X-UFO non responding

[dcamatti]

Hi,
I have the same problem than gosub_bug.

After four or five flights, the X-UFO begun not to respond to the trasmitter.
The LED pattern is the "NO RF trasmitter found".
It happened a couple of time during the previous flight, and I solved cycling power.
Now this trick it does not work any more: as I turn the X-UFO on, the gyro spin up correctly, the LED pattern is slow turning, but when the gyro reach full speed, the LED patter insted to change to ready to flight, it changes to NO RF trasmitter found.
I've already tried anything: removed and replaced transmitter crystal, recharged batteries, replaced trasmitter batteries, reseted to factory default but without success.
Some one has any suggestion?

Thanks and greetings from Italy

[gosub_bug]

Hi,

I've emailed the silverlit support guys and am waiting for a response. If I get one i'll pass on the information here...

Good Luck! It's an expensive paper weight!

[martinmarty]

Have you received a reply from Silverlit, gosub_bug?

My X-UFO requires the following sequence be performed exactly:

1 - Switch transmitter ON
2 - Switch X-UFO ON
3 - Wait for gyro to spin up and LEDs to flash "No RF from transmitter"
4 - Switch transmitter OFF and then immediately back ON
5 - LEDs change to "UFO Ready"

I have only had my X-UFO for 6 days. It did not require this sequence initially. On day 2, the transmitter acted up for the first time (X-UFO signalling "No RF from transmitter"). Approximately day three I discovered that this sequence seems to work consistently for me (I hope it continues to work because I love this toy).

Good luck.

-Marty

p.s. What I find weird about this is that I cannot skip step 1 and simply power on Tx at step 4. If I do it this way it never detects the Tx.

[Rick N]

I have seen a problem like that in microprocessor circuits. The quick turn-off then turn-on fits the symptoms exactly. It sounds like the crystal ocsillator in the transmitter is not starting up. Maybe later in the week I will do a quick reverse engineer of the transmitter to see if there could be another cause.

[gosub_bug]

Hi,

Yeah Martinmarty I received a reply but it wasn't very useful. I explained the problem and even added a link to some of the suggestions in this forum but all they've have asked me to send them a video of the problem?!!?

Been a bit busy over the last week so i haven't done that yet.

I'll try your startup sequence when i get home from work tonight. Also somebody posted in another thread http://forum.xufo.net/bb/viewtopic.php?t=856 some info regarding a potential short that could be causing the problem. I've had a look and it doesn't look like there's any contact on my board.

I will get this thing going if it kills me!

[Rick N]

If it works after turning the transmitter off then back on quickly, the problem is in the transmitter and not the X-ufo circuit board. I would be interested in finding out if quickly turning off the transmitter than back on works for more than one person. If that is the case, I might be able to work out a fix for the problem.

Any fix will require help from folks that have the problem, so let us know if that fixes your problem and keep watching this thread for updates. If you live near Huntsville, Alabama, I would be willing to fix it if you bring it to my lab. That would be the quickest way to find the cause of problem.

My experience with talking to the US Silverlit folks on another issue was not good. I got the idea that they prefer to ignore problems as much as possible instead of helping folks.

[gosub_bug]

Hi Rick,

Thanks for your input. If that fix works then i'd be very interested to get to the bottom of the problem with you (with what level of help I can offer).

I'm in Melbourne Australia, so poping around to Alabama is not so easy However thanks for the invite!

I haven't had much experience with the Silverlit support people as yet, but I was pretty surprised when they asked for a video of my blinking ufo even though i told them which diagnostic sequence it was. I can only assume that they either wanted to make sure i had one, or it's an in joke they have going?

I'll post more (hopefully good) info later on today....

[gosub_bug]

Nah that didn't work. I'm still just getting the no radio led signal.

I'll email that video to Silverlit and see what they have to say.

Thanks for your help so far though guys.

[moddy]

do you definately use new batteries at 1,5V? and even then it should be brand-batteries like energizer or duracell, etc.
we recognized this problem quite often in the German part of this forum and very often it was due to rechargeables. the TX needs 6V or even more (one guy soldered a pack for 5 batteries, now he´s really fine).

[gosub_bug]

Hi moddy,

Yep I've got brand new energizer's in there. Perhaps i'll try increasing the voltage some how and see if that helps...

I'm beginning to think that it's time to return this thing before it's too late though.

[martinmarty]

Since I reported my "theory", my radio's behavior has changed. Now it takes from 1 - 3 off/on sequences at step 4.

I must believe this has to do with the voltage concept that moddy was talking about.

The other day I measured my batteries at 5.91V while installed in the radio and today they are down to about 5.71V. The voltage drops by about .05V when the radio is powered on. Today I also noticed that when I fully extended the antenna I got "UFO Ready" on the first try (at step 4 of my sequence).

It is hard to pin this stuff down when you only get a few tries and you don't want to waste a chance to fly. I am lucky if I get 4 or 5 flights a day.

gosub_bug, do you have a voltmeter to check your batts, just out of curiosity? I plan to keep monitoring mine as they get weaker and see if my radio problems get worse, then of course, switch to a new set and see what happens. I am also using Energizers, FYI, with an expiration date of 2010.

-Marty

[gosub_bug]

That's an interesting update Marty. It does sound like the voltage has a key role in all of this, ever if the details are not well understood yet.

I'll try with some more brand new batteries when i get home from work tonight. (luckily for me i am silly enough to have a battery chewing up wireless keyboard and mouse to finish them off if the ufo doesn't!).

I'm borrowing a multimeter off a mate a work tomorrow too, so i'll have some figures soon enough.

Perhaps we can sell Energizer an idea for a commercial after this is resolved .

[moddy]

hi,
take a look at this german thread
the picture shows the backside of the ufo-mainboard.
may be that helps...

[gosub_bug]

Hey guys,

Cheers moddy. I've already had a look for that problem and i didn't think it was affecting me...

I've got a multimeter now so I can test away. I'll check what my TX's battery voltage is... anybody know of anything else to check / diagnose the problem?

[Rick N]