Smartboard 660 - faulty batch? Anyone who's had a faulty one post here...

[gshaw]

Still trying to get to the bottom of this one, we purchased 6xSB680 boards back in 2005-2006 and all of them have gone wrong with exactly the same symptoms...

 

• can't draw a straight line down right hand side of the board
  
• board loses orientation after 5-10 minutes
  
• pen very inaccurate towards edges of the board
  

 

All of the boards didn't have their extended warranties registered (before my time in this post) so SMART weren't much use and wanted us to send the boards back to Canada and pay for repairs... quicker and cheaper to buy new boards tbh!

 

The replacements we got are 680-R2 so I'm wondering what was wrong with the original release to need an R2 version? I can see a controller box on the back and I'm wondering if we replaced it with an R2 box if the problems might be solved?

 

Has anyone had faulty 680 board and if so what was the resolution when it was repaired?

 

(btw we've tried the usual firmware updates, new software versions, even running the boards off the wall to rule out interference issues but all with the same result... no change)

 

Also tried Steljes who seem very reluctant to investigate anything to do with the hardware, maybe it's a policy from SMART not to even try and diagnose components outside of Canda?!

Edited April 6, 2010 by gshaw

[Cache]

I'll have to have a look when I get back in the office on Monday, but I had 3 boards replaced all brand new in September because of a similar problem where the board wouldn't align and I think eventually got stuck down on one side of the board. I can't remember whether they were R2 or not, they were from the new factory in Europe so possibly not. :/

[Cache]

Can't find the edit button :/

 

Checked my board replacements, all three were H2 sorry.

[Nexarius]

All 5 of our older boards, bought in 2006, do *exactly* the same thing, though they're SB680s rather than 660s.

 

The newer SB680 R2 is perfect.

 

Driving myself and the teachers crazy!

[SimpleSi]

Also tried Steljes who seem very reluctant to investigate anything to do with the hardware, maybe it's a policy from SMART not to even try and diagnose components outside of Canda?!

 

No-one to do with SMART has ever admitted up to these devices having generic defects requiring free replacements.

 

There is no information available to even find out if they are generally membrane or controller faults. (because why would this information exist if there is no problem )

 

I just must have been very unlucky (as you have been as well)

 

regards

 

Simon

[Educare_AV]

Can't find the edit button :/

 

Checked my board replacements, all three were H2 sorry.

 

I believe the "H" means it was manufactured in Hungary.

[gshaw]

Just noticed the updates to this thread, looks like there is a pattern emerging here.

 

We had an option to pay for an inspection on one board and if a fault was found a replacement would be sent out FOC. Only problem was the cost of the courier to get the board to SMART, bit of a gamble so for now the boards are staying in storage.

[Cache]

I believe the "H" means it was manufactured in Hungary.

 

Yeah, Steljes told me that when I phoned up and complained to them that all 3 boards had exactly the same fault, including the one which we had taken straight out the box and not even mounted. (Hungary had only recently started producing them at the time so they were a little worried to say the least).

[fairm010]

Sorry to rake up an old thread, did anything get done about these boards? I have exactly the same issue on 4 boards bought 2 months ago.

[gshaw]

Timbo343 wrote a guide for how to repair them so we're going to give that a shot, got nothing to lose as they're no good in their current state.

[fairm010]

Yep, same here. Going to try it tomorrow when im on site.