GPS/DataCollector Units

When it comes to equipment, one needs to be able to get it fixed quickly to reduce downtime.  I have had experiences with the Promark3RTK unit that has a damaged touch screen. The units slipped out of the pole mount bracket, swung down on by the antenna cable that got dinged by the pole of clamp somehow.

The unit still works by using the finger buttons in the Survey Program that does static GPS due to its simplicity but is too complicated to use without the touch screen options in the FastSurvey RTK program. 

So I need someone to help me get the touch screen fixed without paying an arm and a leg.  Magellan or Ashtech is poor about making it easy to get information on fixing it and I am concerned that it would not be worth the cost and effort to try anymore. I have observed that the cell phone industry has technical people who can repair any touch screen (replace it) for a forth of the cost or less.

I just need to find someone locally or who can be trusted to fix the touch screen. Can anyone out there help me with this.  Also I need a new battery or rebuilt battery to replace in one of the three units I now have that use the same battery.

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  • GEO Ambassador
    Gary, do you have a Batteries Plus in your area? These guys are good about helping you locate the REAL mfg. of a battery. Even the shells that are welded (or glued) they have a tool that will burn along the seam and will seperate it. All thats inside any of the batteries are cells joined together and possibly a little chip that stores a firmware that helps in the maintance, and life of the battery. Re-celling is every cost effective, and Ashtech doesn't make batteries, they purchase in quantity and have there name put on them, all the equipment mfgs do it.
    It's not as bad today as it use to be, more of the suppliers are using common batteries that you can get local and save days of down time and extreme cost.

    The screen is the same way, the touch screens are made and assembled by a company that make several sizes, and Ashtect specs that screen to mfg the PROmark3. In my town there are electronic repair companies like PROtronics, Miller Communications, and possibly some of the cell phone repairs these days aren't done in house they send down the street. Anyway there are about six screws that takes the back off, and that board has information on it that one of those guys would be able to order that screen and when the part comes in you drop it off and get it back in two or three days. No RMA numbers, shipping cost, and a third the cost. I have a Mobilemapper II Im trying to do the same thing with. We should compare notes, if i find out anything this week I'll let you know. I just had the MMII apart and it's not that much work to replace. Good luck
    Skip
    • I got a good deal on batteries. I could not get the local "Batteries Plus" people to help me. I just ordered 2 MAGELANCS-ME1141SL Battery for Magellan THALES MMCE, THALES CX, Promark 3 at www.batterybay.net for $23.79 each free shipping. My normal supplier was twice that price.

      Now I need to get that touch screen fixed. Have you made any progress on that?
      Battery Store | Buy Batteries Online at Battery Bay, the Online Battery Warehouse!
      FREE shipping on all batteries! Browse the largest battery warehouse and buy batteries online at the lowest prices. Battery Bay is THE online battery…
    • GEO Ambassador
      GREAT price, Gary That's cheaper than I could get them from Ashtech, plus that's cheaper than getting it re-celled. I checked batterybay.net the battery source out and ask them to call me. I proposed we add them to our "up and coming LSU store". I mentioned about giving LSU a dealership, members possibly a members standard additional discount credit, and start a group on battery/ power/ solutions with a couple of their tech guys to join and oversee our dialog. There is a lot of solutions today in the portable power solutions, even solar is more affordable. Should be interesting
      OK on touch screens, I have pages of reference notes, I'm working through a page and a half of TS LCD monitor 2.5" X 3.5" replaceable...I'll go through and narrow down my notes, I have taken mine back apart so you can see, I'll send the pictures. Really my last thing is to call PROtronics , locally on Monday and see if they will order the part, how much, and if a tech will share a few secrets.
      Skip
      batterybay.net is coming soon
    • Please update me on your progress to find the part needed for the touch screen replacement. I want to clear that project off of my do list and have full use of it as a backup or sell it to help pay for that replacement that I had to buy to keep operational.

      I have searched quite a bit on the replacement screen for the ProMark3. No bag so far. I wrote Randy Black with Haynes where I got all my units and he has not responded. I just want to get the part and try to fix it myself.

      I found many examples of the iphone and other similar sized screen devices with parts and even videos of how to replace a dinged screen that has quit functioning normally. I did not want this the be a life long mission but it looks like a tough mystery to crack. I want to find a supplier to sell me the touch screen so I can replace it.

      I have not yet found the cell phone repair shop that I figure can help me locally but I will try to find them again. I used them several years ago to fix phones or buy recycled parts of complete phone at a large savings over buying them new.

      The even bought my old Treo rather than me using it as a paperweight or giving it to my baby grandchildren for a toy. By the way, the HTC (aka Google Phone or Android Phone) rocks and is taking the market with the many free apps that Google offers for it.
    • I got a good deal on batteries. I could not get the local "Batteries Plus" people to help me. I just ordered 2 MAGELANCS-ME1141SL Battery for Magellan THALES MMCE, THALES CX, Promark 3 at www.batterybay.net for $23.79 each free shipping. My normal supplier was twice that price.

      Now I need to get that touch screen fixed. Have you made any progress on that?
      Battery Store | Buy Batteries Online at Battery Bay, the Online Battery Warehouse!
      FREE shipping on all batteries! Browse the largest battery warehouse and buy batteries online at the lowest prices. Battery Bay is THE online battery…
    • I am looking forward to what you learn about this. When my personal MobileMapper CE touch screen failed I sent it to the Ashtech repair shop. I thought the price was reasonable based on what I paid for repairs of SDR33 and Husky data collectors in years past. This may turn out to be an interesting thread.
    • Thanks Phil - it is nice to see you interested in this too. I will hope to hear from Skip to see if we all can get that touch screen replaced locally at some cell phone or electronics repair shop too. I just found a replacement battery for about $50 - and have emailed local Battery Plus place to see what my cost will be there too. All is pending but hope to help one another.
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