Data Card Access Error!! Urgent
Posted By Guven OZCAN on 5/10/2004 at 9:42 AM

We have 5 Thales Z-Max system. These receivers randomly having " Data Card Access Error" in the middle of our observation very often. It is disturbing our observations a lot. Usualy this error appears

after four hours observation. Is there anyone who faced with this problem before and can help me?

Here are some information which i guess will be helpful.

-Work is usualy in hot weather such as 48 Celcius degree under shade As you may already know, Thales is unique system and we set it up on the pillar all day. So Instrument is under direct sunlight which

can goes up 60-65C deg or more. Is there any information about max temperature, SD Card or receiver working at .

-Sd Card specifications are
Brand Name:They are Sandisk, Trenscend. Both having same error
Size :64 MB
Card Code :AB0304LL(Sandisk)
Made in :All Cards were made in China

I had a search in the web about SD Cards. Users of other devices(digital camera, PDA, Navigators) which uses SD Card, had similar problems. A lot of them reported Sandisk cards or SD Cards which was

made in China are worthless and causing a lot of problem.

I tried to figure out the problem from Z-Max user manual but it only says reformat the SD Card or replace the card. It is useless for me. Because I have to stop this error being and start to get healthly data.

Thanks


Re: Data Card Access Error!! Urgent
Posted By Phil Stevenson on 5/10/2004 at 12:21 PM

My first suggestion is to make sure the receiver gets a re-init before the SD card is used to record data. The re-init will format the card and prepare it for use. You will find a file called Using SD cards in the ZMax folder in the Training folder on the ftp server at

ftp://ftp.thalesnavigation.com

According to the specifications the maximum operating temperature for the ZMax is 55° C. You may need to find a way to shade the ZMax while it records data. You could possibly use the adapters described in the Getting Started with ZMax manual to put the ZMax in the shade while the GPS antenna itself must deal with the heat of the sun.



Re: Data Card Access Error!! Urgent
Posted By Guven OZCAN on 5/10/2004 at 3:31 PM

Thanks again Phil,

This morning we re-init the all the receivers as mentioned in manual. But we had same problem while SD card was just re-formatted. So i think we have another problem then this.

Secondly heat, this was my oppunion. Because in previous Ashtech Systems (Z-Surveyor)i have experienced it is giving an error message as "High Temperature received". Then receiver was in idle mode (working but not collecting the data). But what i m worring is we have total of 10 GPS Systems and some of them is having this SD card read/write error. But i ll get the adapter as you mentioned as soon as possible. Thank you very much again..

Guven


Re: Data Card Access Error!! Urgent
Posted By Craig Stanton on 5/12/2004 at 2:23 AM

I've had this problem and it started with the first SD Data Cards that were delivered with the receivers at time of purchase. I eventually bought new cards of my own.

The cards that were supplied by Thales were not delivered in the plastic protective case that come with the ones that you buy in the store. Perhaps they purchased them in a large lot or something but I carry all of mine in a case to keep them clean and protected.

I also now carry extra cards with every receiver just in case something goes wrong such as the infamous "Data Card Access Error." You can re-init all you want but if the card is bad it won't fix the problem.