Mobile Mapper CE SD card problem
Posted By Rich Scharf on 9/14/2006 at 9:52 AM

I've been using a MMCE with ArcPad 7.0, with differential correction since May. Yesterday, while out in a typical thicket o' hell, I suddenly got a message that said ArcPad was having trouble writing the RAW file to the SD card, and it then shut down. After rebooting, I found that the unit could no longer read the data on the SD card at all. Windows Explorer could only "see" about 6 of nearly 100 files that was on the card. It seemed like I lost all the data that I had collected that day.

Anyway, back in the office, my computer could only "see" those same six files. In trying to figure out the problem, I uploaded a large image file to the sd card. When it was done, all the "missing" data suddenly reappeared! It was a magical moment.

Anyone else ever have this problem? Is it the MMCE?, ArcPad?, the SD card?


Re: Mobile Mapper CE SD card problem
Posted By Brett Black on 9/14/2006 at 11:26 AM

I have not experienced this problem, but what kind of SD card are you using? Is it the card supplied by Magellan/Thales? Or did you buy it on your own. Tech support suggests the blue SanDisk SD cards. I have personally tried other brands and have been unsucessful, even the SanDisk Ultra II would not work properly.


Re: Mobile Mapper CE SD card problem
Posted By Rich Scharf on 9/14/2006 at 3:23 PM

It is the blue SanDisk 1 GB card. The one that came with the unit holds only 32 MB, which is OK for collecting the RAW data files, I guess, but it won't hold much in the way of aerial photos.

"Professional Support" suggested that I reformat it, which I will try.

Yesterday was just a comedy of errors out in the field, topped off by the SD card failure.


reply from tech support
Posted By Rich Scharf on 9/14/2006 at 4:12 PM

This just in from tech support:

Rich:

I think SD cards stay good for a long time, especially if you don't insert them and uninsert them all the time. However, it seems they need to be reformatted as often as once a month to avoid problems with them. We recommend reformatting them once a week to really avoid problems. Unfortunately, the card formatting utility in the MMCE is defective and so you have to put it in some other device. The safest thing to do is to put them in a card reader. These cost <$20 and are sold in most consumer electronic and computer stores - probably anywhere you can buy a SD card. I am using a SanDisk ImageMate. I have also used other models that support all manners of other data cards and they often fail in various ways. These things come in very handy and you won't be sorry you bought one.


Re: Mobile Mapper CE SD card problem
Posted By J. T. Strickland on 9/15/2006 at 2:14 PM

Interesting. I don't know of any other computer mass storage devices that require that much attention. Once a week? Something is wrong with this picture. Maybe it needs formatting....