PDA-Based ETDs

[Farrell]

How many hours will your PDA run with the lowest screen brightness setting? 
What tuning software are you running?

My last tuning, I started with a 100% charge, I spent 2.5 hours pitch 
raising and tuning (and playing with my PDA - only the second tuning with 
it) and I used up 45% of the charge. My screen brightness is set at the 
lowest setting that illuminates the screen (one further down is black), I 
have all my wireless and whatever else stuff turned off  (or at least I 
think I do - I've checked everything I can find). I have the volume off.

What else can I do to conserve power? If this one tuning is indicative of my 
run time, I will be down to 10% charge after five hours. Does yours last 
longer? If so, I wonder if your PDA is simply more energy efficient than 
mine - or maybe a bigger battery. I am using an HP ipaq 111. I has a 3.7V 
1.2 Ah battery. I am running Verituner software.

And I'll add an external battery pack long before I start tuning unisons 
after all center strings. I'm getting old and crabby and I ain't gonna 
change!  ;-)

A lot of this depends on how one tunes and uses the PDA. If you are a 
45-minute tuner and you don't tune unisons as you go - you might only have 
the PDA on for 20 minutes per tuning. At that rate even my PDA would do 8 
tunings and still have more than half the battery! Nothing wrong with that 
approach if one is happy/comfy with it - I simply need to have my PDA on for 
two hours for a pitch raise and a tuning to keep me happy - and I think an 
external battery pack will get me there.

Terry Farrell

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dean May" <deanmay at pianorebuilders.com>
To: "'Pianotech List'" <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Friday, May 02, 2008 7:41 AM
Subject: RE: PDA-Based ETDs


>I confess I don't understand why people are having battery problems. I can
> get 6-8 tunings out of a charge. If you turn it down to the dimmest 
> setting
> the battery lasts forever. You can even turn the display off and still see
> it enough to tune if you shine a desk lamp on it. Then it will last 
> forever.
>
>
> If you find the charge getting low at the end of the day you can also 
> reduce
> the time you need the Ipaq on (if it's not a pitch raise). Just don't tune
> unisons as you go. Or just tune the temperament with the Ipaq (or whatever
> octaves you have trouble with by ear) and the rest by ear.
>
> Dean
>
> Dean May             cell 812.239.3359
>
> PianoRebuilders.com   812.235.5272
>
> Terre Haute IN  47802
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On 
> Behalf
> Of Jon Page
> Sent: Friday, May 02, 2008 7:27 AM
> To: pianotech at ptg.org
> Subject: PDA-Based ETDs
>
> Why have a massive battery pack? If something is going to be tethered
> to the PDA why not simply use the AC adapter? Bring an extension cord.
> -- 
>
> Regards,
>
> Jon Page
>