USB port variations: loose & not connecting? (pics added!) [Archive]

drokkon

16-01-2008, 04:59 AM

I've scoured this forum, but can't find a similar problem. Perhaps someone can be of assistance:

My Tilt RLoDed after 3 months (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=355232). The replacement unit wouldn't place or receive calls. I'm on my third Tilt (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=357130)(second refurb unit), and I figured out why this one was returned too:

The USB port is "loose." I connected to the computer initially and synced, but then I heard the Windows USB disconnect sound... followed quickly by the reconnect sound. I immediately thought, "loose connection!"

Sure enough, the plug wiggles within the port. The port isn't wiggling in the phone, just the plug in the port - as if the port were slightly too big or the plug slightly too small.

drokkon

16-01-2008, 11:06 PM

Just to add a little info:

My first and second Tilts both fit the plug more snugly. Tighter. Grippier. They wiggled a little, but not nearly like this most recent one does. And of course they never disconnected and reconnected as a result.

But why? Turns out the ports are different! I hadn't sent my second one back yet, so I compared them. In the pic below, the bottom port is like my first and second Tilts (snug fit), and the top port is my third (current) Tilt with the loose connection.

Why the difference? Does anyone else have this problem?

I can't think of anything to do but order my *fourth* Tilt.

http://www.teddyotero.com/hold/cellphones/usb.jpg

Infornography

16-01-2008, 11:33 PM

yo bro, it's me again.

Well I have to agree with you. It looks like it's due to a change in the port. I have the second one and it's snug.

Honestly ( your gonna hate this ). But if I were you, I'd just exchange the device again. Don't settle for second best or good enough on a device whose retail price is over $550. Remember, for $550 we can buy an inexpensive laptop or a cheapy car.

laakness

16-01-2008, 11:38 PM

Yep, I too have the lower picture as my port and it's snug with car charger and usb cable for PC.

drokkon

16-01-2008, 11:51 PM

Thanks y'all. And thanks for reminding me about the price tag.

Off to spend some QT on the phone with ATT.

p51d007

17-01-2008, 03:55 AM

Just got my replacement tilt for the "bad usb" port problem. Mine would sync
ok, but, would ONLY charge on the AC charger, not the car charger.
I noticed on your pictures that the bottom of the USB connector did the same
thing as mine did. Where the metal is formed at the bottom, has pulled open
and you can see a noticeable gap. Also on mine, you can see the right side
of the middle section of the connector it pushed down a bit.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b29/p51d007/Misc/USB_Old.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b29/p51d007/Misc/USB_New.jpg

tyeo098

17-01-2008, 04:07 AM

Shove some paper is the gap, that'll stop the wiggle.

NguyenHuu

17-01-2008, 04:08 AM

how do your tilt's port get so messed up? haha, i cant comprehend how it can get to that stage.

Infornography

17-01-2008, 04:52 AM

JEEZUS man those pictures were NSFW. I had to shield my tilt's virgin screen from those pictures.

drokkon

17-01-2008, 04:56 AM

how do your tilt's port get so messed up? haha, i cant comprehend how it can get to that stage.
Well, I shouldn't feel the need to defend myself, but I do. :)

My first Tilt I owned for three months without a USB problem - probably looked a lot like the second picture posted by p51d007 - a good port.

The second Tilt I had is the bottom one on my post. It was shipped to me as a refurb and I had it in my possession for a whopping 48 hours. If the metal on the port was slightly separated, it was definitely like that when I got it.

The third Tilt I have is another refurb. I've had it since last Friday, and will be sending it back this Friday when they send me my fourth Tilt. It's USB plug isn't in bad condition per se, it's just a different design and way too loose.

So there it is. I take care of my stuff.

PS - Love the avatar, p51d007! You a B-52 pilot? ;)

p51d007

17-01-2008, 06:18 AM

No, my dad was in SAC in the 50's

PS - Love the avatar, p51d007! You a B-52 pilot? ;)

drokkon

17-01-2008, 06:39 AM

No, my dad was in SAC in the 50's
Nice - my dad flew F-111's and 16's in the 80's and 90's. I think he must have been under SAC in the 111 - it was nuke-capable.

p51d007

17-01-2008, 03:44 PM

My dad was a "boomer". KC-97 refueling operator. He got out of the Air Force when the B-52's were coming online. He did get to refuel B-47's though.
Biggest plane he saw was the B-36 Peacemaker. Said when one took off, landed or flew over, it would make your teeth rattle :eek:

aksd

17-01-2008, 04:31 PM

drokkon

17-01-2008, 06:49 PM

In post #2 the first pic is the new USB port by HTC its on the Polaris, Touch Slide and looks like the newer Kaisers, mines got the 2nd port which is the old port which is also on the Touch. THe top one does'nt break too easy
Well I prefer the old one then. I guess I should be happy that they sent me a "newer" refurb, but even if it doesn't break as easily as the old one, the USB port is too loose, causing disconnects and reconnects.

