In order to maintain its useful life, a certain item must be maintained regularly. And this is no different for the Buster K910G Density Meter, the flagship product from Campbell/Harris Security Equipment Company (CSECO).
Even though the Buster K910G is recognized as the “gold standard” among other density meters, it will only be at its optimum if it is maintained regularly.
The Buster K910G is the successor of the previous Buster K910B Density Meter, CSECO’s first product which has been trusted and recommended by most law-enforcement agencies across the US. So what makes the Buster so successful?
The Buster K910G uses pretty much the same technology as its predecessor — the low-intensity gamma radiation and scintillation detector. It helps law enforcement officers such as the agents from Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to scan any type of surface whether they are wood, paper or carton, reinforced plastic, metal, rubber, and even organic matter like water and soil. The Buster K910G’s detecting abilities will ensure successful searches and inspections, like those of its predecessor to help locate any type of hidden contraband from narcotics to cash to explosives.
Like the K910B, the Buster K910G can also detect and locate abnormal amounts of radiation. It’s because it is equipped with RAD-Aware® technology. This will help first responders to set up safety boundaries to keep fellow inspectors as well as innocent civilians out of possible radioactive leaks such as dirty bomb detonation.
The Buster K910G also feature alerts — audible and visual — which will notify the user in case it reads an abnormal level of density, a possible indication of a hidden contraband underneath a particular surface.
The Buster K910G is not quite a departure from the K910B, but it does have remarkable improvements to ensure safer and more secure inspections:
- 5 micro curie Barium 133 source, which is 25% or more or less than that of rival density meters
- No lead-based interior components which can be dangerous
- Updated look. It now has a slimmer design and a strap which are meant to be more ergonomic during even the most intense inspections
Despite its reputation as a durable tool, the Buster K910G will work its best with regular maintenance. This is done mostly by calibrating it and replacing the old batteries with newer ones.
The Buster K910G still comes with a calibration block. Each unit features a Calibration Block Standard which will allow other similar units to be calibrated to a common base. This will ensure a +/-2 reading between units. Calculating the calibration automatically compensates for the source’s decay and the declining quality of some of the Buster’s internal components.
Place the Buster K910G on the calibration block. Press and hold down the trigger, and at the same time also press the “lock + mode” button. Next, let go of the “lock + mode” button but maintain your hold on the trigger. At this moment, the Buster will let out a beeping sound which will go for about 10 seconds. Once the Buster stops beeping you can then proceed to press the “mode” button. To make sure that the Buster is doing well in reading, test it by doing the usual reading while still placed on the calibration block. If the Buster reads at a range of 95 to 105, then it is a positive indication that the unit works perfectly. The calibration doesn’t take that long — it only takes 30 seconds or even less. It is strongly recommended that the Buster should be calibrated by the end user once every month, although once every six months is also okay.
However, if damage has been done to the Buster which cannot be undone by simple calibration, then the Buster should be sent to CSECO’s repairs department. The technicians there will analyze the problem and then give a rough estimate to the user on how long they expect the repairs to take. The company will wait until the customer approves the estimate, and then the actual repairs will proceed. The cost of the repairs will be most likely reasonable, something that users should be happy about.
As for the batteries, agents and officers can replace the used 9-volt alkaline transistor batteries with newer ones, even while in the middle of the job.
Law enforcement agencies that purchase the Buster density meter are trained to maintain it apart from using it. That way, the Buster K910G will continue to serve its intended purpose — to be an indispensable tool for every law enforcement agent in narcotics detection as well as locating other contraband in the coming years.
