CAT S60 - Water ingress after light usage in the pool

[slimbobaggins]

Thanks. Just seeing if my model number was different as I am in the US but have a dual sim variant with US bands..

I just did it and my model is BT53... only single sim.

For what its worth, both this phone and my first one came from UK. My first one shipped directly from UK and was a US version dual sim, and this one came from their NY service center, but when I opened the package, it was still in the DHL packaging from shipping from UK.

I don't know what #02# would have yielded on the first phone, I didn't test it, or even take pictures.

 

[cavell219]

I just did it and my model is BT53... only single sim.

For what its worth, both this phone and my first one came from UK. My first one shipped directly from UK and was a US version dual sim, and this one came from their NY service center, but when I opened the package, it was still in the DHL packaging from shipping from UK.

I don't know what #02# would have yielded on the first phone, I didn't test it, or even take pictures.

Yeah, no reason to.

It is starting to get annoying. The phone is disabling 3g/lte now constantly... I have to manually re-enable it. It's like they took a UK phone and just flashed it with US bands... Having issues that only happened to me on international phones. LIke HSDPA to LTE handoff issues...

 

[slimbobaggins]

Weird.
I assume that the US phone has hardware filters specific to the bands? I don't know. Not very familiar w cell phone design.

 

[cavell219]

Weird.
I assume that the US phone has hardware filters specific to the bands? I don't know. Not very familiar w cell phone design.

It's not uncommon for the phones to be designed exactly the same. But in the kernel/Bootloader very low level they disable the bands they are not certified for in that region. Since certification on more bands costs more money, it's not uncommon for a carrier to release a US model then a rest of world model. But they are exactly the same besides some software tweaks.

On the US one they disable second sim and change the bands. Mine they did not disable the sim and it is causing me issues... At first I thought it would be cool to have a one of a kind US model.. But now support can't figure out how to push me updates, and 4g keeps turning itself off..

 

[MOSalman]

Hello, I asked a friend to buy the phone for me from UAE because its not sold in Egypt. After less than a month with it I went snorkling. After less than 5 minutes on the shallow water with the 5m switch on, I had the no sim card signal, continued to take an underwater video. Went out of the water after total of 20 minutes, dried it well, and I was hesitant to open the back to see whats wrong with the sim card, but I had to make a phone call for someone to pick us.

I put the sim card in the second slot and it worked fine. Next day, once I woke up checked it and there was pixelation issues with the screen, like random horizontal lines. And the FLIR was showing temp from -60 to 150 C. tried to let it dry and blow dried it many times over two weeks. Everything was still the same. Contacted CAT, they replied 5 days later asking about the phone info and store where it was bought, telling me that I'll have to send it there which isn't an option.

Went to electronic stores for anyone to fix the FLIR or the screen, they refused to touch it since they didn't have the spare parts.

Frustrated, I got the right sized screw driver and a cleaning spray, opened it, gave it a clean spray and dislodged the FLIR solenoid head, of course that voided the useless warranty(that states not being accountable for long underwater usage). but it made the FLIR work again, and the screen is a little better.

The thing is, the FLIR shows higher temperatures by like 5 to 15 degrees and they keep changing. I have lost faith in the brand and learned not to believe manufacturers claims blindly again. But now I need the FLIR to work correctly because I need it in my job which was the main reason I bought the phone.


Ideas anyone on how to recalibrate the flir to show the right temperatures?

(the screen is still messed up and one sim slot is still not working)

 

[Mozartweb]

Dear all,

I just want to share my experience with Cat S60. I had acquired in beginning of August one Cat S60, EU version. I was impressed with the build of the handset (like a tank) and not so impressed about FLIR (I am having a FlirOne for iOS). But this is not the focus now.
I want to discuss about water ingress. I was using the phone for taking some picture while in the pool (less then 1 meter depth pool!). And yes, the switch for 5 meters were activated, all ports sealed!!!!
After about one hour with usage in water for about 20 minutes in total, some also under water recording (10 cm depth ) i saw that phone was powered off (!!!). Restarting it, i saw that immediately entered again in restart loop. Checking closer, i saw some condensed water inside(!) the camera glass.
To cut the long story short, after it was left for drying for 2 days, phone was functioning correctly, however FLIR sensor was not working correctly anymore (having image retention on flir camera and aberrant temperature readings (150 grades Centigrade)

I had sent the phone back and i received a new device, but i have to be fair with you that i have lost the trust that this phone is waterproof. And yes, trust me, the "wholes" were protected, switches for 5 meters activated and the phone was fully submerged in water for less then 5 minutes, no more then 10 cm depth!

regards,
Andrei

Basically I am in the same situation. At the restart loop part...

