Navman Smart St s/w problem - correct method to start/stop

bigkoala

I have a Navman 3450 on an IPAQ 5450 running Smart St V2

When I use the Navman to navigate to a destination, I just power off the ipaq on arrival, go to my appointment, switch on the ipaq again to navigate home.

SmartSt often has trouble starting up again and I end up resetting the ipaq, starting Smartst from scratch.

What is the correct procedure to shut down and start up the ipaq to avoid this?

Tim Buxton · Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2004 12:39 pm Post subject:

I normally 'Close' (read 'minimise') SmartST by tapping the X in the top-right corner before turning off my iPAQ and I don't suffer the same symptoms as you. If that doesn't work, try using iTask to shut down all programmes and then switch the iPAQ off. It will mean that you have to restart SmartST each time, though.
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Tim

bigkoala · Posted: Sat Nov 13, 2004 12:20 pm Post subject:

Thanks.
But there is no X in the top right of SmartST when in navigation mode.

So I guess the itask approach is the only way.
Surely this is a weakness of the user interface?

I was wondering what most other users do when they get to their destination and get out of the car.
I assume that everyone turns off the ipaq.

Tim Buxton · Posted: Sat Nov 13, 2004 2:04 pm Post subject:

No, there is no 'X' in Nav mode, but if you cycle to Map mode using the right hand rocker switch then it is on that screen.
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Tim

bigkoala · Posted: Sun Nov 14, 2004 6:21 pm Post subject:

Thanks, but that brings me to my next problem:
I often get the situation where the buttons don't work on the IPAQ.
The rocker switch has no effect. Nor do any of the other buttons.

I suspect a memory issue - perhaps SmartST is using all the available memory? I have tried to manually increase the memory allocation but it automatically adjusts itself back.

Any suggestions....

Question

_________________
Navman SE 3450 Sleeve with
256MB Compact Flash (Type: Integral) on
Ipaq 5450 with
512MB Secure Digital (Type: Sandisk)
SmartSt Software V2.00.0036 SP2

Tim Buxton · Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2004 11:49 am Post subject:

What OS does your iPAQ use, and have you tried installing SP2?
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Tim

DavidW · Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2004 1:34 pm Post subject:

The Navman software isn't as hard on memory cards as TomTom, but I suppose it's possible the stability issue is the Sandisk SD card. Sandisk SD cards are troublesome in a wide variety of machines - though the symptoms vary. Maybe Tim or someone else with more Navman experience can comment.

It is certainly a bad idea to have your Pocket PC's memory too full; things tend to get unstable that way. My stability has just been improved tremendously by the equivalent of a hard reset and setting everything up again from scratch - though this latest clear up was done by buying a new iPAQ! I've replaced my 3970 with the new hx4700.

David

Tim Buxton · Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2004 1:59 pm Post subject:

One thing I do recall is that I suffered lockups when using my 5555 with a CF card in the Navman sleeve. Now that I use an SD card for my maps and leave the CF slot empty, the problem has disappeared.

I never encountered any such problems with my 3970.

I have my memory allocation set to 42.6Mb for storage and 84.03Mb and it doesn't reset to default on switching the iPAQ on and off, nor after a soft reset.
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Tim

bigkoala · Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2004 2:17 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the tips.
I have upgraded to SP2 software (had some problems with the upgrade step but Navman telephone support sorted me out).

Just come back from a trip: London - Manchester - Sheffield and back to London, and am still having memory problems.

SMart ST works OK, BUT the Ipaq buttons go inactive. I can' use the toggle switch or itask button. The only remedy is to do a soft reset.

Looking at the memory details with SmartST running, I have:

Total Main Memory 62.64MB

Storage
Allocated 16.10MB
In Use 5.71
Free 10.39

Program
Allocated 46.54
In Use 19.32
Free 27.22

If I try to allocate more using the slider bar under memory/programs it automatically jumps back after a few seconds.

Questions:
1) Is there a better way to control memory allocation?
2) Is it possible to add more main memory to the ipaq?
3) Is this type of problem normal?
4) Does it occur with Tom Tom software as well or is it a Navman issue?

I thought I was buying a simple navigation tool but there always seems to be another problem to deal with........ am I expecting too much?
_________________
Navman SE 3450 Sleeve with
256MB Compact Flash (Type: Integral) on
Ipaq 5450 with
512MB Secure Digital (Type: Sandisk)
SmartSt Software V2.00.0036 SP2

bigkoala · Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2004 2:35 pm Post subject:

I meant to mention that I am running Microsoft Pocket PC Version 4.20.1081 (Build 13100) as the operating system. Confused

_________________
Navman SE 3450 Sleeve with
256MB Compact Flash (Type: Integral) on
Ipaq 5450 with
512MB Secure Digital (Type: Sandisk)
SmartSt Software V2.00.0036 SP2

Tim Buxton · Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2004 3:18 pm Post subject:

I don't know. There may be a third party memory manager, but it will use memory itself, so you might lose what you gain!

There is a link here which is an upgrade to 128Mb for £72. I don't know if that is good or bad value.

As I said, I had this problem with my 5555/Navman sleeve/CF card combo, but not with my 3970. Do you have the CF card and SD card in the slots at the same time? Did your memory problems occur with all three combinations of SD only, CF only or both fitted?

It is generally accepted that SmartST is a bit of a memory hog, and that you need approximately 10% of free programme memory for your installed and activated maps.

I can't comment on Tomtom software as I don't own it, I'm afraid.

Are you expecting too much? Dunno, if you are expecting 24-7 trouble-free running, I would say "Yes". I mean, this iPAQ of yours is running a Windows based OS, after all!!

Again, I was told by Navman not to upgrade my 3970 to Wm2003, but I can't say if this was a general thing or just a Bluetooth issue.
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Tim

bigkoala · Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2004 3:35 pm Post subject:

Thanks Tim. Appreciate your feedback.

I always have both the SD and CF cards in.
The CF card in the sleeve has the maps I use the most often but I only select/activate the ones I need for any trip. Unfortunately if I am travelling from London to Yorkshire and back it means I need a few loaded.

Same applies when I travel from London to holland/belgium via france and back.

I have noticed that I get more problems with maps that are on the SD (the well known Sandisk made in China issue).

Maybe I should get another CF card and just use the one medium?

I would assume that Navman will have make sure their product runs on the current Windows OS (regardless of what we all think of Microsoft...)... sooner or later?.
_________________
Navman SE 3450 Sleeve with
256MB Compact Flash (Type: Integral) on
Ipaq 5450 with
512MB Secure Digital (Type: Sandisk)
SmartSt Software V2.00.0036 SP2

Tim Buxton · Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2004 3:52 pm Post subject:

Can I suggest that you experiment with just the SD card and remove the CF card from its slot for a while? I found that the locking problem occurred when I had the CF card fitted at the same time, even if it didn't even have SmartST maps on it, let alone active!
_________________
Tim

DavidW · Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2004 5:07 pm Post subject:

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