Until I started using a BlackBerry Curve, I thought that a few of the Windows Mobile devices were the only handhelds that had problems with reminder alarms. (If you have a WinMo device and have reminder issues with it, check out this post and this one.)
I thought this might be limited to the Curve series of BlackBerry, but Thomas told me he had the same problem with his BlackBerry Pearl. His fix for it was to remove the battery, leave it out for a couple of minutes, and then replace it. That solved his problem, but it did not work for my Curve.
In googling for a solution, I found instructions that I have paraphrased below:
- Open the browser on your BlackBerry, click the menu button, choose Go To and then type http://www.blackberry.com/calendarpatch/patch/index.shtml (or just click on this link if you are viewing from your BlackBerry)
- Highlight the download button and click the trackball
- When the BB notifies you of a successful download, pull the battery out for two minutes.
- Replace the battery, and wait for a message saying the 2007 Calendar Patch has been installed (it can take several minutes for the message to appear)
- Reset the device (you will be prompted to do so)
This indeed worked for me. I am told that this patch is only intended for the BB 8300 and 8830 series devices that have a firmware version lower than 4.2.2.114.
My brother had the same problem with his Curve (not being reminded of appointments), applied the patch, and now his works as it should, too.
The one thing the patch did not do for me was to give me audible alarms. If you carry your BlackBerry in its holster, not getting an audible alarm is probably not a concern to you, as it will give you the cheap thrill of a vibration when you have an appointment reminder. But, for those who like to carry the Curve in your shirt pocket, you may also want to do the following:
- Select Advanced from the Profiles menu
- Select the Normal Profile for editing
- From the resulting menu, select Calendar
- Change the Out of Holster setting to Tone
- Adjust the Volume setting to the desired level (the default is muted, which threw me for a while)
That should take care of any reminder issues you have with your BlackBerry (provided that these instructions apply to your model). If you have other solutions, or if the above doesn’t work for you, let us hear from you.
I have a pearl 8120 and read a number of forums trying to obtain information in getting an audible alarm for upcoming scheduled appointments…so far..no luck…any suggestions?
Jud, sorry but the above is the extent of my knowledge on dealing with BlackBerry alarm problems. If you got the device from a store (instead of online), perhaps taking it back and getting them to help with it would be the way to go. Alternately, a call to the tech support folks of your carrier.
The above worked for me, but it is the only solution I am familiar with.