X51v forgets date when changing battery...

[Ashton]

I have 2 batteries and change them daily but every time I do, I travel back in time to 12:00 on July 1st 2005... or atleast my callendar does... which, among other htings, plays hell with file 'edited on' dates... not to metnion allarms! I cant wait 3 years for an allarm due in 1 hour! I've tried jsut suspending it and swapping batteries, I even tried a "total power off" before swapping them, still forgets the date...

Once I sync, everything's fine till I swap batteries again.

I know the X51v doesnt use a backup battery (persistant storage of WM5 and all that) but I thought it had a capacitor that retained date, etc for 5min after main pwoer was cut... or am I wrong?

Thoughts? suggestions?

[Gerard]

The same happens when swapping batteries on my O2 Atom. It's pesky, but as long as I'm around a Wi-Fi access point I just connect, then use a time server sync software to get the date and time accurate within a second. There are a lot of these things available. Cambridge Software has time sync free as part of their vxUtil, and there are others. If not near Wi-Fi... well, I guess the time, change the date, and hope I'm not too far off before my next appointment reminder rings.

[Ashton]

I'll have to try that, since my Axim is tethered to my cellphone (unlimited Data) I can sync it's time up every time I swap batteries! thanks!

[Konrad Pierce]

There are some small capacitors within the X51v's internal charging circuits; their main function is to help "filter" and regulate a constant voltage during normal charge/discharge operations. They can probably hold enough power by themselves to maintain LED status indicators and refresh the RTC that's built into the ASICS (ie: the time/date) for a few minutes, at most.

If your unit can't "remember" the time/date then it means these capacitors aren't at their nominal performance; the electrolytic chemicals are "drying up" ... I wouldn't really worry about it (much), unless it's also starting to have an impact on your battery charging times or your unit seems to be sucking the batteries too quickly.

A workaround approach might be to switch batteries while keeping the unit connected to external power; adapter, cradle, or sync.

You can choose to ignore the issue entirely: each time ActiveSync connects, it synchronizes the Axim's clock to match the PC.

Hope this helps.

[Gerard]

A workaround approach might be to switch batteries while keeping the unit connected to external power; adapter, cradle, or sync.

You can choose to ignore the issue entirely: each time ActiveSync connects, it synchronizes the Axim's clock to match the PC.

Not that this is incorrect, per se, only that it's usually not relevant, at least in my experience. Whenever I've had multiple batteries for my PPCs, it's been because a single one tends not to last until external power supplies are available, of any sort. I've made several battery extenders for the same reason.

Likewise, setting the clock on next sync does no good when one needs reminders to work right on schedule.

Further, at least with this Atom, plugging it into external power while swapping batteries does not make any difference; the time and date revert to sometime in 2006 anyway.

[Ashton]

I'm in the same boat as Gerald, I dont HAVE an external pwoer supply avalible when I switch batteries on the go (otherwise I'd be using it and saving hte batteries! lol) Sync is done at the end of the day, usualyl around 7pm, and battery is usually low by 4, so I have to swap to go untill 7. Somtimes I have to go untill or even 10, so....

You did make me think though of the only thing I havn't tried. I have an old small external battery pack I have that connects to the sync cable, I might be able to use that to maintain power long enough to keep my time/date when I swap batteries... though I dont recall if the sync cable also charges... I seem to recall otherwise... will see and report back, thanks for the ideas!

[waterloo]

Check the backup battery. Could be gone?

[Adama D. Brown]

Technically the X51v doesn't have a backup battery, has a large capacitor which is designed to maintain the date and time information when the main battery is removed. It does stand to reason, though, that age-related deterioration of this capacitor is why the date and time is lost. I have an X51v that does the same thing.

[waterloo]

Oh.. Adama... DO the X50v have a backup battery?

[Ashton]

Oh.. Adama... DO the X50v have a backup battery?

Since he's busy I'll answer. Yes, the X50v uses a bakcup battery to retain all data in the "documents" folder. However data saved to the "built-in-storage" is retained evne through a complete failure. and yes, thses can be replaced, though not easily.