Registered: Jan 2001
Location:
Posts: 17

Folks,

Unit: Visor Deluxe

I have a problem with the IR beaming. Right now, I can't send or receive with it. Prior to this, I have had several successful IR transfers in this order: a business card and software from a Palm V, a business card from a Nokia 8210 phone (this could be a cause), and a business card from a Visor Deluxe.

I read around that I was not suppossed to be receiving vcards from Nokia to begin with. That could be the problem. Should I do the ultimate reset?

Beaming is on. I have warm resetted to no avail.

Help

Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 251

Have you ever tried and then removed Datebook4? There is a problem with it that leaves your beaming broken. Pimlico has a fix in the DBScan program. Running the program fixes the issue and then you can remove the program.

Registered: Jan 2001
Location:
Posts: 17

Thanks Rolando for your reply.

Nope. Don't have datebook4.

But the fact that you replied faster than the tech support from Handspring (which hasn't replied yet and it's been 72 hours -- I mean, all you need to do is send an email) is very encouraging.

Any other ideas? I already did a hard reset and it hasn't worked yet! I don't want to send it back to the shop -- I live across the Pacific.

Antsy

Registered: Jan 2000
Location: Lawrence, NY, USA
Posts: 148

Anything that a hard reset doesn't solve is a hardware issue. Afraid you gotta send it back .

__________________
Life's just a blast, just it's moving really fast, and you'd <BR>better stay on top or life'll kick you in the ass -Limp Bizkit

Registered: Jan 2001
Location:
Posts: 17

Gee, that really brings me down.

Awwww, man!

So now, I need to figure out how important the beaming thing is to me. I don't go out on sales calls, I don't play Ir games (unless, of course, you can play FIFA 2000 on it -- which won't happen until my next Visor), I'm always on my desk anyway, so, I guess I have to suck it up.

Unless someone else has another idea (Please). I haven't dropped this thing yet, so it could still be software, no?

More Antsy.

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Lake in the Hills, IL, US
Posts: 5

Had the same problem a few weeks ago. Got the Visor 1 year ago. Beaming worked fine when i got it. A couple of months ago I tried beaming with another guy at work with a Palm IIIe and it didn't work. I tried everything that tech support suggested. Still didn't work. Eventually had to send it back. The the replacement would not beam with the old one, but seemed to work fine with the Palm IIIe at work. Problem is the replacement was a refurbished unit (blue dot on the back of the battery cover next to the SN) with a loose screen. Sent that one back too. In the end I have a visor with working beaming and a screen that doesn't move. There definitley was a problem with the original. The replacements beam without a problem.

Registered: Jan 2001
Location:
Posts: 17

Hhhmmmm...

I guess I can wait (and suck it up).

Hey, Time, how long did it take them to ship the replacement? And, if you don't mind, where did you send it to and from?

I'm not in the US, but I will be in the US for about 2 weeks in July. If I haven't fixed it before then, maybe I can send it out first thing I get there, and hope to get it back within those 2 weeks?

Doable?

Registered: Jan 2001
Location:
Posts: 17

More Details on Beaming Problem

Folks,

Here's what happens when I beam something: the recipient does not get a prompt at all.

HOWEVER, when someone beams me something: I get a prompt that says "waiting for sender", but it won't complete the transfer.

This tells me that the IR itself is fine (hardware) -- at least I think so. But could there be just something wrong with the, er, protocol that handles the transfer? Maybe the transfer to and from the Nokia handy affected it?

Last ditch antsiness.

Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Midwest
Posts: 232

Jester,

"Here's what happens when I beam something: the recipient does not get a prompt at all."

Sounds like your IR emitter is not working.

"HOWEVER, when someone beams me something: I get a prompt that says "waiting for sender", but it won't complete the transfer."

Your IR receiver IS working, but since your emitter is not, it can't handshake with the sending device to coordinate the send.

"This tells me that the IR itself is fine (hardware) -- at least I think so. But could there be just something wrong with the, er, protocol that handles the transfer? Maybe the transfer to and from the Nokia handy affected it? "

It tells me your emitter is dead. It probably wore out. It like a little light bulb, after all. It might have just come lose (bad solder job), and could possibly be fixed. The only thing a sending device might be able to do is overwhelm your receiver. The fact that your emitter failed after a Nokia transfer is just coincidence.

That's the best my logic can do. Hope it helps.

