The FP4 USB-C port is badly designed

[OldRoutard]

@durm

attaching the loudspeaker screws like your life depended on it

Well … mind you don’t strip 'em! Maybe a bit of blotting paper (springy texture) between the loudspeaker and port would be better.

I rather think that Bluetooth was more in the designers’ minds than USB when they removed the headphones jack. Of course, that’s no reason for poor design though!

For your “Unknown issue”, maybe you can put the different parts of the module under your microscope. Likely a fissured solder I expect, again the result of physical force applied through having the phone with a connector in constricted moving spaces like jeans pockets.

Thanks for a nice write-up, anyway, and welcome to the forum.

[rokejulianlockhart]

@OldRoutard

I rather think that Bluetooth was more in the designers’ minds than USB when they removed the headphones jack.

@OldRoutard, the amount of effort that the fairbuds-xl designers put into Do the Fairbuds XL support USB-C to USB-C audio? would appear to demonstrate otherwise. I don’t know of any alternative that can do the same (despite how ultimately basic the functionality is).

[OldRoutard]

Probably not the same designers!

As for dual-screw locking … I’m used to thinking of that as being for stuff that’s semi-permanent, like the old VGA connector. Getting a bit bulky isn’t it? But I wouldn’t vote it out.

[rokejulianlockhart]

@OldRoutard

I’m used to thinking of that as being for stuff that’s semi-permanent, like the old VGA connector. Getting a bit bulky isn’t it?

@OldRoutard, how long does your power bank take to charge your phone? For me, it takes ⪆ 30 minutes, so it is in effect like that for some time, especially under heavy use whilst hiking.

[OldRoutard]

TBH I rarely have to charge my phone on-the-go. But as I said, I wouldn’t vote it out. Screw holes don’t take up much space inside and can be made so that they don’t affect water resistance.

[ixxie]

I’m just writing to vent that I’ve had to replace my USB-C of my FP4 for the THIRD time in as many years. I’ve waiting a full MONTH for support to respond, and gave up and ordered the part myself. Again.

There is a thread on this, but it got locked (why???):

The FP4 USB-C port is badly designed

I’ve had an fp5 for a few months now, but had this sitting in my drafts. I forgot to post it. I’ve recently had my fp4’s usb-c port die for 2nd time, for the same reason as the first time: tonnectors, as they’re inserted and removed, sometimes push against the back of the smartphone. This causes the USB-C port’s 4 solder points decouple from their respective holes. It should be screwed in at four points.

It’s just frustrating there isn’t some kind of improvement or even tips for prevention. The best I could find was this tip:

The FP4 USB-C port is badly designed

I’ve been experimenting a bit with a confirmed working USB-C port and the broken one I have. So far I’ve found three failure modes. Lint in the port Causes the usb cable connector to not be inserted fully. Fixed by removing lint with a needle or similar. Loudspeaker unit is not pressing on the USB-C port hard enough The USB-C port is only held in place by its connector, a single screw, and the pressure of the loudspeaker unit which is screwed in on top of it. The loudspeaker needs to be scre…

I tightened my loudspeaker unit a bit now after replacing the part, and I’m hoping for the best.

[yvmuell]

@ixxie

why???):

This topic was automatically closed 180 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.

Just kindly ask for it to be reopened no need to scream.

[ixxie]

Apologies, I kind of lost my patience there…

[rokejulianlockhart]

@yvmuell

This topic was automatically closed 180 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.

@yvmuell, I’ve never understood this decision. Closing, then reopening, sounds like a lot of effort, for little gain. Considering that Reddit, Lemmy, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and Mastodon do not automatically close threads, precedent exists otherwise.

I also contribute to other Discourse instances that do not do this:

Auto-close Ask topics after x months?

[kwasow]

@ixxie

I’m just writing to vent that I’ve had to replace my USB-C of my FP4 for the THIRD time in as many years. I’ve waiting a full MONTH for support to respond, and gave up and ordered the part myself. Again.

Hi, have you tried the new repair portal? I think it’s way quicker to get warranty claims done through it than through support.

[ixxie]

I’m not sure anymore how I requested help back in December since it’s been a month. I have vague memories of truing to go through this repair portal at some point, so it could well be I used it. Does it also result in a Zendesk ticket?

[kwasow]

I don’t know unfortunately, I only know it’s way quicker than going through support and people have been pretty happy about the new experience.

[Meaghan]

at the end of diagnostics via the self-repair portal the user is usually given two options - send it for the repair or create a ticket.

If the ticket is chosen, it should be listed in a Zendesk portal, in my case it was labelled: New Self-RMA request, and included all the troubleshooting steps taken.

I believe it is the quickest way to send in the phone as it happens mostly automatically. However, it does not offer the option to request spare parts, and in my case, I ended purchasing one out of pocket (I declined the offer to send the phone in).