A Message from All of Us!
December 26th, 2021
December 26th, 2021: Hi! I hope you will take a moment and read this rather lengthy post.
As I sit here still enjoying the Christmas decorations in the office and 2021 winds down, I am once again reminded how blessed I and my family are. Much of it is due to you, our customer base. So, I wanted to share with you a very heartfelt thanks from us here at RSI / RSINet.
The little business I started over 25 years ago after becoming tired of the corporate technology world has succeeded beyond our wildest dreams. We continue to grow, and have not had a down or even a “flat†year since it all began.
But it is of course you, the customer who is most responsible for our success.
Much of the feedback I get from you is that (a) we answer the phone and genuinely try to help you with the issue at hand (b) We’re accessible and friendly, and (c) try to save you money. That makes me smile, because our philosophy is based on the concept that customers are business partners (and many of them friends) instead of just numbers on a balance sheet.
Yes, we have an 800 number. Yes, the friendly robot lady will give a you a call menu. But at the end of that process is a live person who can solve your problem. That person is usually me. So when your AWOS data isn’t making it to the FAA or your AWOS, Navaid, or control tower radios are down, or if you just have a question, most likely the owner of RSI will be answering that service call. We think that is the way to do business and that will never change…most of you who are longstanding customers have my cell number, and it stays on 24/7. If I don’t answer, you’ll get a call back very shortly. We like to think that is the reason why our very first RSINet airport (whose AWOS transmitted the first METAR over RSINet on January 31st, 2008) is still on board and very, very few of our clients have gone elsewhere over the years.
I also want to thank you for your referrals. It is one of the best feelings in the world when a new potential client calls me and says “The manager over at Anytown airport said you guys were the best and easiest to work with…†Again, thank you for that.
As for 2022 and beyond, we have some exciting things happening. First and foremost, we have a new technician on board! We have spent 22 years training him! Seriously, I am happy and proud to announce our son Thomas is joining the company after earning his BS in Engineering Technology from the University of Memphis, my Alma Mater. He also holds the required FCC General Radiotelephone Permits and has completed factory training for one AWOS line and is currently working on number 2. While I have no plans to retire (because work you love doing isn’t work), you’ll be hearing more and more from him. While God has seen fit to keep me in good health and still climbing towers with the best of them, I’m no Spring Chicken…
Remote Systems Integration has never been solely an aviation industry business, although that’s where the bulk of our work is done. We have a limited customer base for maintenance of non-federal air traffic control towers as well as some non-aviation related engineering disciplines such as AM and FM broadcast transmission.
With Thomas on board, we can begin expanding that division, and have already added two NF control towers to our maintenance portfolio. Plus, we’re spinning up the capabilities to serve the high tech Agriculture industry and “smart farmsâ€, using real time weather and crop condition data from sensors in the field to control automated irrigation and other farming functions. We are also expanding our competency in solar farm telemetry and monitoring systems maintenance. You might even catch us working on some electronic or lighted maritime navigation and warning equipment like buoys. It is indeed an exciting time here.
Three more recognitions are in order. None of this would exist without the help and support from my wife Gail. She has her own job but is quick to tackle the office parts of the business when the Inbox gets too high and / or when I’m in the field. Also a special thanks to Barry, Chuck, and Joe, my IT contractors who bail me out (usually with less than 5 keystrokes and a mouse click or two) when unusual problems arise in the RSINet datacenter.
A hat tip is also needed for the other independent aviation AWOS and navaid techs and small firms around the country. We may be “competitorsâ€, but for the most part we share the pie and you may be surprised to learn we all stay in contact and help each other with those especially difficult engineering and tech problems. Those techs recommend RSINet to their client airports on a regular basis. So again, thank you all.
Thank you for reading this. Truly our business is where it is because of you folks, and we are very grateful. We hope you have a wonderful 2022 and as always, if you need anything, you know to hit the keyboard or make that text or phone call.
Tom, Gail, and Thomas Nichols RSI / RSINet
Important info for DBT NADIN AWOS data service customers
September 7th, 2020
If you haven’t already, you’re probably going to get a notice from DBT announcing YOU are responsible for paying for a required hardware upgrade to THEIR network. Verizon is phasing out the 3G network, and 3G modems must be upgraded by January 2021. We at RSINet have known this for a few years, and have planned for it – at NO cost to our customers.
To make a customer pay for a required upgrade in our view is just wrong. So we just want every airport manager, Board member, and financial office to know…
RSINet never charges for hardware. We send you the modem for free (we are also updating all our 3G customers for free). If it requires an external antenna, you get that for free as well. The only condition is it remains our property and if we want it back if the airport ever cancels the contract, then you send it back.
Bottom line – before you write that check, check with us. We will switch you seamlessly for free, and now is the time. You’ll be in good company. Check out some of our other RSINet announcements in this section and see who all is on board!
Send us an email at info@remotesys.com or call 800-261-1774 ext 1.
