, affordable, no-nonsense and great installation, then look no further and call Ray.
He now has an amazing teammate in Lee and my brief experience with Lee has been wonderful. I dont hesitate to call Lee and Ray if I have any questions or need some input. I hope you have enjoyed this review and if you have any questions, then go ahead and take a look at the youtube videos and see it for yourself.
Regards,
Ken
|
|
WA2GO
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Oct 1, 2008 19:30
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Awesome service - responsive, safe, professional!
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
With just a modest setup for many years, I had previously always done my own tower and antenna work. Then a couple of years ago, I bought a freestanding tower and quad and decided to put it up Field Day style in a temporary guyed installation on THE DAY OF the Sweepstakes contest. I dug a hole in the dirt, and realized I was in over my head. So I phoned W2RE and requested some assistance. With the whole 40' tower and quad assembly sitting horizontal on the ground, Ray came over and miraculously figured out a way to safely get that thing vertical within about an hour. I wish I had a video of it - it was a sight to behold! He rigged up a pulley 50' up in a tree and hoisted up the entire assembly at once with his truck, while I stood on the base to keep it planted. It went up smooth as silk - just amazing! He then guyed the whole thing in a jiffy, and I was on the air. That "temporary" installation stayed up for a year and worked great, until I had to take it down when I relocated.
As the owner of a world class contest station, Ray has shown that he knows how to build towers and antennas the right way. It's great to see that he has decided to put his talent to use on a broader scale by launching Hudson Valley Towers. You couldn't ask for a kinder more helpful guy. If the job can be done safely, he will figure out the best way to do it. And if it can't, he won't take any foolish chances.
When I finally purchase some land and have a chance to build my dream station, Hudson Valley Towers will be the ones to get the steel and aluminum into the air!
|
|
If you have any questions, problems, or suggestions about Reviews,
please email your Reviews Manager.
|
|
|
