News: CAMI Research & Right to Repair,
The Right to Repair is a current matter of public interest, ensuring consumers and businesses have access to the tools, documentation, and parts needed to maintain and repair their own equipment. As industries evolve, transparency and repeatability become crucial for sustainability, affordability, and innovation.
I’m Exploring an important question: Does CAMI Research the maker of the CableEye Cable Tester support and Embrace Right to Repair?
The Answer is NO!
This all Started Aug 2024 when I inquired about a firmware update firmware was Version 1.19
I received a reply that was laughable I could care less how the firmware works, rather if there was an update.
I Pressed Christopher E. Strangio a little bit more.. and provided proof that I have the capabilities to update myself.
Video
CEO Christopher E. Strangio’s Reply again still avoiding the topic.
Regardless, CEO Christopher E. Strangio lied.. when he said Firmware V1.19 was the latest a little while later I found a m3U unit with Cami Firmware V1.23.
Since CAMI Research is not repair friendly so, I have preemptively backed-up the firmware of all my cableeye testers just in case it is needed in the future for a repair.
I also obtained a Cable Eye that had a self test error and I made a request for Repair Documentations on around 10/18/2024 over the phone for the requested documents, tools, & parts for the M3U that request was Denied. (There is no requirement to make a written request this can be by phone)
In early November, a customer located just over 100 miles south of me who had seen my YouTube video on backing up the M3U firmware reached out about a broken M3U brick he had sitting on a shelf. Being skilled, he used a low cost thermal camera to diagnose the issue and identified the (MCU) as the failure point.
According to him, Cami Research advised him to either send the unit in for service or purchase a new M3Z $3,500+. He said they also declined to sell him a pre-programmed MCU so he could have a local cell phone shop replace it, The MCU’s typically costs around $2.50 china to $12.50 mouser. He purchased two C8051F320 MCUs from AliExpress for $5.00 including shipping.
In early December, he in my area for a meeting, so we arranged to meet at my shop. I replaced his failed MCU with one of the new ones he had sourced form china. “I don’t recommend sourcing chips from china” I noticed a few small issues on the pcb and corrected them, I used my previously created firmware backup to restore functionality. The process was straightforward. I first programmed the MCU with Unedited backup to confirm it was operational. Once verified, I edited the HEX file to match his unit’s serial number, which is stored at address 2000H and spans six digits (e.g., 123456).
I performed the repair at no charge, primarily to validate the integrity of my firmware backup which proved to be successful. The M3U was fully restored and was operational. The only remaining step is for the unit to be calibrated following the MCU replacement. The guy is not testing with precision so he was but test equipment after any repair should be calibrated.
Around, Dec 10th I finally made contact with the Cami Research CEO Christopher E. Strangio to Discuss Right to Repair and Tried to Explain Right to Repair to him and I got it down to the the real Reason Why he don’t want to comply with or support the right to repair.
On a news interview CEO Christopher E. Strangio has stated, the primary reasons for denial is that the products are “old” and that he doesn’t want people repairing used units and reselling them, as it could impact new sales.
Cami CEO Christopher E. Strangio
“Why Bother, These items are old and of very little value. Why is it a concern to you?”
Cami CEO Christopher E. Strangio
“He doesn’t want people buying them, fixing them and selling them for a profit.”
Eventually Months later Dec 12th Mr. Strangio replies with an English error code description with the failed IC. I assume he thinks telling me the English description to a error code will quiet me long past that at this point. If He provided error code description in October this would have went a different direction.
December 19th 2024 I Sent an Official Request (E-mail) For Repair Documentation and Tools for All Items Manufactured 2015 Present with a Due date of Jan 02 2025.
When preforming a right to repair audit I always start off with something small a Part, Part Number, Service Manual, Firmware, Error Code Description, Etc. if these requests are denied or I get push back I go for the Full Monty.
On Feb 11th 2025, Cami Research Asked me to Change the Title of one of My YouTube Videos.
Titled: Poorly Packed Test Equipment, What Was Broken? Cami Research CableEye M3U Self Test
My Reply to Cami Research’s Content Change Request.
I am sure if Cami Research was right to repair friendly I would have considered their request. If they are a NO on documents and tools I am a NO on content change request.
Cami Research’s Response. Thank you Have a Nice Day! LOL
Shortly after, My Request from December 14th and my Follow up request was Declined and He then thinks that right to repair laws only cover automobiles? He understood the conversation and whats required December 10th.
I proceeded to Ask Christopher E. Strangio if calibration was required after repair On My 28th I received an answer well sort of. Seems they want to keep the repair and after repair calibration a monopoly. Generally when test equipment is repaired it should be calibrated after a repair. Cami Research wants $1,240 for the software and hardware for this and only available for 1 year. I dont mind buying the hardware if reasonable cost but under right to repair the calibration software (Tool) must be made available at no cost.
Yes, Mr. Strangio did provide the location of the bad chip after a lot of back and forth, See this post. Making available Service / Error Code Descriptions is part of right to repair but one should not have to call the manufacture with the error or service code and have to go to the point of begging to get the translation.
I am still Working on the Video Exposing Cami Research Anti-Repair Attitude.
05/27/2025 I have Made a Revised Request to Include Washington State. I have the complaints for non compliance ready for California, Oregon, and Minnesota attorney generals.
06/10/2025 California Attorney General Has Responded and sent a letter to Cami Research. I will see this thru. (Original PDF)
Here is the Letter Form the Oregon DOJ to Cami Research. (Original PDF)
I called Cami Research and made an additional document / tools request and to inform Cami Research that Yes, I followed thru and made my Complaints to the Oregon, Minnesota, and California, Attorney Generals Offices, They should be receiving a letter. A day or two later This was Mr. Christopher Strangio Reply. They know all to well that they are in violation. I will be Pulling all Government Awards and Forwarding this to the governmental purchasing departments.
Oregon’s AG has Got their Head UP Their ASS Claiming they have No Jurisdiction. + Their replies look like they were written by AI.
I also Filed a Complaint with the BBB and Cami Research Has Failed to Repsond.
CAMI Research Right to Repair Score: D- (He did provide a Service Code/Error Description)
No Schematics, No Bill Of Material, No Calibration Tools For After Repair Calibration, CEO Said He Don’t want shops or customers repairing Second Hand Units!
Last Updated on July 7, 2025 by Steven Rhine