[Kairnage]

To help keep things organized I thought it would be a good idea to start an issues thread. Please feel free to post your problems and issues here to help keep other threads on topic.

REMEMBER - This is not the the official support forum for Skytex. These guys do a great job of supporting the mod community, but this is not their home. This thread is so they can review and address when they can. Only post issues that you do not feel need immediate attention. If you feel your pad is broken or is having a terminal issue contact support properly through their website http://www.skytex.co...chnical-support

If you see a post about a problem you are having, submit a post acknowledging you have the same issue and include your Skypad revision be it A or B. That way they can see if there is scope to the issue.

Please do not post how to questions like installing apps or setting up Wifi (unless it simply does not work or is having problems). We have a great little community starting here and somebody can help you with the small stuff.

[Kairnage]

Now that said -

Skypad Alpha Revision B

I have been having the screen go out of synch and the pad lock when charging. The screen looks similar to when a vidoe card will overheat on a PC. The sceen becomes ghost imaged and pixelated. The only solution is to hold the power button down until a loud click through the speakers or use the reset button. Also the pad will not charge off. As soon as I connect power it will power up and stay up until disconnected.

During sleep mode I will hear a series of clicks through the speakers seemingly at random. Is this normal?

Wifi is really weak. It is the only device on the network that has any issues. I have tried different channels, adding the rt2879st.dat and the wireless folder but it still is spotty. Is there any other configurations to try or is there another firmware coming soon with improved Wifi?

[Skytex_Joe]

Hi Kairnage,

If the skypad is powered down and you plug it in to recharge, it shows the logo and a battery animation, but it doesn't actually boot up. If you let the battery animation run its course (maybe 20-30 seconds) the screen will go blank and it will charge while powered down.

I have noticed the ghosting issue after being in sleep for long periods of time while charging or not. It seems to especially happen when the battery is low, but I'm not 100% that's the cause.

The clicking noise is normal, but shouldn't be.

We've had a few reports of weak wifi signals. My signal strength in the office only a few feet from the router doesn't always show as excellent, but I've managed to go downstairs and walk about 300 feet away from the building and still surf with no issues. You might also want to try "WiFi Fixer," a free app that apparently fixes "android wifi issues"

A lot of these issues have already been brought up to the development team, and we are working on a new firmware. I'll forward all issues mentioned here to them. I don't really have an ETA just yet, but you guys here will be the first to know.

[Kairnage]

Skytex_Joe, on 22 September 2011 - 11:36 AM, said:

Hi Kairnage,

If the Skypad is powered down and you plug it in to recharge, it shows the logo and a battery animation, but it doesn't actually boot up. If you let the battery animation run its course (maybe 20-30 seconds) the screen will go blank and it will charge while powered down.

I have noticed the ghosting issue after being in sleep for long periods of time while charging or not. It seems to especially happen when the battery is low, but I'm not 100% that's the cause.

The clicking noise is normal, but shouldn't be.

We've had a few reports of weak wifi signals. My signal strength in the office only a few feet from the router doesn't always show as excellent, but I've managed to go downstairs and walk about 300 feet away from the building and still surf with no issues. You might also want to try "WiFi Fixer," a free app that apparently fixes "android wifi issues"

A lot of these issues have already been brought up to the development team, and we are working on a new firmware. I'll forward all issues mentioned here to them. I don't really have an ETA just yet, but you guys here will be the first to know.

Thanks Joe. I did use Wifi fixer and it did help a little but still is a lot weaker than my other mobile devices and slow to connect. That said the connection is very stable once connected. I found a couple more apps that I will try. I am hoping to get a Pocket Primer soon and I can compare them as well.

For recharging. My pad actually boots up when plugged into power to charge. Once in awhile it will do the battery, but that is only when I allow the pad to power out completely and even then it is not all the time. If I use the power button the pad will not power down, it will reboot again, even if I hold the button to force it off. I think I mentioned in another post it will only reboot when it is plugged into power.

I just thought of one other thing, my pad does not warn if the battery is getting low. It starts to pop the warning, then just shuts down. It all kind of makes me think firmware not hardware.

