I have downgraded my AvMap hate campaign to Defcon 3.

Don, W6GPS pulled me back from the ledge and we were able to resurrect my Geosat5. It appears there was some serious corruption to the data on the SD card which caused it to go “missing”.

Don had recommended deleting most of the data on the card except some very key items and re-flashing the software on the card. Unfortunately I was unable to perform the delete from my Windows XP system and had to go as far as mounting the SD card on my Linux system, removing a few files and then performing a remount of the card in Read/write mode. This process had to be repeated a number of times until I was down to the bare essential files on the SD card. For some reason as the computer would read the card, it would force the mount into Read-Only mode. Weird.

It took me a bit to really think about the sudden failure, and I overlook the most obvious reason, the AvMap’s environment.

Think about it, the SD card sits in an enclosed piece of plastic (the GPS) on your dashboard, attached to the windshield in direct sunlight with no airflow. We all know how hot a car gets in the summertime. Come to think of it, I’m surprised the technology even works at all. So for now I’m functional, but who knows for how long. Most likely I will need a new card as I expect this one to deteriorate over time.

Now going back and thinking about my review on the product; Do I think I was a bit harsh? Yes and No. The review was based on my real-world experience with the product and the frustration the quickly followed. Would I recommend the AvMap to someone else? Most likely yes, but with some caveats. The GeoSat really does have great potential, and I’m hoping a number of the bugs that frustrate me can be resolved in future software and hardware revisions.

So for now I’m functional, but who knows for how long. Most likely I will need a new card as I expect this one to deteriorate over time…

de N3QO