[infestchris]

Hey all,

I've had an N86 since late November 2009 and have always had trouble coping with the poor battery life. It never lasts longer than a day, so I have to plug it in every night.

I've had N series phones since 2006, so I'm familar with the usual tricks of switch packet connections to "when needed", turning off bluetooth, switching down to GSM only, turning off WLAN scanning, and always making sure I kill off unused Apps.

/t5/Pool-of-Knowledge/Maximize-battery-performance/m-p/431669/message-uid/431669#U431669

It's worth noting that I live and work in central Nottingham, which is a pretty big town and probably has plenty of good network connectivity, so I don't think it's to do with power being used to boost the signal.

I got so sick off the phone battery lasting even less time than my old N95 and N73, that I bought a genuine branded replacement on Amazon for £20, so I didn't have to bother raising a warranty call with a big company like Nokia, who I assume would be a pain to deal with (expecting to be told I had spoilt the battery by not full charging it on first use - I have experience of tech companies making these kind of excuses with laptops etc). Replacing the battery made no difference, even though I fitted the new battery, charged it fully from the mains until the "charged" message was displayed, before turning it on - still only 24hrs power, maximum. I've now gone back to my original battery it shipped with.

I have noticed that despite me setting the packet data connection to "when needed", the double headed arrows are almost always still showing around the 3G / GSM icon, which suggests the setting hasn't taken effect and it's connecting anyway. I have turned the phone on and off, numerous times since setting this option. Could this be a fault, or perhaps something to do with the (horrible and unreliable) Nokia Messaging App? Mine is set to poll two IMAP mailboxes every 30mins 24/7, and of course to accept pushed email whenever it is delivered (the whole point of NM).

Also, my power indicator seem to stay at full, and drop right down to only 1 or 2, with very little gradual power usage. Only this morning it was happily at full, then dropped to power saving mode completely unexpectedly.

Finally, I've also noticed that the full charged message seems to come on very quickly ie after only an hour of charging. And, that I've had sometimes charged it with the phone switched off, to find the charge process seems to stop with the power indicator at only 3 (steady, not counting up, as it does during the charge process), but that if i unplug it, wait for the white charge light to go off, and then reconnect it, it starts charging again. Have I got a faulty charge circuit?

I've heard about full discharging the battery every week or so, to recalibrate the battery. However having replaced the battery, I don't think this will help however I'm oing to try it today. Is it the battery or the phone that gets recalibrated from a full discharge and recharge?

I'd really appreciate some advice, or at the very least would like to know how to log a warranty claim or get it officially inspected

You'll be entertained to hear that I recently bought an old 6310i on ebay and use that when my N86 dies. Hilariously, I've never actually charged the 6310i, it is still running on the charge from the guy who sold me it - I use it for maybe 24hrs a week, and have had it for 3 weeks! I'll certainly be taking my 6310i to festivals in the summer!!!

Cheers all, hope to hear from you soon.

Chris

[infestchris]

Nobody got any advice?

[dilbert]

You could try updating the firmware to see if that improves it slightly.

[infestchris]

Thanks for the suggestion, but already running 11.043, which is the most up to date for the N86, according to the software updater app on PC suite.

That was one of the first things I tried to be honest, after having great success with firmware updates to cure bugs with my old N95

[infestchris]

guess what...

I've been running it without the sim since Saturday, in order to use my 6310i and to fully drain the N86 battery.

Apart from a few minutes it was connected to my laptop to check the firmware version (when it would have of course gained a little charge), it's been on the same battery power since Saturday afternoon!! OK so it's half flat now, but still that's 150% better and then some.

SO that about explains the issue - it's got to be the packet data connecting all the time, despite me telling it to only "connect when needed" and not "when available". If only I could get the d@mn thing to do as it's told, then this issue would be solved.

Any ideas?

[chanchan05]

Not really. The hardware driver configuration may have made the phone use battery more. This may be fixed by a firmware update. v11? I thought the n86 already have a newer update than that? Oh well, maybe I was mistaken

[kavi6233]

Try Nokia's Energy Profiler! May be it should give you a hint what's using the batt! Some background programs or smthn!

