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Archive-name: psion-faq/part2 Version: $VER: Psion FAQ v1.1Beta2 (1995/12/01) Posting-Frequency: monthly part 2 ====== See part 1 for complete table of contents of this FAQ (including this part's). 2. HARDWARE =========== 2.1 Hardware specifications All Psion machines are based around the "SIBO architecture", which was developed to meet common goals which span the SIBO range, including Series 3. Of paramount importance is low power usage. To this end CMOS circuits are used, the CPUs are static - meaning their clocks can be slowed down or stopped and restarted without impairing function, and the specially designed ASIC chips implement sophisticated power management, which always ensures that only those parts of the machine which are needed, are powered up. Power is provided by 2 AA batteries during normal operation. A Lithium backup battery, a CR1620, is provided which maintains memory during battery changes. A mains adaptor inlet is provided. A system clock runs independently of the CPU even when the machine is "off". This allows it to keep time and to wake the machine up when (for example) alarms expire. A six-pin outlet is provided, through which serial and parallel ports may be connected. This outlet has exactly the same signals as the two expansion ports (SSDs). A sound system implements beeps on the Series 3 through a low power piezo-electric element at two volumes. On the 3a there is a more sophisticated system employing bi-directional digital-to-analogue conversion, a conventional speaker, and a microphone, which together support the recording and playback of digitally-recorded sound. Digital sound data is compressed and expanded between 8 and 13 bits by hardware in an ASIC using the Alaw algorithm during recording and playback respectively, at a sample rate of 8KHz. This performance conforms to the ISDN standard for digital phone systems. A Series 3 buzzer emulation is also available on the 3a. For both machines, there are two expansion ports, also called SSD drives, into which RAM or EPROM memory modules may be placed. The memory is split into two types: process and storage. Storage memory is only used for storing data. Process memory is the memory used by the processor. Programs run in this type of memory. Process memory is limited on _all_ Psions to 512k maximum. There is no storage memory on Psions with 512k RAM or less. To be honest, this is a not a big problem, since the Psion implements a real good memory management and "windows" the memory needed for each application. In practice, this means that you can open several huge databases for example and only need 10k of memory for each one. In tabular form, the differences are summarised below: Item Series 3 Series 3a HARDWARE PROCESSOR name V30H (80C86 compatible) V30H(80C86 compatible) Bitwidth 16 16 Speed 3.84 MHz 7.68 MHz video mem access 8 bit - half speed 16 bit - full speed DISPLAY Type Monochrome LCD Monochrome LCD Physical size 126 x 45 mm approx Display size 240x80 480x160 Display depth 2 - black/white 3 - black/grey/white MEMORY Internal 128 or 256Kbyte 256Kb,512Kb,1Mb,2Mb Expansion 2 slots = 16Meg max 2 slots = 16 Meg max DIMENSIONS Size 16.5 x 8.5 x 2.2 cm (6.5" x 3.3" x 0.9") Weight 275 grams including batteries SOUND Output device Piezo beeper Loudspeaker Capability variable pitched Beeps Any sound and DTMF [*] Digital system NONE DAC/ADC 8/13 bits Sound recording NONE 8K samples per second Telephone dialler DTMF capability DTMF capability *Further sounds can be generated if a custom device driver is written PARALLEL PORT Via optional link Via optional link SERIAL PORT Via optional link Via optional link Software Installed in link pod In Psion 3a ROM Max speed 9600 baud 19200 baud SOFTWARE SYSTEM SHELL Controls applications Upgraded on Series 3a DATA Database application Upgraded on Series 3a WORD Comprehensive document Upgraded on Series 3a processing system AGENDA Personal management Major upgrades on 3a application TIME Clock and alarms manager Upgraded on Series 3a WORLD World info database Cosmetic upgrade on 3a CALC Calculator Calculator Allowing OPL extension Cosmetic upgrade on 3a SHEET [*] Spreadsheet application Speadsheet application available as add-on [*] built-in *In the US, and latterly in the UK, the "Series 3s" includes the spreadsheet as standard (not for 128k models) SPELL CHECKER/THESAURUS add-on Only on 1/2Mb models * PATIENCE GAME add-on Only on 1/2Mb models * *Spell checker/thesaurus and patience game are apparently not available on all country specific 1/2Mb models (ie: not available for french nor german models!) OPL Programming application Series 3 compatibility mode also available. 