| N2EHG |
Rating:      |
2010-02-26 | |
| Integrity and Professional |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
I started out with a rather simple and not to extravagant idea of putting up 2 antenna systems. One HF the other for the Satellites.
The project began about a year ago, but my simple goal, turned very complicated. Turns out my first PE misinformed me , and permits were required, had to get a second PE, expediters and all sorts of red tape sorted out (really long story deleted). Took only about 8 months.
Once the first PE told me that everything was 'ok' I contacted Jay at ArraySolutions, to order my antenna and supplies, at my request he was able to offer me a much needed referral for someone to help me do the installation.
The referral and recommendation was for HudsonValley Towers(HVT). My installation was a bit unusual and would require special skills, tools and patience. I first spoke to Ray at HVT and immediately knew he not only had the professional skills but had honor and integrity. He introduced me to his partner who impressed me from the very beginning.
When problems arose with my first PE causing a delay, he was able to offer me storage of my equipment that would not have fit in my small apartment. He did so at no charge, and this alone saved me thousands of dollars, it was no doubt an inconvenience to him and he would have been justified at either charging me or walking away from the job.
Every job has problems, some more then others, some that require 'experience' to come up with a way to make things work, or correct problems from equipment providers 'on the fly' Hudson Valley Towers had those skills. After I overcame most of the technical and legal problems, Hudson Valley Towers also stuck by me when my father became ill and unfortunately passed away causing me to have to fly out of state to visit him and put mom into a nursing home, I was gone for months but they stuck by me. Again most contractors would look for ways to walk away when problems occur, HVT looked for solutions and got it done.
Some parts of my installation was rather difficult , its human nature when this occurs to want to cut corners even just a little or for a company with other jobs to just pick up and go. HVT worked on my installation like it was their own, I always felt if they discovered something even a little bit wrong they would have been more upset then I and I am picky ! They did everything perfect and were always upfront, with scope of work, and costs.
All to often when working with multiple vendors , contractors, permit departments business is conducted in a mundane and bureaucratic manner, this was not the case working with Hudson Valley Towers, their experience increased the performance of my original design specifications and overall customer satisfaction.
This job would not have been completed with out their help, persistence, ingenuity, and kindness during some really tough times both technical, and emotional
HVT will always be more than just my only antenna and tower contractors, after a year, I can say I made some good new fellow ham friends.
73's
N2EHG |
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| WB2ZEX |
Rating:      |
2010-01-24 | |
| Excellent work and communications |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
| In September 2008 I had an LM354HD delivered with the raising fixture and base to my house. My neighbor dug the hole, and the hole remained covered for about 10 months as the original tower installer had many personal problems. I spoke to Ray and Lee first at the Mt. Beacon hamfest, and then when it looked like the original installer retired, again at the Sussex Co. hamfest. After I explained the situation, Ray came after work to my QTH to see what was done. Within two weeks they came to build the foundation. This was the first Tri-Ex tower that were installing, and listened to my advise on the foundation, etc. By Sept. they came to install the tower, a Force 12 C3SS, 6 meter beam, 2 meter boomer, and a dual-band vertical. They stated they should come back in Nov. or Dec. to "winterize" the tower. A also had a 40 meter rotatable dipole to inmstall at the time. Well, I overloaded the rotator, and today they come to replace the rotator with a new one that I purchased. Everytime I emailed them, they always responded within 24 hours with an answer. Although I live in Brooklyn, and they are upstate, they always arrived when they stated they would arrive or earlier. When they couldn't make an appointment (due to bad weather delaying their previous week's work), I was notified well in advance of their rescheduling. They always come with all the proper equipment to safely get the job done. Although they started this business about 2 years ago, they are getting extremely busy due to word of mouth by "extremely satisfied" customers. |
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| WA2PLT |
Rating:      |
2010-01-23 | |
| resuscitating a tower |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| I called Ray & Lee to get my US motorized tower functioning again. I foolishly did not move it during a several year hiatus from Amateur Radio and now I could not get it to move. On their first visit they got it moving. The motor still needed work and they came back a few weeks later to replace it. Unfortunately, the pulley on the old motor shaft galled and could not be removed. They got another pulley and are back again for the finishing touch. They are highly dependable and knowledgable. I would recommend them without any reservations. |
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| N2MAD |
Rating:      |
2010-01-19 | |
| Craftsmen |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| When I first contacted Ray and Lee they told me that they were planning to be working in my neighborhood doing another installation in about 2/3 weeks. They kept in touch via email during that period and true to form, in the 3rd week they got here an hour earlier than they expected. After introductions, they got right to work scoping out the property to see how they could implement what I asked them to do, made instant modifications to what they had anticipated doing and were professional, friendly. skillful and diligent in their work. They came with all of the materials they would need for my installation (I didn't have to supply anything) and my two new bands ROCK! They installed a 40M dipole up abt 50'-55' and an 80M vertical wire running alongside the trunk of a tree to abt. 66' with elevated counterpoise radials snaked invisibly within the bushes (no XYL problems that way). Both antennas have proven to be "one call pileup busters." I am very, very pleased and will use them in the future. |
|
| W1QK |
Rating:      |
2009-11-30 | |
| Outstanding work |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| Ray and Lee replaced my Pro-Sis-Tel rotator on the tower with 3 stacked monobanders. I received a quote within an hour of my request, they arrived early and did an excellent job. Reasonable charges and awesome communications. I highly recommend Hudson Valley Towers. |
|
| K2WS |
Rating:      |
2009-11-08 | |
| You CAN depend on these guys!! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I heard on 15 meters one evening a couple of DX'ers here on Long Island talking about Hudson Valley Towers and how reliable Ray & Lee are. Since the gentlemen who did my previous work was not available for 13 months, I desperately needed work done ASAP! I e-mailed Hudson Valley Towers on Oct 19 in desperation. A day later we had a phone conversation in which I described the maintenance work needed on the tower.