This post has been edited by Kairnage: 22 September 2011 - 12:36 PM

[Skytex_Joe]

That's right, I remember you mentioning the reboot before. I had thought that was normal, but then I tested it on a couple of B boards here and it didn't power up. It could be it only powers on once the battery gets to a certain charge from a 0 charge. I haven't played around with it long enough to notice.

We have also noticed that battery warning issue and mentioned it to the firmware developers. We're hoping to get that, as well as the other issues, ironed out in the next update.

[Kairnage]

Skytex_Joe, on 22 September 2011 - 01:13 PM, said:

That's right, I remember you mentioning the reboot before. I had thought that was normal, but then I tested it on a couple of B boards here and it didn't power up. It could be it only powers on once the battery gets to a certain charge from a 0 charge. I haven't played around with it long enough to notice.

We have also noticed that battery warning issue and mentioned it to the firmware developers. We're hoping to get that, as well as the other issues, ironed out in the next update.

Cool. I just got done testing the Wifi at 2 neighbors. Connection is about the same, but I noticed it was connecting as G only. So I configured both their routers to accept N only and it would not connect so I tried it at home and the same thing, G only. I know the N works on the routers because I tested it on my other 7" pad.

[Kairnage]

Pulled from another thread, the orientation issue.

droidaholic, on 19 September 2011 - 09:26 AM, said:

Wave Launcher and GoLauncher EX shows upside down.

[Likesspace]

I've owned my pad for a little over a week and the only issue I've noticed so far is as follows:

At times the pad doesn't want to turn on after I unplug the charger.

I can press (and hold) the power button three or four times and nothing happens and then......once I hear sort of a pop from the speaker the unit will power on normally with no other issues.

This has only happened a couple of times and most of the time it powers on without a problem.

[DMerchen]

I have had the same thing happen to me, but not consistently. When I plug into charge, sometimes the battery animation comes on, but just last night the pad booted up completely when plugged in then it went to sleep. It still charged, just not sure what the difference is between seeing the battery animation or booting up.

I have also run into the problem of the pad not wanting to come on once I unplug the charger. Then a few clicks later, it will power on same as Likesspace.

Orientation- -Sketchbook mobile runs upside down. Not a huge issue, wasn't sure if it was the software developer.

[Kairnage]

DMerchen, on 22 September 2011 - 07:03 PM, said:

I have had the same thing happen to me, but not consistently. When I plug into charge, sometimes the battery animation comes on, but just last night the pad booted up completely when plugged in then it went to sleep. It still charged, just not sure what the difference is between seeing the battery animation or booting up.

I have also run into the problem of the pad not wanting to come on once I unplug the charger. Then a few clicks later, it will power on same as Likesspace.

Orientation- -Sketchbook mobile runs upside down. Not a huge issue, wasn't sure if it was the software developer.

My guess is the orientation comes from the PAD as pretty much any application that uses a set orientation does it. I was getting the pad not wanting to boot after charging originally but reflashing the software fixed it for me.

[Likesspace]

Dmerchen.....

You just brought up something that I had forgotten about.....

If I try to run any of the Labyrinth type games (rolling ball through a maze), the tilt of the table is backwards of what it should be.

For instance my daughter has a Xoom and runs an app called labyrinth lite. If she tips her tablet down the ball rolls downhill. If she tips her tablet to the left the ball rolls left.

On the Skypad, if I tilt the tablet down the ball will roll down but if I tilt the tablet left the ball will roll RIGHT.

Something seems to be off since I've tried three or four of these apps and they all do the same thing.

[cermak_rd]

Overdrive Reader, when it's locked in portrait mode, also displays upside down. I just turn the pad over and read that way.

USB notification is strange. When I plug the pad's USB into the computer, I get a notify (as I should), but when I unplug it (even when I go through the steps of ejecting from Windows and also hitting disconnect on the pad before disconnecting) I continue to see the notify until I power off/on the pad.

Also another with WIFI troubles. When I have the pad go to standby and the wifi gets shut off, it doesn't wake on wake-up and when I go to flip it (to turn wireless off/then on again), it hangs the pad hard. wififix fixes that by never shutting down wifi. I would prefer for it to be wakeable or at least not hang the pad when one wants to turn it off/on again so that I could get the power savings of having wifi power down.

