Following on from this thread:
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=29334 :
While the NAVI is a fantastic little unit, and extremely accurate, a number of people have reported it not recording a session on the SD card. So far the list includes:
Nebbian
Kato
Snides
Vando
If this happens to you, can you put down everything you think is relevant, so that we've got a chance of figuring out what's wrong?
Date: 9th July 2007
Firmware: V1.5(b0403)
Distance: 90.54 km
Time: 9:30am to 4:30pm (approx)
Location: Wellington Point, Qld
SD Card empty before sailing: Yes
SD Card details: TwinMOS Ultra-X SD 66X 1GB
Comments: I've tried to replicate this problem and can't. At the moment I'm going on the theory that I leave a couple of old files on the SD card before sailing, then if the problem happens again I can figure out if the NAVI is wiping the card, or just not recording.
I have been running the Navi for a while now and have only had the problem once : when I pulled the card out before I turned the unit off.My fault - too excited,wont do that again.
Recently I changed to a 64 mb card of good make,to find everything seems to run quicker and better like Realspeed and I think its still big enough to hold more tracks than I will ever need to hold so I would recomend the smallest card you can get and a spare could be handy anyway.
I just went straight for the card because early on it was a problem and 1 gig seems rediculous to me and I have heard of people getting 2 gig cards.
what i do with mine is going to the card screen and scroll down till you get to the screen which shows the file size changing (in the botton corner of display)
I think you also need to note if you're recording binary (.bin) or text (.txt) files. Mt Best's set up guide or Roo's
I set up to MT Best's details, that users the binary data, and the first time I checked the card, it didn't show the latest data, so changed back to Roo's set up, then went for a jog round the block. When I plugged the card in, I then had the earlier .bin file as well as the latest .txt files. Bit of a mystery!!!!!
I remember somebody saying that there is a greater problem recording binary data. Think it was because there's more info, and the batery voltage can drop below the SD cards specs.
Now there's another thing to check, how well was the battery charged?
Another thing in the Mt Best guide is min speed and record on sat fix. If you have the min speed set, you don't get the message saying "card found, new file" you only get, "card found". That makes sense of course, but if you don't have min speed set, you can check for "new file" when you turn on. Not sure if that guarantees you'll record data, but might help fault find.
yep this is prob the safe bet,as BC says go to the file menu walk around a bit and watch the kb's add up.also watch the card symbol on the sceen and make sure it is 'shading' it self in.
i had a problem on the weekend where i accidently hit the pause button instead of the zero button when resetting my max speed.
after this nothing was changing on the log screens accept for the main odometer. so i ended up switching the unit off then back on again.
when i got home and plugged the sd card into my pc which has xp, i found two files- the first one with 195kb's and a second one with no kb's needless to say i was extremely pissed off.
after a while i decided to try the card in my laptop which is vista and up popped a window asking me to repair or check the inserted disc,with nothing to loose i followed the instructions and surprise,surprise the file suddenly displayed 400kb's
the file oppened and every thing was good.
on reflection i think the problem may have been caused due to my habit of ripping the card out of the machine with out following the ridiculous microsoft series of button clicks you should do when you disengage something from a computer(so much for plug and play!!)
this may have been the reason i had a failure the week before when nothing appeared to be inside a file the unit had created.
yo yo in another thread appears to be on the right track as to what is happening with these things.
i am using the latest locosys b0 608t version and the latest realspeed 1.907
the key is to watch the sceen when you fire the navi up and make sure it says- 'card found'and the little card symbol is shading it self in continually,also go to the card menu and make sure the memory is ticking over.
sorry for the long speil but i hope it helps some one else out.
should add i am recording .bin i got the unit off Tom from mt best and it was preset apart from the time zone.
another edit.. as mentioned above if you do have the 'minimum speed' function enabled say for 2kn,then the card wont show its 'writing' while you are standing still, once you start to move it then starts to 'write' to file.
I had trouble when using sandisk ultra II sd card that can convert to usb. The navi just shat itself everytime and switched off. Changed to the same card as nebbian and not had any trouble.
Gremlins in the hardware? Voltage differences?
However, i also subscribe to the fully charged unit and check to make sure it is recording. And if that doesn't work use a bigger hammer.
Hi Guys Not sure what to me. But I couldn't get the file off the card.
Windows said it was a corrupt file. The size of the file was normal about 3meg. I ended up downloading off the internal memory.
Unfortunately it only records about 2.5hrs so I lost half my data and my fastest run of the day
. The version I was using is the beta version 1.61. apparently this prob has been fixed.
ta vando
i had a problem with my garmin today.
the battery went flat!
p.s. i couldn't help myself. good to see you guys trying to sort it out for everyone.....
ummm.. interesting Dam 71,i am using a sandisk ultra as well- the one that folds into a usb in 1gig.