2.2 What batteries does the Psion use? Normal power is provided by two AA (also known as LR6) batteries. Standby power is provided by a small Lithium backup battery, a CR1620, which maintains system data during main battery changes or failure. 2.3 How long do the batteries last? It all actually depends on what type of batteries you use. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of the different battery types: -Alkalines. These are the "normal" batteries and work well. -Carbon/Zinc. These batteries are cheaper than alkalines but of course don't last as long. Might be interesting if you can get them really cheap and are ready to change batteries often. -NiCad rechargeables. These proivde less energy than conventional batteries (reports suggest maybe half) and they fade rapidly once their charge is nearly gone, but - they are rechargeable, and so offer a cost effective alternative. Note that NiCads are NOT recharging while the machine is powered by the adaptor. -Lithium AA batteries. They are 30% lighter than alkalines, and they last longer, but they are more expensive. Recommended if you really need long battery life and in extreme conditions. These batteries have a very long shelve life. The link causes high battery loadings, as does the sound system. Accessing the SSDs also increases power drain. Because of the static architecture, a busy CPU drains more power than a sleeping one, so compute-intensive tasks will burn power. For these reasons, it is difficult to quote battery performance exactly, but the table below summarises reports received on the net. Alkaline NiCad Lithium Running time (Hrs) 40-100 20 65-100 Power delivered (mAh) 1500 800 1600-2700 Price each (UKP) 0.5 4.5 Comment 30% lighter The backup battery typically lasts 15 months. 2.4 Where can I find the backup battery? It has been reported difficult to obtain these in the UK, so here is a small list to get you started. You should first check your local _watch_ shop, since this is essentially a watch battery. Sangers photographic, Birmingham 0121-523-4471 C.D. Zelley Ltd, Thetford 01842-755303 Apollo watch products, Tonypandy 01443-432474 Swains International, Hunstanton 01485-533393 Newey & Eyre Ltd, branches throughout the UK Watchmaker supply, Oxford 01993-842442 2.5 Can I use an external power supply? Yes, the Psion comes with a standard power outlet so you can use either the official Psion power supply or a general-purpose mains adaptor (which is cheaper). Negative polarity should be selected - ie the tip should be negative. The power supply should be able to deliver 150mA at 9V. The Psion adaptor has an indentation around the outer conductor near the tip which facilitates snug fit for improved reliability. You can plug the external power supply in/out while the Psion is on. It will then immediately use the external power or batteries. The Psion also has an automatic turn off possibility. This is very useful if you often forget to turn it off! One of the choices for this auto turn off feature is "If no external power", so you can safely use it on external power and it will not turn itself off anymore until you unplug it again. 2.6 Can I upgrade my Solid State Disk (SSD)? Flash SSDs are cheaper than RAM SSDs because the filesystem doesn't actually allow you to recover deleted space on them. Even if they're cheap compared to real RAMs, they're still quite expensive because they're not manufactered on a big scale (they're Psion proprietary). This tempted several people to accomplish upgrades. It has been successfully done, but I decided _not_ to describe it here for several reasons: 1)It wouldn't be fair to Psion PLC. Think about it: it would prive them of rightly owned money for their R&D and that wouldn't make us many friends, would it? 2)The chips you need aren't easy to find. 3)It is quite easy to do for a trained electronics technician, so that person wouldn't need any instructions anyway. If you don't have the expertise, don't even think about it! 2.7 Can I upgrade my internal RAM? The big question when the 1/2Mb models came out: can I upgrade my 512k to a 2Mb model? Well, sorry, but the answer is no. The new models use a new ROM to access the extra memory. Psion PLC does not offer upgrades for new models either. The best solution is to sell your old model and get a more recent one. But, if you own a 128/256k or 1Mb model, upgrading it is just a matter of adding more RAM to it. Psion PLC can do this for you, contact them about it. For the time being, process memory is limited to 512k on every model and you cannot add more whatever you do. 2.8 Can I change the keyboard? A lot of people buy their Psions in the UK because of the huge price difference compared to their own country. This is not a problem in itself if you just remember that you will be getting the UK version, thus the UK keyboard, applications and manual. This also the reason why so many people would like to change the keys of their keyboards. For these people, there is no simple solution. The keyboard map is not just a file held in RAM, so basically, you're stuck with your keyboard, but there are workarounds to this: 1)In many applications, you can enter special characters (for example - foreign characters not found on the keyboard) by holding down control, then typing the three digits of the ASCII code for the character (ASCII code table on page 246 of the User Guide). This works for all characters in the range 32 to 255. Some lower codes are used for control purposes. 