Topic: cannot get the recorded data into various programs

[Piscivorous Pike]

I  have fooled with this for six weeks and I give up. 

I collected several sets of recordings.  The results is always the same.
SON2xtf says my R*.DAT is not valid.
HBSI says there is a "unhandled excpetion" with these details:

See the end of this message for details on invoking
just-in-time (JIT) debugging instead of this dialog box.

************** Exception Text **************
System.IndexOutOfRangeException: Index was outside the bounds of the array.
   at HBSI_Sonar_File_Converter.Form1.OpenMenuItem_Click(Object sender, EventArgs e)
   at HBSI_Sonar_File_Converter.Form1.LoadButton_Click(Object sender, EventArgs e)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Control.OnClick(EventArgs e)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Button.OnClick(EventArgs e)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Button.OnMouseUp(MouseEventArgs mevent)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WmMouseUp(Message& m, MouseButtons button, Int32 clicks)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WndProc(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.ButtonBase.WndProc(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Button.WndProc(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.OnMessage(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)


************** Loaded Assemblies **************
mscorlib
    Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.3074 (QFE.050727-3000)
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.NET/Framework/v2.0.50727/mscorlib.dll
----------------------------------------
HBSI Sonar Data File Converter
    Assembly Version: 1.0.1.3
    Win32 Version: 1.0.1.3
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files/HBSI%20Sonar%20Data%20File%20Converter/HBSI%20Sonar%20Data%20File%20Converter.exe
----------------------------------------
Microsoft.VisualBasic
    Assembly Version: 8.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 8.0.50727.3053 (netfxsp.050727-3000)
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/Microsoft.VisualBasic/8.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/Microsoft.VisualBasic.dll
----------------------------------------
System
    Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.3053 (netfxsp.050727-3000)
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Windows.Forms
    Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.3053 (netfxsp.050727-3000)
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Windows.Forms/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Windows.Forms.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Drawing
    Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.3053 (netfxsp.050727-3000)
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Drawing/2.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Drawing.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Runtime.Remoting
    Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.3053 (netfxsp.050727-3000)
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Runtime.Remoting/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Runtime.Remoting.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Configuration
    Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.3053 (netfxsp.050727-3000)
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Configuration/2.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Configuration.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Xml
    Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.3074 (QFE.050727-3000)
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Xml/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Xml.dll
----------------------------------------

************** JIT Debugging **************
To enable just-in-time (JIT) debugging, the .config file for this
application or computer (machine.config) must have the
jitDebugging value set in the system.windows.forms section.
The application must also be compiled with debugging
enabled.

For example:

<configuration>
    <system.windows.forms jitDebugging="true" />
</configuration>

When JIT debugging is enabled, any unhandled exception
will be sent to the JIT debugger registered on the computer
rather than be handled by this dialog box.


It does not matter whether I take the data from the cards or copy to hard drive, this is what I always get.  I down loaded examples from the web and they work in the software  on my machine so yellowfin, hbsi, and the other software works on my machine.  It is that my data from my cards doesn't.

What gives anyone?

[RGecy]

Send me a copy of the R***.dat and everything in the R*** folder. Should be 3 or 4 SON files and 3 or 4 IDX files.

Not sure whats going on.  You said you did copy ALL the files from the record folder, right?

What version software is installed on your unit?

Robert

[Piscivorous Pike]

Thanks,
Sent email from two of my addresses by accident, sorry.

I noticed that the DAT files have 0 bytes, which maybe true as the computer rounds to the nearest whole integer but on the other hand if the file is supposed to contain a bunch more data that may be the problem.


This last time out I recorded 8 sessions, some lasting hours.  This has been a problem no matter what type or brand of SD card I use.

[RGecy]

Keith,

I did get the files!

The .DAT file is empty and I am not sure why.  Definitely not normal.  Did this happen before the 4.510 update?

I can make the files work by substituting another .DAT and modifying a few lines of the file.  If you want me to create .DATs for each of your recordings, just send me the R000** numbers and I will work on tonight.

Its really quite simple.  I am not sure about your computer expertise, but you could download a program to open the file up in a hex editor and modify the bytes yourself and just save it back.

Let me know.  I would certainly be willing to make it work for now.  This will probably not work for Son2xtf, but will work for the HBSI converter.

As for solving the problem, if this just started with the update, I would suggest reinstalling the update.  Just to remember to set the unit back to factory defaults and back up all your nav data before updating.

Robert

[RGecy]

I can make the files work by substituting another .DAT and modifying a few lines of the file.  If you want me to create .DATs for each of your recordings, just send me the R000** numbers and I will work on tonight.

