Topic: 6.600 is out and still bad

[TroyBoy30]

From Wayne on BBC. He's the only one brave enough to try it so far


OK, I just had to take a peak at it, LOL

I give it a failing grade as the processing is still screwed up.

This is what I see.
I have one unit with 6.490 and one unit with 6.600 running beside each other.
With Simulator at the screen scroll speed setting of 5 on both, the swimming pool is the same size on the displays- I paused the screens and measured the pool length. BUT with the 6.600 at the scroll speed of 10 it is just like it was with the 6.570- an Olympic size instead of a private pool size.
To make it even more laughable, at a screen scroll speed of 1, the pool is the size of a kid's pool.

With the 6.490, the pool doesn't change sizes no matter what the scroll speed is and it shouldn't. The screen scroll speed on a recording playback should only affect how fast subjects pass across the display.

Additionally during playback the two sides of SI don't move together. they sort of alternate advancing on the display very obviously.

[strawdg]

From Wayne on BBC. He's the only one brave enough to try it so far

This statement.... while likely true..... doesn't say a lot for people's faith in HB's update reliability......

Like it or not HB IS in the software business with these new units.

Straw

[sonar2000]

A lot more is being posted these day as compared to past years about lack of quality of software. 
I am in agreement with most in that I wont update until it has bee proven to work..Often at great time and effort to the users who try to upgrade.
We really need a user test group instead of sponsored fishermen..

Chuck

[ITGEEK]

I think users are much more cautious now with these
updates.
There was a day when most users (including myself), would just blindly
apply a new update when it came out.  Those days are gone.

Nobody wants to have to ship their machine back to
Humminbird because a freaking update went wrong.

Humminbird needs to gain the user trust again.

[xSilmarilSx]

The more complex the Firmware is, the more error are to be found.
It seems the new functions of the HD units (360/radar/NMEA2000) is a little too big for the HB software department.

They should release a new line of unit, and start the firmware from scratch!

[sonar2000]

+1   well said XSil......
Chuck

[raricker]

Hi,
My issue w/ 6.600 (and 6.570) has to do with Lakemaster chip performance on my 998c. I am seeing mapping problems with versions 2.0 and 3.0 of Lakemaster MN and WI (IE NON I-Pilot lLnk rated) chips.

1). On power up I do not see the "Chip Select" option under the "Chart" column. By looking at the GPS Status screen I can "see" that "some part" of the software install knows that there is a Lakemaster chip present. When I do a "Restore Defaults", the "Chip Select" options appears. Note: Doing a "Restore Defaults" is obviously NOT a desirable action!

2). Lakemaster map data does not appear in all levels of scale (or at all) when zooming in or out on a map screen. What one sees instead is a dark slate colored screen w/ waypoint "dots" >> since my boat is near some of the local lakes that I fish.

Note: If (instead) I have a Navionics (2010 Platinum North) chip installed in my box, on power up everything is fine. I have the "Chip Select" option and everything works great (as far as maps are concerned).

ATTN GREG >> I have not seen on the release notes for 6.570 or 6.600 a declaration as to whether Lakemaster legacy chips will or will not supported (now that I-Pilot Link rated Lakemaster chips have been announced). Can you get this question answered???

Thanks,
Roger

[TroyBoy30]

http://www.bbcboards.net/humminbird-sonar-gps/332709-6-6-update-issues.html

I have spent a few hours doing comparisons.
Here is the deal with 6.600. The way the unit is processing the Simulator is different that it was with any previous versions.
If you are familiar with changing screen scroll speeds as you navigate, you see that a scroll speed that is faster than GPS speed will stretch the images (remember Doug's illustration of how to stretch a tree to see fish in it?). Going the other way, a slower screen scroll speed than the GPS speed will compress the images.
What the 6.600 is doing with the Simulator recording is the same thing. The Similator was recorded at whatever GPS speed and before all you could do is change how fast to play back the Simulator with no affect on the images. Now you can practice with the screen scroll speed in Simulator and see the effect of the screen scroll speed changes on the images-just like in normal use. If you match the screen scroll speed to the Simulator GPS speed, that is when you get accurate images and the images seem sharper than before.