[LoneWolfe]

I just received my Skypad Alpha and I am not happy with Skytex. The unit arrived DOA and they don't consider it a warranty issue. They think it needs to be reflashed, but I don't have access to broadband at this house so there's no way I can download a 100+ MB OS to flash the unit. The only option they gave me was to send the unit to them at my expense for them to flash the OS. There's no guarantee that this will fix the problem because they haven't heard of this happening with the B motherboards - which might just mean it's a H/W problem. I had hoped Skytex was a different kind of company, one that would stand behind their product. I was wrong. The unit is going back.

[Oysterhead00]

Likesspace, on 22 September 2011 - 04:23 PM, said:

I've owned my pad for a little over a week and the only issue I've noticed so far is as follows:

At times the pad doesn't want to turn on after I unplug the charger.

I can press (and hold) the power button three or four times and nothing happens and then......once I hear sort of a pop from the speaker the unit will power on normally with no other issues.

This has only happened a couple of times and most of the time it powers on without a problem.

I just got mine Wed and it's my first Android device, so I chalk up most of my issues to user stupidity, but I had this same thing happen. And I think I was getting impatient and hit the power button too many times trying to turn it on because it went into a debug mode or something.

And again, from user stupidity, I managed to scroll down to the bottom of the four options (Clear Cache or something) and when I tried to scroll back up top to "Reboot Normally" or something, I hit the wrong button and did the Cache thing. Thought it was going to delete everything I installed and stuff, but it started up fine on the next start.

Also, I've started up the camera a few times and it crashes instantly. Usually, the second time I select it, it works fine...but it's probably crashed like 4 or 5 times. And I was only starting it up that many times because I was just messing around with stuff...not something I'm really ever going to use, but still an issue to report.

The only other "issue" I had was with the MicroSD card...I have to use the Stylus to get it to go into the device and lock in place. I was getting frustrated that I couldn't get it to go in, but I don't really have fingernails so it's probably not an issue for others...but it was driving me nuts until I tried the stylus. Now inserting it is no issue at all. I checked the manual to see if it gave any pointers, and it talks about removing the SD Slot Cover and stuff like that which doesn't exist, so it was a bit confusing. Again, I'll blame myself for not knowing I had to REALLY push it in there for it to lock in place. My cell phone isn't like that, so I didn't think of it right off....and was impatient to get going with it

[Kairnage]

LoneWolfe, on 23 September 2011 - 12:59 PM, said:

I just received my Skypad Alpha and I am not happy with Skytex. The unit arrived DOA and they don't consider it a warranty issue. They think it needs to be reflashed, but I don't have access to broadband at this house so there's no way I can download a 100+ MB OS to flash the unit. The only option they gave me was to send the unit to them at my expense for them to flash the OS. There's no guarantee that this will fix the problem because they haven't heard of this happening with the B motherboards - which might just mean it's a H/W problem. I had hoped Skytex was a different kind of company, one that would stand behind their product. I was wrong. The unit is going back.

I don't think you would be happy with any manufacturer if this is the case. All of them require warranty units to be shipped back if there is something needed done that the user cannot or is not able to do and pretty much all require it at the users expense. If the flash does not work I am sure they will replace your unit.

If it came DOA what did the reseller say? That should always be covered under their RMA policy. Some resellers even cover return shipping on a DOA unit. Who did you buy it from?

Are you in the US? I could burn you a cd with the flash files and mail it to you or if you are dial-up you could download it overnight.

[LoneWolfe]

Kairnage, on 23 September 2011 - 02:06 PM, said:

I don't think you would be happy with any manufacturer if this is the case. All of them require warranty units to be shipped back if there is something needed done that the user cannot or is not able to do and pretty much all require it at the users expense. If the flash does not work I am sure they will replace your unit.

If it came DOA what did the reseller say? That should always be covered under their RMA policy. Some resellers even cover return shipping on a DOA unit. Who did you buy it from?

Are you in the US? I could burn you a cd with the flash files and mail it to you or if you are dial-up you could download it overnight.

