What Are The Different Types of WL Sonar?

[Danny K]

Hi. I am just wondering about the Wicked Lasers Sonar: SONAR I Blu-ray
It is discontinued so I can't find much info on the website but I think there are the Sonar, Sonar II, Sonar Extreme?, Sonar Ultimate?, idk there isn't much info online so that's why I came here. Could someone post the Sonar series lasers in order and a picture of each one? Thanks. If you know the price that would also be nice.
Also these are some different pics I found as you can see they look like different models.
:gun:

 

[Danny K]

It won't let me post other pics so here are the links: http://static.trustedreviews.com/94/8ccc6b/543b_orh400w600/8201-sonarii.jpg
http://i597.photobucket.com/albums/tt60/mattmagic100/DSC_0742.jpg

 

[Cyparagon]

It's all ~405nm violet. The first one (like the one you linked) was 20mW and cost $2,000. Use The Way Back Machine on wicked's site.

 

[hwang21]

This is such a thread for smeer and I lol. The first link you posted is the original Sonar, the Sonar Blu-Ray I, which used the first types of blu-ray diodes (at the time multimode and not very stable, it was incredible to have even 20mW of 405nm for a laser- which made the Blu-Ray market very limited and unpopular due to stability and cost issues). It was the first 405nm laser WL produced commercially. Then came the Sonar Blu-Ray II, which was host-wise pretty similar to the Sonar Blu-Ray I (there's one that pops up on eBay every now and then from the same seller- hasn't sold it off yet and it's been quite a while now). Then came the Sonar Elite, Sonar Advanced, and Sonar Extreme, the Sonar Extreme is the second link you posted, the Sonar Elite is the third link you posted. The Sonar Elite was available in 5mW and 20mW models, while the Sonar Extreme went up to 300mW.

I had a Sonar Elite 20mW, but I sold it off to smeer

EDIT: here's the original WL shop pics:

Sonar Blu-Ray II: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/67636717/Lasers/WL Sonar/177[1].jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/67636717/Lasers/WL Sonar/178[1].jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/67636717/Lasers/WL Sonar/179[1].jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/67636717/Lasers/WL Sonar/180[1].jpg

Sonar Extreme: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/67636717/Lasers/WL Sonar/223[1].jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/67636717/Lasers/WL Sonar/224[1].jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/67636717/Lasers/WL Sonar/225[1].jpg

Sonar Advanced: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/67636717/Lasers/WL Sonar/240[1].jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/67636717/Lasers/WL Sonar/241[1].jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/67636717/Lasers/WL Sonar/242[1].jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/67636717/Lasers/WL Sonar/243[1].jpg

Sonar Elite: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/67636717/Lasers/WL Sonar/259[1].jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/67636717/Lasers/WL Sonar/260[1].jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/67636717/Lasers/WL Sonar/261[1].jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/67636717/Lasers/WL Sonar/301[1].jpg

Sonar Elite, Advanced, and Extreme: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/67636717/Lasers/WL Sonar/262[1].jpg

Sonar Blu-Ray I: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/67636717/Lasers/WL Sonar/sonar-1.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/67636717/Lasers/WL Sonar/sonar-2.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/67636717/Lasers/WL Sonar/sonar-3.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/67636717/Lasers/WL Sonar/sonar-4.jpg

Hope this helps :beer:

 

[Danny K]

^Thanks a lot. So for each new one they came out with, were they higher in power?

 

[Danny K]

Also, why was it discontinued?

 

[Danny K]

Why were they discontinued does anyone know?

 

[mortuus]

They cost alot back then and i doubt many bought em, people usually want a green not violet.

 

[bdgreenb]

The lunar e3 is what took its place iirc

 

[hwang21]

They were discontinued for the same reasons any other company discontinues old models... Blu-Ray diode technology also sped up as the Sonar Blu-Ray II was released and later discontinued

In general, each successive release had more stable and better output 405nm. The first diodes used the Sonar Blu-Ray I and Sonar Blu-ray II did not have TEM00

 

[Danny K]

Oh do you think if they had an old one in storage or something they would donate for education?

 

[hwang21]

I seriously doubt they would donate it... they would sell it if anything

 

[Encap]

Why were they discontinued does anyone know?

If you read post number #3 you will know why---It's 405nm violet. The first one (like the one you linked) was 20mW and cost $2,000.

Today a 20mW 405nm if it is $20 it is high priced.

TImes change and technology and availability advances

If you want a WL 405nm buy one of their new ones WL Lunar 405nm , 400mW $299 or a 75mW 405nm WL Nano $99

 

[hwang21]

Or even better, ask a member here to make a 405nm build for you :beer:

 

[Danny K]

No it's not that I want a 405nm. I can build one, I just want a WL Sonar.

 

[mortuus]

No it's not that I want a 405nm. I can build one, I just want a WL Sonar.

you want the host i asume? whats so special about that.. i bet u can get better today and have it custom made dont see the big deal now for a laser thats gone long ago.