I don't quite understand the exact technical reason for this bug but I have received an email from Tom Chalko who is working with Locosys on firmware development with particular interest in speed sailing. I copy his comment below:
"The issue was that for some combinations of settings FILE OPEN function could coincide with the first write to card."
"For those who choose to use (firmware beta version) 0608T I recommend CARD SETTINGS: ON-FIX and MIN SPEED set to some non-zero value."
Tom
He also added that a newer beta version firmware had fixed that issue (V1.61 B0702a) and sent me a copy but I don't think this one has been posted on the Locosys website yet. In the meantime, I guess the best thing to do is set the on-fix speed to 1 kt.
Personally, I don't like to do this because the GPS stops recording trackpoints when you are going less than that speed and I like to be able to see more clearly when I have stopped or when I am walking etc. but I know some others think it is a great idea.
quote:
Originally posted by sailquik
I don't quite understand the exact technical reason for this bug but I have received an email from Tom Chalko who is working with Locosys on firmware development with particular interest in speed sailing. I copy his comment below:
"The issue was that for some combinations of settings FILE OPEN function could coincide with the first write to card."
"For those who choose to use (firmware beta version) 0608T I recommend CARD SETTINGS: ON-FIX and MIN SPEED set to some non-zero value."
Tom
He also added that a newer beta version firmware had fixed that issue (V1.61 B0702a) and sent me a copy but I don't think this one has been posted on the Locosys website yet. In the meantime, I guess the best thing to do is set the on-fix speed to 1 kt.
Personally, I don't like to do this because the GPS stops recording trackpoints when you are going less than that speed and I like to be able to see more clearly when I have stopped or when I am walking etc. but I know some others think it is a great idea.
quote:
Originally posted by hardie
Anyway what I found interesting is the last paragraph, bec I find it annoying after a session to find mutiple files on my SD card which I have to laboriously combine to get 1 hour and decent 5 x 10's. Is this why that happens, the 1 sec setting?
quote:
Originally posted by decrepitquote:
Originally posted by hardie
Anyway what I found interesting is the last paragraph, bec I find it annoying after a session to find mutiple files on my SD card which I have to laboriously combine to get 1 hour and decent 5 x 10's. Is this why that happens, the 1 sec setting?
Sorry hardie, no. you get a new file on the card every time you turn it on, so the only way to avoid having to combine multiple files, is not switch the thing off.
But if you set min speed to under walking speed, (5kn???) it won't be recording while you're not sailing, (unless you run). So maybe you don't need to turn it off so much?
quote:I actually had it setup this way and still had probs.
"For those who choose to use (firmware beta version) 0608T I recommend CARD SETTINGS: ON-FIX and MIN SPEED set to some non-zero value."
quote:
Originally posted by hardiequote:
Originally posted by decrepitquote:
Originally posted by hardie
Anyway what I found interesting is the last paragraph, bec I find it annoying after a session to find multiple files on my SD card which I have to laboriously combine to get 1 hour and decent 5 x 10's. Is this why that happens, the 1 sec setting?
Sorry hardie, no. you get a new file on the card every time you turn it on, so the only way to avoid having to combine multiple files, is not switch the thing off.
But if you set min speed to under walking speed, (5kn???) it won't be recording while you're not sailing, (unless you run). So maybe you don't need to turn it off so much?
The only time I ever turn it off is when I'm sharing it with Binny, that's whats so annoying it creates multiple files when I leave it on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
). Load G7toWin program.
quote:
Originally posted by hardie
The only time I ever turn it off is when I'm sharing it with Binny, that's whats so annoying it creates multiple files when I leave it on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
quote:
Originally posted by decrepitquote:
Originally posted by hardie
The only time I ever turn it off is when I'm sharing it with Binny, that's whats so annoying it creates multiple files when I leave it on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow that's interesting, can you figure out when the new file is created??? after a certain time? or after a min speed?
I'd go thru the set up procedure again from scratch, something is probably wrong, mine only makes 1 file per on/off cycle.
Split files is not to much of a problem as they can be joined easily and even the Garmins do it from time to time.
Data loss or corrupted data is the main issue.
may be it's the min speed thing, does it create a new file every time it goes under the min speed???
I've only just updated firmware and set min speed, but I used it Sunday like that and I only got the one file.
I've just had a thought, look at "memory card" "file size", it should be set to "card size" if it's set to "128kb", I think it makes a new file every 128kb!
Decrepit, thanks for that snippet, yep it wasn't, it was set to 1024kb's
Have it at "card size" now.
So sharing, I should toggle, log switch "off" and then back "on" to get second persons runs in a new file, yes?
