Intermittent wireless computer

[Caden]

I have a Cateye Micro Wireless on my bike and I've gone around 700 miles on the computer. The last two rides it started working rather intermittently - it would either show my true speed (20mph) or it would show 5mph or nothing, and it would only record my distance as maybe half what I actually went. I checked the alignment of the sensor/magnet and they're super close as usual.

What was *really* weird is that on my last ride the transmitter didn't work AT ALL for the first 4 miles so I assumed the battery was dead. Then it started working and worked fine for the last 4 miles (8 mile total trip). A battery wouldn't do THAT, would it?

Any ideas? I'll get a new battery to at least *try*, of course...

[SLClimber]

Are you sure you're not riding so fast that the sensor just thinks the wheel is stationary?

From my experience the problems with speed sensors etc. has always been making sure the sensor is close enough to the little metal thing on your spokes. Have you double checked that is hasn't been knocked out of position? I know it's the most obvious thing, but hey always start there I say!

[toegnix]

I've had many computers, wireless and not, so here's my take:

1. Yes, a dying battery could work intermittently. They tend to build up juice overnight and work at the beginning of a ride, and then lose steam as time goes by. Battery performance also varies by temperature, so a weak battery could be fading in and out of life to cause your symptoms.

Is it the battery of the transmitter or the battery of the receiver? If you've got a battery tester, you can figure it out. I don't, so I've found it best to spend a few extra bucks to replace both at the same time to avoid any questions and trouble.

2. Double-check your magnet and sensor set-up. Both my Cateye and Sigma set-ups seemed to be finicky about not only the distance of the magnet to the sensor, but sometimes the angle and the location (higher or lower).

Try moving the sensor or the magnet so that it is passing higher or lower than the suggested line-up point and see if you get anywhere.

3. Try a different magnet. If you've got an extra, it can't hurt. I did this one time and it seemed to work, but there was no telling if it was the success of a different magnet or simply the changing of the position of it relative to the sensor that was effective.

Again, if the repositioning doesn't work, I'd bet on the batteries first, and if they don't solve the issue, it's a bad computer. I had a Cateye 7 (their first wireless) and it stopped working. I mailed it in under their warranty replacement and got a replacement Cateye Micro back within a week.

Good luck!

-adm
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[RussB]

I would think it could be either battery (reciever or transmitter) I'd try the transmitter first. I have the same computer and have put about 800 miles on it Since last September and still using the original batteries. I haven't had any issues. I did do a full re-set on it when I switched bikes.

[Caden]

making sure the sensor is close enough to the little metal thing on your spokes.
Yeah, and that has always been fine (and if not, I've always put it back in position). But this time it tends to not transmit a lot even when the magnet is just 1mm (millimeter, not centimeter) away. I suspect either a weak battery or a failing mechanism (reed switch?) inside.