OpenStreetMap
Uh-oh. My Locosys GT-31 has just frozen for the first time, after working faultlessly for several weeks. It died some time after the "CARD FOUND" beep but before acquiring its satellite fix.
I don't want to void the warranty by taking the back off, so guess I'm going to have to wait for the batteries to run down. I wonder how long that will take.
Discussion
Comment from JohnSmith on 8 September 2009 at 02:31
No reset button?
Comment from ianlopez1115 on 8 September 2009 at 11:20
Maybe the GT-31 had some contact with water (possibly through rain droplets, placing it near a wet spot), which was the reason why the GT-31 that I have was "frozen" just days after acquiring it. Is the display on your GPS stuck on "Sat Signal"?
Comment from JeffB on 8 September 2009 at 21:51
@JohnSmith: Correct, no reset button. The on/off button is a software-driven thing that doesn't work when the unit has crashed.
@IanLopez: No, the unit has had absolutely no contact with water. Nothing unusual happened to the unit before it crashed. You are correct, though, that it was stuck on "Sat Signal".
Thanks to both of you for your comments. I decided not to wait and disassembled the unit instead. It works fine now. The prime suspect is the SD card, which, although not on the "does not work list", is of the same make (Transcend) as a card that is on the list. If this happens frequently then I'll buy a different SD card.
Comment from amapanda ᚛ᚐᚋᚐᚅᚇᚐ᚜ 🏳️🌈 on 9 September 2009 at 09:35
I have a BGT-31 and that's happened to me a few times. First time it happened I was in Kenya and due to take a long bus journey to the other side of the country. I really wanted to get that trace, so I took the back off and disconnected the battery. It does void your warrenty but it's not hard to do.
I happened once when I was biking around Ireland, causing this annoying gap in the trace here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rorymccann/3606876259/in/set-72157619350389855/
I'm not sure of the cause or the fix. It's happened a few times recently. Maybe a firmware update?
I've been using the same SD card for ages and it was on the list of 'OK cards'
Comment from JeffB on 9 September 2009 at 21:33
Perhaps I'll try a Sandisk Ultra. It's recommended by Locosys on their website.