Mio P550 issues...

In article <[email hidden]>, Marcus Fox
<[email protected]> writes

Quoted message said:

Have the Mio P550 and found that I can have the GPS on and backlight on for
~ 4 hours. However

- Being a PDA it is not waterproof and I suspect it may suffer even in light
rain. Any suggestions for solving this problem - perhaps some type of case?

I have worked with a school who use these cases for their P550s on
geography field trips.

http://www.aquapac.net/ukstore/erol.html

I have also used the same company's products to protect radios in
adverse conditions and they were fairly durable as well as keeping the
water out.

There are other case solutions but the more durable like the OtterBox
are relatively heavy and bulky.

http://www.otterbox.com/products/pda_cases/

Quoted message said:

- Another thing I find a bit naff is the fact that the unit easily switches
itself on in your pocket, thus wasting the battery life. Suspect this could
be solved by using a case - the unlock feature is not exactly what I was
looking for.

The Aquapac cases will probably help avoid that even though they are
just a thick kind of rubbery material.

Quoted message said:

- Sometimes there's a problem switching on the unit and I have to press the
reset button.

Not usual for PDAs to require a rest from time to time 🙁

Quoted message said:

- The unit appears to have an accessible battery after removing a screw on
the back cover. However, the faq on the website says that replacing
(changing?) the battery will invalidate the warranty, and in any case it
seems to be glued in place and not removeable without using some amount of
force to unstick it - something I am reluctant to do.

Not as good as a spare internal battery but you can get external battery
packs like this one

http://www.gpsforless.co.uk/product_details.php?id=4143

or cheaper a box that takes 4AA batteries and has a USB socket you plug
the PDAs cable into.

Ebay item 160174668945

In both cases the extra weight and the required cable connection is a
pain but you may find them practical for your use.

--

Dominic Sexton

In article <[email hidden]>, Marcus Fox
<[email protected]> writes

Quoted message said:

Have the Mio P550 and found that I can have the GPS on and backlight on for
~ 4 hours. However

- Being a PDA it is not waterproof and I suspect it may suffer even in light
rain. Any suggestions for solving this problem - perhaps some type of case?

I have worked with a school who use these cases for their P550s on
geography field trips.

http://www.aquapac.net/ukstore/erol.html

I have also used the same company's products to protect radios in
adverse conditions and they were fairly durable as well as keeping the
water out.

There are other case solutions but the more durable like the OtterBox
are relatively heavy and bulky.

http://www.otterbox.com/products/pda_cases/

Quoted message said:

- Another thing I find a bit naff is the fact that the unit easily switches
itself on in your pocket, thus wasting the battery life. Suspect this could
be solved by using a case - the unlock feature is not exactly what I was
looking for.

The Aquapac cases will probably help avoid that even though they are
just a thick kind of rubbery material.

Quoted message said:

- Sometimes there's a problem switching on the unit and I have to press the
reset button.

Not usual for PDAs to require a rest from time to time 🙁

Quoted message said:

- The unit appears to have an accessible battery after removing a screw on
the back cover. However, the faq on the website says that replacing
(changing?) the battery will invalidate the warranty, and in any case it
seems to be glued in place and not removeable without using some amount of
force to unstick it - something I am reluctant to do.

Not as good as a spare internal battery but you can get external battery
packs like this one

http://www.gpsforless.co.uk/product_details.php?id=4143

or cheaper a box that takes 4AA batteries and has a USB socket you plug
the PDAs cable into.

Ebay item 160174668945

In both cases the extra weight and the required cable connection is a
pain but you may find them practical for your use.

--

Dominic Sexton

In article <[email hidden]>, Marcus Fox
<[email protected]> writes

Quoted message said:

Have the Mio P550 and found that I can have the GPS on and backlight on for
~ 4 hours. However

- Being a PDA it is not waterproof and I suspect it may suffer even in light
rain. Any suggestions for solving this problem - perhaps some type of case?

I have worked with a school who use these cases for their P550s on
geography field trips.

http://www.aquapac.net/ukstore/erol.html

I have also used the same company's products to protect radios in
adverse conditions and they were fairly durable as well as keeping the
water out.

There are other case solutions but the more durable like the OtterBox
are relatively heavy and bulky.

http://www.otterbox.com/products/pda_cases/

Quoted message said:

- Another thing I find a bit naff is the fact that the unit easily switches
itself on in your pocket, thus wasting the battery life. Suspect this could
be solved by using a case - the unlock feature is not exactly what I was
looking for.

