Neptune dead after trying to enter bootlogger mode?

[tonto]

Just tried to do an update for a user from 2.6.1 to 2.6.2.

After trying to get it into bootlogger mode, and hearing no beeps, the unit is now dead. Won't respond to anything.

This is a little embarasing. I've loaned the jumper my Neptune in the meantime. Any idea how to resolve this?

t

[IanHarrop]

I had this happen last summer. I was doing the standard update for someone, didn't expect any issues, done it lots of times. OOPS. Unit had to be sent back to Alti-2 and was replaced as it could not be repaired.

[Tim Henderson]

If you have trouble with an update, you try putting a fresh battery in while holding down the outer buttons - and if you don't hear beeps, you pull the battery out and just hold down the outer buttons for about ten seconds... then keep holding the buttons and insert the battery.

Sometimes buttons are stiff or make poor contact, and with repeated attempts you can get it into bootloader mode. Once there, the unit can be updated.

If the unit will not boot into the normal mode, and will not come up in bootloader mode, it has to come back to Alti-2.

tonto I hope you were using the 2.6.2 version of NMU to do the update... were you?

[tonto]

tonto I hope you were using the 2.6.2 version of NMU to do the update... were you?

I was. This was the 8th update I've done with the new NMU. I've been changing temp to C afterwards too as no one here knows what F is. I'll try a few more times with a new battery.

t

[tonto]

Update. I managed to get it to beep after about 2 hrs of trying, but no way would the NMU see it.

t

[Twincam]

Hi Tonto,
Something that might help you faultfind: To check if your IR port is working on either the Neptune or your Laptop/Desktop, use a digital camera (even the one in your Cellphone works great) and look at the ports through it. The IR light will blink in a very light blue to white colour on the screen.
This can indicate to you whether the ports are actually attempting to communicate to each other...
Hope it helps a bit!
Fast blue Skies, Deep blue Dives
Twincam

[Klaus]

To check if your IR port is working on either the Neptune or your Laptop/Desktop, use a digital camera (even the one in your Cellphone works great) and look at the ports through it. The IR light will blink in a very light blue to white colour on the screen.

Careful! There are cameras out there which block IR. I just verified that neither my Nokia 6230i, Sony PC-8 or Minolta D5D see the IR light.

So, if you see the light, you know it works, if you don't see the light, the unit is not necessarily broken!

HTH,
Klaus

[Twincam]

Thanks Klaus,

I got it on a Samsung D600, Nokia N95, PDA2K, and my Sony HC26E... But good point. Best is to check on your Laptop IR port? Mine pings every 2 seconds or so...

Good luck t...

[Tim Henderson]

Tonto were you able to get that last unit to update? Was it an IR problem on the PC side?

[tonto]

No, never got it to update, but managed to get it back into normal mode, so it remains functional. Once in normal mode, I tried to read using the NMU, but no response, so I concluded it was the IR port on the Neptune. I've told the user if he wants it updated in the future to fill out a PRA and send it to you.

It's not an IR problem on the PC side. I've updated 2 other Neptunes since then with no problem at all using the same hardware.

Thanks to all for the support.

t

[Tim Henderson]

No, never got it to update, but managed to get it back into normal mode, so it remains functional. Once in normal mode, I tried to read using the NMU, but no response, so I concluded it was the IR port on the Neptune. I've told the user if he wants it updated in the future to fill out a PRA and send it to you.

It's not an IR problem on the PC side. I've updated 2 other Neptunes since then with no problem at all using the same hardware.

Thanks to all for the support.

t

Tonto thanks for all the hard work troubleshooting this. It's rare to have an IR port fail but it does happen.

At this point all we can do is ask for the return of the unit via RMA:
http://alti-2.com/customer%20support/repairs.htm

On the RMA please reference this forum thread. (138)
http://forum.altimaster.com/showthread.php?t=138

Thanks again.