2)There is also a quicker way to enter letters with accents, umlauts etc. CONTROL can be used with the number keys as a character modifier directive. For example, "2" is the "Add an Umlaut" command, so you can hold down CONTROL then press "2" and "o" to get a umlauted "o". Most numbers are chosen as convenient mnemonics: 2 has " above it - which looks like an Umlaut; 3 has \ which simulates a grave accent; 5 has ', which produces and acute accent, etc. See the Character set section of the user guide for details. 3)Use Tom Dolbilin's excellent Macro System package to assign a "macro" to a regular key, thus emulating another key. 2.9 Can I use a big (normal) keyboard? Yes, if you have Tom Dolbilin's Macro System installed, there is a macro called "BigKeys" which actually reads the serial port and sends the key to the HWIM application you're currently running. Unfortunately, it will _not_ work with normal OPL applications. On the other hand, you will still need another computer to send the keys over the serial line, so it really isn't what people are looking for! Keith Baker has made a little interface for just a normal keyboard (without the need for another computer) connected to the Psion using the 3-Link interface <mailto:krb@ecs.soton.ac.uk>. Note that it will not work with OPL applications either. 2.10 How can I build a serial link? Unfortunately you can't. The reason being that there is not only hardware but also software in the 3-Link. The 3-Link is *not* just a level converter, so a MAX232 or the like would not work! The extension port uses a high speed proprietary protocol (undocumented). 2.11 What is this "soap on a rope" thing? The "soap on a rope" is simply another name for the 3-Link. It is named like that because of it's ressemble with (guess what ;-) the well known soap on a rope. 2.12 How do I print with my Psion? There are a number of ways you can print from your Psion 1)Through the parallel link, connect your Psion directly to your printer but do _not_ turn the link on in the system screen! 2)Through the serial link - use the printer setup dialogues appropriately and do _not_ turn the link on in the system screen! 3)Use PRINT SETUP to select printing to a file called REM::C:\LPT1. Run MCLINK on your PC, and activate the link from the Psion. Now all print requests will go through the link to the PC printer, and MCLINK is available for file transfers - better than MCPRINT. This solution also works with RCOM. On some PCs running Windows, it may be better to print to LPT1.PRN, which traverses through the DOS/Windows device drivers slightly differently. (by Daniel Senie) 4)Use RFM (see elsewhere in the FAQ) to make Psion drives visible, then use a conventional PC tool to print files from the Psion. 2.13 Can I take my Psion through an X-Ray machine? Yes you can without fear. Nowadays the airport's X-Ray machines are harmless to palmtop computers and diskettes (hopefully ;-). In any case, if you're really not assured, ask to pass it seperately. 2.14 Can my Psion wipe out magnetic data? Yes it can! Be careful with the underside of your Psion because it is actually the speaker which contains a magnet whom is responsible for such problems. Credit cards and other magnetic data seem to be the easiest "victims" of the magnet. Check out the first page of your User Guide for Psion's own warning about this. You can try the paperclip test which consists of taking a pile of paperclips and placing the Psion on top of it. Lifting the Psion will typically take 5 paperclips with it! 3. SOFTWARE =========== 3.1 How do I reset my Psion? You should not normally need to reset your machine at all. See "What is killing a process?" to find out how to terminate misbehaving applications. Doing a RESET re-initializes the system's processes. It re-starts things as though it had just been powered up, and so will make many error conditions go away. Doing a reset will also remove any software patches you may have applied. These would need to be re-applied after each reset. A soft reset will also make you lose your user-defined groups and installed software icons (but the real software, ie: the program, should still be there). There are two kinds of reset. A SOFT RESET or WARM reset will restart processes, but leave the contents of the RAM disk, and environment variables intact. Do this by gently pushing something like a straightened paperclip into the small hole above the ESC/On key to do a "warm reset". A HARD RESET or COLD RESET will completely re-initialize the whole machine, removing all memory contents. To do this, hold down the right shift key whilst applying your paperclip as for a warm reset. 