CSI out of business

[reddrock]

Just found out Communications Specialists, Inc. (com-spec) has gone out of business. This from their website.

They made the simple RF tracker that's not GPS based.

 

[rharshberger]

I have a receiver, just no transmitters at this time, I was told that Walston can make the transmitters if you know the Freq.

 

[rfjustin]

That blows goats.

 

[cwbullet]

That is terrible.

 

[Titan II]

They were great excellent. Especially when they made the AT-2B.

 

[crossfire]

That blows goats.

Who is the company in IL who makes transmitters that will work?

 

[David Schwantz]

I spoke with them today, they have no product left. They have no dealers. They could not recommend anyone making something similar.

 

[David Schwantz]

Rich who is Walston? Our club has several sets that we rent out. And of course one gets lost now and then.

 

[David Schwantz]

Calling these folks on monday.

https://www.radiotracking.com/contact

 

[seth_cooper]

L.L. Electronics transmitters. They were great to work with a few years ago.

 

[cbrarick]

better these, just know what frequency range your comm-spec stuff is
https://marshallradio.com/ww/product-category/transmitters/?orderby=price-desc

 

[David Schwantz]

Why are they better for more money?

they also do not have my freq

 

[rharshberger]

Rich who is Walston? Our club has several sets that we rent out. And of course one gets lost now and then.

Not sure walston is still in business now.

 

[Handeman]

I have a receiver, just no transmitters at this time, I was told that Walston can make the transmitters if you know the Freq.

Actually Walston has been out of business for years. Walston never actually made anything. They just relabeled and resold what was made by Wildlife Materials Inc.
You can get transmitters from them and L. L. Electronics, among other. Most work in the 148 -225 Mhz range. Ours was in the 216 range.

 

[cwbullet]

Why are they better for more money?

they also do not have my freq

Most companies can make any frequency, but you have to ask. They do not advertise the 222 range.

 

[Onebadhawk]

What ever happened to Big Red Bee ???

Teddy

 

[cls]

I have a receiver, just no transmitters at this time, I was told that Walston can make the transmitters if you know the Freq.

CSI xmitter was on 222.100MHz. quite rude, that is the Morse code calling frequency for hams. Doesn't matter much, there's no ham activity at rocket ranges...

 

[cwbullet]

I own a mixture of LL Electronics (Radiotracking.com and CSI). I might order a Marshall in the future.

Then again, I might move the GPS.

 

[ChuckH]

Then again, I might move the GPS.

Always nice to have an RDF backup with GPS though.

 

[WillMarchant]

Always nice to have an RDF backup with GPS though.

Yes! The nice thing about the ham radio options is that you can always DF even if the packets don't decommutate.

 

[cwbullet]

I cannot disagree.

 

[ChuckH]

Yes! The nice thing about the ham radio options is that you can always DF even if the packets don't decommutate.

Unless the unit just stops transmitting mid-flight, which I have had happen. Of course this can happen with simple RDF trackers as well (seen that happen too), which is why I like redundancy.

 

[cls]

nless the unit just stops transmitting mid-flight, which I have had happen.

I had several Big Red Bee GPS units. They were terrible about quitting transmit in flight, anything over 8 GS acceleration. Lost a very expensive L3 project because of that. It sent one scrambled packet right after ignition... So yeah, always use a tracker for backup.

 

[rharshberger]

My ComSpec transmitters were on LPRS CH-25 = 216.6125MHz, Wildlife Materials might make that will work, have to send them an email.

 

[mikec]

I had several Big Red Bee GPS units. They were terrible about quitting transmit in flight...

Were these the old ones with the Trimble GPS? The newer ones use Ublox and should be better.

Big Red Bee is still in business and still making their 450 MHz RDF product.

 

[DHays]

Calling these folks on monday.

https://www.radiotracking.com/contact

Interesting, I'm about 10 miles from this company and didn't know it. I will check into it as well.

 

[rharshberger]

Interesting, I'm about 10 miles from this company and didn't know it. I will check into it as well.

I need to send them an email as well....

 

[dpower]

This is a bummer, their receiver has worked well for me, and many in my club. There are probably 2-3 dozen, including a club-owned unit that we loan out to anyone who's a member.

I use L.L. Electronics XLF 6v transmitters with my Com-Spec, in the 219MHz band (no ham license required), they work great, and are small enough to easily be placed in just about any rocket. Good support too, I've talked with them over the phone regarding repair & specific frequencies. They repaired one that lawn-darted from 2000' (though it looked like a completely new unit), and I bought a 2nd so I'd always have a spare.

 

[cls]

Were these the old ones with the Trimble GPS? The newer ones use Ublox and should be better.

Big Red Bee is still in business and still making their 450 MHz RDF product.

Yes, I had the old ones, 2006ish? to 2009. They were terrible in many ways. Greg Clark refused to understand or acknowledge, even when I showed him directly (Black Rock launch, he watched, had an APRS receiver)!

The Bee Line trackers were excellent, though. Too expensive now...

Wish I had bought CSI stuff 10 years ago.

 

[amarillo_rocket]

I started using LL Electronics trackers and transmitters several 6-7 years ago. I have never had an issue with their trackers or transmitters. Their prices are reasonable and reliability has been excellent. LL Electronics can handle most frequencies.