yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] demandarin:
that's the thing. the Vulcan pinch idea showed fluctuations in signal strength. teardown threads showed a simple little foil as being the contact patch that makes the connection to pogo pin. I even heard some units might have have foil patches not making a flush contact with pins. some shifting could've occurred. therefore causing signal to degrade even worse or not make contact at all. checking the pins and foil making sure they making contact properly was said to be one of the things they will be looking at.

so yes, most cases the pins should be more than adequate enough. with prime situation, there is a high chance that contact is not being made properly or the foil patches having shifted through production or possibly even shipping if patches weren't secure enough.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] scook9:
Sounds like the foil is too flimsy and once dented by the pins may not make contact :( Shame they did not use a sturdier piece of metal
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] demandarin:
I know right. but everything can't be blamed on the pins alone. the fact of having an all metal backplate adds to it. plus some have seen the coding in the software for it and said it looks poorly put together. so it's more like a deadly cocktail of different factors that could or are affecting wireless performance.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] scook9:
The software part should be simple enough to address. I know that software can really ruin a promising device (my phones stock software is TERRIBLE - that is why HTC and Verizon are trying to pretend it doesn't exist anymore). Fortunately I got CM7 "support" which makes it much more usable. Hopefully in short time the Prime will enjoy the same helping out its WiFi at least.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] jerdog:
I am tired of having to delete posts for users who evidently never learned how to peacefully converse. It's getting ridiculous and needs to stop now.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] ddborello:
It seems that with this new rom ( Rom Prime Icylicious 9.4.2.15 Rooted & Busybox) have solved, through software changes, the problem of GPS!

The author writes:I found a few things that Asus left out of the ROM regarding GPS. They have been added and tweaked. You'll notice in the photos below that I got 10 out of 13 locks on the GPS inside of three minutes of starting the gps status app up after calibrating the compass in the "tools"section of the app.

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1532640
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] acricketer:
Will Asus follow suit and fix or do those with a GPS issue need to use this ROM?
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Lolento:
What was added in terms of GPS?
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] cmplxsmplcty:
I know a lot of you guys like to think that the average consumer doesn't know about these forums, but just think about what happens when you "google" something. I've come across this and many other forums discussing the issues on the Prime and other consumer electronics and my search results always lead to forums.

Registered users, and the number of user that actually post is so low compared to the users that just read for the information.

Take myself for example, this is my first post. Does that mean that I'm new and just happened upon the thread? Not at all, I've been reading the forums here at XDA for over a year.

I'm not even a Prime owner yet, but I like to research things before I purchase them, thus my reason for reading this and countless other posts on this and other forums.

I just wonder how some of you come up with these numbers and figures. Is Asus lying about their fail rate? Of course they are, but we as a whole just don't know how badly.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] sparkym3:
There may be some Asus developers out there watching these threads. I hope that if ATGAdmin posts exactly what he changed, those devs may attempt to incorporate those changes (assuming it does what ATGAdmin claims) into one of the next releases.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Lolento:
Me too, but let's confirm it is a fix because many ppl do not have GPS fix issues even before this rom
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] BarryH_GEG:
It would appear someone with inside knowledge has some crow to eat. If they've been working on a redesign that would also explain the inventory shortages. Most likely the change will be applied to newly produced units before filtering out as a repair to existing units. Fantastic news for both Asus and Prime devotees.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] BTrack:
I just spoke with Aaron at ASUS via the phone number supplied. I can confirm the original post is valid. Aaron said he does not know exactly what parts will be available at the end of March as they were just told about this today. ASUS will, however, supply pre-paid labels for the return of our Primes.

Also, he requests that XDA members do not call him directly but rather that they use the regular ASUS hotline.

OP, you may want to remove the phone number.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] -lukin-:
Thank you. I will take it down now.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] scook9:
I had not thought about the state of warranty regarding unlocked bootloaders....This would damn near be a recall and not a warranty claim - are unlocked people still eligible? And if not, why not just send the part to me and I will swap it out myself on my prime haha
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] SFG:
I just did the same and can confirm this. Here is the number that you will want to call in about a month: 888-678-3688
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Lolento:
Excellent news, thx for sharing!!

Anybody want to put money on whether this is the new back design we see in the tf701? I would bet it is, there is no other design change that would 'fix' the connectivity issues.

