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Hiya,
Some weird blips have been happening with my MC218. The symptoms are:
1. Recently, when a set alarm has gone off it sometimes changes to a strangled bleating sound and the screen blanks out for a few seconds. Then everything seems to go back to normal.
2. The power goes off suddenly, with a sad, mangled bleep, and then comes back on immediately with the Symbian splash screen. Apart from the size of the text display everything is as before.
3. Battery life is down from around 10 hours to around 4 hours.
Any ideas what the problem might be?
Thanks!
Siri
struesda
11-19-2002, 06:53 AM
What type of batteries are you using?
The Duracell self-test ones have been known to short-circuit and drain themselves in tight battery compartments (like the MC218).
You might try cleaning the battery contacts in the battery compartment with a pencil eraser. If these are dirty, it could cause the batteries to intermittently loose contact, or not allow the full current through.
If that doesn't help, you might need to dissasemble it and check the wire connections. But let's hope others have ideas before you have to try that.
Good luck,
Steve Truesdale
I have used Duracells successfully, though latterly have been using another brand - that could be a problem. I have just put in fresh Duracells, thinking that the other batteries could be the culprit, but the same symptoms cropped up. Hm. I will try cleaning the contacts as you suggest, and let the forum know whether the problems persist.
Thanks, Steve.
Regards,
Siri
wanman
11-19-2002, 08:31 AM
Check your Link to Desktop settings. Do you leave this on or off? What about switching off your machine, do you have auto switch off enabled? Should the unit switch off when the case is closed? check that setting aswell as it could be staying on?
I have always used the duracell self test and never had a problem in my 5mx. I rarely use it now but keep batteries in it to maintain my data as I use it as a backup for my 7book or when I need a smaller unit.
4 hours sounds very poor indeed. It could be that you have a short somewhere in your Psion but that is unlikely without having some other visible effect. If it is still under warranty then it may be worth getting it checked out.
Let us know how you get on.
Regards
Si
Oh, just thought, may be worth while replacing your backup battery aswell, just in case your batteries do fail. Make sure you do this whilst connected to the mains and also backup your unit first, just in case you do loose power when changing it.
Wanman said: Check your Link to Desktop settings. Do you leave this on or off?
Uh, off, I would imagine off as I don't know what it is! I have been using the Ericsson for about a year, and have only recently experienced this problem.
Wanman said: What about switching off your machine, do you have auto switch off enabled? Should the unit switch off when the case is closed? check that setting aswell as it could be staying on?
Yes, auto switch off is enabled. But it isn't just auto switching off - it does it right in the middle of me using it! And yes, it does switch off when the case is closed, I've checked.
Wanman said: 4 hours sounds very poor indeed.
You're not kidding!
Wanman said: It could be that you have a short somewhere in your Psion but that is unlikely without having some other visible effect.
Well, maybe another visible effect could be this power off-on at random intervals behaviour?
Unfortunately - and typically - I have been the proud owner of the MC218 for just over a year, so am just outside the warranty period. Hey ho.
Wanman said: Oh, just thought, may be worth while replacing your backup battery aswell, just in case your batteries do fail. Make sure you do this whilst connected to the mains and also backup your unit first, just in case you do loose power when changing it.
Good advice, thanks. Now if only I'd bought the mains adaptor, I could follow it... Backup battery condition is described as good, at the moment, but now, of course, I'm afraid to change it :-( OTOH, I will do a backup tonight, just in case. (Assuming the power doesn't cut out half-way through, that is...)
Cheers,
Siri
brianh
11-19-2002, 06:44 PM
You might want to consider trying Lithium AA batteries. They are a little more expensive but I have clocked - 54 hours - on them (well worth the little extra money).
Originally posted by Siri
Wanman said: Check your Link to Desktop settings. Do you leave this on or off?
Uh, off, I would imagine off as I don't know what it is! I have been using the Ericsson for about a year, and have only recently experienced this problem.
Whilst this won't be the source of your problem, you will save yourself a bit of juice by turning off the serial port when you're not connected to a PC. To access it, in the System screen go Menu-> File..Tools..Link to Desktop..
nigelp
11-20-2002, 05:09 AM
Does just having this on even if not connected to the seriel lead drain battery power? Usually try to close all applications but this is one that I tend to forget.
wanman
11-20-2002, 05:24 AM
Yes, even if you do not actually have a lead connected. This also applies to your IRDA port aswell (if left activated).
Regards
Si
Oh before I forget, I was checking out Diem's great web site and a section on battery life reminded me of experiences with my 5mx.
