OK, when I can get Tech support on the phone they want my Serial number or Asset number…
Apparently on the back of the classmate, BUT my number has been lifted off by Velcro.
Anyone want to give me their serial number so I can at least get an answer from Tech support.
It’s under the flexible cover on the back of the classmate.
Thanks.
Do you know if this part has a warrantee? If so, how do we send back our failed unit? At the Seattle Regional, our first two matches were no starts because the wireless part of our CLassmate died. Another unit was used and we were able to compete for the rest of our matches. The admin people at the match said our unit had a hardware failure but they did not have any spare units. I hope those that get to go to Nationals will have spares available…
I have to say, this whole Broken Classmate issue is starting to make my stomach churn a bit.
Let’s face it, this is a mandetory component with a dubious supply chain.
I thought that going with a commercial off-the-shelf product would have given us some stability and support, but in reality it seems that we really are worse off then the old Blue-Boxes.
I mean… there are no direct replacements available from the suppliers. The alternative seems close, but not fully compatible with the supplied imaging/restore tools and drivers.
Since many teams have removed the flexible cover from the clamshells and applied Velcro, they are unlikely to be covered by any sane warantee so I think we’re going to be left out in the cold again.
Seriously… Two weeks to nationals and I have a Classmate that can’t run on batteries, and no-one to call for tech support (the live online support is a joke! and the phone number just goes to a machine that never calls me back.)
What are my options?
Guess I better go and see if it’s legal to power the classmate from an external battery and inverter. Short of that we’re done for championships.
Phil. Pretty dissapointed with the whole deal.
Seems like some confusion here.: you don’t need the wireless on the Classbook. It’s hard wired to the FMS.
Outstanding !
Kills two birds with one stone.
We bought the iGo battery from Radio Shack. Seemed to work fine when we used it during Philly elims.
Funny… I thought you were pointing to a battery…
So you used the Igo charger powered from a 12V battery (like a car charger).
Gets rid of clunky inverter.
Cool.
Brian, to make this work you did what, just cut off the cigarette lighter end and replace it with an Anderson battery connector? I just realized that we need to figure out some system to keep our Classmate Charged for the Championship, since up to now we relied on the pits being 30 seconds away from the field… I believe we have a spare battery in route, but I’d be more comfortable with another source…
(I’m really starting to miss the blue box from last year.)
I have one you could borrow :rolleyes:
Joking right? They’re not legal are they (I have several) ???
I wish they were 
Any way you could find out exactly what you ordered, and where from?
Just joking…
There’s no power for them at the Driver Stations this year either, so they’d be deader than a Classmate with a weak battery…
about the same as your Classmate…
Hmmm… if only we could use them… Sigh
I’m having a hard time getting a definitive answer as to what we bought, because apparently we may have ordered the wrong battery…
But, here is a page that lists three different battery models, you may have to call them to get a correct answer:
I see these on sale online at igo.com
If I try to locate a charging tip that works with the 2GO netbook is says it can’t find one. Does the tip you use have a number on it? ANy other way to ID it?
Does the Radio-Shack one come with a compatible tip?
Thanks.
That’s what I wanted to avoid… Not having a lot of luck with Tech support…
Sorry, I meant DC-DC converter. People keep referring to it as the “battery” :rolleyes: now they have got me doing it. I’m pretty sure we use it with an Anderson connector as instead of cigarette adapter. I really didnt work on it or even see the finished product (just a cable attached to the cart), I just suggested it based on a Eugene Brooks post.
[EDIT]
I think we just bought it from Radio Shack. It was purchased and built quickly as we were motivated by loss of comms due to low Classmate battery in Chesapeake SF1-4 that lead to our elimination. You probably could compare power adapter tips in the store.
Someone tried to bring them back the blue box DS at Philly this year. It worked in the shop atleast. Luckily, we got them a Classmate and updated code.
[/EDIT]
Same thing happened with one team at SBPLI, luckily they brought their (never opened) Classmate box with them.
I’m going to look into the model of inverter you guys purchased. Luckily, the only time our classmate died on us was in a practice match.
I can’t wait for a team to show up at an event with a full IFI system… Lol.
I just got the (only) iGO travel charger at my local (45 miles away) Radio Shack.
So… in case anyone wants to buy the cheaper unit online from www.iGO.com … the card that comes with the unit indicates that the “206” tip is the one for the CTL 2GO Netbook. I’ll know later if it really is the right one