NETGEAR is aware of a growing number of phone and online scams. To learn how to stay safe click here.
Forum Discussion
AirCard 770s no battery error
Intermittently my AirCard 770s displays a no battery error. Removing the battery resets the AirCard and the AirCard works ok for 15 minutes then displays the no battery error again. The battery is fully charged. Is the battery the problem or is the AirCard causing this?
61 Replies
I agree with this conclusion considering our position as end users. All the providers must know of the issue. Oddly my problem started about 3 weeks ago. All the symptoms as have been noted. My build date is 05/01/14 I just reset and same date. Why wouldn't it upgrade? I think there is firmware problem. Software check says no update. The fact that time of problem is so consistent and that when it works it's ok makes me think there's an unseen problem like maleware affecting download firm/software. Whatever there should be a resolution for this lemon. I do not know what agency could help. If any ideas on this I would be glad to support it. JLClearly this is a firmware upgrade that introduced a problem bigger than what was trying to be improved. Thirty years working for a company that did software updates a couple times a year ...I saw it far too often. Just as an FYI ... removing the battery and keeping it on the power cord has worked for me. Some mornings it has shut off and I need to unplug and re-plug it in again....so it has not been too much of an inconvenience. But it works for me.
- This is for MADTECHSKILZ. WHY FORUM PUT IT HERE I DO NOT KNOW. JL
I too am having the no battery issue. All of the suggestions mentioned have been tried also without success. Tried the remove battery and using cord, but it keeps resetting. I have 6 months left on my contract and will be dropping from AT&T most likely. Can use my cell phone as a wifi hotspot for the laptop but don't like doing so. Device was working fine until about a week ago. I need laptop/computer connectivity and replaced a USB modem that was working fine, and gave me no problems for 4 years, with this device and am extremely unsatisfied. Sounds like a class action lawsuit to me. Hmmm....
Firmware NTG9X15C_01.18.02.00
Build Date 09/30/14
I bought a certified refurbushed Untie in October 2014 and started getting the "No battery" message on June 1, 2016. When this happens, the Unite stops working. I have NOT tried replacing the battery, yet, but have just been removing and replacing the existing battery. It will then run for short periods before displaying the "No battery" message again.
I am also getting a software update failure message.
Firmware Version NTG9X15C_01.18.01.00
Firmware Build Date 05/01/14
When I go to http://attunite to manage the device, and go to Settings/Device/Software Reset and choose "Software Update" I get:
Update Error
There was a problem updating your device. Please try again later.
This is also displayed directly on the device's touchscreen.
Over a year and still not a peep out of Netgear (or AT&T on their community forum).
Wish I had known before I bought this.
Add one more voice of complaint.
Same message, same problem.
For now, removing the battery & keeping the unit plugged in seems to work.
Thanks for that tip, & for saving me money on a new battery and/or unit.
We are 1.5 years into a 2.0 contract with AT&T.
Class Action Lawsuit sounds like a great idea!
Before that, had a Verizon hot spot -- didn't like the reliability of that one, either.
Currently live in rural area with no option for cable internet or DSL.
Anyone have an alternative suggestion for internet access?
Add my grouse to the covey. Twice. Replaced my modem last year for the same reason. Had to buy the same model 771S as Sprint said it was the only model my plan would work on. Sounded like BS to me, but hard to argue with a Gorilla .
Both units lasted almost exactly a year before the "No Battery" error starts popping up. Really torques my bolts.
Units work great when they work.
Error seems to pop up at the point where the battery is either full and calling to be disconnected or empty and asking to be plugged in.
Firmware version NTG9X15C_45.04.12.05
Build Date 01/19/14
I received a Re-Furbished AC771S (Netgear Zing) from FreedomPop.
It came with a W-8 Battery.
When powered-up, It displays "NO BATTERY" status on top line & "Battery Level Critical" message, then powered down shortly.
It was Charged overnight, Same symptoms.
FreedomPop sent me a W-5 replacement battery.
The Hotspot seemed to powers-up correctly & shows % Battery Charge & Senses that a Charger is attached.
But, after ~15Min, it reverts back to the "NO-BATTERY" display & "Battery Level Critical" message.
Removing the battery Cover has no effect.
Firmware Version: NTG9X15C_45.04.12.05
Firmware Build Date: 01/19/14
PRI version: 00.52
Web App Version: AC771S_03.02.54.01
Unable to Check for Software Updates: "Problem Updating your Device"
Also, Sometimes the Touchscreen "Locks-Up" !
Do I have a Defective HotSpot or just a Bad Firmware version ?
This seems to be a fairly common problem with this model of wifi router. I own two of them and the same problem has occurred with both of them shortly after one year of use.