3.2 What is killing a process? Killing a process is like closing an application but without letting it know. This will result in loss of data if the application didn't save it before being killed, so be warned! Usually, you can exit an application (from within it) with Psion-x (for english Psions) or Psion-Esc. If the application doesn't respond to keypresses anymore and nothing else works, you will have to kill it. For this, you can go to the system screen and press Psion-shift-k (for enlgish Psions). You can also use other specific programs which allow killing of _any_ process (Spy is one of them). 3.3 How can I save what's on the screen? From any point, you can take a screen snapshot, by holding down shift, control, Psion, and S. The PIC file generated is placed in M:SCREEN.PIC. 3.4 What is the soak test? (by Jason Savage) WARNING: INITIATING THE SOAK TEST WILL CAUSE THE LOSS OF USER DEFINED GROUPS AND USER INSTALLED SOFTWARE!!! It has long been known in the computer and electronics industries that electrical components, for the most part, fail either shortly after they are first activated or after many years of service. Because of this fact the concept of the soak test or burn-in or life test was invented. Simply put, the machine (in this case a computer) is put through a repetitive testing loop for several hours. This procedure would then filter out most of the bad batches and prevent them from reaching the hands of the general consumers. To activate the soak test on the Psion series 3, press (See warning at the beginning of this section) Control-Shift-Psion-K on the System screen. This procedure will cause a soft-reset of your Psion. 3.5 How can I find a text in my memos with Agenda? Actually, you can't! Psion hasn't implemented this feature yet. What you can do, is use another program called "MemoFind" which will do just that. It's a freeware program from Psion available at usual FTP sites. 3.6 How can I make the cursor bigger? It may get difficult trying to find the cursor in Word for example. Unfortunately, there is no way to make it bigger. Some suggested solutions are to press shift-right (to highlight a character) or home (to find the cursor on the far left). 3.7 How can I take out the "hum" when I record sounds? The hum (apparently a 60Hz sound) appears only when you record using battery power. If you use the AC adapter, the hum disappears. 3.8 How safe is password protection? See also "Data security with link connected" in next section. The Word password protection is not really good. It is known that it's possible to "crack" the password (but not find it) and see the clear text in a very short time (reported by Clive D.W.Feather in Dec94). Obviously, you do need some programming skills to do it, but all in all, it is feasible, so be warned! Another issue is power on password protection. Apparently, it is possible to bypass it somehow; no infos are given!. Just don't rely on it too much. Also, remember that if you keep some data on your SSD Disks, the potential thieve can still read those informations by simply transfering the disks into another Psion! The bottom line is that the password functions of the Psion are useful for keeping casual snoops from reading your data while you're off making a phone call, but if you're seriously worried about security then you shouldn't be keeping sensitive material on a handheld machine in the first place. 4. TIPS & TRICKS FOR GENERAL USAGE ================================== 4.1 Known hardware problems & solutions 4.1.1 Battery warnings (see also below: "problems when opening the machine") The contacts to the main batteries are poor in many machines. This causes the machine to report low battery power inappropriately, and may cause automatic switchoff. The fix is to ensure the contacts are clean, and making firm contact with the battery. Different battery brands can be slightly different sizes, so pick a larger one. Batteries with dimples in either contact are more prone to problems. You might consider kludging a fix by bending the contacts, or decide to return your machine for replacement. Note that when replacing dead batteries with NiCads, you may see the REPLACE warning for a few seconds after the new cells are inserted. This is normal, and will go away on its own. 4.1.2 Problems when opening the machine Opening/closing the older Series 3's can cause (possibly intermittent) problems to the machine's power supply, which in turn can manifest several problems mentioned in this FAQ. The constant twisting of the lead connecting the main board to the battery contacts can cause damage. This problem is the most serious one and is know as the "dreaded battery lead problem". Psion will repair this in warranty. You can fix yourself if your machine is out of warranty. Remove the screws behind the batteries. Sometime re-seating the two-pin connector will give a permanent fix, otherwise, if you're handy, replace the wires. This should not be a problem on newer Series 3a's, but one never knows... 