My Kobo discharges its battery by continuous syncing

datcha · 08-10-2016, 07:39 PM

I have used a Kobo GLO HD for about 8 months. It came preset to sync automatically every evening.

About two weeks ago, I noticed that the battery charge was going down at an alarming rate. Actually, the Kobo was syncing continuously, thus emptying the battery in about 36 hours (this is very approximate), even though I was not reading. I assumed the syncing was the cause of the discharge.
I managed to find a way to stop it (though I do not recall how), but it did it again a few days later.

I wrote to Kobo help, who only told me to reinitialize, in various way to be tried in succession, which means that they did not have a clue. I just do not follow advice from people who do not have a clue.
Even if the reader seems to work properly after reinitialization (as it did as well when I stopped the syncing), I have no way to know whether I will not see the phenomenon again in the future, since it remains unexplained.

I decided that the simplest was to disable syncing, which has so far worked fine. However, the Kobo reader warned me (before it disabled syncing) that if I no longer sync, I will be be blocked by "offline reading limits", without further explanation.
But I was unable to find any document or information about these "offline reading limits", and the people who sold me the ereader never heard of it. Any info or link is welcome.

I am surprised that Kobo does not use its spying features to make itself useful by debugging problems on user devices.

Is this issue of continuous syncing emptying the battery a known one ?
Can I use my Kobo without syncing, or will I run into problems ?

I can always load my ebooks with Calibre, or even by writing directly in the ereader memory, except for those that have DRM (which I avoid buying, whenever I do not forget to check). But I can also sync explicitly when I need to.

davidfor · 08-10-2016, 10:08 PM

I have never heard of any "offline reading limits" before. The only one I can think of "you have finished all the books on the device". i.e. You have run out of stuff to read.

Whether to sync is really about how you read the books and where you get them from. If you are only reading sideloaded books, then the only reason to sync is to update the firmware. If you use Pocket, then it will update the articles when you open the Pocket list. If you read purchased books, but don't use another device, then you only need to sync when you buy a new book. The only other advantage of syncing is it backups your reading status and bookmarks for the purchased books to the Kobo server and will restore them if you have to do a factory reset.

As to the cause, from what I have seen, non-completing syncs happen for mainly one cause, something happened to my network. If there is a clean break, say the WiFi router was turned of, the sync normally stops with an error. If the network is still there, but having problems, the sync can keep running. I haven't worked out what problems cause this. I know that sometimes I look at the device in the morning and the overnight automatic sync is still running. Usually hitting cancel stops it. Usually starting the sync again works, but sometimes the only solution is to restart the device.

Another thing that can cause some strange problems, is a corrupt database. I suspect a non-completing sync could be caused by this, but I don't have any real proof. If the database is corrupt, usually the only thing you can do is to restore from backup or sign-out and back in on the device.

datcha · 08-11-2016, 09:46 AM

Thank you, Grand Sorcerer

Your answer makes a lot more sense than what I received from Kobo. Indeed, I do have wifi problems at home, where it occurred, and the connection is a bit instable. Still, I believe the Kobo software should be able to handle that ... if they were willing to debug it when users run into problems.

Regarding the strange "offline reading limits", here is what I found about it. It is a google entry for Kobo page that no longer exists.

I called Google with: site:kobo.com sync offline reading and it returned this first answer:

kobo.com/help - Reading Kobo Plus books while offline
https ://stage.kobo.com/help/en-US/.../reading-kobo-books-while-offline
Once you've opened 15 Kobo Plus books or reached the end of your 30-day offline
reading period, you'll need to reconnect to Wi Fi and sync your Kobo ...

But the intended page, which I guess should be at https://stage.kobo.com/help/en-US/ar...-while-offline , no longer exists.

I do not know about these 15 books or 30 days limits. I do not even know what is a "Kobo Plus book". What does the "Plus" stand for?

davidfor · 08-11-2016, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by datcha

Thank you, Grand Sorcerer

Your answer makes a lot more sense than what I received from Kobo. Indeed, I do have wifi problems at home, where it occurred, and the connection is a bit instable. Still, I believe the Kobo software should be able to handle that ... if they were willing to debug it when users run into problems.

Yes, the software should handle it. But, it's the sort of problem that can be hard to track down and fix. And depending on how many people it affects and what other problems they have to fix, something like this will probably not be high priority.

Quote:

Regarding the strange "offline reading limits", here is what I found about it. It is a google entry for Kobo page that no longer exists.