Netgear does not seem to have a solution as near as I can tell. It tends to occur after the year warranty expires so they don't seem to care that they have a s___ty problem. I, and others, have mused that it might be intentional.My solution is to run mine on a USB power supply cord. However, It is not a stable solution as the modem shuts or restarts at seemingly random intervals at least once per day and often multiple times. When it shuts down, I have to unplug the power cord and reinsert to restart the modem.It does seem to be more stable than the "no battery" error which seems to occur when the battery level reaches minimum unplugged or maximum while plugged.I'm on Sprint with mine and they say a Pocket Wifi unit would also deal with my data plan. I'm currently researching that option.Sorry for your trouble. You might demand a refund for a faulty product.I have a 771S on Sprint and it worked great for 2 yrs. but started with the no battery issue last week. So I ordered a new battery thinking that was the problem. While I was waiting for the new battery I read a post where someone said it was a software change and it would work if you lay it on a blue ice pack. I tried it and it worked on the old battery fine and I'm still using it on the new battery as it didn't help the issue. As long as it is cold it works but if it gets back to room temperature it says no battery and locks up. Sprint support refers me to Netgear and Netgear refers me to Sprint.
W-6 battery in 770s
I replaced the W-5 battery (original) with a W-8 and got another year (+/-) of use.
The W-8 is from the newer 779 so may be that the W-5's are old stock?
Wonder now if a W-6 from the 781 would work? May prohibit the use of the battery cover.
Just want to add another voice that I have the same problem.
I had one of these and it started acting up, eventually getting useless. Like everyone else, the problem seems to get worse with time. I bought a replacement unit on ebay ($10 without battery or cables). Exported the configuration info from the old unit and uploaded it to the new unit. It worked flawlessly for a couple of months but is now starting to do the same stuff.
I wish I had checked the firmware when I first received it. I don't know if it updated, but it is now running:
Firmware Version NTG9X15C_01.18.02.00
Firmware Build Date 09/30/14
Web App Version ATT_03.02.57.21
Bootloader Version NTG9X15C_01.18.02.00
With my first unit, I had some luck for a while by putting the charger on a timer, so it would charge for a couple of hours twice a day and run off the battery ther rest of the time. I may try this again for a while but expect that eventually it will deteriorate as much as the first one. My guess is that there is some temperature sensitive component inside that breaks down over time.
If anyone from Netgear is listening, I congratulate you on your planned obsolescence - it seems to be working flawlessly. However, in order to profit off of this you need to follow through by offering a new improved replacement product. Is this process hung up with the lawyers, trying to figure out how to say you fixed a problem without admitting that you have a problem?
I ended up replacing this with a Netgear Unite Pro 781s and it's been working great for several months. I had to trim down the SIM to get it to fit (plenty of instructions online).
I just bought an at&t unite 770s on ebay (new - other) and didn't know about the battery problem people have been having until after I saw all of the complaints and suggested solutions about it on this site going back years... I wanted to prevent it from happening to mine so I left it plugged in to the 10 ft charging cable I had hooked up to it and took the battery out. Hotspot kept trying to boot, shutting off, trying to boot, shutting off, etc. and just kept doing that. I had almost given up when I decided to try a shorter cable. I plugged a 3 ft cable into it and then took the battery out while it was still on (I don't know if you're supposed to take the battery out while it's on but I did) and it stayed on, did say "no battery" in top right-hand corner but hotspot signal is staying on and has been working like that for hours. I have backlight set to turn off after 30 seconds to try to keep it from sucking too much juice at once. The longer cable DOES work and it charges everything I plug it into. I used the same adapter plug on both to plug into the wall. Does the cord being shorter make a difference? Should the people who are having trouble getting theirs to turn on or stay on with no battery try a shorter cord? It seems to be working for me but a lot of the suggestions people have on here work for them but not for everyone. I have no idea if this will work on a long-term basis or extend the life of my hotspot in any way and also not exactly sure why shorter cord seems to work and it continuously tries to reboot when plugged into longer cord unless electrical current is somehow stronger in a shorter cord. Anyone know why shorter cord would work so much better other than "there might be something wrong with the longer one?"
Hi fall,
To my knowledge, the output would be stronger because it has less distance to travel to power the unit. Like a Ethernet cable hooked up to a modem/router, the signal will be stronger if it was a shorter cable because the signal would lose signal strength as distance progress.
- Jason N
Hi fall,
I just wanted to check in on your and see what I said has helped you. Also is your device's firmware up-to-date- with the most current version?
Please let me know. :]
- Jason N
Hi Jason. Yes, thank you for answering my question. I don't think my firmware would even update when I first turned on the hotspot. I think it said no updates were available. so I'm not sure if it's up to date, but it still seems to be working fine. Keeping the battery out but charged in case of an emergency.
