Or just link to the first post of this thread how to open N900.

Like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYIn3q6av18
or this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVEHm325-z8
(These videos shows how to open N900 more than it is needed for this USB-port fix hack.)

Has come to my attention that 'blue_led' also did the soldering down some time ago.
added link in post #1

Your post should be in the first place in the n900 section.

Don't know why people are so lazy to wait for a broken usb and then search for a howto repair it.

Fix it today.

regards

Where is the pic of the components the pads link back too? it needs to be on this thread so people know where to link wire to what component.

Found it on your first post but is not here already to view, only as a link.

dr_frost_dk, I do appreciate your work, but please actually read the post before you flame. I'm not sure by any means that epoxy putty is "better" or "worse" than soldering, but, the decision to go down that route is informed by every thread on this forum, including yours, and I post here because I'd be interested in constructive discussion about it. Your considered opinion would be very welcome indeed.

First, we're not talking about a "glue" so much as a "filler"; this is key to the mechanical strength of the fix. By physically filling up the space around the sides of the USB port, we're not gluing it down to paint, we're building a foundation that should stop it flexing even the slightest bit relative to the board; "adhesion" is less of a concern to me than sheer "mechanical reinforcement". If the port cannot move at all, the adherence per se will never be tested. I actually ended up going over the top and back of the port as well, with the port itself protected by having a cable inserted.

Second, epoxy putty is more solid during application than either glue or molten solder, meaning less chance of getting it in the USB port - but it remains workable for a couple of minutes, so there's time to shape it, move it or remove it once it's in place.

Third, your "without any problems at all" is subjective. You had to file away part of the case to fit the board back in after soldering, which may not be a problem to you, but does mean that more tools and equipment are needed, and makes the process more complex. In the photo below, to the top right hand side of the port you'll see the indentation in the putty from refitting it into the case while still soft.



This means I don't have to mess about modding the case in any way, and also has the advantage that the lump of epoxy fits up hard against the case. There's far more putty under the sides and the back of the port than is obvious from this photo; I did the sides and back of the port first with the microSD board lifted off, trimmed it back level with the board and then put a lump over the top (with a cable in) before final shaping.

The end result

• uses a semi-solid material which stays where you put it
• uses a non-conductive material that can be applied liberally
• surrounds the port completely, even filling the holes in the jacket, without rendering it inoperable
• gives plenty of surface area in contact with the main board (contact with the microSD board is incidental)
• avoids fouling the case, requires no case mods, and actually reinforces the repair against the case as well as the board
• requires no soldering iron or Dremel-type tools for case modding and is cheaper to implement on a small scale

Obviously, this hasn't held up for a year yet, so I can't say it's better or worse than soldering the port down, but it is cheaper, more accessible, a less complex procedure (no case mod) and more comprehensive in reinforcing the port from all angles and in all directions. You can see the epoxy filling up the back of the port in this second photo - and the port works just fine for both charging and data after being completely encapsulated in epoxy. In order for that to pull out, it's going to have to break the case too.



My hope in documenting this is that for me at least, it addresses most of the concerns that I had after reading the many posts linked to from this thread about soldering or liquid glues, and it's a fix that's available to Joe Average in his bedroom without a workshop. Comments invited.

Well depending on how you solder down the USB port case modding is not needed per say, and also i only used a small cutter for the case, didn't need to get the proxxon out or anything.

Again case modding is only needed if the USB won't sit flush when putting the N900 back together.

And in light of only using soldering iron and small cutters then you cant really argue on price, the 2-component (which can be very fluent or hard depending on type) can be pretty expensive i might add, i use it alot for various purposes and i have countless of 2-component glue laying around.

Last but not least, lets say something goes wrong anyway with either mod, whats easiest to correct?
- unsolder the port and fixing it
or
- trying to get glue off that was designed not to come off? (this is not hot-glue we are talking about)

on the subject on making a new connection i found this ESD filter that could be used.

My take on epoxy: besides all will-it-stick-to-the-board? concerns and possible trouble on re-repair, epoxy always will be way more elastic than the rigid solder, so when force applied to the receptacle I guess the solder joints will break no matter how much elastic plastic material (aka epoxy) sits around it and tries to reinforce it. (think about it like "how much scotch tape to wrap around a glass tube to prevent it from breaking when you bend it")
So thumbs up for the soldering method, frowning on the epoxy method (which up to now hasn't proven it's effectiveness, unlike soldering which is pretty obvious to improve things)

PS: Note please that in the picture 3 up the short connection next to "GND" from rightmost to 2nd f. r. pin is incorrect. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB#Physical_appearance - pin #4 is ID pin and you best leave it alone if you can't manage to resolder it.

/j

Although I totally give thumbs up for soldering method for obvious reasons, I would not depreciate epoxy thing. There are many epoxy types around, some of them producing heavy, metallic/rockish thing, that even produce semi-metallic sound, when hit I would say that those types are less elastic that solder, really! I think it's going to break like stone, instead of changing shape, even for a while.

Still, IMO soldering is much better - because soldering characteristic, including shallow diffusion - and I'm going to do it. Probably, after good soldering, I'll also "encapsulate" it (in sane manner, of course) in good'old'epoxy. Which I think of as gaining best from both methods, unless someone prove that I'm wrong.

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BTW, I totally agree that "modding" cover to fit soldered port is eas and doesn't involve any complicated tools. Can be done with sandpaper, if with nothing else.