Siri, you confirm you were getting an average of 10hrs battery life before it reduced to 4hrs. Even 10hrs is very low and suggests a problem with your unit or batteries.
On average my Duracell Ultra M3 batteries (5mx) were lasting me 16-23 hours depending how much I used the screen backlight. The screen backlight is very power hungry so if you use your machine for a couple of hours a day with backlight on, then this will seriously affect your battery life. If you never/hardly ever use your backlight, then you should be getting a battery life around the 20-25 hours mark.
Diem's web site - http://www.isbg00598.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/
Even 10hrs is very low and suggests a problem with your unit or batteries. [...] If you never/hardly ever use your backlight, then you should be getting a battery life around the 20-25 hours mark.
I usually use the backlight - although I don't use the device for hours each day, so a 10-hour battery life is to be expected - and has been consistent since I got the MC218 in September 2001. Except for the last wee while, that is - 4 hours is rubbish, and must indicate some kind of problem - along with the random power-downs and -ups. After advice here, I have checked the contacts - all clean and shiny, and made sure the spring is springy. Because this problem is unpredictable I now just have to wait to see if it's going to keep on happening... :-(
Siri
wanman
11-21-2002, 05:21 AM
Hi Siri,
10 hrs is still very poor. You should be getting around 15-20hrs at least. May be worth sending it away for repair, especially as it is now eating batteries every 4 hours. I doubt it will be long before the thing goes bang and you loose your data. www.posltd.com are very reasonable and should get to the bottom of it.
Regards
Si
Originally posted by wanman
Hi Siri,
10 hrs is still very poor. You should be getting around 15-20hrs at least. May be worth sending it away for repair, especially as it is now eating batteries every 4 hours. I doubt it will be long before the thing goes bang and you loose your data. www.posltd.com are very reasonable and should get to the bottom of it.
Regards
Si
15-20 hours when almost all use is with the backlight on? When if you hardly ever use it battery life would be 20-25 hours? That doesn't seem to quite add up, given how power-hungry the backlight is...
I went off to have a look at the link you kindly provided. Unfortunately, for future reference, they don't deal with the MC218:
"Please note that we do not repair the Psion Series 7, Psion Netbook or Ericsson MC218. You should address any enquiries to Psion Teklogix on 01235 443068, or the Ericsson Suport Line on 08705 237237."
Siri
wanman
11-21-2002, 06:18 AM
Using a 5mx I was averaging 15-20 hrs when I used the backlight feature for approx 3-5 mins, a couple a nights a week. If I went a whole set of batteries without using the backlight, I would get an average of over 20hrs. That is my real experiences.
The MC218 is exactly the same machine apart from a few minor tweaks and slightly different software and an IR Modem. Essentially though, it should pretty much match the 5mx for power consumption. If it doesn't then there must be a reason for it. In my opinion 4-10hrs indicates a problem of some kind.
I am sure that if you were able to switch on a 5mx with new batteries and leave it on with the backlight, you would get at least 5-10hrs out of it.
I note your comments regarding POS. Point taken. May need to phone Ericsson then??
Regards
Si
Originally posted by wanman
Essentially though, it should pretty much match the 5mx for power consumption. If it doesn't then there must be a reason for it. In my opinion 4-10hrs indicates a problem of some kind.
I am sure that if you were able to switch on a 5mx with new batteries and leave it on with the backlight, you would get at least 5-10hrs out of it.
I note your comments regarding POS. Point taken. May need to phone Ericsson then??
Sure, 4 hours is problematical - before, though, it was 10-11 which I was happy enough with, given that I usually use the backlight.
I phoned Ericsson - the upshot of that was that it'll cost me £34 for them to look at it. If I refuse their estimate for repair, I pay the £34.
Given that the MC218 is virtually identical to the Psion, I rang POS to find out why they don't repair them. I spoke to a very pleasant woman and, in fact, it turns out that they do. But if you send them your MC218 and, say, the case needs to be replaced, it will come back with "Psion" on it rather than "Ericsson". Apparently this bothers many people.
POS will charge £20 for an "inspection": if you go ahead with their recommendations for repair this charge is waived, and you pay £75 for Standard Service or £125 LCD Service.
The information on their website is very clearly laid out, so is worth a visit.
BTW, since I started this thread, the MC218 has behaved itself impeccably. Funny that... I think I will do a backup each night for a while and wait to see if anything disastrous occurs. Seventy five quid is a lot of dosh.
Siri
PDA Street
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