Trouble with Seattle Avionics DataManager.... again....

[airguy]

I bought the lifetime subscription back in 2015 for Skyview data, but now when trying to download it I get a message that there is no subscription for my login/password combination. I know I haven't changed my password or login ID since I started, so that's not it. I even uninstalled the program this morning and reinstalled a fresh version - no joy.

Is anyone else having an issue? Did SA kill their lifetime subscriptions now that they got bought out by AFV? I sent a message to the support helpdesk, but of course have not received a reply.

Come on Dynon - enough is enough - there's GOT to be a better way!

 

[cbennet12]

I also have the lifetime and as of yesterday, it worked. Just checked and I see the same problem on the app.

Logged in to the web site and it still shows the expiration year of 2099 on my account so I would assume it is a glitch.

 

[Marc_J._Zeitlin]

While I haven't had a problem with my yearly subscription disappearing, I've been in a running battle for 9 months with SA to try to get them to create a MAC version of the DataManager, which is a miserable excuse for software. Or better yet, create a browser based version that can be used on any platform.

In any case, if you're having issues with getting a support response, contact:

Kimberly Shaw​

Customer Service​

KimS@SeattleAvionics.com​

425.806.0249​

directly - I've had good experiences with her, and she's extremely sympathetic to customer issues.

 

[Jeff1]

Not realizing that I couldn’t download the data on a MAC, I had to buy a cheap windows laptop. It worked, but my $99 just jumped to $399 this year to use SA data.

 

[cbretana]

Please try not to sugar-coat it!

 

[cbennet12]

Not realizing that I couldn’t download the data on a MAC, I had to buy a cheap windows laptop. It worked, but my $99 just jumped to $399 this year to use SA data.

Monday morning QB here- did you try using Bootcamp on your Mac?

There are still a number of apps that are Windows only and BC has worked well for me although I have not tried installing the SA download app.

 

[RV8JD]

Not realizing that I couldn’t download the data on a MAC, I had to buy a cheap windows laptop. It worked, but my $99 just jumped to $399 this year to use SA data.

I have an iMac and use Parallels to run Windows 10 on it when I absolutely have to. I run SA's Data Manager program in Windows 10 on the iMac and it works well with that setup.

 

[Edwardoc]

Not realizing that I couldn’t download the data on a MAC, I had to buy a cheap windows laptop. It worked, but my $99 just jumped to $399 this year to use SA data.

I also bought a single purpose PC on e-bay for 60 bucks & free shipping about 2 years ago. Deleted everything on it and loaded SA Data manager. That is all that is on it. I just leave it online and it updates my USBs and thin I use the MAC to load the FAA data from Dynon. I also agree they should have developed a browser-based version. Wonder what their aversion to a Mac or Browser-based application is.

 

[Raymo]

Hopefully the new owners are working on a new data manager option.

 

[Marc_J._Zeitlin]

I have an iMac and use Parallels to run Windows 10 on it when I absolutely have to. I run SA's Data Manager program in Windows 10 on the iMac and it works well with that setup.

Sure - that works. And it's what they recommended I do. But even then, you need to spend $79 for Parallels, and then $139 for Windows 10. So it's still an extra $218, and more software to support and deal with, just to be able to download data. On general principle, I said no thanks.

And while you theoretically CAN manually download SA's data on a Mac and then arrange it correctly on the thumb drives, I figured that it would take about 10 hours of work each month to do so - read their recommended process, and look at how many files it requires if you want anywhere near the whole USA. All because they won't hire a 14 year old programmer for a week to re-write the code as a web based app, so that it would run on ANY platform.

Are there really only 7 of us that use Macs? Sheesh.

I borrow my hangar mate's Windows 10 machine he keeps at the hangar. If he ever removes it, I'll have to reconsider how much I want the plates and sectionals.

 

[swatson999]

Tell us how you really feel . Yes, it is.

Yes, indeed, it is. I notice today that the current data for a couple of items is not available. And at one point (this was yesterday), I got an error message about my username/password not being recognized.

Ridiculous.

 

[swatson999]

I've now sent three emails to SA with no response. Deleted all the data on the computer, and the problem still exists.

Please, for the love of God, Dynon...find a different vendor for this data (or just do it yourself...the data is all free from the government anyway).

 

[Corefile]

Sure - that works. And it's what they recommended I do. But even then, you need to spend $79 for Parallels, and then $139 for Windows 10. So it's still an extra $218, and more software to support and deal with, just to be able to download data. On general principle, I said no thanks.

I do all of this for free - there is no reason to pay for vmware or parallels JUST to run the chart data manager. Just use VirtualBox - it works perfect. And you can sign up for the Windows Insider Account and download a free preview version of Windows 10. I've been doing this for several months with no problems and it does not cost a dime. There are some good instructions here:
https://www.cultofmac.com/307503/run-windows-10-mac-free/

 

[Marc_J._Zeitlin]

I do all of this for free - there is no reason to pay for vmware or parallels JUST to run the chart data manager. Just use VirtualBox - it works perfect. And you can sign up for the Windows Insider Account and download a free preview version of Windows 10. I've been doing this for several months with no problems and it does not cost a dime. There are some good instructions here:

How to run Windows 10 on your Mac for free

One of the selling points of a Mac these days is the ability to run Windows software on it, via virtualization or Apple's own Boot Camp. Running Windows

www.cultofmac.com

So I took this as a challenge. After much wrestling, I was able to install VB and WI, as well as the Guest blah, blah, blah. Then the Chart Manager. Everything runs and downloads to the computer. HOWEVER, for the freaking life of me, I can't get VB to recognize a USB stick plugged into the computer, and since Chart Manager doesn't just let you download to a directory and then move the directory to a thumb drive, I'm stuck... 4 hours of my life I won't get back .

 

[Corefile]

So I took this as a challenge. After much wrestling, I was able to install VB and WI, as well as the Guest blah, blah, blah. Then the Chart Manager. Everything runs and downloads to the computer. HOWEVER, for the freaking life of me, I can't get VB to recognize a USB stick plugged into the computer, and since Chart Manager doesn't just let you download to a directory and then move the directory to a thumb drive, I'm stuck... 4 hours of my life I won't get back .

You just have to configure the usb and have it mount when you startup VB (real easy once you know how) - I can walk you through it real quick if you want - probably take less then 5 minutes on a video chat

 

[pnwpilot]

Here's how I was able to get VB to recognize my USB drive for Win 7. Hope this helps.

 

[Marc_J._Zeitlin]

It would help if VB would recognize the USB ports on my Mac as anything other than USB1.1. that's the only choice I have, even though I know that they're USB2.0 and 3.0 ports...

Thanks. I'll try again at some point...

 

[Corefile]

You have to install the extension pack to get usb 2 and 3
VirtualBox 6.1.18 Oracle VM VirtualBox Extension Pack

• All supported platforms

Support for USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 devices, VirtualBox RDP, disk encryption, NVMe and PXE boot for Intel cards

 

[Marc_J._Zeitlin]

Thought I did, but I'll try again... Thanks.

 

[Marc_J._Zeitlin]

So, either installed for the first time, or reinstalled, the Extension Pack as described above - it said it was successfully installed. Got out of VB, started it back up and started Windows, got this - still no 2.0 / 3.0 USB support:

No Joy...