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    AST RESEARCH, INC.           TECHNICAL BULLETIN # 1011                11-10-94

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                 ASCENTIA 900N TRACK STICK DRIFTING WITH CELLULAR PHONE

    PROBLEM:        When using a cellular phone near an AST Ascentia 900N
                    notebook, under Windows version 3.1, the J-stick cursor or
                    mouse pointer begins to drift toward the edge of the screen

    CAUSE:          The Ascentia 900N's lower board acts as an antenna; it receives
                    the cellular phone output signals and feeds them into the
                    mouse control circuitry, causing the circuit to interpret that
                    the track stick is being pushed, thus moving the mouse cursor.

    SYSTEMS
    AFFECTED:           AST                                               REVISION
                    PART NUMBER          DESCRIPTION                        LEVEL

                    501299-2XX      ASCENTIA 900N 4/50 CS10                  All
                    501300-3XX      ASCENTIA 900N 4/50 CT9                   All
                    501302-2XX      ASCENTIA 900N 4/75 CS10                  All
                    501304-3XX      ASCENTIA 900N 4/75 CT10                  All

    SOLUTION:       The mouse cursor movement does not cause a problem in the
                    Ascentia 900N system.  The track stick still operates
                    normally, even when it is close to a source of RF interference
                    such as a cellular phone, cordless phone, or radio transceiver.
                    Operate these devices at a distance of at least two feet from
                    the Ascentia 900N to avoid the track stick drifting.