2-year-old Magellan Flaking Out - Is This Normal?

[stache]

A couple of weeks ago I put in a new set of cheap batteries,

and they were used up within 30 mins. Normally I can get

4-6 hours of use (turning off the unit while not using it).

 

Put in Duracells, and while they lasted a whole hour, the unit

kept going blank, and I had to restart it.

 

I got it two years ago for Father's Day, and would like to keep

using it. Is it a matter of shaking it, opening it up and

reprogramming the ROM, or is this one of those

early-adopter kind of activities where you're expected to

throw everything out every year or two and upgrade to

the hottest thing? I'd love to have one of those Treos

with maps, and GPS integration, but life at the low end

isn't so bad.

 

Thanks.

[vagabond]

2 things to check, the connections in the battery compartment, and see if your backlight is on, Embra might pop in and have a few more suggestions

[+embra]

I don't have a whole lot to add. Is this a Meridian? If so the battery springs in the GPS unit itself might be off their contacts and shorting out or something. Since you're our of waranty, it's a pretty easy thing to open it up to check and re-seat if necessary.

 

Can you hook up to external power to see if it behaves any better?

 

Allthough this sounds more like a hardware than a firmware problem, I was going to suggest reinstalling the firmware as a precaution. But then the thought occurred that the unit might turn itself off while installing...nevermind. A clear memory/all and reinitialization leaving it out under a clear view of the sky for 15 minutes would be safe enough, though.

[+EScout]

Embra makes good points. The battery contacts are sprung to the PCB and may move off if the batteries are inserted/removed incorrectly. This happened to me when my Meridian was new and a quick opening up and it was fixed.

 

Also do what embra says in his second and third paragraphs.

[stache]

Embra makes good points. The battery contacts are sprung to the PCB and may move off if the batteries are inserted/removed incorrectly. This happened to me when my Meridian was new and a quick opening up and it was fixed.

 

Also do what embra says in his second and third paragraphs.

 

Thanks for the advice. Never underestimate the power of a few cents worth of wadded

up tin foil.