Coronavirus Update
April 3rd, 2020
The FAA has allowed all non-federal AWOS inspections to be deferred for at least 6 months. Annual inspections are deferred to a maximum of 90 days past the current deadline. No facility will be shut down for failure to meet the inspection windows at this time. RSI is continuing to perform AWOS and ILS maintenance as long as the distance to the facility from the technician’s base city does not require an overnight stay in a hotel. We have left the decisions solely up to the technicians involved without penalty. We are re-evaluating this policy on a weekly basis. RSINet NADIN network operations are unaffected. Other government operations are unaffected unless so directed by the agencies involved. Broadcast projects not due to an “off-air” situation are suspended. Other nonessential industry projects are suspended.
Another week, another state joins RSINet!
September 9th, 2019
Later this month, we’ll be rolling out RSINet throughout the state of Virginia. RSINet now provides weather data from a large majority of sites in the eastern US, and over 500 sites nationwide. But your single airport can also be part of the RSINet data network. Call us or e-mail today!
RSINet wins North Carolina NADIN contract
June 4th, 2019
June 3, 2019
North Carolina will join North Dakota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, and South Carolina with RSINet’s AWOS weather data delivery system deployed statewide. RSINet has become the system of choice for its low cost, reliability, and unparalleled customer service and support.
The system will replace the legacy system currently in place and will begin rolling out in the coming weeks.
Whether it’s one airport or 50, RSINet can handle your AWOS data service, putting your AWOS weather on the Internet , cockpit weather systems, local TV stations, and all over the world.
Don’t be fooled…
January 4th, 2017
Recently we’ve had some calls telling us our competitors were using the “Our Brand X NADIN solution is tailored specifically for Brand X AWOS”. Nope. By FAA rule, ALL FAA-certified AWOS units must output a specifically formatted AWOS message from a standard serial computer port. In simple terms, that means their system cannot and does not do more than RSINet when it comes to relaying your weather data to the world. RSINet works with any AWOS make and model past or present, and regardless of whichever of the several configurations of AWOS is at your airport. However, did you know we offer a small perk free of charge? Once your AWOS is connected to RSINet, in addition to sending your data to the FAA and NWS, we ship LIVE data to the good folks over at airportview.net. They offer a one-stop web site for conditions at all US airports. If your AWOS is connected to NADIN, airportview.net will show you the latest 20 minute observation from that AWOS. BUT…If you’re on RSINet, you’ll get the absolutely latest weather from that airport, usually less than 5 minutes old and frequently less than 60 seconds old! Check it out. Go to airportview,net and enter your airport code.
RSINet upgrades Iowa AWOS network
June 29th, 2016
RSINet has won a contract with the Iowa DOT to provide AWOS NADIN data services for the 43 DOT sponsored AWOS systems in the state. Beginning on June 27th, RSINet began upgrading the sites with the latest 4G cellular modems, replacing the older technology devices in use by the previous vendor and providing the fastest, most reliable NADIN connection available. The rollout should be complete in early July.
Do it Yourself AWOS maintenance?
June 15th, 2015
Despite RSI’s AWOS maintenance rates being some of the lowest in the industry, I often get asked why an airport cannot maintain their own AWOS and why does it cost so much to maintain the systems? Well, an airport can. But it doesn’t make sense. Here’s why:
First off, the FAA requires that any AWOS used for flight operations be maintained by an FAA certified technician. To become an AWOS technician, an individual must complete factory training on every specific make and model of each AWOS he or she is to maintain, pass the examination for an FCC General class Radiotelephone license, and pass a written and field examination by the FAA. Each technician who works on a particular AWOS must have a letter of verification authority from the FAA office in charge of that facility. In addition, technicians must possess and maintain a set of highly specialized and annually calibrated test equipment to measure parameters such as radio frequency, power, and AWOS sensor such as altimeter and temperature, among others. This test equipment must be kept in calibration and traceable to the National Institute of Standards and Technology. This assures that the AWOS is kept with in FAA and FCC tolerances for measurement accuracy and radio transmission standards. The FAA mandates that each AWOS be checked for accuracy according to a maintenance plan within a window of every 90-120 days.
To start up an AWOS maintenance program from the start costs about $20,000 plus a lot of training time or about 8 years or so of AWOS maintenance charges from RSI…hardly cost effective for an airport with one AWOS.
Having an experienced, certified AWOS maintenance firm can also help shield the airport from potential liability in the case of an aircraft accident. Having an outside, insured firm with technicians with years of experience who can respond to questions about the AWOS data and accuracy can go a long way in resolving incident issues without going to the courtroom.
So, after a cost analysis, you can see that using RSI to maintain your AWOS removes a lot of headache and is really much more cost effective than doing it yourself!
Scams and more scams
September 11th, 2014
Once again, RSI and a number of other companies have had their names used in a scam. RSI does not send money orders. We do not send coupons or any other correspondence of that nature to anyone. One common scheme is to send a bogus money order to the victim, who is instructed to keep a certain percentage of it and send the rest to a (usually foreign) address. The money order is bad, but by the time the banks catch it the money is on its way. Please do not fall for these scams.
RSINet at the Tennessee Airports Conference
February 13th, 2014
This year’s Tennessee Airports Conference will be March 17-19 at the Embassy Suites in Murfreesboro, TN. If you’re planning to attend the conference, don’t forget to look for us at the RSI / RSINet booth. We’ll have all the information on the most cost effective AWOS data connectivity solution available – RSINet!
Visit http://tennesseeaviation.net/events.htm
For more info!