Asus definitely in this biz for the long game.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] teknomar7:
I received the email telling me I could send mine in for RMA, but honestly my wifi and bluetooth isn't that bad. And I don't want them to send me back a different / refurbed tablet. I'm worried that I won't get the one I send in back. Also, based on the number of people that will do this and Asus already waiting on parts, I can only imagine how long it will take to get the tablet back. Ugh.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] BarryH_GEG:
Knowing there's a real fix coming it doesn't make sense to send it in and just have them screw around with the antennas and mountings. You'd also want to avoid having it opened up multiple times. Those of you in your return period may just want to get a refund and then buy a revised model when it comes out. That way it wouldn't have to be opened at all. It'll probably show up in production before it hits the repair center so that might be faster too. There will be a huge backlog at the TX repair facility if every Prime sold to date gets sent in for the revision.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] scook9:
I would guess that probably less than 5% of Prime owners will even know about the fix. That is still a lot but hardly all of them
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Vcolassi:
Hmm, got another Prime today. My wifi seems great using in my living room, obviously need to further test it. GPS works "so far" without wifi while in my house. Not sure mine would even need a "fix.

Basically i am wandering when the "revised" units would hit store shelves, if this were all true and seems that way. Only complaint i have is i can't get one that has zero light bleed. All the ones ive had either had it bad or just a tiny bit in a corner or something.

I guess this can be tolerated being how bright these LED's that power the screen are. I mean the PS Vita having a OLED screen. If you are in a dark room and its on a black loading screen you can see these tiny black splotches. Its apparently common with almost everyone with a Vita and the problem with current OLED technology. You cannot see it only normal screens or during gameplay. So its unnoticeable otherwise. So perhaps the light bleed with a prime is something to deal with? I only see it on the boot screen, or when i use speed test being its a black screen mostly.

I mean i see edge lit LED TV's in BB go for almost $2grand with light bleed galore and horrible flash lighting. My Prime is nowhere as bad as some of those ive seen.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] BarryH_GEG:
MOD EDIT:
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] scook9:
The employess at Best Buy probably wont even know that the serial number is visible from within the OS to check it.....this is Best Buy we are talking about here....
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] shinzz:
New parts.. redesign??? Didn't Gary Key gave an interview to CNET & said.. there won't be any changes to Prime??

Or will these new parts work even with metal backplate...???
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] wynand32:
I stopped worrying about light bleed when I booted my wife's Toshiba M400 Tablet PC (that was $2500 new) and it has worse light bleed than any Prime I've seen. And yet neither of us ever noticed it otherwise.

I think ASUS should just stick a white background on the boot screen and the entire issue of light bleed would disappear. I'll bet the number of screens with bad enough light bleed to notice otherwise is tiny...
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] benefit14snake:
I too am curious about the people that unlocked. I will get my fix as it is clearly hardware related, but how much will I have to moan and complain to get what I want?
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] scook9:
HTC phones have a white bootscreen haha

Wonder if this is why
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Moist:
I hope this is true. Would make my Prime perfect!
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] rdalev:
There is a lot wrong with the GPS ! Replace all-aluminum back and pogo pin connections and I guarantee GPS will get better !

---------- Post added at 04:24 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:22 PM ----------

Maybe Gary Keys can verify this when he gets back on March 1st !
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Shredda:
Maybe they're replacing the backplate with the new 700t backplate?
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Lolento:
Pogopin is not the issue although many of you think it is.

If pogopin is the problem, u will have both Wi-Fi and GPS issue at the same time. However, many has only the GPS issue but not Wi-Fi.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] rdalev:
Wonder how many fanboiz, who say they have a perfectly working Prime, will send theirs in for the fix......................brahahaw

---------- Post added at 04:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:33 PM ----------

Then why is it when you "MASH" the prime together, on the top, both wifi and gps signals increase ?

And if pogopin is not one of the problems with gps, what is ?
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] makeshiftballer:
Really? come on now. i am a very knowledgeable bestbuy employee, and i am constantly trying to expand my knowledge
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] undercover:
How do they say?..... Exception that proves the rule, or something along the lines.

You are XDA member, that says a lot. (positive) :)

Sent throught the wormhole from my CoinInserted Sensation OG.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] 06g35meister:
Excited to see the results from this. While my tabby has 3 bars everywhere in my apartment, my GPS sucks, so i might send it in and in the meantime use the gf's kindle fire.

