Computer Weirdness

[CorsairMac]

It's a Topeak Panorama wireless. (Love it) That's what I thought at first, Trek420, and I spent way too much time messing around with it, and then gave up, and when I turned it back on an hour later, because it was driving me crazy to not know EVERYTHING, even though I was on a mile-marked paved trail, then it started up with the crazy readings.

I think I am going to replace the battery. Seems like it shouldn't be going dead yet- it's only three months old. But over 1500 miles.

Nanci

it's only 3 mnths old - to you! you have no idea how long it sat on the shelf.

[DeniseGoldberg]

If it's a wireless computer - did you change both batteries (computer + transmitter)? If not, I'd recommend changing the other battery too.

--- Denise

[Deanna]

If everything else checks out (batteries, sensors, etc), did you happen to park the bike someplace where the computer would be close to a magnet? I once left my bike parked at work with the computer near one of those magnetic security key locks and it acted like that afterwards.

[Nanci]

It _was_ the battery of the sending unit.

Nanci

[Nanci]

So yesterday morning was the third day of the new battery. Cold- about 50. I guess that isn't cold for some! I _did_ manage to ride without hat or windproof tights...

I slid the computer into its mount. I take it off the bike when the bike is on the rack, since I've found out the hard way that anything that _can_ fall off _will_ fall off.

So I take off for my ride and am disgusted to find out it isn't picking up. I HATE this for some reason, irrationally, since I am on a mile-marked trail. So I fiddle around with the sending unit/magnet, and take the battery out and warm it up, and after five miles of misery, take the computer out of its mount and mess around with it and slide it back in, and CLICK IT INTO PLACE, duh!!!!! It immediately starts reading.

So, another thing to check would be that it is actually connected to the mount securely.

I didn't start riding until 9:30, late enough apparently for the crazies to be out and about. Walking down the bike path like Dawn of the Dead or something. I rode 80 miles, and as a special treat, 5 miles from my car at the end, saw that Creepy Guy with the sombrero again, riding the opposite direction. Fortunately, he kept on going.

Nanci

[uk elephant]

I'm having trouble with my wireless computer thingy too and did a quick search and found this thread. Maybe it is just batteries? It has been pretty cold around here lately (right around freezing). I did work for a couple of seconds when I was on the train home the other day, but hasn't worked since. The display lights up and shows time and the stopwatch works, but it's not sensing anything from the little sender so I don't get distance or speed. Somebody mentioned magnetism....could it have anything to do with the train? (I commute most of the way to work by train, then ride the last 3 miles). Or is it just batteries dieing? I'll try getting new batteries this week-end.

[Deanna]

Now that I sit next to the customer service rep for a company that sells electronics, I now know to check the batteries first. Also, LCDs do have difficulty in cold weather (the liquid crystals slow down or "freeze"), which would explain why it would work inside on the trainer and not so well outside. Magnetism would more likely cause wacky readings.