Vx -- Resurrecting two old units
 

11:45, Monday
29th Day, 2007


Palm-Users-All:

I have acquired two older, Vx palms. They appear to be in perfect mechanical shape -- no external damage, clean looking screens, and good feel of the buttons. But they will not fire up.

I have the cradles plugged into the serial port and I am reading 11.9+ volts between cradle pins 1-3, and 11.8+ volts between pins 1-6.

But the units will not take a charge. No lights, no flicker, no nothing.

While off the cradle, and while on the cradle, I have tried both soft reset and hard reset. I have worked with the green ON-OFF button and the reset pin, and with the mini-button on the top-left of the frame and the reset pin. NOTHING!! By the way, what is the function of this mini-button on the top, just behind the "Palm Vx"??

To my awareness, these units sat on the shelf for several months before they came to me.

Does anyone have a suggestion??

If I should get new batteries, I cannot see how to get into the case. I am pretty good at these types of tasks, but cannot see any screws or obvious (or inobvious) path to open the case.

I am aware of the hazard of Li-ion batteries going to -0-, and not coming back. But I do not know what types of batteries are inside. By the way, these units came from two separate, private acquisitions.

I have a good bit of experience with my CLIE SJ22 and some other PDA's and a wide exposure to technology and mini-technology and repairs thereof, but getting into these Vx units (and preserving cosmetics of the cases) is a problem.

Looking for your experience or advice.

If you would, please reply to me at RA_MUA@yahoo.com. I will also be checking this forum.

Thank you for your time,

RA

I cannot help you with your other many questions, but as far a how to take apart: The V and Vx are not intuitive on how to take apart. It appears that the are GLUED shut. For take apart instructions see:

http://www.gethightech.com/Merchant...ry_Code=_P5TAKE

NOW, I know!!!
 

Potter:

Thank you for the reference. NOW, I know that I was not overlooking an obvious solutoin. Heat it is!!

Thanks, again,

RA

Actually I do know a little more.


I cannot find the definitive documentation any more. However, if you search the web for "Palm pinouts" would should be able to find a few references. The original Pilot though Vx and I think the m100 & m105 all used the same pin outs, save changes in the structure of the connector, some minor signal characteristic changes, and defining pin-2 (originally undefined) to be V-Charge. Since the original there has been the so called "Universal Connector", and now the "Multi-connector" (also known as the Athena Connector).

Assuming I am reading and remembering this correct, pin 1 is DTR, 3 is RxD, and 6 is CTS, therefore you are functionally measuring the difference between several RS-232 lines. Since the Vx does use standard RS-232 level signals, seeing almost 12 volts is quite reasonable, officially you could have seen up to 24.

GND is the 10-pin, and V-Charge is the 2.


The Vx did use LiIon. Reference: http://euro.palm.com/uk/en/products/palmvx/details.html