Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Tim Price, Incorporated Doing Business As Contact! Corporation?
Can Contact save my company money?
Can I expect better performance with Contact's telescopic masts than with pneumatic masts?
Why choose Contact Corporation's masts?
What products can be used on your masts?
How much weight can Contact's masts hold?
How do you compare to screw drive masts?
Why would I use Contact's composite mast towers instead of metal or steel lattice?
What maintenance has to be done on Contact masts?
How do Contact's antenna masts function in icy conditions?
Who is Tim Price, Incorporated Doing Business As Contact! Corporation?
Tim Price, Inc. dba Contact Corporation is a small business located in Winchester, VA. We are the North American distributor of Cobham Mast Systems' EX, EXL, and EXB series masts and accessories. We are an engineering firm and systems integrator providing complete turn key solutions to the DoD and U.S. Armed Forces. We have been providing tactical mil-spec antenna masts and trailer systems to our customers since 1997.
Can Contact! save my company money?
Time and again, we have seen contractors come to us when a competitor's product fails in the field. When this mistake is made, budgets are quickly drained due to reengineering, training, refurbishment and replacement parts. Choose wisely the first time and save a lot of time and money. Our masts and fully integrated systems are built to last with little to no maintenance. We have masts that have been in Iraq and Afghanistan for more than ten years!
Can I expect better performance with Contact's telescopic masts than with pneumatic masts?
Yes. Absolutely. Trust us; we have heard the problems with pneumatics. Sure, there is a place for them, but not alongside us in our market. If you need a mast that is going to perform and last in grueling temperatures and environments, then Contact's antenna masts are right for you. Our masts are mechanical, belt-driven masts; they don't need power, there are no lines that can malfunction, freeze up, or bust. Our masts have also taken gunshots and heavy shrapnel from explosions, as long as that belt is not completely severed, your communications equipment will still function!
Why choose Contact Corporation's masts?
Because we are mast people. It is all we do! We don't design masts and also positioning equipment, and antennas, and cameras, and this or that. We know masts: how to construct the best, mount them, mount equipment to them and how to integrate them! We have a fully integrated solutions because we have sought out the best to help us; people who are experts in their field.
What products can be used on your masts?
We have experience in several areas. Many types of communications equipment and antennas, cameras and surveillance equipment, wind turbines for alternative energy and even speakers for hailing and warning systems!
How much weight can Contact's masts hold?
Contact's masts have a minimum weight of around 15lbs and a maximum weight of around 350lbs. Please refer to our products page to see the weight ranges of our different mast series. These weights carry many variables and we consider slope, wind, sail area, height, net weight, guyed/ unguyed, etc. when determining the best mast for you.
How do you compare to screw-drive masts?
Contact's towers are relatively fail-safe. Like pneumatics, there are variables that can go bad or wrong. Screw-drives gears tend to clog with sand and dust found in the current theaters of operation our troops must fight in. Many of these gears are plastic and have been known to break disabling the mast.
Why would I use Contact's composite mast towers instead of metal or steel lattice?
A lot of this will depend on weight. We have our limits; and if your payload is over 330lbs, you may need these styles. However, should you need something tactical and in our weight class, you may need us. We are lightweight and that makes a big difference to the troops and to you. Have you ever needed to cut weight for shipping or to meet specs? We can help and in some cases may be your only choice.
What maintenance has to be done on Contact masts?
Very little. We advise to operate the mast once a month. This will help get the sand and dust off the mast by allowing it to fall through the inner portion of the mast and forced out of the small hole in the bottom tube section. No lubrication needs done on the mast, in fact, we advise against it. Lubrication only causes clogging. The only portion that needs lubricating is our winch. It rarely needs done but should be lubricated according to the user manual.
How do Contact's antenna masts function in icy conditions?
Very well! We advise that once the mast is fully extended to bring it down with a few turns of the winch. This way when ice collects on the mast, you have room to crank up the mast and bust the ice away. We also have an ice kit that includes a plastic hammer to safely bust the remaining ice off if necessary.
