Topic: Consensus of opinion on update code procedures

[sonar2000]

Have we reached a consensus of opinion on the procedure to iupgrade a unit.
1. Restore factory defaults
2. turn off unit
3. inseret sd card
4. turn on unit and follow prompts
5. restore factory defaaults
6. turn off unit and remove card
7. turn on unit and set personal selections;.

Or is it different? We are updating 3 1197 tonight ?  ...

Chuck

[ITGEEK]

ChucK,
I would do it like this because if it boots up then
does an update at the same time, the system is not that stable:

1. With unit off, remove all cards and turn unit on.
2. Restore factory defaults
3. insert sd card with update
4. follow prompts
5. when update is done, remove card
6  restore factory defaults
7. turn unit off and back on, and set personal selections;.

k

[Roddy]

Chuck, I ditto Itgeek. Roddy

[George]

Chuck

I have done every update exactly as you have described.  One time I did forget to restore defaults, but it worked out.

Purchased the 1197 in Feb 2009 and recently purchased an 1198 for the console and moved the 1197 to the trolling motor and I will continue to make my updates the same way. 

George

[sonar2000]

OK, guys, thanks.  I guess my real concern is when to put in the sd card.
I have always powered down the unit after restoring defaults and put the card in prior to powering on..

I will see tonight what happens on the 3 updates..

Thanks.

Chuck

[Bob B]

Chuck, there are 2 ways to look at this.

1.  Insert card after unit has started up because it is more stable.
2.  Insert card and then power up.  When doing it this way, the system looks at the SD card and discovers the update and does the update before finishing the startup.  This could result in more available memory because all the functions aren't online yet.

I think either way should work fine.  I have always used the 2nd way.

[sonar2000]

Yep...it does work both ways.  I was looking at what the consensus of others were doing compared to when the sd card is put in the unit.
As some have had problems with this step.
Chuck

[Bob B]

Chuck,
Just my opinion, but I think that most of the upgrade failures relate to something unique about the unit or environment, not the proceedure.
It is extremely important to have a quality power source and good voltage reading on the unit before upgrading.  The unit is just not operating optimally on anything below 12V on the unit....12.5 to 13 even better.  I have worked on electronics many years and intermittent problems are caused by a borderline power supply or poor connections causing voltage issues about 50% of the time
Some failures are probably due to corruped downloads.  Some failures are probably due to SD card read errors, memory problems in the unit, etc.
I think the SD card is possible point of failure.....using the PC cable may be the most bullet proof method, but requires buying the cable.

[sonar2000]

I am with you on the electronics.  30 years with IBM in hardware and then software.
I do the updates on the bench with a good source. 

You right on the power issues.

chuck