Subscribed.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Moothead2:
If the back plate was causing all of the problems then explain why Jonny Carter's Prime can pick up 15 satelites indoors and Stevie Jones' Prime can't pick up a single satelite outdoors?
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] scook9:
I admire your quest for knowledge. I was myself a MicroCenter employee....and after working there and getting to know the other employees....I can confidently say that we are a very small minority. My co-workers were horribly ignorant about computers. The sum of their knowledge was pretty much:

-if it cost more it must be better

-if it is really cheap it must be a good deal.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] demandarin:
very cute but no. still falls in line with what I was quoted. still no mention of a redesign. so its all still up in the air. plus I still said the prior part was for now. something else down the road. its down the road now ;) eat that! :p I was still correct. no one knows if supplies were delayed due to this or whatever. we going off facts. not speculation ;) plus I said they were waiting on parts n such. I knew about that before that thread was even created ;) nice try though. my wording still put me in the green one way or another.

regardless, gonna be good news one way or another. for all the folks who unlocked, they won't get this fix. which is a shame really.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] almightywhacko:
Since we don't know how these devices were tested, what kind of conditions they were used in, how long the Prime's stayed locked onto the satellites they found or if they really worked well for navigation the claims of these two individuals is next to worthless.

I am not saying that these guys are lying, I am just pointing out that having two Primes tested, in different locations, with different test criteria leads to a valueless comparison.

FWIW on Monday I was able to lock into 18 satellites in a couple of minutes and stayed locked onto 12 for over an hour until I stopped testing. Then on Tuesday, in the same location I was in Monday, using the same Prime at the same time of day, I was unable to lock onto a single satellite even though I tried for 45 minutes.

Just FYI, that doesn't mean my Prime's GPS only works on Mondays :)
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] yoursexyhero:
This is great news, I hope its true. I just noticed I have a semi-yellow tint on the lower 1/4 of my screen...sigh.... i know i had a washed out display but a yellow tint at the bottom (now noticed because i put a white background) just makes me upset. And I just fell out of my 14 day bb return window a few days ago. >_<
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Lolento:
I'm saying it can't be a pogopin issue because you would have the same issue with Wi-Fi if that is the case.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] michaelatrix:
So what about unlocked bootloaders will they be fixed?????
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] markimar:
The new parts are probably the backing with a plastic window at the top that their using on all the new models......
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] nyijedi:
Why is everyone acting like this is true? I believe the OP - it's the Asus rep I'm not so sure about. They've given people a lot of false, b.s. info in the past, so why do we believe this? Didn't Gary Key even go on the record to CNET saying there would be no hardware changes?
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] joedeveloper:
Call me a sucker but I've done it before. When I bought my TFP last week I paid for the $99 year warranty from Best Buy... which includes:

- Replacing it with the same model

- Getting my money back at anytime during the year: for whatever reason, I don't like the tablet anymore, I dropped it and it broke, I spilled water on it etc.

I did this because the rumors of the 700 series were going around. Now that we know the 700 pad infinity will be here around April I guess I'm glad I did.

I'll return my TFP (which I don't have any major issues (GPS isn't the best) with, perhaps a good batch?) then take the money and apply it towards the 700 series.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] buxtahuda:
I would think so.

That white screen also let me notice a hot-spot on my phone's screen two seconds after I retrieved it from the mail :D
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Norcalz71:
2 cents: If they are smart at all, and the issue is the backplate and they know it, they will re-tool and produce a backplate that fixes the issue. $500k AT MOST to re-tool to plastic from aluminum, I'm talking definitely at most unless there is some really crazy **** they would have to do, probably much less than that. Then add in labor to swap out SOME existing primes, depending on how many people would go to a recall and get it "fixed". Labor is not going to be much, if any more $$ to swap that plate out than it is to give them an RMA and take a look inside now anyways, its negligible.

$500k to fix a problem across the board on a flagship model for a $20 billion a year company shouldn't even be considered, it should just happen. That is of course assuming they know the specific problems, root causes, how to fix it, and that it is the backplate (or something similar).
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] federer:
I just read today that best buy has moved to a 30 day return period!
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] demandarin:
I don't think so. technically warranty voided upon unlocking. but its worth a shot. they've got nothing to loose. people need to ask Gary that question

we can only dream that that is the case. that's the best case scenario. although the email LR whatever made no mentions LR implies of it. seemed more like changing parts out or reinforcing connections. who knows. maybe add more connections. no one knows for sure.

I'm in same boat like you. but hoping for the best turnout. I was told something a lil different but still implied this solution possible down the road. maybe at the time of interview it was still in the planning or deciding stages. who knows.