You are right, I would be upset with any manufacturer. Skytex doesn't sell the H/W by itself, they sell it with the OS installed. I expect it to work out of the box and when it doesn't, Skytex(or any manufacturer) should stand behind their product, H/W and S/W. They shouldn't just stand behind their product when it doesn't cost them any out-of-pocket money. I did go to the reseller (overstock.com) and they pronounced the unit defective and sent me a shipping label right away, no questions asked. So I'll get my replacement unit and overstock.com will return the defective unit to Skytex and Skytex will have saved the return shipping cost, but at what cost to their rep. And they will have a unit that they will have to sell as refurbished, which will cost them more than a shipping label.

Thanks for the offer to burn a CD for me. We'll be in Az in 5 weeks where we have broadband and I will be able to flash to my heart's content. I do think I'm going to like the Skypad.

[snutting]

I have had the same kind of issues I will document mine:

1. My pad clicks audibly through the speakers pretty often when it is in standby mode.

2. Sometimes the pad does not want to shut down. I push the power and choose shut down. It closes down and
then it starts right back up just a like a windows restart basically. It eventually does stay shut down if I
do it enough times.

3. The scariest one for me is the pad sometimes will not start up after coming from a shutdown. The last
time this happened I thought it was for good!

4. The battery is pretty quick in emptying for my liking. Even with WIFI off (I like it on!) it still only lasts
a few hours at the most.

I have not noticed any WIFI connection issues (I use N at home and G at work) other than if I leave WIFI on my battery
dies quickly.

All this being said I love this thing it runs anything I throw at it and I paid a GREAT PRICE!

Thanks

[Kairnage]

snutting, on 23 September 2011 - 03:15 PM, said:

2. Sometimes the pad does not want to shut down. I push the power and choose shut down. It closes down and
then it starts right back up just a like a windows restart basically. It eventually does stay shut down if I
do it enough times.

3. The scariest one for me is the pad sometimes will not start up after coming from a shutdown. The last
time this happened I thought it was for good!

4. The battery is pretty quick in emptying for my liking. Even with WIFI off (I like it on!) it still only lasts
a few hours at the most.

I have not noticed any WIFI connection issues (I use N at home and G at work) other than if I leave WIFI on my battery
dies quickly.

Are 2 and 3 when plugged in or at anytime?

4 sounds like you need to condition your battery. You can get an app and follow the instructions like Battery Calibrator, or do it manual by letting the pad run dry, charge it for 24 hours, and repeat. The when fully charged delete the batterystats.bin and reboot, then let the pad run until the battery dies one more time. Really you can do it charging for about 5 or 6 hours, but 24 hours does ensure the absolute max charge.

[snutting]

Kairnage, on 23 September 2011 - 03:51 PM, said:

Are 2 and 3 when plugged in or at anytime?

4 sounds like you need to condition your battery. You can get an app and follow the instructions like Battery Calibrator, or do it manual by letting the pad run dry, charge it for 24 hours, and repeat. The when fully charged delete the batterystats.bin and reboot, then let the pad run until the battery dies one more time. Really you can do it charging for about 5 or 6 hours, but 24 hours does ensure the absolute max charge.

On the 2 and 3 question I will need to make sure of my answer. If I remember right it was with the
charger plugged in. But it happens often enough that I will make sure of it and post back.

Thanks for the info on #4 I will give that a try.

UPDATE: I did some tests and it does seem to be an issue when the adapter is plugged in on #2 and #3 above. I
guess it could have happened w/out the adapter but not on my tests just now.

This post has been edited by snutting: 23 September 2011 - 05:55 PM

[Kairnage]

snutting, on 23 September 2011 - 04:12 PM, said:

On the 2 and 3 question I will need to make sure of my answer. If I remember right it was with the
charger plugged in. But it happens often enough that I will make sure of it and post back.

Thanks for the info on #4 I will give that a try.

UPDATE: I did some tests and it does seem to be an issue when the adapter is plugged in on #2 and #3 above. I
guess it could have happened w/out the adapter but not on my tests just now.

yeah it's a known issue right now. Hopefully a fix won't be too long in the making. OR A SINGULARITY CUSTOM ROM FOR A B REVISION!! LOL