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-- Bad Cradles (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/showthread.php?threadid=2303)

I just got off the phone with tech support (after a mere 15 minutes of hold time). I had phone in because my Visor suddenly stopped synching. I use Win 95 with a serial cable. After going through with me all of the things that I had already tried, including running hypertrm.exe I was asked for my shipping address and told that I would be receiving a new cradle within 7 to 14 business days.

You can see my original comments here:

Tech Support Stinks! My VISOR stopped hot-synching! Please help!

I asked if this was a common problem and was told that it was, not only with the serial cradles, but also with the USB cradles. I was also informed that Handspring is aware of the problem and are trying to make "product improvements".

I have had my Visor for almost 4 months now and have experienced no problems with HotSyncing, or otherwise, until today.

When I asked if there was any way that I could get a cradle any sooner than 7 to 14 days I was told that would be impossible as the items were on backorder, which I am sure will shock all of you.

My serial cradle also went bad this week - I've only had it month. Luckily I can use my wife's cradle, but that doesn't help me at work. I haven't called customer service yet, but I will soon. In the meantime, I'm going to try getting IR hotsync software to work so I won't need any cables.

I have a similar problem. My serial cradle quit Sync'ing after only about 3 weeks. HS said they'll send me a new one in approx 10 days. I agree the timing sucks as does the problem. Curiously I do still get some input from the cradle on my terminal emulator Zterm (I use a mac), which makes me think that the cradle has at least some functionality to it. Did you get anything coming across the term emulator when you did this?
Please email me w/reply ([email protected]) or post here.
Thanks.

USB Cradle....Recieved NEW... did 1 sync and got a FE and it did NOT work anymore (cradle that is) Got ahold of Tech support (after 1 1/2 hours on hold) and it seems they have had a very small percentage of problems with the USB Cradles. NO SUPRISE THERE!! Just got the new one today. ALL is ok. But....are ya ready?? They sent me a SOLID Black instead of the Ice I had received!! so.. I called AGAIN today and waited another hour before talking to someone!!
LOL...this is par for the coarse

dakolker,

I had a similar problem, and "fixed" it by manually reducing the transmission speed from the fast as possible setting to 38400. You also might want to try a soft reset of your Visor.

BTW, I still occasionally have a problem syncing; but it usually works on a retry. It may be coincidence, but the problems with syncing have been when the humidity was low.

Also, I ordered a second serial cradle so I wouldn't have to transport cradles between home and work. Swapping the cradle made no difference. If I have problems with the USB cradle (if I can ever get Win2K drivers), I'll probably contact Handspring for a replacement; but until then I can live with the slower sync speeds (can't use the Visor while in the shower - so may as well sync then).

[This message has been edited by yucca (edited 02-02-2000).]

Tried changing speeds and spft reset, but to no avail. I'll try it again though.
Thanks for the reply


>I had a similar problem, and "fixed" it by manually reducing the transmission speed from the fast as possible setting to 38400. You also might want to try a soft reset of your Visor.

BTW, I still occasionally have a problem syncing; but it usually works on a retry. It may be coincidence, but the problems with syncing have been when the humidity was low.

Also, I ordered a second serial cradle so I wouldn't have to transport cradles between home and work. Swapping the cradle made no difference. If I have problems with the USB cradle (if I can ever get Win2K drivers), I'll probably contact Handspring for a replacement; but until then I can live with the slower sync speeds (can't use the Visor while in the shower - so may as well sync then).

[This message has been edited by yucca (edited 02-02-2000).][/B][/QUOTE]

quote:

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Originally posted by dakolker:
until then I can live with the slower sync speeds (can't use the Visor while in the shower - so may as well sync then).

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Cool! I've bookmarked their website, as some of our users will be working in dusty (and rainy) environments. Thanks!

I had problems with my USB cradle today. I called the tech service and they said that they would send me a new one in two to three weeks. Obviously I don't know what I am going to do for the next three weeks. I am going to try to fix my cradle, but it seems that the problem is deeper than a pulled wire. The thing looks pretty sturdy.

I wish that it would come tomorrow and did get a bit frusterated on the phone, but the person I spoke with was nice and I am willing to give these guys a little slack. How did they know that their product would be so popular?

Serial Cradle Died Worked great for two months. NT and Dell Laptop. It was the original one that came with my first VDX. Second one which came with later VDX is working fine(for now). Second one has handspring logo imprinted on serial connector. Number on cable for dead one is 9933-1f on newer one is 9939-1f. Later production run? Hopefully improved version. I will see what the new one has for numbers.
BTW Handspring customer service told me that serial cradle death was not very common.????
This is my two cents worth. 2 weeks to replace is a long time Handspring. Sure glad I have a second one to use.
Looks like they skimped on something inside.

My serial cradle seem to have died as well. I'd be sure of it except that I can see activity on the port with EasyCom. Anyone know what the data from a Visor trying to sync is supposed to look like? Other than a couple break signals, it looks like garbage.
The darn thing worked on morning, didn't work in the afternoon. After all kinds of resets/reboots/uninstalls and reinstalls and trying another computer I gave up and called Tech Support. Less than 15 minutes on hold and a few minutes of troubleshooting and a new cradle is on the way. I hope that solves the problem.

DON'T BOOT COMPUTER WITH VISOR IN CRADLE!!!
My VDx Stopped synching Until i soft reset it.

FWIW, I had a similar sudden stoppage of sync about two months ago (after a month of no problems). I would push the button on the cradle...no response. I found -- and maybe my case was unique -- that pushing the Visor down harder on the pins would fix my problem. I would simply press on the Visor, near the buttons, a little down and away from the hotsync button, and this would do the trick.

My first thought to this problem was, "Oh great, I need a new cradle." However, I was expecting a replacement Visor in the mail, so I held off, thinking a new cradle would arrive with the new Visor. Well, the replacement Visor came by itself, much to my surprise, but the new Visor fixed the problem! I have yet (after 2-3 sync's a day) needed to do anything other than place the VIsor in the cradle and push the sync button. So maybe the issue here is poor pin contact, and at least in my case the Visor was at fault!


tyler