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[degers]

So, I bought my new Pleo, named it Buster (Ugobe went bust ) and knowing my luck, something was bound to be wrong.
Hatched in a silent room, the thing after completing it's birth schpeel kept turning it's head 90 degrees to the right and then when it would start walking it would always stop after a couple of steps, look to the right, then turn to the right, and repeat this over and over.  I thought I knew what was going on, but I hooked it up to Dino-MITE to check.

Sure enough in a silent room the SENSOR_SOUND_DIRECTION was being triggered constantly.  I couldn't believe it.  I asked aibopet for advice, though he/she had none.

I didn't want to return the blasted thing after 4 hours, so I decided after a long think to try and fix it myself.

I knew about the sensor disable command, so I copied the automon.txt from the Pleo's flash memory onto and SD card and added the line sensor disable 26 to it.  I then re-copied the file back onto the flash memory of the pleo.

This has stopped the Pleo from identifying the direction of sound, but it can still percieve when a loud sound is made as normal.  It just wont turn to the sound any more.


The dilemma I have is this is a brand new pleo, and it already has a malfunction out of the box, albeit "fixed" now,  should I just make do and be happy, or should I return it?


Just my luck eh?

[grumpy]

LMAO!!  Only you!  Buying a defective pleo! 

Sorry.  Shouldn't laugh.  But it fits.

Sounds to me like one of the microphones is bad, or just shorted out.  As a result, pleo thinks there is a constant noise coming to that ear.  The other still works, so a loud noise is still picked up by the left ear and can be heard over the hum in the right ear.

You have programatically overridden the response to the constant noise, but you now have a partially deaf pleo that doesn't respond normally.

As we discussed last week.  If this happened a couple of months after you got him, I would say that's just part of his developing personality, and learn to live with it.  But to be broken right out of the box . . .   That just doesn't seem right.

My honest opinion is that you should have a pleo, but I would call Amazon and explain that the product arrived defective, and that you want to exchange it for another.  Not a refund, but an exchange.  Box him back up and go for another, before you get too attached!

BTW, Buster is a great name!

[degers]

Haha Mike,
I think that you are too late.  After disabling the dound sirection sensor I have a pretty nice new pleo, not even a crooked necked one!

I am hesitant about returning it for two main reasons:
1.  If I do, amazon may decide just not to sell me another Pleo on the grounds that I would have now returned 3 to them.
2.  If I get a new pleo, it could have other flaws!  Lots of other pleos actually have crooked necks when they are set to the straight position, and this really bothers me!  Buster's neck is as straight as a sugar cane!

What should I do?

P.s. please can you guys give me proper answers, not luvvie-duvvy answers , you know what I mean you bunch of softies.

[kisumi]

I would send it back and get a replacement, if there has been an issue with pleo from when you got him whats to say more wont develop further down the line? Also with pleo's now going extinct it may be better to do it now whilst they can still replace it with another pleo.

[pirpintine]

if yer happy with a partially deaf pleo, then no worries! im sure hell still be fun. it snot like pleo does much with teh sounds it hears anyhow XD


who knows, maybe its other senses will improve rofl.

[fancyfont]

This is a tough one to answer degers! You are the only one that can decide on what to do. Not every pleo is absolutely alike. If your new one is is partially deaf, does it matter to you? If it does I would return him before you get too attached. Perhaps, contact Amazon and see if they can check the next one out before shipping. You have seen enough of them hatch!

[InmemoryofRomeo]

Apply for a service dog for the deaf to help Pleo manage in the world. Train said dog to respond to all the important sounds Pleo needs like his dad calling him to dinner and another Pleo talking to him... Then train the dog to walk really slowly beside Buster to keep him out of trouble.

Also consider a hearing aid

[fancyfont]

Pirpintine and ImR, Great answers! Good thing I don't have any stitches! I would have just busted them!

[gucci_boi7782]

Hey Degers, awesome news! I'm happy you got a pleo again.

However if it was me, I would surely get a replacement. I would hate to have a defected pleo that only got worse with time. Like previously stated, if you like him then why bother? Also, like previously mentioned it will be up to you in the long run on what you do.


(Oh yeah, i so know what you're talking about with the crooked neck! I thought Sophie II was unique. Thanks for the info, will keep that in mind.)

[degers]

Thanks Gucci.  No, I have found the crooked necks are quite common.  Havoc had an extreemely crooked neck.

[kisumi]

I have been quite lucky with my 3 necks lovely and straight! feeling quite privaliged lol
Does having a crooked neck affect the movement in any way? Ive not seen one

[Darkwolf]

I say keep him.
Having a partially deaf Pleo makes yours quite unique, no?
Besides... how responsive are they truly to audio and the direction it comes from?
I thought I read here and there that Pleo hasn't reached it's full potential in that field yet.
Honestly... if I see how fast en true Aibo responds to directional sound then I really wouldn't be worried about your Pleo being a bit deaf...

[gucci_boi7782]

I have been quite lucky with my 3 necks lovely and straight! feeling quite privaliged lol
Does having a crooked neck affect the movement in any way? Ive not seen one

No, not really. It's purely cosmetic. I only notice it when I put her into storage mode. Then it's only a very slight S-Curve I believe. I could always take pics if anyone is interested.

[degers]

I have some pics, I'll post here when I get time.

[mweed]

You'd better!  Don't make me have to come over there and flog you with a wet noodle!