Ashtech Techs
Posted By James Webb on 7/16/2001 at 6:35 PM

Hey guys,

Tried Randy Blacks(7/2/01) suggestion on clearing the memory from the Locus receivers......

Yes it works BUT

Now all three receivers are retrieving future almanacs, dated two days away.
Today the sat file was .197 and the alm file .199...........

Any thoughts......

Is there something wrong I need to get fixed ?

Tomorrow, Tuesday the 17th, I'm gonna run a K. session that should last the best portion of a day. I oughta get new files then also. We'll see. Let you know more then.

JImbo



Re: Ashtech Techs
Posted By C T on 7/16/2001 at 9:11 PM

Jimbo--as I understand this problem, it's a firmware issue and Ashtech does not feel it's enough of a problem to correct at this time. One of my units does the same thing. Even though the Almanac indicates it is 199 it is actually 197 (or the date it was collected). Hopefully they will eventually revise the firmware.


Re: Ashtech Techs
Posted By J.D. Billings on 7/17/2001 at 12:16 AM

Jimbo,

All three of our receivers download what would appear to be tomorrow's almanac. I just figured it had to do with the poop "ground control" sent to the sv's. I really don't have any idea, but would think the receivers are just downloading what the sv's send. ???

So far, I havent seen a problem with it anyway. I always download the almanac file for each project day and save it with the job file. I figure that way, I can choose to use an almanac downloaded last week if I need to. Also seems like a good idea to have that bit of extra data for archival records. Never know when you may want to look back and and do "post mission planning".

J.D.



Re: Ashtech Techs
Posted By James Webb on 7/17/2001 at 7:22 AM

And I was hoping they might know a way to tell me how to get tomorrow's stock market prices today......Oh well.

Thanks for letting me know about this guys. Now I don't feel so uncomfortable.

Jimbo




Re: Ashtech Techs
Posted By Brian D. Ewing, PLS on 7/17/2001 at 9:17 AM

Gentlemen,

This is a known defect in the Locus firmware. It only affects the name of the almanac file. There are no adverse effects on raw data, however. Given that, the fact that a firmware change requires changing the firmware, running it through an extensive test cycle, then returning all units to the factory to be upgraded (Locus is a sealed unit that requires cutting open the unit and changing a chip to upgrade f/w), I doubt if any of you would want to endure the upgrade process just to get the proper day on the almanac filename.

Regards,
Brian


Re: No surgery for me !!
Posted By James Webb on 7/17/2001 at 12:57 PM

Brian,

No problem now that I know.

Originally two units weren't updating the almanac file. And in hindsight, in 2000 all units were giving the proper date and didn't start future dating until the 2001 rollover.

And you are correct about not wanting to endure "surgery" for such a minor ailment.

Jimbo