Heat with Watcher - Mobile broadband and T stick

Forums › Spark New Zealand › Heat with Watcher - Mobile broadband and T stick

Thelonious

61 posts

Master Geek

Topic # 31253 10-Mar-2009 14:52

Hello - apologies if this post is in the wrong place... there are so many forums!

Has anyone noticed a lot of heat in usuing the T stick mobile broadband hardware / watcher software. The fan on my Acer 6292 seems to be forever going and the case etc gets pretty warm... far more so than when not using wireless broadband.

Is this a problem? Or common?

Thanks
Brent

paulyvw

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 201750 17-Mar-2009 21:34

I am glad somebody else has noticed the same thing. I did ask the Telecom man and he said they shouldn't get warm but mine certainly does and always has.? Actually it gets very very warm

Thelonious

61 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 201760 17-Mar-2009 21:52

Well thanks.... some confirmation!!! I find the fan is forever running and the machine sure heats up. I have asked around but no real joy.
I have in the past used minimax with no problem like this and the Sierra product which predates the current one - although with that I had thrills but since it was in the early days of Vista I (and the Orb techs), put it down to that.
My other post on this matter refers to very slow speeds and lots of CPU use as well - up to 100% and sitting around 90%. No real clues on that either - though, to be fair, some people reported absolutely no problems - so I am currently a bit puzzled.

paulyvw

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 201764 17-Mar-2009 22:06

Oh sorry I didn't read your post properly.. I was talking about the actual T Stick gets very very warm.
But yes.. I have an old Packard Bell EasyNote and the fan constantly works hard and gets extremely warm underneath,,,,,,, and now you say it, it does work even harder when I am browsing the internet with the T Stick.

Thelonious

61 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 201768 17-Mar-2009 22:09

Oh yes.... T stick too!!! My other post in this forum details the other issues.CheersBrent

JaBZ

302 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 7

Reply # 202059 18-Mar-2009 23:39

Yes the Tstick running very warm is normal, it is an RF device in a small package.
Your notebook running hot due to the Tstick may make sense under certain circumstances, if you run lots of tabs in Google Chrome for instance etc increases CPU demnd, also the heat itself from the sitck transfering to the USB port may trigger the case temp sensors depending where they are. The fan running in your notebook is a good thing, I am sure it has thermal shutdown protection if anything reaches abnormal levels.
Try running the Tstick on a USB extension lead and see if it makes a difference.

My opinions and ideas expressed in posts are solely my own and do not reflect the views of my employer in any way..

Thelonious

61 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 202093 19-Mar-2009 09:01

Thanks for that... some comfort!!! I shall try your suggestion..... B

Kyanar

3044 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 467

Trusted

Subscriber

Reply # 203094 24-Mar-2009 19:48

I assure you, you wont have any luck. The issue is that the Watcher software is very poorly written, and on some models of laptops consumes 100% CPU when connected. As a symptom, you may also find that the only way to disconnect the connection is to yank the stick (Watcher stops responding to you).

I asked Sierra Wireless about this once, and their response was that there is a known issue with the Watcher software on Acer laptops, and they weren't even bothering to fix it.

I finally have fibre! Had to leave the country to get it though.

Thelonious

61 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 203100 24-Mar-2009 20:04

Thank you - although that is bad news I am most grateful to know:
- what you describe fits exactly with what I am experiencing
- it is not dissimilar to other experiences with Sierra software
- I am therefore not a complete idiot
- I have learned a huge amount about what makes Vista run fast / slow / indifferent

I could go back to my minimax - which worked well actually - but is hardly 2009 !!!! Or get another laptop - but which ones go with T stick and Sierra --- who knows

Cheers
Brent

nzbnw

2366 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 13

Trusted

Spark

Reply # 203117 24-Mar-2009 20:54

If it is the 'watcher' software thats causing this, simply use a Windows Dialup connection?

nzbnw

Thelonious

61 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 203129 24-Mar-2009 21:26

Well I can try.... can you suggest the best way to do that please
B

nzbnw

2366 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 13

Trusted

Spark

Reply # 203130 24-Mar-2009 21:33

Just go to your network connections and Choose the Telecom 3G (or similar) connection.

Just like a dialup connection.

nzbnw

Thelonious

61 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 203131 24-Mar-2009 21:39

Thank you... shall try it.

Kyanar

3044 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 467

Trusted

Subscriber

Reply # 203933 29-Mar-2009 00:08

From my own experience, if you invoke the connection via Windows Dialup Networking, the Sierra DRIVERS consume 100% CPU instead (which will appear as an instance of "svchost.exe" eating your processor - specifically the one hosting the "Routing and Remote Access" and "Remote Access Connection Manager" services).

To date, I personally have only seen this issue on Acer laptops (and any Acer OEM ones, of course). Considering the many other problems with Acer laptops, I picked up a MacBook to replace mine and it seems that the watcher software is much improved for that platform (haven't tried it in Vista on the MacBook, but assume it should be fine as MacBooks are AsusTek equipment) - though it occasionally fails to count data.

I finally have fibre! Had to leave the country to get it though.

Thelonious

61 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 204095 30-Mar-2009 00:45

Yeah - seems like I am learning about the limits of my Acer as well. Groan.... another big decision and choices everywhere.