AHH! Newb, I need help!

[Blake-T]

In the last year or so I started getting into the watch game. I purchased a GW-200z Frogman earlier this week on E-Bay from the seller Watches-Bay. I did my research and tried to make sure that Watches-Bay was a good reliable seller. Obviously I don't want to drop $300+ on a watch and end up getting ripped off. It came yesterday and I have a problem.

The problem is that the screen is extremely dim. Before people tell me to charge it because it is in sleep mode or has a dead battery, I will say that the screen is on and the watch is keeping time and all functions are working. The display is just extremely dim. I have it outside charging in the sun now. I am hoping that maybe the battery just got extremely low while the watch was in storage and that it is making weird stuff happen to the display. I am still waiting for a reply from the seller (I assume that is because it is the weekend).

I searched this forum and others for any similar problems. No such luck. I hope that someone can help or has some sort of a suggestion.

Thanks!
-Blake

[kurzjak]

Welcome, Blake-T.
I think if you upload some photos we can spot your problem quicker.

[Blake-T]

Okay, I am new to this give me a bit haha.

[Blake-T]

It is working fine, the display is just so dim!

[Tsip85]

I'm looking at ur picture on my phone, so I could be wrong, but it looks like the battery indicator is empty, thus u just need to charge the battery. A few hours in the sun and u should be good to go.

Sent from the Office of the Reincarnated President of the Republic of Texas

[Blake-T]

The battery indicator looks like it is pretty much full. It is the same tone as the rest of the display characters. But would a low battery even make the display darkness and contrast change? Wouldnt it just turn off?

[kurzjak]

The battery indicator looks like it is pretty much full. It is the same tone as the rest of the display characters. But would a low battery even make the display darkness and contrast change? Wouldnt it just turn off?

It would be dim, dimmer and then it went off. Put it on the sun for couple more hours and it should be ok. Your Frogman looks legit :)

[rogerlike]

Blake-T, welcome to the forum!

Now, if the supply voltage is high enough for the battery indicator to show full, the voltage across the LCD (electric field strength) should be normal and therefore the contrast should be normal. Unfortunately, I think the Frogman has a fault and I don't think it is the battery.

[nhoJ]

How well is the back light working? Dying battery will usually have a dim or no backlight.

Could be a rechargable battery in need of replacement.

[Blake-T]

The backlight works very well and also using the backlight does not improve the contrast :(

I used it today while lifeguarding, it was in the sun with me for about six hours. Also when a thunder storm came through i used it to keep track of the time people were not allowed in the water and it worked great.

I did happen to notice that with my polarized sunglasses on the contrast looked good!