4.1.3 Automatic dialling The built-in dialer is reported as variously as excellent, through unreliable to un-useable. Sometimes it will work on internal phone systems but not BT - sometimes vice versa. The recommendation for improving performance is to place the Series 3 on a flat non-resonant surface, and holding the phone just above it - not against it. 4.1.4 Alarms replaced by odd beeps Not a bug, but a response by your machine to low battery power. When there is insufficient power to play the chosen alarm, it makes this noise which is designed to be loud but economical on power. Low available power can also be caused by poor battery connections or by the "dreaded battery lead problem" mentioned earlier. 4.1.5 Alarms come in pairs Several people report that their machine can get into a mode whereby alarms sound - and need to be acknowledged - twice. This problem can be fixed by doing a soft reset. 4.1.6 Display problems The Psion display flickers in bright sunlight - use an umbrella. The LCD display works in such a way that the reflected light is polarized. If you wear polarising sunglasses who plane of polarization is at odds with that of the Psion, you'll see a blank screen. Fix: Take your shades off, or get some which are not simple polarizing lenses. Ray-Bans, for example, do not polarize in a single plane. Some people have noticed problems with odd pixels, lines, rows or patches of pixels (usually in a corner - usually the lower right corner). These remain on (dark) all the time. In each case, there is no real fix but to return the machine for repair or replacement. 4.1.7 An area of darker pixels appears in one corner of the LCD (by Nick Craig-Wood) This just seems to happen with ageing of the LCD. It doesn't appear to get any worse, and if you have your LCD replaced it is likely to happen again. It may be related to the stresses of the LCD in the case but this is unverified. 4.1.8 Lifting button bar Older Series3's had problems with the button bar at the top of the keyboard, which has a tendency to lift off. Also, some often-used buttons could stop working. Replacement is the best option. Glue might help those with no warranty. See the manual for key presses which can in all cases duplicate the function of defunct buttons. 4.1.9 Left hinge breaks This might be due to excessive wear and tear on the extension port (but unverified). It seems that it is a design flaw which Psion doesn't want to admit... whatever the case, there is no other solution than glue or replacement! 4.1.10 Key marks on display This is a quite common problem when the Psion is new. The upper and lower body of the case are a little too tight so when you open it again, you see some key marks on the screen. Apparently it also has something to do with the "oilness" of your fingers... To fix this, either put something between the two or clean the screen with a soft cloth. From Philippe Lebreton: "It is an ABSOLUTE NECESSITY to clean the marks on the display regularly (or I'm a very strange guy), it appears that the "oilness" can be "acidness", at least in my case. Because the marks on the S3a where much much less visible than they where on the S3, I did not bother to clean them, and my screen is now permanently marked (I can feel the dent with my nail)." 4.1.11 Keys rubbing off Unfortunately this was quite common with some older Series 3 and 3a. Actually there seem to be several different keyboard types, so it is not predictable if it will happen to you or not. There is no simple solution to this problem. If your Psion is not in warranty anymore, you can contact Psion PLC which offer a "cosmetic upgrade". 4.2 Known software problems & solutions 4.2.1 World phone numbers wrong Apparently, a number of the country codes are wrong. You can fix this by editing the country information as required, though there is a limited number of slots available in the database. Also note that a complete change in area codes was done in the UK during 1994/5. See the Phoneday program at the IC or on CIX for details and a suite of programs to fix your databases. 