That sounds possible, but I've only turned the whole unit off and on, so can't say for sure.
quote:
Originally posted by mineral1
Hardie, don't turn it off, go to card file and toggle it to off, and then back on again. Same as turning it off, but it wont get all flustered trying to find sats, and you can head off sailing directly.
Now as Elmo belted me until I worked it out (and it took some belting a few times
From there, when you have all your tracks (multi files) sitting in what ever you down loaded them too, open the G7toWin program, tab file/open, then file type, click GPX,then point it to the place you have the multi files. click 1st one, hold shift key and click last one. They will all be highlighted Then click open and they will all load into G7toWIN.
You will have one big file (pages of data). click ,file save as, and save it as a GPX file in your download area with a name you can find. Open this file from RSpeed,as you would normally do if opening one small file and there you have it, days sailing data all in one file. All you top numbers in one place.
Piss easy if I can do it, you can
Sorry I don't understand Chinese Speak? Can you say that again in English?.....Bugger..... I still won't understand, need one of my trusted interpreters!!!!!!! Elmo...... Decrepit.... WTF are youse?
OK Hardie, turn the unit on.
scroll to "memory card" click the button.
scroll to "file size" click the button.
scroll to "card size" click the button.
with any luck that will solve your problem, you should now only produce 1 file per on/off session.
Hi Snides8,
Sounds like the same card. I tried mine in 2 different NAVI's and both would just shut down. I have no problems with the card in any other devices. That's why it maybe some harware glitch or the voltage my card needs? To be honest i have no idea - but good to see yours works.
Darryl
hello Dam71,
have you formatted the card inside the unit itself?
if not find the formatt function within the memory card section and formatt the card,infact format it a couple of times.
if this doesnt work you may have a dodgy card.(or i may have a dodgy card that actually works!)
dont be tempted to format the card via the pc use the onboard format function instead...hope this helps..are you using the 1 gig? thats what i am using.
cheers
I do have the 1 gig and formatted everything as per normal in the navi. What i found is that everything would start recording, and then the unit would power off. This was all at the start of the challenge so as you can expect i was dirty on having to try and stitch remnants of files together.
The weird thing was we swapped units and the same thing happened - and then when i swapped cards everything was A-OK. Simon at BC thought it may be a voltage difference (usb needs higher voltage than SD - i don't really know). But seeing that yours works this does not sound like it is the case. Bummer really cause the usb function made life sweet - no card reader required.
Think I read on the list of cards that didn't work, the usb adapter one was among them, and for voltage reasons.
Guess the tolerances in the units/cards are such that some may work in one unit, and some may not work in others.
So, how many people are having a problem running the "official" 1.5x Firmware. If you are running the beta (bleeding edge) firmware and are having problems, then probably best to downgrade to 1.5V.
I have notices that there has been at least 3 1.6V firmwares released since I bought my GPS. It's now 1.61. This means they are pretty busy fixing bugs in it, which can manifest itself as the above problems.
If you are using beta firmware then don't whinge when it stuffs up.
That is a good point WestOzWind, the new features being developed for the Locosys GT11 are still in beta and guys uncertain of what to do should stay with the official version.
Locosys software available at:
www.locosystech.com/en/page/support-download-datasheets.html
The Locosys GT11 has been given a dose of nitrous oxide and its development has gone through the roof in the last two months with the help of Tom and some very keen guys at Locosys. What they are doing is developing a product that is lightyears ahead of all other units and I am confident that very soon all the development will stabilise, and then all the bugs will get polished out.
The key issue I believe with the locosys is the time it takes to open the file on the SD card, AND write to the SD card at the same time. The guys are fixing this issue with some good work going on, But in the meantime we can help by using a fast card, separating the file open from the writing to file using Andrew's suggestions above, and also to choose the fastest write option, being the binary format. The binary format is much faster because it is one third of the size of NMEA and there is no text formatting required, just a simple copy of the SIRF data to SD.
The internal flash memory (referred to as the Data Logger on the GT11) is also being developed to provide the best possible solution for our needs. On the latest betas it can record 28k points, about about 8 hours, but is still missing some important detail. Tom is working with Locosys to get all the data/precision/detail we require onto the flash memory, which will make the unit fully functional without the need for the SD card. It will require a new internal binary format but will be worth the trouble and I will have support for this format in RealSpeed as soon as it is implemented. I am sure that Manfred and Yann will also support it in their products because it is an easy format to implement and very similar to the sirf binary (sbn) format currently produced onto the SD card).
To download from the flash memory has become a trivial exercise. Simply go to the Data Logger section on the GT11 and choose to write it to the SD card, or use the Navilink software provided to download directly using the USB cable.
RealSpeed software:
www.intellimass.com/RealSpeed/Index.htm
Just used the Navi again with success.Used a Dick Smith 60X Secure Digital 128mb SD card about $7
