Computer Weirdness

[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.

[DebW]

Riding in wet weather can cause some weirdness as well. I once biked home in the rain and found that my max speed had been 99 mph. The next unit I bought was waterproof.

[Nanci]

It turned out my computer problems were caused by it not being clicked into the mount completely...

Nanci

[Joy]

So far, I'm not getting a good impression of wireless computers. Mine acts just like everyone here was saying. I just went to Radio Shack and got a new battery for the sensor but I havn't tried it out yet. I know it at least sends the signal now as I did spin the wheel. Not sure if it will be giving out crazy readings as before. It worked great for the first few months and then went crazy. Next inline is to reset the entire computer.

[moo bean]

I just haven't had any luck with my wireless computer. The distance and orientation between the magnet and the sending unit seems to be so specific that even the simple vibration of the wheel against the road is enough to knock it out of the required alignment.
I've reverted to the wired version, and all is good.

[ridebikeme]

I agree with everyone that suggested that you replace the battery. I have used wireless computers for 5-6 years now, and it seems that they do have a tendency to go through batteries a bit sooner than the wired models.