DL1 Troubles

[RTTakezo]

t # RT1178482919
Status Unresolved
Time 2 days, 3 hours ago
From scott
Message 2 days, 3 hours

Gents,
Need help. My trusty DL1 has problems;

1) All lights activate upon applying power
2) Power light remains on
3) GPS Lock appears to be working like normal
4) Status light and Logging lights go off after ~2sec\'s
5) Pushing Start/Stop button has no affect
6) Have tried reformatting and using 3 different CF cards

Next step???

Cheers
Scott

[jlucas]

Any changes lately? reflash? DL1 setup file? etc..?

[RTUSA]

As I've told Scott via email, I think his DL1 needs a reflash, I sent firmware.

[Stan]

Sometimes I have run across CF cards that seem doomed. They work in digital cameras or plugged into a PC. But even when erased and reformatted, they don't work in my DL1. The green logging light comes on....but then it goes off in about 5-10 seconds. Original DL1 and firmware from when they first came out.

BTW if you ever need to reformat a CF card...and a PC is not handy...a digital camera that takes them will often do the job.

[RTUSA]

Stan has a good point. I had assumed - perhaps incorrectly - that these cards had previously worked.

I was in Topeka last fall, at the SCCA Runoffs, helping the SCCA tech staff implement their fleet of DL1s. They were having some problems with some of their cards. "M" brand bought at a big box office supply store. When we delved into it, it turned out that of 15 apparently identical cards bought at the same store at the same time, there were actually 3 types of cards relabelled, with three different processor types. (Amazingly, CF cards have processors on board, they act more like IDE hard drives than RAM). The ones with an unrecognizable Chinese brand processor did not work in the DL1.

In the US, we recommend (and sell) Lexar and SanDisk cards, both seem to be in control of their product and give few problems. In Europe, RT Ltd have tested and recommend other brands, it's on the website somewhere.

Bottom line is: CF cards are complicated little things, and the CF standard itself is complex and not always implemented the same. Probably 90% of cards work fine, the rest are a big headache.

[RTTakezo]

Re-flash finally took, only to result in no change to troubles

[RTUSA]

Working with Scott directly on this....

[Charlie]

Saw this problem in Forum area and I have same problem and
Wondered if You ever came up with the solution….

DL1 has problems;

1) All lights activate upon applying power
2) Power light remains on
3) GPS Lock appears to be working like normal
4) Green Status light is working and stays on
5) Pushing Start/Stop button has no affect
6) Have tried reformatting and using 3 different CF cards

P.S. I have another DL1 and it is working fine

[RTUSA]

Is the green status light on solid or rythmically flashing?

Basically, there are four fixes for this type of lockup, depending on the cause:

1. Replace or correctly (FAT) format CF card
2. Reflash firmware
3. Reset GPS module
4. Hardware repair

The first two can be done by the customer, the second two by RT or maybe some distributors. They are listed in the order I try them.

Scott's unit required a trip here to get its GPS module reset.

[RTTakezo]

Thanks to Al, I have my DL1 back in hand! Just in time for our National this weekend.

[Charlie]

rythmically flashing

[RTUSA]

In that case, assuming the CF card is OK (formatted in RT Analysis or using FAT, and a card that has worked before), there is a good chance that reflashing the firmware will do the trick.

Email me for the firmware at aseim@race-technology.com, state type of unit (probably DL1 w/ serial port on front and 2 green rear connectors).

[Charlie]

Al

Sent You an E-mail

Email me for the firmware at aseim@race-technology.com, state type of unit (probably DL1 w/ serial port on front and 2 green rear connectors).

I have orange connectors

[RTUSA]

2 orange connectors = 2 green connectors in this context, just an earlier production run. Firmware sent.

Regards,

[janz]

I saw someone mentioning "doomed CF card" already, but wheb I experienced problems similar to those I read in some postings here, I discovered that reformatting my CF Card IN MY CANON DIGITAL CAMERA, produced significantly better results.

I cannot fully repproduce this behavior, but after I format a card in my camera it always works. When I format using the windows buit-iin format (or that of the analysis program) very often the logger won't start.

Jan