FAQ: SUDS - sudden failure of USB on M5xx

[LibbiC]

The dot-three and dot-one don't seem to work on my Palm 505. So I am simply playing games until the battery completely dies. Hope that works!

Libbi

[razor3]

It looks like PALM has realized that something had to be done to their cradles to prevent SUDS caused by static electricity and they are offering an exhange program for users to get an enhanced cradle.

The web site is http://www.palm.com/support/m50XUSBcradle.html


New cradles offer enhanced ESD protection.
A small percentage of our m500 and m505 handheld users have reported synchronization issues ? they are unable to perform the HotSync? function. The issue is electrostatic discharge (ESD).

Here's what happens: you sometimes build up excess static electricity (hair stands on end, clothes cling, you get a shock when you slide across your car seat), and if it isn't dissipated into, say, a door knob or metal cabinet, then it's possible that at the time you place the handheld into the cradle, a discharge of static electricity can occur, which in some situations can scramble the synchronization software. When this happens, neither the handheld nor the cradle is damaged, but the synchronization software needs to be reset by Palm.

Palm handhelds and HotSync cradles meet CE standards (8KV) for protection against electrostatic discharge. The newly designed ?E? and ?H? cradles include enhanced static electricity buffers. You can get one free if you own a Palm m500 or m505 handheld that did not ship with an enhanced cradle.

To exchange your cradle:
1. Confirm that there is no ?E? or ?H? on the bottom of your current HotSync cradle.
2. US and Canadian Customers:
Request a cradle exchange via our online order system.

3. You will need to provide your product serial number and shipping information.



I had a hard time trying to arrange an exchange thru the online order system and had to call PALM to arrange the exchange. The number I called is 1-866-632-7993. I gave them my serial # and they shipped me a new cradle.

Hope this helps,
Ray

[Ben S]

Originally posted by LibbiC
The dot-three and dot-one don't seem to work on my Palm 505. So I am simply playing games until the battery completely dies. Hope that works!

Libbi

It won't. The ".1" shortcut disables both the auto power-off and the low-voltage cut-out. Simply using your Palm 'til it turns off won't do as the low-voltage cut-out will still be there.

If the .1 shortcut isn't working on your Palm, there are a couple of things to do:

1. Make sure you're doing it properly. The correct procedure is <shortcut symbol> <tap the graffiti area once> <tap the graffiti area again> <write a single vertical downward stroke in the numeric graffiti area>. The shortcut symbol looks like this: .

2. If the above doesn't work, do a hard reset or erase the Graffiti_Shortcuts DB from your Palm.

[LibbiC]

TWO taps! AHA!

No one had said two taps before. That worked: got the green line and everything. Thank you!

[Ben S]

I've been using an m505 since May 2001... I never had SUDS once. When I got my Tungsten last month, I gave my m505 to my girlfriend. She's aleady had SUDS twice. Of course, she's constantly getting/giving shocks and she's one of those people whose 'auras' screw up watches and stuff

So it's definitely a *personal* thing -- some people will be prone to SUDS, others won't, even if they frequent the same environment.

[delerdelarosa]

Bought my m515 in July of 2002. Never had problems with it until the 8th of January 2003. That was the last time I was able to hotsync successfully.

Pretty funny. I had read these posts a long time ago when doing research whether I should get an m5xx series handheld. Sometime during the day on Jan 8, I remember getting a static shock while checking the settings on my printer and having the thought of SUDS run through my head. I had to smile thinking that was such hooey.

My Palm is now in the process of being drained of its battery using the cursive L dot 1 process. I think the key to getting this to work is by performing a hard reset.

I'm linking again to both the Reset FAQ and the Battery drain fix as I had some trouble finding them originally.

[LibbiC]

Well, it turns out my problem is not SUDS> >Installed the Palm desktop on my son's computer, plugged in the cradle and VOILA, it HotSynced and loved it.

So the problem is something in my software on my desktop. I asked Palm for help. They said call the manufacturer...Manufactuer said it's a problem Palm has to solve; that my system is perfectly fine.

When the manufacturer called for my take on their tech help I blasted them. Palm hasn't asked my opinion yet, but when they do, they'd better have an asbestos phone......

[delerdelarosa]

Glad to hear it wasn't SUDS though!

As for me, the problem WAS SUDS. I just performed the cursive L hack and my m515 is now syncing fine.

Glad to have this board and boards like this. If I didn't have access to this, it would've made harder to find a solution to my problem. And it's not like Palm would tell me to perform that hack, neither.

[shagpalm]

I tried the shortcut dot 1 method which did the trick.

Before I did, I purchased a backup card so I would not lose any new info. The card worked ok till I could hotsync.

I believe the static problem is not the cradle but the user. She had a IIIc which was constantly giving her problems.
I am currently using a m515 also without any problems.
The cradle supplied with hers was a E cradle and mine is a H cradle which I use at work. I also use the E cradle at home without any problems.

Anyway all is well.

[bajwae]

It seems that after all the hullaballoo about Palm fixing the 'SUDS' problem, the same old problem is back!

I have an m515 that has been working fine, until today, when it refused to sync. I'm trying the .1 method, hopefully it will work.

My only question is, is something being done about this by Palm??? I called them about the problem and was given the standard offer of a replacement refurbished m515. Are they doing anything to address this problem?