PIREP: AirMap 1000 (Long)

7 - "What?!? I can't write to the included SD chip!" I powered the
GPS down and removed the included SD Card, which is only 32MB and much
to small to include the obstruction database as well as a customer
map. Should include a 128MB at minimum to be at least a tiny bit
useful. I plugged the SD writer (also included in the box with the
airmap 1000) into MY PC and tried to write my newly generate are
detail map to the SD chip. It did not show up?!?! "Hmmm that is
interesting." Upon further investigation, I find that the included SD
chip is permanently write protected. Still do not know why, but so be
it... What was more odd is the Map generation program acted as if it
had written the data to the SD chip... No indication that the write
had failed. On top of that, the software requires that you "register"
the SD chip to the software. Well I just wasted one registration on a
chip which can not be used. What a load of horse crap.

Correction here.... the SD Chip writer needed a firmware upgrade...
Once I upgraded the firmware, the chip was writable... What can one
really write to a 32MB chip which already has 14MB used up. That
limits me to 28MB.... That is not a lot of room to put the detail maps
for my area on..... That is the bad thing about So Cal.... too much
data for a GPS chip... :-)


8 - "Fine, I will use my Mega SD chip" I pull out my 1GB SD chip and
then read the instructions. I mean afterall, I only have 4
registrations left for SD chips. Good thing I did.... 256MB is the
maximum size the AirMap 1000 has been tested with. So... I do not
have any other chips I can use at this time... They are all used for
cameras, MP3 players etc.... so exploring detailed maps will have to
wait.



Ok... a little update on the SD Chip thing, and some questions for
those that just might know...

I went and purchased a 256MB chip for this AirMap 1000. I thought this
might just slove my problem.... Here is the deal.... Apparently the
Aviation Database provided is locked to a particular SD Chip and you
can not copy the Aviation Database to the larger chip. It seems the
only way around this is to purchase an update from Lowrance and write
the database file to the new 256MB chip... Seems like a load of crap
to me.... Whatever... So I am either limited to the 32MB chip, which I
did figure out how to write to the SD card, or I can pay the $35 to
get the latest Database and write it to my new SD card.

Grrrr.... This flying habit is getting more expensive every day....

Anyone know a way to copy the database file from the 32MB chip to my
new 256MB chip without buying the update from Lowrance?

Mike Alexander
PP-ASEL
Temecula, CA
See my online aerial photo album at
http://flying.4alexanders.com

On Sun, 20 Mar 2005 17:05:39 -0800, Mike 'Flyin'8'
wrote:

B chip which already has 14MB used up. That
limits me to 28MB.... Th

Make that 18 MB.... Geesh.... I R Engineer......


Mike Alexander
PP-ASEL
Temecula, CA
See my online aerial photo album at
http://flying.4alexanders.com

Mike 'Flyin'8' wrote:

Anyone know a way to copy the database file from the 32MB chip to my
new 256MB chip without buying the update from Lowrance?


There isn;t. Its tied to the serial number of the SD.. I did some
digging on that..

Well now isn't that special.... So I am forced to buy the updated
database so I can have it on my larger chip?


On 20 Mar 2005 18:43:26 -0800, "mark" wrote:


Mike 'Flyin'8' wrote:

Anyone know a way to copy the database file from the 32MB chip to my
new 256MB chip without buying the update from Lowrance?


There isn;t. Its tied to the serial number of the SD.. I did some
digging on that..


Mike Alexander
PP-ASEL
Temecula, CA
See my online aerial photo album at
http://flying.4alexanders.com

"Mike 'Flyin'8'" wrote in message ...
Well now isn't that special.... So I am forced to buy the updated
database so I can have it on my larger chip?


On 20 Mar 2005 18:43:26 -0800, "mark" wrote:


Mike 'Flyin'8' wrote:

Anyone know a way to copy the database file from the 32MB chip to my
new 256MB chip without buying the update from Lowrance?


There isn;t. Its tied to the serial number of the SD.. I did some
digging on that..


Mike Alexander
PP-ASEL
Temecula, CA
See my online aerial photo album at
http://flying.4alexanders.com

Call 'em up and ask?

Well now isn't that special.... So I am forced to buy the updated
database so I can have it on my larger chip?


Mike,

I am 99% sure that your statement is correct.

The level of detail in the base map should be sufficient for aviation.
Thus, I would not worry about the limited amount of maps that you are able
to download to the 32 meg card with the aviation data. For flying, clutter
is generally more of a problem than lack with detail.

Next time you update the aviation database, I would load it to the 256 meg
card. For other uses, you will want the more detailed Map Create maps.
Unfortunately, you will have to switch SD cards to take advantage of them if
you use the 256 meg card.

Thus, the 32 meg should be fine for flying and you can load the non-aviation
maps onto the other SD card.

You might want to take 5 mb and put these maps on the aviation card:
http://www.lowrance.com/Aviation/taxi/taxi.asp

You can get the latest firmware he
http://www.lowrance.com/Software/Upg...60/default.asp

John Bell
www.cockpitgps.com

Mike 'Flyin'8' wrote:
Well now isn't that special.... So I am forced to buy the updated
database so I can have it on my larger chip?

Basically. Its their copy protection. It verifies the serial number
on the sd card.

*shrug*

For now, just use the smaller chip, then when you update the database,
256ers should be even cheeper What else were you going to put on it?

Mike 'Flyin'8' wrote:
Well now isn't that special.... So I am forced to buy the updated
database so I can have it on my larger chip?

Basically. Its their copy protection. It verifies the serial number
on the sd card.

*shrug*

For now, just use the smaller chip, then when you update the database,
256ers should be even cheeper What else were you going to put on it?


Well I went and purchased a new 256MB SD last night and found out the
hard way that I can't move the database... Kinda bummed about that
because it is a pain to keep removing the back of the unit to change
the SD card from Aviation to Land databases.

Maybe I will call the people at Lowrance and tell them I just got my
unit and the database is dated from November, I want a free updated
database... Take that database and put it on my 256MB chip. That
would make me happy.... Yeah... That is what I will do tomorrow...



Mike Alexander
PP-ASEL
Temecula, CA
See my online aerial photo album at
http://flying.4alexanders.com

Mike,

the database is dated from November, I want a free updated
database


You should really start reading at least part of the literature coming
with the unit. It tells all about the copy protection in there, so
there is no "hard way" you found out - except for not RTFM. And it
tells about the free upgrade you're entitled to if your database is out
of date upon purchase.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

I did RTFM, of course this was after it was not working as I wanted it
to... That is beside the point...

I did not find anything about being entitled to a free update. Where in the
documentation might I find the information about the free update?


You should really start reading at least part of the literature coming
with the unit. It tells all about the copy protection in there, so
there is no "hard way" you found out - except for not RTFM. And it
tells about the free upgrade you're entitled to if your database is out
of date upon purchase.

--
Mike Flyin'8
PP-ASEL
Temecula, CA
http://flying.4alexanders.com