4.2.2 Area codes causing problems The Psion will dial all of the number you select. In some countries, (not the UK) dialling the area code for a local call causes problems. Psion's recommended fix is to have two entries for the party - specifying the number both with and without the area code. 4.2.3 Data security with link connected If you have the link switched on, then files can be copied from your machine even when it is password protected. Be sure to turn the link off to remove this possibility. Note also that the link can turn the Psion on when it is off, and will transfer data even as the password screen is being presented. 4.2.4 Security affected by the Macro System Users of Tom Dolbilin's Macro System should be aware that macro key presses work even on a password-protected Series 3. 4.2.5 Word hangs on "busy" when saving a text file forever This is a quite annoying bug which has still not been resolved by Psion. Actually, it is a limitation: the first paragraph should not be bigger than 512 characters. Either start your file with a CR or make a small paragraph ;-) 4.2.6 Size limits of inbuilt programs The Psion Series 3(a) have a limited memory for each process they run of 64Kb. This means that the program and it's data must always stay below this limit. Usually you don't need to worry about this, but some people have found out about it the hard way: they couldn't save their document anymore. There is no way around this except to split your big document into smaller ones. Be extra careful with the Agenda program, make sure you regularly compress it to regain space. 4.3 User groups ARPUG - Amateur Radio Psion User Group [International] This is more of a mailing list than a formal group. We discuss various topics concerning the Psion and radio in general over the packet radio network. Contact me (Daniel) for more infos or alternatively mail me a message by packet at: HB9VBC @ HB9IAP. Club Series 3 [France] Contact Alban Debeaupuis for more infos or write to: Club Series 3 6 rue de Fecamp 75012 Paris Phone: +33 1 40 04 92 19 Fax: +33 1 43 07 25 96 http://alex.union-fin.fr/usr/dcabuzel/psion/clubpsion.html PEAT - Psion Enthusiasts Association of Toronto [Canada] Email Lloyd Wasser for more infos or call him directly at: (416)447-0623 PSILOG [Switzerland] Fluelastrasse 47 8047 Zurich Phone: +41 1 401 12 12 Fax: +41 1 401 08 15 Psion Users Group Netherlands (Psion gebruikersvereniging Nederland) Postbox 82 8700 AB Bolsward The Netherlands Fax/BBS: +31 515 574188 (upto & including 28K8, 8N1 24H) Sysop: Alex Brandsma. Contact Edgar Blom <mailto:eblom@euronet.nl> for more infos. 4.4 Online services See also "Connecting your Psion" elsewhere for information on how to connect your Psion with modems. 4.4.1 Internet There is a Usenet group called "comp.sys.psion" in which even Psion employees lurk around. There is also the "comp.binaries.psion" group for binaries. Before posting, it is considered good practice to read the messages and get the "feel" of the group for a while (apart from thoroughly reading through this FAQ ;-) The comp.sys.psion group is entirely archived at the IC FTP site in the packages/psion/comp.sys.psion/ directory. The comp.binaries.psion group is also archived at the IC FTP site in the packages/psion/comp.binaries.psion directory. 4.4.2 CIX Psion is also on CIX. Check the Palmtop A forum. There is an offline reader for the 3a (only) called "ReadCIX" 4.4.3 Compuserve There is a Psion discussion group (looking for more infos please!). There is an offline reader for the 3a (only) called "ReadCIS". 4.4.4 Microsoft Network Who has experience here? 4.5 Bulletin boards (BBSes) All numbers are given in ITU format. To dial numbers outside your country, replace the + by your international code. To dial numbers inside your country, replace + and the country code by your national dialling code. For example: UK: for "+", dial "00", except for "+44" dial "0". US: for "+", dial "011", except for "+1" dial "1". Note that the Psion 3a at least knows how to do this. (Clive D.W. Feather) Crystal Tower +44 817 598 244 [UK] Dacom BBS +44 1908 260 435 [UK] Sysop: Andrew Morrow Notes: Psion Dacom, updates for PCMCIA Gold Cards Location: Milton Keynes, UK Ellis BBS +33 43 33 15 47 [France] Flightpath +44 181 759 3332 or +44 181 759 6664 [UK] Lonely Times +49 911 393 9034 [Germany] Sysop: Marko Schuster 300-14k4 Bds, 24hours Metcom BBS +44 1442 257 527 [UK] Pacific BBS +44 1430 431 145 [UK] Psychotic Mouse +44 149 475 8998 [UK] Sysop: John Portwin <mailto:John@lyster.demon.co.uk> Time: 9am-4pm GMT Psion BBS +44 175 289 4422 [UK] Psion GmbH BBS +49 617 237 090 [Germany] Sysop: Matthias Hlscher Notes: Series3/3a software, PCMCIA Gold Card updates Location: Bad Homburg The User Group +44 1752 894 422 [UK] Sysop: Adam Taylor Notes: Privately run, but Psion UK have an account there LTS Datalink +44 1202 660 838 [UK] Sysop: Francis Creese <mailto:vui@cix.compulink.co.uk> End of part 2/5