The Aquapac cases will probably help avoid that even though they are
just a thick kind of rubbery material.

Quoted message said:

- Sometimes there's a problem switching on the unit and I have to press the
reset button.

Not usual for PDAs to require a rest from time to time 🙁

Quoted message said:

- The unit appears to have an accessible battery after removing a screw on
the back cover. However, the faq on the website says that replacing
(changing?) the battery will invalidate the warranty, and in any case it
seems to be glued in place and not removeable without using some amount of
force to unstick it - something I am reluctant to do.

Not as good as a spare internal battery but you can get external battery
packs like this one

http://www.gpsforless.co.uk/product_details.php?id=4143

or cheaper a box that takes 4AA batteries and has a USB socket you plug
the PDAs cable into.

Ebay item 160174668945

In both cases the extra weight and the required cable connection is a
pain but you may find them practical for your use.

--

Dominic Sexton

In article <[email hidden]>, Marcus Fox
<[email protected]> writes

Quoted message said:

Have the Mio P550 and found that I can have the GPS on and backlight on for
~ 4 hours. However

- Being a PDA it is not waterproof and I suspect it may suffer even in light
rain. Any suggestions for solving this problem - perhaps some type of case?

I have worked with a school who use these cases for their P550s on
geography field trips.

http://www.aquapac.net/ukstore/erol.html

I have also used the same company's products to protect radios in
adverse conditions and they were fairly durable as well as keeping the
water out.

There are other case solutions but the more durable like the OtterBox
are relatively heavy and bulky.

http://www.otterbox.com/products/pda_cases/

Quoted message said:

- Another thing I find a bit naff is the fact that the unit easily switches
itself on in your pocket, thus wasting the battery life. Suspect this could
be solved by using a case - the unlock feature is not exactly what I was
looking for.

The Aquapac cases will probably help avoid that even though they are
just a thick kind of rubbery material.

Quoted message said:

- Sometimes there's a problem switching on the unit and I have to press the
reset button.

Not usual for PDAs to require a rest from time to time 🙁

Quoted message said:

- The unit appears to have an accessible battery after removing a screw on
the back cover. However, the faq on the website says that replacing
(changing?) the battery will invalidate the warranty, and in any case it
seems to be glued in place and not removeable without using some amount of
force to unstick it - something I am reluctant to do.

Not as good as a spare internal battery but you can get external battery
packs like this one

http://www.gpsforless.co.uk/product_details.php?id=4143

or cheaper a box that takes 4AA batteries and has a USB socket you plug
the PDAs cable into.

Ebay item 160174668945

In both cases the extra weight and the required cable connection is a
pain but you may find them practical for your use.

--

Dominic Sexton

Marcus Fox said:

Have the Mio P550 and found that I can have the GPS on and backlight on for
~ 4 hours. However

- Being a PDA it is not waterproof and I suspect it may suffer even in light
rain. Any suggestions for solving this problem - perhaps some type of case?

- Another thing I find a bit naff is the fact that the unit easily switches
itself on in your pocket, thus wasting the battery life. Suspect this could
be solved by using a case - the unlock feature is not exactly what I was
looking for.

This a design fault, or feature if you will. The buttons stand
slightly proud of the body. I ultimately solved the problem of mine
turning on in my pocket with a Krusell flip case which has an oval
cut-out over the buttons and so the flap doesn't press on them when
closed. It also has slots for spare SD cards.

http://www.krusell.se/product.php?productID=679&category=51

What Mio should have done is provide a button lock switch so you could
keep it in standby.

If I want waterproof I take my Garmin GPS12 with the Mio in a plastic
bag to consult out of the rain.

Quoted message said:

- Sometimes there's a problem switching on the unit and I have to press the
reset button.

I get that too and it then defaults to the keyboard text entry method
where I prefer the palm-like block recogniser so I have to change it
over each time <grr>

I blame the operating system. My previous PDA was a Palm and that
never hiccuped on switch on, though it did occasionally flatten it's
battery in my rucksack or briefcase. <steam>
--
Phil Cook, last hill: Geal Charn above Glen Markie
http://www.p-t-cook.freeserve.co.uk/Oct07/wh11.htm

Marcus Fox said:

Have the Mio P550 and found that I can have the GPS on and backlight on for
~ 4 hours. However

- Being a PDA it is not waterproof and I suspect it may suffer even in light
rain. Any suggestions for solving this problem - perhaps some type of case?

