Pronto Batteries

[The Icebun]

For all the Pronto owners out there, how long do your batteries last, and what type are you using ?

I started off with the Philips ones supplied with the remote, but as I didn't use it very much, they lasted a while. When they ran out, I used some Duracell ones that I bought for 99p for 4 from Richer Sounds. They didn't last very long at all (which leads me to wonder why they were 99p). I now use Ikea ones as they are cheap (£1.90 for 10). They tend to last around 6 weeks, which doesn't strike me as being very long.

I have my backlight and LCD set to go off after about 20 seconds, which I think may be the cause of the short battery life.

Can any Pronto owners enlighten me ?

[Bapapapa]

6 weeks sounds about right.

Either invest in a NimH battery charger & a couple of sets of batteries or buy the Pronto docking station.

[Keiron99]

I found NiMh batteries didn't last as long as Duracells. Typically I got a couple of weeks out of them, but I always have the light on for about 40 secs. The only advantage of rechargeables is that in the long run they're cheaper!
Try and seek out a reduced price docking station. E-mail letsautomate, they sometimes have customer returns they can do a deal on.

[pjweston]

I also get somewhere between 1 & 2 months out of a set of NiMH rechargeables (1300mAH). The backlight is the killer - battery life is noticeably shortened if I spend too much time browsing through the digital TV program guide.

As suggested by Baps, get a NiMH charger and two sets of NiMH AA rechargeables so that you've always got a spare set charged. I noticed the other days that PCWorld sell high capacity 1700mAH NiMH AA which I'd definitely recommend over the standard 1300mAH ones.

One other trick is to carefully choose which functions you assign to the 'hard' buttons. It's amazing how little you actually need to use the touch screen if you choose carefully.

[DunkWho]

I started out with a set of alkaline batteries ... they lasted quite well (spose a month or 2 - were probably part used to start with). When they died I popped in some nicads that i'd charged. They died with in 2 or 3 weeks but suprising whilst the battery meter was still at about 40% - figure the sharp roll off nature of nicad put pay to the usefulness of the battery meter. I'm using the nicads again at the moment but will probably switch to some nimhs when i get round to it as i'm pretty sure they have a more alkaline like smooth roll-off towards the end.

Dunkwho

[The Icebun]

Originally posted by pjweston


One other trick is to carefully choose which functions you assign to the 'hard' buttons. It's amazing how little you actually need to use the touch screen if you choose carefully. [/B]

What have you assigned to your hard buttons, Pete ?

I have Channel +/- for Sky Digital channel changing, mute, volume +/- assigned to HC amp volume but the two at the bottom are more of a problem. I have them set to amp on/off at the moment but find I don't use them very much.

[hookbeak]

Originally posted by The Icebun


What have you assigned to your hard buttons, Pete ?

I have Channel +/- for Sky Digital channel changing, mute, volume +/- assigned to HC amp volume but the two at the bottom are more of a problem. I have them set to amp on/off at the moment but find I don't use them very much.


i use my channel and volume for the same as you - but the 2 at the bottom change depending on device. Ie on video i have a PLAY and FAST FORWARD (for skipping through ads). In DVD i have PAUSE and SELECT and in the others i dfefault it to SKY's TVGUIDE and SELECT buttons.

But i also tweak my config every day because it's never quite right :)

[Just]

I use a single set of NiMh 1300 which are used for nothing else. The Pronto warns that the batteries are getting low and I can charge them in a few hours over night so I get away with one set. They last about 3-4 weeks and that is with everything set to 40 seconds.

Having said that I have also re-configured the hard 'strip' to change context with device, so the volume always controls the amp (as I send all video/audio through the amp) and the channel buttons are dependent on device (so track on CD, chapter on DVD, track on MP3, channel on ITVD, channel on VCR).

The hard buttons at the bottom are macro assigned (left is power up or go home and the right is shut down).

[Keiron99]

Icebun

On satellite TV, I use the hard buttons for the following:
Channel + = up cursor from Sky remote
Channel - = down cursor from Sky remote
Mute = Select from Sky remote (really, does anyone use mute?)

This arrangement allows you to bring the banner up and scroll through the channels and hit your selection

I use the lower buttons as follows:

Left button = Info from Sky remote
Right button = right cursor from Sky (to enable me to see what's on later)

[threadkiller]

I find a decent set of Nicads lasts about 2 months. Neve tried recharges of any description, and always thought the base to be a little expensive :(

[hookbeak]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Keiron99
Mute = Select from Sky remote (really, does anyone use mute?)
[QUOTE]

yeah me :) every time i think i can hear the baby crying upstairs - (also means i can't use my subwoofer :( )

Also - my pronto has to be "wife friendly" - if it says MUTE and does something else, she'd get confused. Errrr she's not daft or anything ! but not "technically minded"....