Another test I did was playing back my own recordings with 6.490 and 6.600. They look the same. I took a screen shot of a particular subject during playback and the pictures are the same.

Next is overall screen scroll speed. It is still a little faster through the range (the slowest is faster and the fastest is faster). What I suspect, with on-the-water use, is the quality of images at trolling motor fishing speeds will be less since the rate can't be lowered as much as before.
I use the speed setting of 1 a lot to get sharp images as I am fishing.

I'll do some recording of the Simulator in a while to see if HumViewer will play it, but I don't expect a positive results since the 360 data is now part of the overall processing. It wouldn't with 6.570.
The 360 image of the swimming pool is unrecognizable due to the GPS speed.

[sss_floripa]

 
6.600 another update with bugs.
HB users are laboratory Guinea Pigs.

I returned to the version 6.310 that works fine on my 1197c

[sonar2000]

We are sticking with 6.3 on our 1197.  Quit using for searches but there are other things we can use the 1197 for.
we put the 1198 back in the box for now...
Chuck

[strawdg]

The more complex the Firmware is, the more error are to be found.
It seems the new functions of the HD units (360/radar/NMEA2000) is a little too big for the HB software department.

They should release a new line of unit, and start the firmware from scratch!

The problem with this is that HB has touted it's units as upgradeable and expandable. They have sold a large number of units on that very premise ....

If they were suddenly to obsolete those units by requiring a new line, I believe it would be devastating to them and their customer base would crumble.

Have they over extended?..... Possibly..... But as long as they have started down this road, they need to quickly come to the realization that they are selling computers (as many have already stated). This absolutely requires they get their software department up to speed because if they don't their competition will.

Straw

[TroyBoy30]

OK after further review, the sizes of objects have been changing according to the screen scroll speed as compared to the GPS speed with Simulator. I was wrong with that accessment for the older software issues. kercha83, you are correct. I guess the image size differencies is what tricked me. Disreguard my posted three images, except for the one with the "Olympic" pool which demonstates a higher screen scroll rate than before.

The difference with 6.600 and probably with 6.570 is at matching scroll speeds the image sizes are about twice the size between 6.490 and 6.600

An example for the 1198 unit:
The 10 setting with 6.600: the inside of the swimming pool is just over 4 1/4" long--top to bottom
The 10 setting with 6.490: the inside of the swimming pool is 2 1/4" long

The 5 setting with 6.600: the inside of the swimming pool is 2 1/4" long
The 5 setting with 6.490: the inside of the swimming pool is 1 1/8" long.

I didn't measure the 1 setting for each---takes too long to get through the recording, but the size difference is about the same ratio thoughout the speed settings.
In summary, what 6.600 delivers is a higher range of speed settings including the setting of 1.
It may reduce the fishability of the unit for SI bow use if the same affect is realized when in normal operation. Someone in a warmer climate with bow use experience will have to verify that.

After looking at these units all day, my 798ci SI looks like it is barely moving even at the 10 setting.

[ITGEEK]

I too am sticking with version 6.310 on my 1197c.
It's rock solid, and my unit is very responsive with it.
I most likely will never update that unit again.

The new features and accessories are coming too
fast for Humminbird to get a handle on the software
to properly run them.  I'm sure it's an extremely difficult
problem for Humminbird to get a handle on.  Their programmers
are probably constantly writing new code, and modifying
old code.  And, I'm sure they are pressured to do it quickly.
I don't envy the Humminbird programmers.

But, it's hard to put all the blame on Humminbird, because
people are always asking for and wanting new features.

You can't just snap a finger and have a new feature work.
New code has to be written for it, and then that code has
to be checked, that it doesn't interfere with other system
functions.  This is an extremely complicated problem.

But, as users, all we can do is report problems we find with
updates, and hope for the best.

