Dear COG members.

My stormscope (3M WX10A) started playing up about six months ago. A good clean up of the grounds and contacts would bring it back for a while. A hard landing or change in temperature did not affect it.
After giving it six months to see if it could heal itself, I decided to bite the bullet and go to an avionics shop.

They took a good look at it and tested it with a cordless electric drill by the antenna.

The manager did not talk very highly of the 3M folks, he claimed that they could not do anything there at the shop because the manufacturer would not provide them with manuals. They would send it to factory and then call them in four weeks to hurry them up. On questioning he told me that they had a monopoly and were very independent.

A few days later he faxed me what I thought was a quote, $850.00 for the processor and $750.00 for the display. I called to ask what was wrong and he advised me that they had not looked at it yet. The quote was just to look at it and it could cost more than that to fix. I questioned the companies policies some what and he told me that that was the way they did it. $1500.00 sounds like a lot to be told it can't be fixed.
I asked for the phone number of the contact person at the factory, he was to e-mail it to me. Then said he could not get one.I advised him to put all on hold until I got more information.

Any one out there in Commander Land had any experience dealing with 3M. The avionics shop is a very reputable one, but I do smell a rat.

Before you say it, I have been expecting some kind or repair bill, but I do like dealing with honorable people.
I have found some phone numbers in my file where it was repaired beck in 2000, I will call them in the morning.

Ken Andrew.
N377SB, '77 112B Hotshot, S/N 526