I don't even care who is right or wrong anymore. I just want something to be done and fast. we need to be able to move on from all this. people can get devices fixed and others can just return devices and leave. this whole ordeal been going on way to long.

to the other guy who said he wonder how many people who said they had "perfect devices" gonna send it in, you damn skippy I would. regardless if device working good or not. I paid for device and have warranty on it. plus still in stock condition. not rooted anymore or overclocked. if there's some kind of change or fix, it would only make those "perfect devices" even better. one advantage we have though is that we can wait it out and see what really gets done. no rush for me to send in device. wait out n see what was actually changed. was there even really a change at all? how much of an improvement have these changes brought? questions like that. plus I would want the least amount of time without device as possible. so me n others can wait it out n see what really develops.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] معماري:
good Breaking news:p
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] demandarin:
good point but the thing is the backplate isn't the only cause. its a combination of the backplate and actual connection being used. so a best case scenario would be to change backplate and actual method used to make the wireless connection. it was already proven by just squeezing top of device near connection would cause fluctuation in signal strength. when you add up possible faulty pogo pins, or pins not making good connection with the foil, and the backplate, along with more S/W optimization needed, its all a deadly cocktail.

so like you said, its not as simple as a backplate swap n that's it. more to it than just that.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] 3rdamention:
Heck you just said that a few days ago, now we are "down the road?"

You are a piece of work man. I was looking for your post in here. This is the second person to be told their is a fix in place and you had your secret inside source say all they do is check the pogo pins. Well, this sounds like something different.

It is ok for your to be wrong bro! I know you are the biggest ASUS Apologist and fanboy on the boards, but it is ok to be wrong or misinformed. ASUS is not going to run everything by you when they were going to release a fix.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] effezie:
Mine is in for fix now. It will be interesting to here what they say on the escalation call I am supposed to receive. They've had my Prime for 11 "Business" days so they now can escalate it.

I called the number that is posted on this thread a few days ago and they said they would return my money including the dock purchase if I choose to send it back. Thank you OP for the thread. I am now off the fence and and await the return of my almost fixed Prime.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] -lukin-:
If it isn't true, then I was lied to today. I was about to RMA my second tablet to get a third one, like I said it would be hand picked and fully functioning. It was the reps advise that I wait a month for the new parts. As I detailed in other threads, I like the guys, Aaron, and have no reason to doubt him.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] clouds5:
So what would such a fix acomplish? Better wifi connection? Awesome gps? I mean my wifi connection is great, i have the same dbm like on all other devices i checked that were available to me (SGS II, DesireHD, Desire S). Tested with wifi analyzer from the market.

I attached two pictures, one from my mobile phone the DesireHD and one from my prime, this is exactly the same location ~7-8m from the router away and behind one wall (kitchen, with fridge and everything) and another thick wall (chimney and fireplace). Really nothing to complain about :) oh yes our network is the zyxel one, also cool that the prime actually has lower dbm on the far away network from our neighbour^^

In my case i dont think there is much to improve :/ Also i turned my GPS on like 2 times, just for testing purposes, got a fix in a reasonable time, turned it off and forgot that it was there. I dont even have a car :D

So would there be a reason for me to send it in? And will this even be available in Europe?
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] demandarin:
you know what. I edited what I just wrote. don't have time for kiddie debates...simple solution. Ignored..lmfao
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] effezie:
I use my Prime in my vehicle (pic should be posted) so the GPS is somewhat important to me. Sure I can tether to my phone but I actually bought the Prime for the super IPS and the GPS. This is exciting news for me if it works out to be.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] :
Those two things are in direct conflict with one another too, that's the truly scary part.

No better than the Futureshop ad campaign looking for people: "Can you set your VCR clock? You're qualified!"
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] lp_stealth:
I would be willing to bet it will be a new back. With the tf700 having the same spun back with same colors it seems probable.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] rdalev:
So again I'll ask, " Why does the GPS not funtion driving down the road" ?

If my itty-bitty smartphone has a capable GPS module in it and uses google maps flawlessly, what's the Primes excuse ?

Are you suggesting Asus is using sub-standard GPS modules ?
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] enthuz:
This may explain the extended delay in my order for a Prime. I hope they are applying whatever "fix" it is to the new ones coming off the plant floor. If it is the case then I don't mind the extra wait. I made sure I used a major partnered reseller to ensure I would get one.

So who will be the first one to test out the "fix" process?