Patriot Startup Problem

[Poppifett]

Newbie to this forum and Patriot but not to MDs. Waiting on response from Teknetics, meanwhile I'll ask you guys. Read the manual before it arrived a few days ago and after it arrived. Put 4 new AA batteries in it. Performed a factory reset and ground balance according to instructions. Everything seemed fine. The Program selection appears and I can switch between Program 1 and Program 2 using the "+" and "-" buttons, but no matter how many times I push the MENU button it does not advance to a selection. It did a couple of times but didn't let me get past the SPEED selection. That's where it stalls and I end up turning it off and starting over. I've checked all the connections, re-read the Owner's Manual, and keep trying. Now I get no MENU selection after pressing the MENU button. As I said, I'm waiting on Teknetics Customer Service to respond, at least to give me some integrity testing procedures before I send it in. Appreciate your help. I really don't want to send it in unless I have to.
Thanks:

 

[REVIER]

Try the factory reset again.
Hold down the ground grab button and the power button at the same time, if you see 88 show up on the start-up screen instead of the back to back F's the machine is reset.
If you don't see the 88 it was not reset.
If you do this and nothing changes you have an issue, an electronic problem that you can't fix.

Bad units out of the box are a hassle but in case you do need to send it in there is a silver lining to that dark cloud.
A friend had an issue with a brand new F70 a couple of years ago and had to do this.
It came back to him pretty quickly, I think returned brand new units jump the queue to the front of the line in the repair center, and he was thrilled with what he got back.
The thing was perfect and hot, any unit that returns to them gets special treatment, a thorough going over and extra testing which is much more attention than the rest of them that roll off the lines.
I know they pay for the shipping back to you and don't quote me but I believe they also send you a label that pays for shipping to them, also.
You are missing hunting for a short time but you get the confidence in knowing you now have a unit that you can trust.

Call them and talk to someone there on the phone, (better than e-mails), but try the reset again first.

 

[e.v.s.]

I had the same problem with a new Patriot. Buttons would not work correctly. Finally figured out why--my neighbor has a buried dog fence near my digging area