Cheap Sat Nav / PDA NEW PRICE ! (26/8/06)

borgs

yebaws wrote:

Actually, I just looked at the manual pdf and it seems that you can buy a cable (optional extra) that enables it to work as a USB host. You'll probably need extra drivers and it won't run devices using more than 100 ma at 5V (my external HD - which is from a laptop says it's 0.5A at 5v) unless they have their own mains power and I don't know how you'd do that for an external HD.

Last post just appeared as I was typing, so please excuse the repetition

Some external hard disks come with a transformer (I have a Western Digital), those could possibly work once you buy the USB Host cable - not as portable mind. I wouldn't personally connect one that tried to get its power from the pocketPC to be honest.

borgs

Hands up all those who have had one of the following problems:

1. Even when off, during the night, the device is using 8% of the battery.
2. Sometimes you go to turn it on and it just won't and you have to do a soft-reset or, even worse, a hard reset.

If you suffer from either, or both, of these problems then you'll be please to know that both can be fixed. Well, I say both, definately the first one anyway and most likely the second - ours has been OK for the last two weeks anyway.

The problem is to do with ActiveSync repeatedly activating and trying to sync. There is a technique for getting it not to do this. I have the URL for the fix at work so I can get it on Tuesday and will post then. I post this now just in case, like me, some of you were considering sending the unit back.

I'm now getting between 1% and 2% usage over the night rather than 8% before and it hasn't refused to turn on in the last two weeks and hopefully that is fully fixed also.

deanos

There is a new firmware available, mine dosent have the problem when turning on now after i upgraded the firmware


http://www.fujitsu-siemens.co.uk and go to the download section

borgs

deanos wrote:

There is a new firmware available, mine dosent have the problem when turning on now after i upgraded the firmware


http://www.fujitsu-siemens.co.uk and go to the download section

Excellent, cheers deanos. The fix I was going to post was a temporary fix as it seemed to be taking a long time for any fix to appear from Fujitsu - glad to see its arrived.

Once I've found the temporary fix - which seems to work pretty well on my wifes I must say - I'll post it anyway - for those people who don't want to risk a firmware upgrade.

Is it easy to flash the new ROM? Have you noticed anything else different in the new version?

yebaws

deanos wrote:

There is a new firmware available, mine dosent have the problem when turning on now after i upgraded the firmware


http://www.fujitsu-siemens.co.uk and go to the download section

Can you give us a link to the page with the download please?

There are 2 downloads available and neither properly explains what it does.

http://download.fujitsu-siemens.com/Download/ShowDescription.asp?SoftwareGUID=9B3F5929-0104-4EAB-8C6B-A0115E5A018E&ClassID=F4F1B28F-5725-44CF-AEF4-02327978FF7B

or

http://download.fujitsu-siemens.com/Download/ShowDescription.asp?SoftwareGUID=09730ADB-0157-4162-998A-D53D948AFACA&ClassID=F4F1B28F-5725-44CF-AEF4-02327978FF7B

?

Thanks

deanos

borgs wrote:

Is it easy to flash the new ROM? Have you noticed anything else different in the new version?

Very easy, just make sure you backup your data as you will loose it all, and make sure its powered by the mains and follow the instructions given.

I think it also fixes the battery issue as ive not charged mine for 2 weeks and its still on 31% battery when i just checked it now, before it only lasted about 3 days in standby.

It also updates windows as a battery icon is now on the windows screen before you had to go through aload of menus to see it.


If you look at the 2 firmwares yebaws has listed 1 if for Jan and 1 is for May i used the newest version

http://download.fujitsu-siemens.com/Download/ShowDescription.asp?SoftwareGUID=9B3F5929-0104-4EAB-8C6B-A0115E5A018E&ClassID=F4F1B28F-5725-44CF-AEF4-02327978FF7B

andrew502

borgs wrote:

Some external hard disks come with a transformer (I have a Western Digital), those could possibly work once you buy the USB Host cable - not as portable mind. I wouldn't personally connect one that tried to get its power from the pocketPC to be honest.

Thanks for the helps guys, I suspected that it couldn't supply 500ma. I was trying to find something to use as a SatNav system and mp3 player in one unit for my car, so portability isn't a problem. My own external hard drive has a power connector, just need to find a suitable car power connector for my hard drive.

borgs

As promised, for those that don't want to flash the new firmware onto their device, instructions on how to solve the excessive power usage and "won't turn on" issues. The thread also gives an explanation as to why it happens:

http://www.aximsite.com/boards/showthread.php?t=112638

Note. It's from the Dell Axim site but the same instructions work fine with the Loox N500.

bobdauilda

is this device any good as a gps? Can you use tomtom software on it and if so how much would it cost to get it to the equivalent spec of the tomtom 910?thanks

deanos

bobdauilda wrote:

is this device any good as a gps? Can you use tomtom software on it and if so how much would it cost to get it to the equivalent spec of the tomtom 910?thanks

Yes its a brill sat nav with the latest chipset