I take that back, your .SON files are messed up also.  They are only recording one ping!

I would definitely see what Greg and Keith have to say about this and see if they have seen it before.  Personally, I have never had it happen or seen it either.

Maybe go back to 4.180 and see if it does it still!

Robert

[Piscivorous Pike]

IT WORKED! IT WORKED! IT WORKED! IT WORKED!
I REINSTALLED 45.1.0 FROM A NEW DOWN LOAD.  MUST HAVE BEEN SOMETHING LIKE POLITICS, CORRUPT!

THE PHOTO IS THE BEGINNING OF THIS LAST TRIP, 135 MILES TO WATER, UGH.  TOO MUCH WEIGHT FOR THE NARROW AXEL ON THE TRANSOM, 300 POUNDS OF BATTERIES, GAS AND MOTORS.  BENT THE COUPLER ON THE TURN AND WENT OVER.  COUPLERS ARE $18 FROM WAL-MART, $8 FROM HARBOR FREIGHT.

USED MY AAA RV CARD AND GOT TOWED TO WAL-MART AND WAS AT THE LAKE 5 HOURS LATER THAN PLANNED.  NOTICE THAT MY HARD WOOD COVERS THAT I SECURE ON THE TOP OF THE BOAT BETWEEN GUNNELS KEPT THE 7 TACKLE BAGS AND 12 VERY EXPENSIVE RODS INSIDE. MY THREE POINT SECURING SYSTEM KEPT THE BOAT MOUNTED TO THE TRAILER I SEE TOO.  IT IS A STARCRAFT 14.5 STARFISHER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, DEEP V WITH A FLOOR AND LIVE WELL, ALL TILLER CONTROL.  I AM A NORTHLAND FISHERMAN AND PREFER TILLER CONTROL.

I GOT 5 GALLONS OF GRAVEL INSIDE TOO! 

I AM GOING BACK AND RE-LIVE MY SONAR TRIP ON YELLOW FIN, SEE YOU ON THE WATER!~ PP

[RGecy]

PP,

WOW!   I am glad to hear everything turned out OK!  It looks like your tie down rig worked.  It could have been catastrophic, I am sure.

Good Luck,

Robert

[ShadSI]

Bob,
I'm having similar problems than PP.
We bought a 798si combo (4.51) recently and wanted to monitor a fish population migration with it.
We use the 455 kHz and the sonar is installed in fixed position to a bridge pillar.
 
I have two major and continuous problems with the recording.
 
First, most of the time (about 4/5) when I start the recording everything starts normally, the little window showing "RECORDING" appears regularly but when I stop the recording, let's say one hour later, I only find very small .SON and .IDX files. When I convert the files with son2xtf I only have a couple of minutes of recording.
It look like recordings come at random...
 
Secondly, most of the time when the data seems to be well recorded on the SD card (large .SON file) I can not succeed with the son2xtf conversion. The program shows an error message: "This is not a valid side imaging recording file.". But the data is there.


I just read this forum and I will try to reinstall the firmware like PP did and see if it sets my problems. But your friends at Humminbird should consider this as serious problem for the users and do something about it.

Thanks for attention,

Denis

[Humminbird_Greg]

Denis,
Let us know if this helps or not.

And that whole part about Robert having “friends art Humminbird”… I don’t think he has any friends at all!         

[ShadSI]

Denis,
Let us know if this helps or not.

And that whole part about Robert having “friends art Humminbird”… I don’t think he has any friends at all!         

Greg,

No it did not help.
When I used HumminbirdPC to download the firmware it stopped after 13312 bytes transferred with a "Update software error" and now the firmware is scrapped and the unit is in "Matrix series boot" state. Can not recover the original firmware.
This PC software has a real problem. It did the same to me when I bought the unit and tried to update it. I have had to send the unit to the repair center in Ontario.
Now, if I can not reset the before Thursday my fish study will abort and I will be very upset.

Can you help in any way? A suggestion for another loader may be?

Denis

[Jolly Roger]

Hi Dennis,
a friend here in Germany had some problems getting his 997 updated. With Greg' advice and some help from the German dealer, he got his unit fixed by using the "BootStrap" mode.

Maybe you can get your problem fixed by doing the same, so here's what he did:


BootStrap mode can be accessed by switching on the
unit with the View button pressed; then select the
Program option from the screen menu and confirm
by pressing the View button.
It is now possible to update again by HumminBird PC
the unit fixing the trouble.

You can read the hole thread here:

http://www.xumba.scholleco.com/viewtopic.php?t=1225&highlight=

Hope it helps, good luck!

