Jeff Bennett leaves Cambridge Aero Instruments

The one man factory at Cambridge Aero, maker of the 302 Variometer will no longer offer REPAIR Support for it's products...

Jeff Bennett has left the Building...

Like many, I've had a hard time getting anybody to answer my calls at Cambridge over the last months. I finally received a letter along with my returned instrument, which had been sent in for repair.


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Dear Cambridge Aero Instruments, Inc., Customer:

We have lost our technician for repairs, maintenance and calibration of the Cambridge 302 and related products. We are sending instruments requiring calibrations, battery replacements, and other such maintenance procedures to our dealer Paul Remde of Cumulus Soaring in Savage, Minnesota. If your instrument has been sent to us for repair, we are returning it to you with a suggestion to contact Gary Kammerer, formerly a long time employee of Cambridge who has a shop where he can do repairs on a freelance basis (his schedule permitting). Gary can be reached by telephone at xxx/xxx-xxxx.


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Sigh...

Tim


On Wednesday, May 22, 2013 8:01:53 AM UTC-4, wrote:
The one man factory at Cambridge Aero, maker of the 302 Variometer will no longer offer REPAIR Support for it's products...



Jeff Bennett has left the Building...



Like many, I've had a hard time getting anybody to answer my calls at Cambridge over the last months. I finally received a letter along with my returned instrument, which had been sent in for repair.





------------------------------------------------------





Dear Cambridge Aero Instruments, Inc., Customer:



We have lost our technician for repairs, maintenance and calibration of the Cambridge 302 and related products. We are sending instruments requiring calibrations, battery replacements, and other such maintenance procedures to our dealer Paul Remde of Cumulus Soaring in Savage, Minnesota. If your instrument has been sent to us for repair, we are returning it to you with a suggestion to contact Gary Kammerer, formerly a long time employee of Cambridge who has a shop where he can do repairs on a freelance basis (his schedule permitting). Gary can be reached by telephone at xxx/xxx-xxxx.





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On Wednesday, May 22, 2013 8:01:53 AM UTC-4, wrote:

Dear Cambridge Aero Instruments, Inc., Customer:



We have lost our technician for repairs, maintenance and calibration of the Cambridge 302 and related products. We are sending instruments requiring calibrations, battery replacements, and other such maintenance procedures to our dealer Paul Remde of Cumulus Soaring in Savage, Minnesota. If your instrument has been sent to us for repair, we are returning it to you with a suggestion to contact Gary Kammerer, formerly a long time employee of Cambridge who has a shop where he can do repairs on a freelance basis (his schedule permitting). Gary can be reached by telephone at xxx/xxx-xxxx.

Gary Kammerer asked me to debunk this: He says

"I am NOT doing 300 Series 'freelance' work. Roger dreamed that one up."

I don't wish to speculate on what might happen going forward (all you r.a.s.. readers can connect the dots however you like), but I think it's fair to quash that particular rumor right now.

Good soaring,

Evan Ludeman / CNi

Sad.

Is Cambridge still selling their products like the 302 and 303? If
they sell them, they are manufacturing them. That would imply that
they are testing them. If they test them, then they would also be
able to repair them. So if they can't repair, they can't test, and
can't sell. Coming full circle, it would seem the Cambridge is going
out of business. At least why would anyone buy their products if you
knew you can't get it repaired?

Too bad, I love my 302 as do many others. Let's hope it keeps on
tickin' for another few years. Anyone suggest an alternative device?
The Butterfly Vario? Not yet a certified recorder I believe.

- John

I sent my 302 to Cambridge (R-Track Technologies in Memphis, TN) a couple of weeks ago for repair (no audio) and calibration. Called yesterday for a status update and was told by Roger R. that they were testing it and doing the calibration. He said I should have it back within a week.

Imagine my surprise when that same day, I got a call from Paul Remde who informed me that he had my 302 (in Minnesota) and, yes, there was no audio. He said a note from Roger indicated that Jeff was no longer with Cambridge, they didn't have any parts, the calibration wasn't done and here ya' go....

