New SA program causing errors?

[swatson999]

After the new Seattle Avionics software downloaded, now I'm getting errors on my data cards.  It stops copying approach plates partway through, I get errors about the .SQLite file being bad, etc.

Both of my memory sticks were working just fine prior to this...anybody else having an issue with the new software?

ETA: followed the clean uninstall/install stuff (cleaned out all files from the computer, even formatted the memory stick), and still getting this error:

There was a problem installing Approach Plates and Airport Diagrams to the GenericChartData.

 

[Dynon]

We've tested it here and I don't think we've run into that. We'll ask Seattle Avionics if they have any advice here...

 

[swatson999]

A follow-up...Steve at SA has been working with me today to figure this out, and has really gone above and beyond the call of duty (emailing questions and looking at log file even tonight after work hours).

It looks like it may have been a corrupted or missing/deleted ancillary file that is needed (a .zip file) which tells the system what's on the stick. Retrying using a different computer with a clean disk (no software and no data, installed the tool and reformatted the USB stick) is downloading everything correctly. Will know more tomorrow when I put the stick in and see if everything is there.

Kudos to SA customer support on this one.

 

[Highlander1]

I have been having the exact same problem. This has been with two different sticks. All the rest of the data has downloaded okay. That includes 10 western states. I tried the uninstall/install instructions with both sticks numerous times (at least 6 or 8).

Gil T

 

[Highlander1]

I was hoping the only problem I was having was the "no approach plates" one but here is another one and I do not know if they are related or if this is just my lucky day. My "Synthetic Vision" refused to work. When I push the button the button is highlighted and I get a slight change in the appearance of the brown background but no surface detail. The wide angle button gives the screen the wide angle look but no surface detail at all. On a two hour flight yesterday on landing at KHII the runway detail with the white markings and runway edges looked like they should but again no details other than that in the "Synthetic Vision". The aviation obstacles showed up as they should but no surface detail at all. On the map side of the screen everything was looking normal-terrain, sectionals, HI and LO enroute, Flight Guide airport diagrams, but no "Approach Plates" as before. Any ideas?

Gil T

 

[swatson999]

So a follow-up...starting with an absolutely clean memory stick and a new installation of the software on a different laptop seemed to work fine (for both memory sticks).

I did a complete uninstall/reinstall of the software on my usual computer (work desktop machine), per instructions at SA's website (this included manually removing some folders/files, manually deleting registry entries, etc.), and it looks like it's fixed.

Steve at SA did say that there's a .zip file that has to get downloaded, and then it unzips to a handful of files that get put in the folders, and that appeared to be missing (either deleted somehow or didn't get downloaded, possibly due to an IT "security" mechanism which blocked it...I *hate* all the crap that has to go on my computers now for all this security crap...it messes up more stuff than it prevents, I swear).

So in my case, at least, it looks like the problem is solved for now. I can't answer on the missing synthetic vision stuff, though...sounds like maybe the terrain databases are missing or need to be reinstalled for you, Gil?

 

[swatson999]

I also can't help but think that there must be a faster way to get files downloaded...it seems every time new files are available, it takes an inordinately long time to download the files (because, from what I see, it downloads a boatload of files, individually validating each one as it goes). I wonder if it wouldn't be quicker for the server to build a list of all the ones that need downloading, zip them up, download them, then the software can validate the checksum and unzip the file on the host computer?

Anything to speed up this process would be welcome, I'd think...

 

[Dynon]

Gil. First, is PFD>MODE>SYNVIS turned on (highlighted?). If so, does the ground in synthetic vision have a checkerboard pattern, or is it solid brown? Does SETUP MENU > LOCAL DISPLAY SETUP > INSTALLED DATABASES have a high resolution terrain database installed for the region of the world you live in?

 

[Highlander1]

I just reloaded the North America Terrain 2.3 gig file and I now have my synthetic vision back. Still no approach plates and airport diagrams but I can live with that but I think since I have everything else and don't feel like spending another couple of days trying to figure it out I will let it rest until someone at Dynon or Seattle Avionics can get it fixed. I do appreciate the suggestion that I might reload a file to fix it and it did.

Gil T

 

[lgabriel]

ChartData Manager v5.0.8.0508 here (the new one), with an odd problem--just wondering if anyone has seen this:

Updating both the computer and flash drive completes successfully, with green indicator balls all around (and current expiration dates displayed).

However, a significant number of the approach plates are still displaying last cycle's date info on the sides.  I have "All procedures/diagrams" selected (instead of only changed/new)...

An example for this data cycle is Devine Muni (23R)'s NDB RWY 35.  I've attached some screenshots to show what I'm talking about.

Is there any way to force a complete update?  I tried deleting everything off the flash drive and reinstalling with no luck.

 

[60av8tor]

Pretty sure I've seen posted that they only update if changed.  I really don't like this as I'm not sure how you ensure current plates other than blind faith in the program.  I could be off base with this, but think I remember reading that this is to save space..?  Not sure how my iPad apps update the dates for every one - and a lot faster, too...

 

[lgabriel]

I'm not sure how you ensure current plates other than blind faith in the program.

Yeah, that's my problem too...it's not like this particular program has a stellar history of reliability, either.

Thanks for the reply! This might warrant a call to SA to sort out (or at least petition for change).

 

[60av8tor]

it's not like this particular program has a stellar history of reliability, either.

Isn't that the truth! Knock wood, I've had good luck with the new version of SA Data Manager. The old versions gave me absolute fits with Windows 8

 

[Highlander1]

Here I go again. I just got back from a fly-in and talked to a Dynon rep and explained my problem with no approach plates but that everything else was green. His answer was to reformat the usb stick and do the reload of the Seattle Avionics Data Manager. Okay I've done that with a 16 and a 32 gig stick (Sun Cruzer) and I have the same thing. No approach plates or airport diagrams. I thought that the statement that there are thousands of planes out there with no problems was a bit of a poor excuse for a problem that does exist for some of us. I have a system 8 which I'm not really fond of but used to work with an earlier version of this program.

Waiting patiently for the solution.

Gil T

 

[Dynon]

Hi Gil,

Steve W ended up doing some troubleshooting with Seattle Avionics directly, although looking at the email transcript, which I have a copy of, it's not entirely clear what the smoking gun / solution is. We don't have the ability to troubleshoot the data manager's downloading capabilities directly to figure out exactly what is causing your data to not get properly populated, but Seattle Avionics' support at support at seattleavionics dot com should be able to help you get to the bottom of what you're seeing.

 

[lgabriel]

Just a follow up from my earlier post about forcing SA to download all current plates to the USB drive:

I was able to force a complete update of plates by doing the following:
[list bull-blackball][*]In the SA ChartData manager, go to Options>Advanced>Open the download folder on this PC;
[*]Delete everything in the folder (should be something like User/AppData/Roaming/Seattle Avionics/DataManager)
[*]Open the ChartData folder on your USB drive, and delete everything in there as well.
[*]Back in ChartData Manager, click Update Now.
[/list]
I wasn't able to find a better way--I wish the program listened to the "All procedures/diagram" option, but it apparently doesn't.

Edit: formatting