T3 Buttons not working

[JRakes]

I suggested the same thing, H, in a PM to Darren. Perhaps there's a small speck of dust or dirt in the connector seat or some such, preventing a secure connection with one of the pins. I'd recommend checking it with magnification under a bright light, and perhaps using compressed air (like for cleaning lenses, etc.) Another possibility that I've since thought of is a "cold joint" where the connector is attached to the board. A questionable joint could have come loose when the ribbon cable was disconnected...

Just thinking here, trying to help...

Joe

[holvoetn]

If it is a joint, this can not be repaired without specialised tools. Last time I checked those joints where under the plastic of the connector, right ?

[sbdags]

I've already tried the compressed air as that was my first thought. I have completely removed the mb and had a good look but can't see anything obvious. I wonder which conenctors and tracks the two buttons use? I don't suppose anyone has a pin layout for this connector do they?

EDIT: Taken it apart twice more and it's definitely not fixing it. Must be a bad joint - I can't think of anything else.

[JRakes]

Sadly, that does happen sometimes. My original Palm device, an m505, was utterly reliable with one exception. It lost its sound just after the 1 yr warranty expired. Last year I sold it to a fellow BH-er, who sent me a note back that the sound was fixed. There was a bad solder joint on the "speaker." I'd never thought to consider that, although I've seen similar issues on other electronic devices over the years. But I digress slightly...

I wish you luck in finding a board to use for checking things, Darren. (If that's what you want to do, of course!) It seems a strange problem, but having checked and tried the things you have, I tend to agree that the next logical suspect is the connector itself

Joe

[shawnlux]

My guess it that the connector for the flex cable on the PCB (printed circuit board) is damaged. This is why the buttons do not work even with a different slider. You would have to replace the PCB or find the connector and be really good at soldering.

[sbdags]

Shawn - do you have any replacement motherboards for the T3 available? Cheapest I can find is $94 + $25 for shipping which is too much considering I can pick up a used TX for not much more than that.

I have a degree and in electronics so am not scared of a soldering iron but doing it on a PCB with that small a connector is beyond my skill I think. Any offeres?

EDIT: Just checked your site and you have one for $65 which is much more reasonable but it is unavailable right now. Any chance you will be getting any in soon? (Fingers crossed).

[shawnlux]

Shawn - do you have any replacement motherboards for the T3 available? Cheapest I can find is $94 + $25 for shipping which is too much considering I can pick up a used TX for not much more than that.

I have a degree and in electronics so am not scared of a soldering iron but doing it on a PCB with that small a connector is beyond my skill I think. Any offeres?

EDIT: Just checked your site and you have one for $65 which is much more reasonable but it is unavailable right now. Any chance you will be getting any in soon? (Fingers crossed).

Working on getting more in soon.

Shawn