- Another thing I find a bit naff is the fact that the unit easily switches
itself on in your pocket, thus wasting the battery life. Suspect this could
be solved by using a case - the unlock feature is not exactly what I was
looking for.

This a design fault, or feature if you will. The buttons stand
slightly proud of the body. I ultimately solved the problem of mine
turning on in my pocket with a Krusell flip case which has an oval
cut-out over the buttons and so the flap doesn't press on them when
closed. It also has slots for spare SD cards.

http://www.krusell.se/product.php?productID=679&category=51

What Mio should have done is provide a button lock switch so you could
keep it in standby.

If I want waterproof I take my Garmin GPS12 with the Mio in a plastic
bag to consult out of the rain.

Quoted message said:

- Sometimes there's a problem switching on the unit and I have to press the
reset button.

I get that too and it then defaults to the keyboard text entry method
where I prefer the palm-like block recogniser so I have to change it
over each time <grr>

I blame the operating system. My previous PDA was a Palm and that
never hiccuped on switch on, though it did occasionally flatten it's
battery in my rucksack or briefcase. <steam>
--
Phil Cook, last hill: Geal Charn above Glen Markie
http://www.p-t-cook.freeserve.co.uk/Oct07/wh11.htm

Marcus Fox said:

Have the Mio P550 and found that I can have the GPS on and backlight on for
~ 4 hours. However

- Being a PDA it is not waterproof and I suspect it may suffer even in light
rain. Any suggestions for solving this problem - perhaps some type of case?

- Another thing I find a bit naff is the fact that the unit easily switches
itself on in your pocket, thus wasting the battery life. Suspect this could
be solved by using a case - the unlock feature is not exactly what I was
looking for.

This a design fault, or feature if you will. The buttons stand
slightly proud of the body. I ultimately solved the problem of mine
turning on in my pocket with a Krusell flip case which has an oval
cut-out over the buttons and so the flap doesn't press on them when
closed. It also has slots for spare SD cards.

http://www.krusell.se/product.php?productID=679&category=51

What Mio should have done is provide a button lock switch so you could
keep it in standby.

If I want waterproof I take my Garmin GPS12 with the Mio in a plastic
bag to consult out of the rain.

Quoted message said:

- Sometimes there's a problem switching on the unit and I have to press the
reset button.

I get that too and it then defaults to the keyboard text entry method
where I prefer the palm-like block recogniser so I have to change it
over each time <grr>

I blame the operating system. My previous PDA was a Palm and that
never hiccuped on switch on, though it did occasionally flatten it's
battery in my rucksack or briefcase. <steam>
--
Phil Cook, last hill: Geal Charn above Glen Markie
http://www.p-t-cook.freeserve.co.uk/Oct07/wh11.htm

Marcus Fox said:

Have the Mio P550 and found that I can have the GPS on and backlight on for
~ 4 hours. However

- Being a PDA it is not waterproof and I suspect it may suffer even in light
rain. Any suggestions for solving this problem - perhaps some type of case?

- Another thing I find a bit naff is the fact that the unit easily switches
itself on in your pocket, thus wasting the battery life. Suspect this could
be solved by using a case - the unlock feature is not exactly what I was
looking for.

This a design fault, or feature if you will. The buttons stand
slightly proud of the body. I ultimately solved the problem of mine
turning on in my pocket with a Krusell flip case which has an oval
cut-out over the buttons and so the flap doesn't press on them when
closed. It also has slots for spare SD cards.

http://www.krusell.se/product.php?productID=679&category=51

What Mio should have done is provide a button lock switch so you could
keep it in standby.

If I want waterproof I take my Garmin GPS12 with the Mio in a plastic
bag to consult out of the rain.

Quoted message said:

- Sometimes there's a problem switching on the unit and I have to press the
reset button.

I get that too and it then defaults to the keyboard text entry method
where I prefer the palm-like block recogniser so I have to change it
over each time <grr>

I blame the operating system. My previous PDA was a Palm and that
never hiccuped on switch on, though it did occasionally flatten it's
battery in my rucksack or briefcase. <steam>
--
Phil Cook, last hill: Geal Charn above Glen Markie
http://www.p-t-cook.freeserve.co.uk/Oct07/wh11.htm

In message <[email hidden]>, Marcus Fox
<[email protected]> writes

Quoted message said:

Being a PDA it is not waterproof and I suspect it may suffer even in light
rain. Any suggestions for solving this problem - perhaps some type of case?

Google for an "Otter Box" you'll find a bomb proof box for your PDA
--
Bill Grey