Thanks for that info though!!!

aksd

18-01-2008, 03:15 AM

Well I prefer the old one then. I guess I should be happy that they sent me a "newer" refurb, but even if it doesn't break as easily as the old one, the USB port is too loose, causing disconnects and reconnects.

Thanks for that info though!!!

Basically its not your USB port thats shaking but the port being too big for the mini USB plug on your charger, what you can do is add a bit of celotape as packing on the top face and bottom face of the charger plug, should sort things out.

drokkon

18-01-2008, 03:21 AM

Basically its not your USB port thats shaking but the port being too big for the mini USB plug on your charger, what you can do is add a bit of celotape as packing on the top face and bottom face of the charger plug, should sort things out.

Right - that's what I meant to say. But if it's a standardized port... what's going on? ;)

As someone so eloquently put it earlier, don't settle for "good enough" on a $500 piece of equipment. I really wouldn't want to put the tape on multiple chargers anyway, and then run into problems when I have other mini-USB devices that I can't charge with them.

*shrug*

aksd

18-01-2008, 04:06 AM

Right - that's what I meant to say. But if it's a standardized port... what's going on? ;)

As someone so eloquently put it earlier, don't settle for "good enough" on a $500 piece of equipment. I really wouldn't want to put the tape on multiple chargers anyway, and then run into problems when I have other mini-USB devices that I can't charge with them.

*shrug*

I did notice the HTC earphones fit snuggly though, no shake, my HTC charger fits ok too, but the motorola one shakes a bit. We'll I see your point, but any phone I've bought to date has required a bit of tape somewhere or the other. ANd having worked in the cellphone service industry for a bit, I see what happens behind the scenes and trust me its not pretty :D, I'd rather fix my phone myself rather than give it to the service center unless its a major issue. We'll thats just me :D

drokkon

18-01-2008, 04:11 AM

I did notice the HTC earphones fit snuggly though, no shake, my HTC charger fits ok too, but the motorola one shakes a bit. We'll I see your point, but any phone I've bought to date has required a bit of tape somewhere or the other. ANd having worked in the cellphone service industry for a bit, I see what happens behind the scenes and trust me its not pretty :D, I'd rather fix my phone myself rather than give it to the service center unless its a major issue. We'll thats just me :D
Well you sound much more experienced than I! Both my stock charger and stock USB plug fit loosely into this new port, and I get another phone tomorrow anyway, but I'll definitely keep that in mind.

kimtyson

18-01-2008, 03:23 PM

p51d007- Sorry to be off topic but I have to ask. How did you take those close-ups? They are so good. Please tell me what camera, settings, lighting you used. Thanks. And sorry for jacking the thread.

p51d007

19-01-2008, 07:48 AM

I used my Panasonic FZ-50, with a Raynox 250 closeup lens. I could have gotten a bit closer, but the batteries in my slave flash were run down, so I had to use the built in. The nice thing about the Raynox, you can use telephoto to enlarge a macro. I use it a lot taking pictures of bugs, bees, flies etc...

p51d007- Sorry to be off topic but I have to ask. How did you take those close-ups? They are so good. Please tell me what camera, settings, lighting you used. Thanks. And sorry for jacking the thread.

drokkon

19-01-2008, 09:11 PM

Just to follow up on the thread - exchanged this unit with the USB port, and received a unit in return with physical damage. Hoping for a new one since this is my fourth unit.

Read more about the exchange process here. (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=357130&page=5)

That's it for me and this thread. :) Unless my NEXT replacement has USB issues...

drokkon

24-01-2008, 11:43 PM

Just to follow up - I received my fourth replacement phone. Legend has it that your fourth has to be a new phone rather than a refurb. The CS rep informed me, however, that after 3 exchanges, you were eligible for a "full kit" exchange. And while full kits could possibly contain a new phone, they could still be refurbs (while the first 3 exchanges, which only exchanged the phone, were always refurbs).

Looks to me like this thing is brand new. As such, it has the "new style" of USB plug. I was scared at first, because the whole reason I started this thread was because one of my refurbs had this design and the USB plug was extremely loose in the port. I'm happy to report that this model fits very snugly.

(Old model - with visible "holes" in the plug. New model - without visible holes. See pics on page 1 of this thread.)