I called Google with: site:kobo.com sync offline reading and it returned this first answer:

kobo.com/help - Reading Kobo Plus books while offline
https ://stage.kobo.com/help/en-US/.../reading-kobo-books-while-offline
Once you've opened 15 Kobo Plus books or reached the end of your 30-day offline
reading period, you'll need to reconnect to Wi Fi and sync your Kobo ...

But the intended page, which I guess should be at https://stage.kobo.com/help/en-US/ar...-while-offline , no longer exists.

I do not know about these 15 books or 30 days limits. I do not even know what is a "Kobo Plus book". What does the "Plus" stand for?

Sorry, I don't know anything about that.

Cinisajoy · 08-11-2016, 12:52 PM

I found VIP stuff and a Pulse but no Plus.
Are you a VIP member?

filmo · 08-11-2016, 03:47 PM

In settings turn off auto sync. When reading a book touch bosttom center of screen, Then top of screen displays time and and top right corner has 3 line icon. Touching the 3 lines brings up status box that displays date & time, wifi status (no X in square wifi is off) touch empty square turns on wifi; displays battery percent remaining displays and Last Sync date/time with button to sync only if you want. Turn off sync when it is finished or when you get tired of waiting. I don't use pocket and other things that use battery. I have simplified wifi password on my guest network making it easier to connect with reader and other touch screens and turn it off when not used.

datanoise · 09-01-2016, 02:33 PM

When the wifi is off on the kobo, but automatic sync is enabled, will it connect to the wifi network in order to sync and then disconnect, or will it not sync until the wireless network is enabled on the kobo?

EldRick · 09-01-2016, 03:30 PM

Off is Off.

datanoise · 09-01-2016, 04:05 PM

Cool. Thank you :-)

jackastor · 09-01-2016, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by datanoise

When the wifi is off on the kobo, but automatic sync is enabled, will it connect to the wifi network in order to sync and then disconnect, or will it not sync until the wireless network is enabled on the kobo?

Make sure you do turn off automatic sync. If you do not your kobo will attempt to connect and turn the wifi on.

Regards

Jack

davidfor · 09-01-2016, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackastor

Make sure you do turn off automatic sync. If you do not your kobo will attempt to connect and turn the wifi on.

Got any proof for that? If the WiFi is off and I tap the sync, it asks to turn WiFi on. I'm confident that it doesn't turn WiFi on if you leave the automatic sync on.

Kefka · 09-07-2016, 07:43 PM

What are "offline reading limits" on Kobo devices when disabling syncing, as the original post mentions?

davidfor · 09-07-2016, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kefka

What are "offline reading limits" on Kobo devices when disabling syncing, as the original post mentions?

I think that refers to borrowed books. If you are off-line there is no way for it to check status of these books. It should use the dates for the loan, but there might be something else that is checked when the book is nearing the end of that time.

08-10-2016, 07:39 PM	#1
datcha Connoisseur Posts: 58 Karma: 18990 Join Date: Jan 2016 Device: Kobo	My Kobo discharges its battery by continuous syncing I have used a Kobo GLO HD for about 8 months. It came preset to sync automatically every evening. About two weeks ago, I noticed that the battery charge was going down at an alarming rate. Actually, the Kobo was syncing continuously, thus emptying the battery in about 36 hours (this is very approximate), even though I was not reading. I assumed the syncing was the cause of the discharge. I managed to find a way to stop it (though I do not recall how), but it did it again a few days later. I wrote to Kobo help, who only told me to reinitialize, in various way to be tried in succession, which means that they did not have a clue. I just do not follow advice from people who do not have a clue. Even if the reader seems to work properly after reinitialization (as it did as well when I stopped the syncing), I have no way to know whether I will not see the phenomenon again in the future, since it remains unexplained. I decided that the simplest was to disable syncing, which has so far worked fine. However, the Kobo reader warned me (before it disabled syncing) that if I no longer sync, I will be be blocked by "offline reading limits", without further explanation. But I was unable to find any document or information about these "offline reading limits", and the people who sold me the ereader never heard of it. Any info or link is welcome. I am surprised that Kobo does not use its spying features to make itself useful by debugging problems on user devices. Is this issue of continuous syncing emptying the battery a known one ? Can I use my Kobo without syncing, or will I run into problems ? I can always load my ebooks with Calibre, or even by writing directly in the ereader memory, except for those that have DRM (which I avoid buying, whenever I do not forget to check). But I can also sync explicitly when I need to.