:D

[threadkiller]

Also - my pronto has to be "wife friendly" - if it says MUTE and does something else, she'd get confused. Errrr she's not daft or anything ! but not "technically minded"....
Had an absolute nightmare when I decided to redesign mine from scratch. were's this gone, how do I do that. & I thought it was so logical.

[The Icebun]

WAF rears it's head in every thread eventually !

Even one about batteries. :D

[kcxdev]

i was reading some thread in the remote central forum and this guys Pronto with Duracell M3's lasted just 1 week!!

does uploading configs to the unit drain the batteries alot as well?

[pjweston]

Originally posted by The Icebun


What have you assigned to your hard buttons, Pete ?

I have Channel +/- for Sky Digital channel changing, mute, volume +/- assigned to HC amp volume but the two at the bottom are more of a problem. I have them set to amp on/off at the moment but find I don't use them very much. Much the same as everyone else who's replied, I think!:

Mute = mute (very useful to shut up the adverts in the NTL program guide)
Vol +/- = Amp volume
Ch +/- = channel on TV/ cable/ VCR, track on DVD/ CD
L/R = whatever's most useful for the device e.g. play & stop on DVD/ CD/ VCR, browse & right on cable, system on & off on main menu.

It certainly pays to spend some time linking functions together on the Pronto. For instance, there's seldom any need to power the amp on by itself since it's only really of any use if another device is selected - so link amp. power on to device selection e.g. selecting cable powers the amp on & selects the cable input. Of course, it helps greatly if the devices have discrete on/ off but even when they don't, many devices do have discrete on e.g. pressing a channel number turns the TV on. So selecting cable on my system turns the amp on, selects the cable input on the amp, presses channel 1 on the TV (ensures TV is on & is not using an AV input) and then presses the AV input button the appropriate number of times to select select the cable input. I've also found it helpful to always include a tiny button strip at the top of each screen that contains 5 buttons from other devices - this saves having to constantly switch devices.

But hey! this is a battery life discussion & on that point:
Originally posted by DunkWho
[B]

I started out with a set of alkaline batteries ... they lasted quite well (spose a month or 2 - were probably part used to start with). When they died I popped in some nicads that i'd charged. They died with in 2 or 3 weeks but suprising whilst the battery meter was still at about 40% - figure the sharp roll off nature of nicad put pay to the usefulness of the battery meter. I'm using the nicads again at the moment but will probably switch to some nimhs when i get round to it as i'm pretty sure they have a more alkaline like smooth roll-off towards the end.NiMH batteries actually behave almost identically to NiCds i.e. they give their all & then die very quickly (they do have less of a 'memory' problem, though). I believe the reason that the Pronto battery meter is wonky when using rechargeables is that they only output 4.8V combined rather than the 6V the Pronto expects from 4xAAs. I believe that the Pronto can detect the official rechargeable battery pack and adjust the battery meter accordingly. You should definitely use NiMH batteries in preference to NiCds though - a 1700mAH NiMH has 2.5 times the life of a typical 700mAH NiCd.

[MikeToone]

I ended up purchasing the docking station as it was eating up batteries.

[phuggard]

Hello all!
I also get about 6-8 weeks out of my batteries & I'm quite happy with that.
I always use the backlight function as it's set to activate when the screen is touched for 20 seconds.
I buy my alkaline batteries in multipacks from Toys R Us, 16 for about a fiver, last as long as Duracell & that works for me!
Cheers, Paul.

[Linus Wang]

I can get 4 months from a set of Energizer Photo Lithium AAs. These cost an arm and leg (£4.5 for 2!!!)

The lithiums have the added benefit of being lighter than alkaline AAs. About 1/3 lighter.

My pronto gets moderate use every day. Including turning the room light on/off. Backlight/LCD remain on for 15secs.

[tapgrove]

I can get 4 months from a set of Energizer Photo Lithium AAs. These cost an arm and leg (£4.5 for 2!!!)

You can get these slightly cheaper from www.7dayshop.com -the're only £5.75 for 4 but you have to add on a quid or so for postage. They also do 48 panasonic AAs for £9.99.