[infestchris]

---

chanchan05 wrote:

Not really. The hardware driver configuration may have made the phone use battery more. This may be fixed by a firmware update. v11? I thought the n86 already have a newer update than that? Oh well, maybe I was mistaken

---

It's running the original firmware it shipped with: 11.043 I've tried updating a few times but it searches and only finds the same version, and therefore only offers me a reinstall of the same version. Thanks for the suggestion tho - I'll hold out for a new firmware. Do you know of a central listing of latest firmware releases that i can check instead of replying on the updater app to get it right?

[dilbert]

V21 is the latest for the n86 but you might have to change your product code to update.

[infestchris]

---

dilbert wrote:

V21 is the latest for the n86 but you might have to change your product code to update.

---

Thanks for the suggestion. I've done that in the past on other phones, but was hoping to avoid debranding as I understood it would void my Nokia Warranty. Is this true? Any official comments from Nokia people would be appreciated here. I'd like to avoid doing anything that might impact my official manufacturer Warranty until the phone is out of contract with the supplier (Orange).

[zoro06]

yes, changing product code voids your warranty

you change your device into another device , so the warranty goes with the old product code

[dilbert]

My upgrade on orange is due start of march. I will be getting the N86 and straight away i will be changing the code and updating to v21.

[pollis559]

infestchris,

As I read your post all your issues I have as well. I am running the latest firmware. See:

Packet Data v Poor Battery

Nokia are you listening? A good product is loosing appeal very fast - Maybe I will move away from Nokia next time after 10 loyal years.

[pollis559]

PROBLEM IDENTIFIED BUT NOT SOLVED.

I took my N86 into a Nokia Care Center and found the source of my poor battery life and why packet data keeps turning back on after I turn it off:

'Vodafone Internet GPRS keeps reconnecting automatically as it is set for 3G. Other mobile networks allow you to turn 3G off when not needed.'

Found by: settings-connection-destinations-internet-vodafone internet GPRS.

So the ball of blame is now in Vodafones court to change their software & let users deselect 3G when required. Nokia still need to fix the firmware so battery drain/gauge is more accurate & linear.

Any work arounds would be appreciated as at the moment this issue has reduced my battery life by ~80%.

Cheers

[paulandnuek]

I have a similar problem, but am on O2.

Battery is good if it last 24 hours!!!

Used for calls and sms only.

Don`t go on the internet and have bluetooth turned off.

Have disable the 3g connection.

But still the same!!!!!

Tried a brand new battery and same problem.

When I first got the phone with Dialaphone I had it exchanged!!!

New phone is exactly the same.

Won`t be buying anothe Nokia.

This is my 9th Nokia!!!!

[paulandnuek]

Took it to a Nokia care point.

Did a wife of the phone and installed new software.

Battery life has gone to "5" days.

Different phone altogether.

Recommend anyone with a similar problem to get this done.

[ansgp]

@infestchris

v30 is now, the latest firmware.

Try fota for updating as sometimes nsu shows: no update available, while fota updates.
Generally wifi/data connections eat up much of battery.

You may perform battery test and compare with my results: /t5/Nseries-Devices-and-S60/Nokia-5530-Battery-replacement/m-p/662655#M202728

I was having doubt with my battery backup, so i went to nokia care and asked for replacement. They gave me new battery. But results were same

quote: 

   " Also, my power indicator seem to stay at full, and drop right down to only 1 or 2, with very little gradual power usage. Only this morning it was happily at full, then dropped to power saving mode completely unexpectedly."

     This issue used to be there in previous fw versions. But was addressed later with firmware       updates. Now No such issue is there with battery bars. 

[john_smith]

hi there im suffering with the same n86 battery problem.i wanted to know what software version they installed on your phone that the battery is goin on for 5 dayz...i wouldreally appreciate your help cos this fone has drove me to my wits end.thankx a lot

[faris_dubai]

I experienced the same problem. I turned everything in the phone off except answering the call.

At the end of he day I have to recharge again.

My usage is normal and moderate.

I doubt Nokia can solve this problem. It is inherited in this model.

[ansgp]

@ everyone

Battery backup entirely depends on usage pattern. My self getting full 3 days backup, with 70min calling, 1hr over wifi, over 30sms,  few alarms and about  2-3 snaps.

 (phone settings: power savings mode, network mode- gsm, vibration off, profile-general)