In spite of it being late October, they tentatively scheduled me in for 1 day's work in November - providing there was a job cancellation. I sent Lee a detailed list of work required and a few pictures of the K2WS antenna system- consisting of a 70ft. motorized tower with a Force 12 C31-XR, EF-417, an M-squared 6M7 and a Diamond X500HNA. That 10 year old Diamond vertical had recently snapped off near it's base and the metallic innards had draped over the 17 meter EF-417 beam! NOT a good thing! I had issues with the tower limit switches as well as the rotator stop point being wrong. You get the picture - a lot of bad stuff that had to be fixed before another LI winter set in.
On Nov 2nd Hudson Valley Towers sent me an email asking if they could to the work on Saturday, Nov 7th. YES, said I and on Saturday morning they arrived at 8:45am- earlier then scheduled, WOW. Ray, Lee and helper Bobby immediately got down to business on that brisk, sunny morning. Without going into details, the guys attacked the job "top-down", starting with replacing the Diamond X500HNA that's mounted on top of the 24 foot chromalloy mast - with 3 large yagis to avoid. They completed all the antenna work on the tower, ran a new feedline thru the underground PVC pipe to the radio room and completed the tower and rotator maintenance by dark! Bravo gentlemen, you fellows are a class act and I would not hesitate to recommend you.
TNX AGN ES 73, Alan - K2WS
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|
| N2IEN |
Rating:      |
2009-10-04 | |
| Both thumbs up |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| I needed to install a dual axis sat antenna on my roof, re-arrange some vhf/uhf antennas and raise a 40 foot vertical in the back yard. I was a little concerned the job would be too small, but Ray and Lee treated it as if it were the most important project they'd ever tackled. Thorough and efficient. They were extra careful to make sure it was all working and that I was happy. Well worth the expense. I wouldn't hesitate to use them again. |
|
| W2VK |
Rating:      |
2009-08-31 | |
| Nobody does it better |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
Rather than repeat the deserved accolades listed in
the other reviews, I thought I would mention why I
selected Hudson Valley Towers for my installation.
I have known Ray for many years. Over the years he has improved his own station. He has the experience
and knowledge of hands on work with antennas and
towers. You can not go wrong following his suggestions. |
|
| K1ZM |
Rating:      |
2009-07-25 | |
| Excellent Work, On time, reasonably Priced! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I am writing to say that I was DELIGHTED with the work done at my place by Ray and Lee - both of whom I have known in other capacities for years. Here at K1ZM New York, we had to take down eight (8) towers - four of which were over 100 feet high - two of the almost 180 feet high.
We all worked together to bang it out and it went like clockwork. The guys arrived ON TIME, had all the equipment needed to do the job - and it all went very smoothly over the course of about 2 months.
It could have been done faster, but I was off to VY2ZM much of the time and we worked only when I was home in NY.
I would recommend these guys with great enthusiasm - they are a class act and know what they are doing.
It really helps when you work with guys who know how to go about this - and have the tools to do it right.
Kudos to Hudson Valley Towers!
73 JEFF K1ZM/VY2ZM/W1BB
Email: K1ZM@aol.com |
|
| W3JK |
Rating:      |
2009-05-11 | |
| A splendid repeat performance |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
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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Earlier 5-star review posted by W3JK on 2008-10-03
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 |
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