Regards from Germany
Harald

[Humminbird_Greg]

Denis,
Try what Harald said to do but download a new copy of the software before you do so.  Ideally you should have reset the unit’s menus to the factory defaults (using the Restore Defaults menu) before trying to load any new software.  This has more of a success rate with the HumminbirdPC software and PCConnect Cables than it does with the SD card alone.  If this does not work than you are going to be very upset.

[ShadSI]

Hi Dennis,
a friend here in Germany had some problems getting his 997 updated. With Greg' advice and some help from the German dealer, he got his unit fixed by using the "BootStrap" mode.

Maybe you can get your problem fixed by doing the same, so here's what he did:


BootStrap mode can be accessed by switching on the
unit with the View button pressed; then select the
Program option from the screen menu and confirm
by pressing the View button.
It is now possible to update again by HumminBird PC
the unit fixing the trouble.

You can read the hole thread here:

http://www.xumba.scholleco.com/viewtopic.php?t=1225&highlight=

Hope it helps, good luck!

Regards from Germany
Harald

Thank you Harald for your appropriate suggestion. However I already tried that even with the .BIN file on the SD card but the firmware did not install.
I will have to send the unit to a repair center I believe. But if the repair center can make it why can't we do it ourself. It's only software.
I starting to have a bad opinion on Humminbird products.

Denis

[ShadSI]

Denis,
Try what Harald said to do but download a new copy of the software before you do so.  Ideally you should have reset the unit’s menus to the factory defaults (using the Restore Defaults menu) before trying to load any new software.  This has more of a success rate with the HumminbirdPC software and PCConnect Cables than it does with the SD card alone.  If this does not work than you are going to be very upset.

I did restore the defaults before Greg. I am very upset now.
Thanks.

Denis

[Humminbird_Greg]

Just spoke with one of our Engineers here.  He said to make sure that you were using the correct software update file.  Do you have the internal or external GPS version of the 798 unit?  What is the name of the file you downloaded from the Humminbird web site?

[ShadSI]

Just spoke with one of our Engineers here.  He said to make sure that you were using the correct software update file.  Do you have the internal or external GPS version of the 798 unit?  What is the name of the file you downloaded from the Humminbird web site?

I downloaded the file for the 798 with internal GPS from this forum site.

[Humminbird_Greg]

For a 798ci Si unit the file name should be M798CI.4_510.bin
If this is not the name of the file than download the correct one.  When I downloaded this file from this web site it stuck an extra “[1]” in the file name.  I do not know if this could cause the issue you have seen as I do not have a 798 unit to try this on.  I do know that others have said that they have successfully updated their units from files downloaded from this site so I don’t now if that will cause it or not.  You just may want to go to the Humminbird web site, register the unit and than download the update file from there.

If you are not trying this with the older version of HumminbirdPC, try downloading it from this web site and after installing it, use it to load the software in again.

In answer to an earlier question: not all units that fail like this are recoverable and end up having the memory device replaced – not something that most customers can accomplish especially since in some models this is a BGA device.

[ShadSI]

For a 798ci Si unit the file name should be M798CI.4_510.bin
If this is not the name of the file than download the correct one.  When I downloaded this file from this web site it stuck an extra “[1]” in the file name.  I do not know if this could cause the issue you have seen as I do not have a 798 unit to try this on.  I do know that others have said that they have successfully updated their units from files downloaded from this site so I don’t now if that will cause it or not.  You just may want to go to the Humminbird web site, register the unit and than download the update file from there.

If you are not trying this with the older version of HumminbirdPC, try downloading it from this web site and after installing it, use it to load the software in again.

In answer to an earlier question: not all units that fail like this are recoverable and end up having the memory device replaced – not something that most customers can accomplish especially since in some models this is a BGA device.

Thanks for the follow up Greg. I installed the correct one. When I bought the unit (in April 2009) I registered the unit, downloaded the firmware 4.51 from Humminbird website (I downloaded and installed HumminbirdPC at the same time) and got the same problem/error. The unit was sent to a service center in Ontario and they installed the firmware 4.51. I will likely have to to the same now.

[Sundancer]

Thanks for the follow up Greg. I installed the correct one. When I bought the unit (in April 2009) I registered the unit, downloaded the firmware 4.51 from Humminbird website (I downloaded and installed HumminbirdPC at the same time) and got the same problem/error. The unit was sent to a service center in Ontario and they installed the firmware 4.51. I will likely have to to the same now.

Firmware updates for hardware have been a standard issue for over 15 years. Not that tough... but firmware and software engineering at Humminbird has CONSISTENTLY been behind the curve.

If there is no hope for improvement at this point, folks will move to systems that may be less capable - but more reliable.

Just a word to the wise.