Software/Firmware Updates
Nov 16, 2017 9:29:22 GMT
Post by tyrednexited on Nov 16, 2017 9:29:22 GMT
...why can't I learn to leave well alone?
I have a Satmap GPS which, though really bought as a "toy", gets a significant amount of use, both walking and cycling.
I've done a few software updates in its time with me, but (some time ago) after one of these (updating to a Beta version) I experienced rather odd battery life so, heading away on holiday, I quickly reverted to the previous version.
I decided last week that, with a little time on my hands, it was about time I tried again, and made sure that it wasn't something in my (revised) settings that had caused my issues. There had also been another new Beta release.
Updates are done through synchronisation software, not via a download and manual install, and the option this presents is to update to either the latest Beta version, or to install the latest Release version. The latter allows you to revert if necessary, and I was running the latest Release version, so was "good to go" and revert if necessary.
I successfully installed the latest Beta, and was immediately back into battery issues, despite checking that all the power-saving settings were as they should be. Essentially, the device worked for around 4.25 hours, and then power "fell off a cliff" with no warning on the battery "meter" (full to near empty in one jump). That is nowhere near long enough for a day's outing, and much (much!) worse than before upgrade.
So, time to revert again............except that, in the interim 2 days, the Beta release had been "promoted" and the only two options I had via synchronisation were to install the latest Beta (the one I already had), or to revert to the latest Beta (the same one I already had!).
I contacted Customer Support (who, to be fair, were very responsive) to be told that, as there were no known issues with the Beta, it had been promoted (though there was a tacit agreement that reversion to the previous release should still have been possible), and a check with the development team had elicited a response that there were no changes that should affect power (how many times have I heard that? The definition of "bug-fixing" is the process of replacing minor issues with major ones!).
I was told that they were investigating the possibility of enabling the fallback online, but if that wasn't possible, they could supply a (normally chargeable) SD card to allow reversion to the previous software. The Synchronisation link is now "hors service", and I received an SD card (free) in the post.
Having downgraded, the device is back as it was; on Monday, with the same settings it was still running at 12 hours, and a report back to Satmap elicited the response "well, it certainly does look like a software problem, then".
What was noticeable is that (having set the unit to display battery voltage) the battery was still reporting a (much) higher voltage when it failed at 4.25 hours on the new software than the old software was showing when still running at 12 hours. I don't think the new software is "eating" more battery, I think it's reacting wrongly to reducing battery voltage, probably when it should be knocking the meter down by one bar!
But what do I know?
I have a Satmap GPS which, though really bought as a "toy", gets a significant amount of use, both walking and cycling.
I've done a few software updates in its time with me, but (some time ago) after one of these (updating to a Beta version) I experienced rather odd battery life so, heading away on holiday, I quickly reverted to the previous version.
I decided last week that, with a little time on my hands, it was about time I tried again, and made sure that it wasn't something in my (revised) settings that had caused my issues. There had also been another new Beta release.
Updates are done through synchronisation software, not via a download and manual install, and the option this presents is to update to either the latest Beta version, or to install the latest Release version. The latter allows you to revert if necessary, and I was running the latest Release version, so was "good to go" and revert if necessary.
I successfully installed the latest Beta, and was immediately back into battery issues, despite checking that all the power-saving settings were as they should be. Essentially, the device worked for around 4.25 hours, and then power "fell off a cliff" with no warning on the battery "meter" (full to near empty in one jump). That is nowhere near long enough for a day's outing, and much (much!) worse than before upgrade.
So, time to revert again............except that, in the interim 2 days, the Beta release had been "promoted" and the only two options I had via synchronisation were to install the latest Beta (the one I already had), or to revert to the latest Beta (the same one I already had!).
I contacted Customer Support (who, to be fair, were very responsive) to be told that, as there were no known issues with the Beta, it had been promoted (though there was a tacit agreement that reversion to the previous release should still have been possible), and a check with the development team had elicited a response that there were no changes that should affect power (how many times have I heard that? The definition of "bug-fixing" is the process of replacing minor issues with major ones!).
I was told that they were investigating the possibility of enabling the fallback online, but if that wasn't possible, they could supply a (normally chargeable) SD card to allow reversion to the previous software. The Synchronisation link is now "hors service", and I received an SD card (free) in the post.
Having downgraded, the device is back as it was; on Monday, with the same settings it was still running at 12 hours, and a report back to Satmap elicited the response "well, it certainly does look like a software problem, then".
What was noticeable is that (having set the unit to display battery voltage) the battery was still reporting a (much) higher voltage when it failed at 4.25 hours on the new software than the old software was showing when still running at 12 hours. I don't think the new software is "eating" more battery, I think it's reacting wrongly to reducing battery voltage, probably when it should be knocking the meter down by one bar!
But what do I know?