[sonar2000]

I'm sure it's an extremely difficult problem for Humminbird to get a handle on.  Their programmers
are probably constantly writing new code, and modifying
old code.  And, I'm sure they are pressured to do it quickly.
I don't envy the Humminbird programmers.

Last I heard was that HB outsourced the code to be written by a vendor. Not sure if the vendor writes all modules or just portions. It kind of seems like the left hand and the right hand are not talking to each other.

Chuck

[ITGEEK]

Chuck, if it's true that Humminbird has
outsourced it's programming of code
to a vendor, then that vendor would have
been fired long ago.

I'm sure there would be some kind of
safeguards written into a contract that
would force a vendor to thoroughly test
the code before releasing it.

[sonar2000]

I dont know.  It was a past conversation that mentioned the outsourceing. What ever it is.  It needs attention and fixing..

Chuck

[Humminbird_Greg]

Hi,
My issue w/ 6.600 (and 6.570) has to do with Lakemaster chip performance on my 998c. I am seeing mapping problems with versions 2.0 and 3.0 of Lakemaster MN and WI (IE NON I-Pilot lLnk rated) chips.

1). On power up I do not see the "Chip Select" option under the "Chart" column. By looking at the GPS Status screen I can "see" that "some part" of the software install knows that there is a Lakemaster chip present. When I do a "Restore Defaults", the "Chip Select" options appears. Note: Doing a "Restore Defaults" is obviously NOT a desirable action!

2). Lakemaster map data does not appear in all levels of scale (or at all) when zooming in or out on a map screen. What one sees instead is a dark slate colored screen w/ waypoint "dots" >> since my boat is near some of the local lakes that I fish.

Note: If (instead) I have a Navionics (2010 Platinum North) chip installed in my box, on power up everything is fine. I have the "Chip Select" option and everything works great (as far as maps are concerned).

ATTN GREG >> I have not seen on the release notes for 6.570 or 6.600 a declaration as to whether Lakemaster legacy chips will or will not supported (now that I-Pilot Link rated Lakemaster chips have been announced). Can you get this question answered???

Thanks,
Roger

Roger, Yes the units still can use the Humminbird-LakeMaster mapping cards.  I am wondering why you asked this question…  Would we need to state this in the release notes?  We don’t state that the units can still use the Navionics mapping cards or that they still use each accessory or even transducer.  Unless the release notes state that the unit will no longer be able to use the map card/accessory/transducer or whatever, then they should still be able to use it.  The software usually adds features/functions and not takes them away (though there are exceptions to this but they were stated).

[raricker]

Thanks for the reply Greg.

The issues I have pointed out w/ Lakemaster MN and WI chips (version 2.0 and 3.0) only occur with levels 6.570 and 6.600 of code for my 998c. The problems I am seeing IE. Displaying map data at any level of resolution and controlling which LM chip I want to use, are very easy to recreate.

The test setup I am using is my boat setting in the garage. In that location I can 4ft Error Positioning w/ xducers, Weather Sense, Etc... (Everything except a lake!) PS: It is pretty cold in the garage right now (MN you know) so I to stop playing with the electronics when my hands go numb!

Can you pass the LM problems I am seeing onto Engineering? I am sure there are other people who will want the latest box update but not want to migrate to the I-Pilot Link certified LM chips.

Thanks,
Roger

[Humminbird_Greg]

Thanks Roger, I have already passed this on.

[LittleGazoo]

Their programmers are probably constantly writing new code, and modifying
old code.  And, I'm sure they are pressured to do it quickly.
I don't envy the Humminbird programmers.

Not if those programmers are outsourced, cause a bean-counting manager would be charging HB for each hour.

Gone are the days of a in-house salaried programmer who would just rewrite code and fix code to make it better when he had free time.  Now thats just employee overhead.

[LittleGazoo]

6.570 issue where icons are not in sync with HBPC 4.3.8.

Information icon which is the blue i becomes a blue square.
Restricted Area icon which is the yelow triangle becomes a Rock Pile icon.

And the Bridge icon is blank in HBPC 4.3.8?