 

[morwil24]

Hello, I just got the US version yesterday. I have not had a water breach as described but am definitely concerned after reading above. I did put my phone in my fish aquarium as well as in a small water pond yesterday to test the camera underwater. I received a notification that the speakers had gotten wet and I accepted the prompt to do a speaker drying process. I can't recall the exact message. Anyway, the phone then went through a series of sounds and vibrations for a few minutes. I assume it utilized frequencies and pulses to shake the water off of the speaker system. Is this a feature that is on other phones? I notice that this post started nearly a year ago and am wondering if it's the same on other versions. Perhaps the breach could be through the speakers.

 

[morwil24]

Another consideration. While inserting an SD card I noticed that it is raised slightly higher than the SIM card when installed. Perhaps the an SD card can interfere with the proper seal of the gasket of the back door...

 

[kredka]

Anyway, the phone then went through a series of sounds and vibrations for a few minutes. I assume it utilized frequencies and pulses to shake the water off of the speaker system. Is this a feature that is on other phones?

I live in Europe and the soundspeaker drying is one of the special apps for s60 phone. It indeed has to blow away all water from speakers by giving special sounds, that's why it is important to put the volume in a maximum loudness when drying speakers. I have never seen such app in other brands but I am glad to have such in my s60.

Perhaps the an SD card can interfere with the proper seal of the gasket of the back door...

If you check the back door you will see a hollow designed for SD card, which is prepared to avoid such interference.

 

[Djbbt]

On holiday in Greece at the moment, was really excited to get some underwater pictures with the kids, checked all the seals, got in the water, phone lasted 10mins, SIM card warning, opened everything up, Sims were wet, tried drying it out, it kept restarting, wouldn't let me turn it off.

First day of my holiday, on my 40th birthday.

Yeah, these phones are not waterproof. Loved my S60 until today. She's now a brick.

 

[kredka]

On holiday in Greece at the moment, was really excited to get some underwater pictures with the kids, checked all the seals, got in the water, phone lasted 10mins, SIM card warning, opened everything up, Sims were wet, tried drying it out, it kept restarting, wouldn't let me turn it off.

First day of my holiday, on my 40th birthday.

Yeah, these phones are not waterproof. Loved my S60 until today. She's now a brick.

That's a pity :-( Luckily my s60 has no problems with swimming but every time I use it under water I am really afraid if it is not the last time. May I ask you which model you had: dual SIM or single? With two lines at back door or with three? (My is dual SIM with two lines)

 

[toby holloway]

Unfortunately, I have experienced the same over the bank holiday. Thought nothing of having my S60 in my pocket and doing a couple of lengths in the pool as I have done over the past 8 months. (light to medium usage both on a construction site and in various swimming pools / on boats) However, this time the phone quickly developed issues with the screen and over heated. Condensation is apparent in both cameras. It will now cycle through the boot screen with 'Simple test mode' written in red in the top left hand corner. There was evidence of water ingress through the rear door. I will now be contacting CAT to resolve, in the meantime I will be going back to my trusty CAT S50.

 

[Petr1K]

I purchased CAT S60 9 months ago and now one of the front buttons is corrupted by water.
Phone is never submerged under water. Only used almost daily outdoors...

 

[Petr1K]

I spoke with warranty repair service. Warranty is void because plastic lid covering USB port is damaged. (It is up about 0.3 mm) Phone is irreparable.
I believe that phone has collected moisture little by little when daily jogging outdoors. As the processor and battery heat in use the moisture condensates to the coolest place that is under "menu" button.
So IP68 sealing is not necessary the best thing in phone as condensate never dry.

 

[Cod29]

I

Dear all,

I just want to share my experience with Cat S60. I had acquired in beginning of August one Cat S60, EU version. I was impressed with the build of the handset (like a tank) and not so impressed about FLIR (I am having a FlirOne for iOS). But this is not the focus now.
I want to discuss about water ingress. I was using the phone for taking some picture while in the pool (less then 1 meter depth pool!). And yes, the switch for 5 meters were activated, all ports sealed!!!!
After about one hour with usage in water for about 20 minutes in total, some also under water recording (10 cm depth ) i saw that phone was powered off (!!!). Restarting it, i saw that immediately entered again in restart loop. Checking closer, i saw some condensed water inside(!) the camera glass.
To cut the long story short, after it was left for drying for 2 days, phone was functioning correctly, however FLIR sensor was not working correctly anymore (having image retention on flir camera and aberrant temperature readings (150 grades Centigrade)

I had sent the phone back and i received a new device, but i have to be fair with you that i have lost the trust that this phone is waterproof. And yes, trust me, the "wholes" were protected, switches for 5 meters activated and the phone was fully submerged in water for less then 5 minutes, no more then 10 cm depth!

regards,
Andrei

I was really satisfied with cat phones , since the time cat b 15 was introduced, however it had a small amount of RAM, and CPU, but cat s60 is really aweful

 

[Manuel Duarte Domingos]

Same here.

Portugal; light use in swimming pool; took 3shots under water and seconds after the camera lens got foggy due to small water drops inside... Thermal camera doesn't work correctly either...

I ruined my work mobile Trying to use my phone to what it was supposed to do ...frustrating.