Paul says he will have to send it to Dickie Feakes in ENGLAND (!) for the repair. So, there I was, looking out the hangar door at 18,000 ft, cloudbases, and knowing that I have to return the 302 I borrowed (Thanks Mitch!) next week.

What to do? Well, I ended up buying another 302 (at a discount- Paul was sympathetic) that I really can't afford and instructing him to do what it takes to get the thing to the UK for the fix.

At any rate, I was flat-out LIED to by Roger. Take this as a warning. Forget Cambridge, R-Track Tech and deal with Paul or another reputable distributor.

And I will have a slightly used 302 for sale as soon as I get mine back- hopefully before the end of the season.

Mark

In article
,
JohnDeRosa wrote:

Sad.

Is Cambridge still selling their products like the 302 and 303? If
they sell them, they are manufacturing them. That would imply that
they are testing them. If they test them, then they would also be
able to repair them. So if they can't repair, they can't test, and
can't sell. Coming full circle, it would seem the Cambridge is going
out of business. At least why would anyone buy their products if you
knew you can't get it repaired?

Too bad, I love my 302 as do many others. Let's hope it keeps on
tickin' for another few years. Anyone suggest an alternative device?
The Butterfly Vario? Not yet a certified recorder I believe.

- John



The more I read about high end instruments, the less I regret not being
able to afford them.

I have asked a number of people to explain to me exactly what their
"super varios" do that a good basic vario and a decent PDA/software
setup does not do. I mean besides calculating to more decimal places.
Maybe I would understand if I flew a glider with more than two speeds....

Gary & Rodger need to come to an agreement, assuming Gary even wants to support the 300 series, we need to officially dissolve the no-compete or whatever has kept Gary from working on the newer cambridge stuff.

Someone Must offer repair service for the thousands of Cambridge units in the USA.

Understand, we are not talking about the ability to calibrate or to make simple repairs, Paul and Dickie are capable of that, from what I know Gary is probably the only person who can realistically trouble shoot and repair these things for the Soaring Community.

On Thursday, May 23, 2013 10:00:33 AM UTC-4, WB wrote:
In article

,

JohnDeRosa wrote:



Sad.



Is Cambridge still selling their products like the 302 and 303? If

they sell them, they are manufacturing them. That would imply that

they are testing them. If they test them, then they would also be

able to repair them. So if they can't repair, they can't test, and

can't sell. Coming full circle, it would seem the Cambridge is going

out of business. At least why would anyone buy their products if you

knew you can't get it repaired?



Too bad, I love my 302 as do many others. Let's hope it keeps on

tickin' for another few years. Anyone suggest an alternative device?

The Butterfly Vario? Not yet a certified recorder I believe.



- John







The more I read about high end instruments, the less I regret not being

able to afford them.



I have asked a number of people to explain to me exactly what their

"super varios" do that a good basic vario and a decent PDA/software

setup does not do. I mean besides calculating to more decimal places.

Maybe I would understand if I flew a glider with more than two speeds....

The bottom line is "better information".

In my case, it's helped quite a bit.

Evan Ludeman / T8

The Butterfly Vario? Not yet a certified recorder I believe.
sorry, I know this is off-topic, just to make this clear: It is a certified flight recorder since 30th of March.

Cheers
Marc

I have asked a number of people to explain to me exactly what their

"super varios" do that a good basic vario and a decent PDA/software

setup does not do. I mean besides calculating to more decimal places.

Maybe I would understand if I flew a glider with more than two speeds....

Better vario: Immense. Nothing matters as much. What can I do with a better -- and carefully set up -- vario? Outclimb people who think I have some actual thermaling ability. Climb when they land. Roll into that savior bullet thermal that looks like a gust on their varios.

What do I do with a better glide computer? Not look at it so much, and spend less time futzing with it. My PDA was an endless cycle of rebooting, battery management, keeping it cool, and punching screens. My current clearnav has what I want when I want it. I spent a lot of money for an instrument so I could avoid looking at it and look out the window instead. Less crucial, but certainly worthwhile.

I don't understand why people spend so much money on gliders, and spend so much time and effort on this sport, and then cheap out on instruments.

John Cochrane