08-11-2016, 03:47 PM	#6
filmo Wizard Posts: 1,326 Karma: 1077205 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: Kobo Touch, Sony T1, Kobo Mini	In settings turn off auto sync. When reading a book touch bosttom center of screen, Then top of screen displays time and and top right corner has 3 line icon. Touching the 3 lines brings up status box that displays date & time, wifi status (no X in square wifi is off) touch empty square turns on wifi; displays battery percent remaining displays and Last Sync date/time with button to sync only if you want. Turn off sync when it is finished or when you get tired of waiting. I don't use pocket and other things that use battery. I have simplified wifi password on my guest network making it easier to connect with reader and other touch screens and turn it off when not used. Last edited by filmo; 08-11-2016 at 04:13 PM.

09-07-2016, 07:43 PM	#12
Kefka Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2015 Device: android tablet	What are "offline reading limits" on Kobo devices when disabling syncing, as the original post mentions? Last edited by Kefka; 09-07-2016 at 08:09 PM.

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08-10-2016, 10:08 PM	#2
davidfor Grand Sorcerer Posts: 24,905 Karma: 47303824 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Sydney, Australia Device: Kobo:Touch,Glo, AuraH2O, GloHD,AuraONE, ClaraHD, Libra H2O; tolinoepos	I have never heard of any "offline reading limits" before. The only one I can think of "you have finished all the books on the device". i.e. You have run out of stuff to read. Whether to sync is really about how you read the books and where you get them from. If you are only reading sideloaded books, then the only reason to sync is to update the firmware. If you use Pocket, then it will update the articles when you open the Pocket list. If you read purchased books, but don't use another device, then you only need to sync when you buy a new book. The only other advantage of syncing is it backups your reading status and bookmarks for the purchased books to the Kobo server and will restore them if you have to do a factory reset. As to the cause, from what I have seen, non-completing syncs happen for mainly one cause, something happened to my network. If there is a clean break, say the WiFi router was turned of, the sync normally stops with an error. If the network is still there, but having problems, the sync can keep running. I haven't worked out what problems cause this. I know that sometimes I look at the device in the morning and the overnight automatic sync is still running. Usually hitting cancel stops it. Usually starting the sync again works, but sometimes the only solution is to restart the device. Another thing that can cause some strange problems, is a corrupt database. I suspect a non-completing sync could be caused by this, but I don't have any real proof. If the database is corrupt, usually the only thing you can do is to restore from backup or sign-out and back in on the device.

08-11-2016, 09:46 AM	#3
datcha Connoisseur Posts: 58 Karma: 18990 Join Date: Jan 2016 Device: Kobo	Thank you, Grand Sorcerer Your answer makes a lot more sense than what I received from Kobo. Indeed, I do have wifi problems at home, where it occurred, and the connection is a bit instable. Still, I believe the Kobo software should be able to handle that ... if they were willing to debug it when users run into problems. Regarding the strange "offline reading limits", here is what I found about it. It is a google entry for Kobo page that no longer exists. I called Google with: site:kobo.com sync offline reading and it returned this first answer: kobo.com/help - Reading Kobo Plus books while offline https ://stage.kobo.com/help/en-US/.../reading-kobo-books-while-offline Once you've opened 15 Kobo Plus books or reached the end of your 30-day offline reading period, you'll need to reconnect to Wi Fi and sync your Kobo ... But the intended page, which I guess should be at https://stage.kobo.com/help/en-US/ar...-while-offline , no longer exists. I do not know about these 15 books or 30 days limits. I do not even know what is a "Kobo Plus book". What does the "Plus" stand for?

08-11-2016, 12:52 PM	#5
Cinisajoy Just a Yellow Smiley. Posts: 19,161 Karma: 83862859 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Texas Device: K4, K5, fire, kobo, galaxy	I found VIP stuff and a Pulse but no Plus. Are you a VIP member?

09-01-2016, 02:33 PM	#7
datanoise Groupie Posts: 175 Karma: 14110 Join Date: Aug 2016 Device: SuperNote A5X	When the wifi is off on the kobo, but automatic sync is enabled, will it connect to the wifi network in order to sync and then disconnect, or will it not sync until the wireless network is enabled on the kobo?

09-01-2016, 03:30 PM	#8
EldRick Evangelist Posts: 470 Karma: 112801 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Aura H2O (i86, M96C, Mini&Glo, PRS-950, STR, K-Touch, K-DX, K-3)	Off is Off.

09-01-2016, 04:05 PM	#9
datanoise Groupie Posts: 175 Karma: 14110 Join Date: Aug 2016 Device: SuperNote A5X	Cool. Thank you :-)

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