Dave

__________________
There is nothing yet made by man that cannot be improved upon.

Registered: Jan 2001
Location:
Posts: 17

DBrown:

Wow! Thanks. Did you sign-up just to answer my posting? :-)

Kidding aside, your logic makes sense. If I go in there with a screwdriver and some soldering iron, will The Force be with me?

Can you go the extra mile (or can someone can) and show me how to do it? If it looks relatively simple, maybe I can bring out the Macgyver in me.

Less antsy.

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: brooklyn
Posts: 268

has HS told you anything yet?

i just had the exact same issue happen to my deluxe, and a <i>soft reset</i> fixed it perfectly. you said in your post that both warm and hard resets didn't work, so i don't understand why my soft reset did, but, maybe you should try one before opening up the unit...

i use it with my nokia a lot, by the way... where did you read that was bad?

__________________
exit, pursued by a bear.

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 217

Jester:
I've returned several Visors (although I live in the US) and each time they've sent me the replacement *first*. So I'm not sure you'd have to be without your Visor at all.

Registered: Jan 2001
Location:
Posts: 17

Jupe:

HS came back to me with the usual: clean the lens, make sure it's within range, don't try beaming from moving objects like the commercial, etc. A bit disappointed.

I saw the beaming-from-mobile-phones bit somewhere in the HS website. Try the troubleshooting section (I think it's the Customer Support, then go look under the beaming topic.

Jupe: that's excellent news. I'll see if they support outside US users the same way.

Thanks. DBrown's comments make good logic. I won't go in yet. I'll check with customer support from Hong Kong and see what they have.

Registered: Jan 2001
Location:
Posts: 17

Matty: I've tried soft resetting, and it didn't work. You say your problem and my problem is/was the same? Can you recall the events prior to your beaming problem? Thanks

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Lake in the Hills, IL, US
Posts: 5

Jester,

Jupe is correct Handspring will send you a new unit before you return yours. I live in IL, and I think it only took 5-7 business days. They let you keep both units for about 14 days and charge your credit card if you don't return one.

For me it was worth returning. The new one beamed perfectly. The original would occasionally accept small apps or business cards but it was very slow, and it would not send anything. We tried every angle and distance. I even tried using omniremote on the original, which worked, if that makes any sense.

Any way returning the unit wasn't that big of a deal.

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 62

Short Dist Beaming ?

I am now on my third Blue VDX. My first one really didn't get the beaming tested. I sent one business card. I dropped my VDX, it died, and Handspring replaced it.

My second one didn't beam at all. Not a business card, nothing. Handspring replaced it.

My third one does beam, but only over a very short distance. Really only over 1 inch. I have beamed cards easily, but apps are spotty, and if the two units are staring in each other's eye, with nearly no air in between, they will work, with a bit of effort.

Do you think that this is a problem with IR hardware of my VDX? What have any of you experienced as a "distance" between sending and receiving units? I was hoping for hand held units at about 6 inches. I am relegated to setting them on a coffee table nearly touching.

larry

Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 251

I can beam between Visors and Visor/Palm to about 2-3 feet depending on how steady the hands are.

It is most reliable for large files at under a foot.

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: brooklyn
Posts: 268

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jester
Matty: I've tried soft resetting, and it didn't work. You say your problem and my problem is/was the same? Can you recall the events prior to your beaming problem? Thanks

---

__________________
exit, pursued by a bear.

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: London, UK
Posts: 118

Using a VDL beaming to another VDL (both using Palm OS 3.1H) I'm having difficultis beaming datebook entries.

Here's what I'm doing, I selected the event, went to the "Record" menu and clicked "Beam Event" - nothing happened.

Went to Address and beamed a contact - success...

is there something I'm missing???

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 62

Replacement VDX

Well, after hearing that a "normal" VDX can beam over a distance of 2 - 3 feet, and mine was beaming over 1 - 2 inches, I called Handspring. The CSR confirmed that this was not good, and said that they would send me a replacement. Note that I originally bought mine in December, 1999.

I called on Thursday, and got my replacement on Friday. I mean REALLY, the next day!!

It took 6 minutes for Backup Buddy to completely reload my VDX, and now I am waiting for someone to test out my beaming capability. The one that I just got was a refurb also. But they said that they would send me a brand new one if I sent my unit back first. That would mean being without it for a week or two. That's too long for me.

So, I am going to try out this refurb. If it's fine, I remain a happy Visor Camper.

larry