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ErnieS Occasional Visitor
Joined: Jan 22, 2004 Posts: 19
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Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2004 11:13 pm Post subject: Is it fault or Fortuna? |
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I have a Fortuna GPSmartBT which I must admit I have had for quite a long while but never used in anger just sort of played with it until the batteries go flat then removed them and sort of forgot about it. But today I needed a second Navigator so I loaded Tomtom on my H5455 and tried to use the Fortuna with no luck it just searched for Sats for about 3 mins then reset itself over and over. It has 2.23 formware in it so I thought I wonder if I flashed it, it may help.... think again even though I have both cables serial and USB when I the refresh it just times out ? anyone any ideas ? or is it just knackered ? _________________ ErnieS
H5550,H5455,Fujitsu Siemens Pocket L00X, VDO Dayton MS5000, Navman SE Sleeve, Haicom GPS, TomTom GPS, TomTom Navigator 2&3, TomTom RoutePlanner & CityMaps, Fortuna Bluetooth GPS & more Garmins than I care to Admit to! Is this too much? |
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ErnieS Occasional Visitor
Joined: Jan 22, 2004 Posts: 19
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Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2004 1:31 pm Post subject: |
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Looking back at this posting it seems a little hard to follow so I will try and make it more easy to follow (for me too).
I have a Fortuna GPSmartBT that I bought new about 12 months ago and have never used, I tried it out when I got it and it worked fine apart from eating batteries so I put it away after first removing the batteries. I got it out to use yesterday but all it does is "GPS searching Please wait" and then it reset about every 3 mins, the display does not show it has acquired any but if I step through to satellites on the menu I can see it is seeing some but they never appear on the first display which just shows the one it is checking. I came to the conclusion that its almanac was out of date so decided to reflash it as it is presently at version 2.23 and while Fortunasync will read and write to it it will not refresh the firmware. Am I doing something wrong or is it truly faulty? Has anyone else come across this? |
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ErnieS Occasional Visitor
Joined: Jan 22, 2004 Posts: 19
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Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 11:29 am Post subject: |
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Should I conclude from the lack of replies that my Fortuna is unique in this behavior ? Sorry this is brief but it is hard work on the pocket pc..... |
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ErnieS Occasional Visitor
Joined: Jan 22, 2004 Posts: 19
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Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 12:25 am Post subject: Useful Addresses? |
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How about a new Forum then useful addresses for when things go wrong?
I could start it off with TomTom, Arkon and Navman Europe !
Just a thought but if anyone has has a contact phone number or address for Fortuna it would be appreciated. |
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Philip Regular Visitor
Joined: 12/09/2002 14:25:05 Posts: 141 Location: Hampshire, United Kingdom
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ErnieS Occasional Visitor
Joined: Jan 22, 2004 Posts: 19
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DeeJay Occasional Visitor
Joined: Feb 05, 2004 Posts: 13 Location: Near to: 52.6360 / -1.1325
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Posted: Sat Sep 11, 2004 4:54 pm Post subject: |
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There now seem to be 3 issues in this thread.
1) Should there be a Forum for contact addresses? That's for
the Forum Admin.
2) What is the contact email for Fortuna? It *IS* on their
website: Service@Fortuna.Com.TW
I share your frustration, but I *have* had a reply from that
address during the past week, which included -
"We apology for any inconvience because of the delay of our reply. We are always trying to reply customers' queries as soon as possible. However, due to the workload and time difference, there probably will be some delays. We really appreciate for your patience with us."
3) Have you got a faulty GPSmart? I'm no expert, but I don't think
there should be a need to reflash it after a lay-off of a few months.
Does the v2.23 firmware still run, or have you trashed it in
attempting to upgrade it? If the on-board firmware still runs I'd
suggest re-trying with nice fresh batterys and the best possible view
of a clear sky open to wide horizons as far as possible.
Good luck
DJ _________________ DeeJay
Leicester, UK
e: PktGPS ["AT"] DavidRoberts.Org.UK |
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ErnieS Occasional Visitor
Joined: Jan 22, 2004 Posts: 19
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Posted: Sat Sep 11, 2004 5:43 pm Post subject: |
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Hello David,
Yes it has got a bit messy, but to answer your questions.
I have tried to run the Fortuna which was working when I took the batteries out, but when I tried to use it just over a week ago it just found sats on the sat page and reset every 3 mins. But never showed them on the first page which is why I rightly or wrongly assumed that it had lost it's almanac (the bit where it stores the details of sats) it usually gets between 3 and 6 before it resets.
I after writing the first part of this tried to contact Fortuna with the service@Fortuna.com.tw as yet the mail has to be read. Then I tried the other emails all of which show unread.
The unit has never been updated because it won't update it just times out, however I can read it and I can write to it. I just can't refresh it's firmware. Which is the second reason for thinking it is faulty.
Oh and not only have I tried it with fresh new batteries but I have left it sat in the sunroof of my car powered from the car for 9 hours.... Its still not worked.
Little note of panic due to at least two of the advertisers on this forum saying "No Longer Available" on some of their Fortuna products |
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Matrox Occasional Visitor
Joined: Mar 29, 2004 Posts: 9 Location: York, UK
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Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2004 5:45 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Ernies,
Only just seen this thread. If you'd checked previous posts going back some months i and a few others had this problem. After many months of trying firmware, software and back again i contacted Sylvia at Fortuna and eventually sent it back. It was obviously faulty and they sent me a replacement, which, touching wood, (i'm not superstitious), has been a lot better than my previous one when i first got it. Strangley it did seem as though it was a gradual deteriation of the product over about 3 months, so whether there is a faulty component i dont know. the main problem i have now as before is the life of the batteries. NiMh last about 3 to 4 hours with BT on. If the unit keeps performing ok i am going to modify it and hot glue a 4 unit AA battery pack to it. Using NiMh's will bring the voltage up to the full voltage of 3 Alkalines but with 4 times the capacity. (16 hours). I have also seen the new breed of chargers which charge batteries individually. I have often found one battery is completely flat whereas the other 2 are fine.
Anyway the turnaround should you get a returns number from Fortuna, is around 10 days.
Good luck,
Matrox |
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