[OKGIS] FW: Geo I & II Incorrect Date Display Issue

[David W. Wheelock]

Hi folks,

For any of you using those Trimble GeoExplorer I's that DPS surplused a
few years ago, get ready for a little surprise.  This also applies to
GeoExplorer II's that you may have purchased, as well.

Briefly, the units still correctly collect data, but the incorrect date
is shown in the display and files are date-named incorrectly.

I don't know if we'll get a response from Trimble, since these units are
officially out of support, but I thought it was worth a try.

Please read below for details.

David

David Wheelock     Application Specialist     david at oda.state.ok.us

Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry
2800 North Lincoln Boulevard
Oklahoma City, OK 73105-4298
Phone: (405) 522-5477 FAX: (405) 522-3590
http://www.oda.state.ok.us

"We are usually convinced more easily by reasons we have found
ourselves, 
than by those which have occurred to others."
Pascal


> ______________________________________________ 
> From: 	David W. Wheelock  
> Sent:	Wednesday, August 30, 2006 2:12 PM
> To:	trimble_support at trimble.com
> Subject:	Geo I & II Incorrect Date Display Issue
> 
> Hello,
> 
> We have a number of Trimble GeoExplorer I & II GPS units that have ALL
> developed an identical problem with date display and file naming at
> exactly the same time.  The problem started in mid-August and and is
> endemic to all of the Geo I's and II's that I have tested.  The
> problem is EXACTLY the same on all units.  Therefore I believe the
> problem is related to hardware or firmware.
> 
> The installed firmware on all of these units is Version 2.20,
> copyright 1999, the Y2K update.
> 
> THE PROBLEM
> The problem appears to have started on or about 8/17/2006, at which
> time all of the units started displaying the date 1/1/1987.  (The time
> of day and day of the week are otherwise correct.)  Since then, the
> date has incremented each day, successively.  As of today's date, the
> units display the date, 1/14/1987.  (Today's date is 8/30/2006)
> 
> The problem appears in two places.  
> *	When you select option 5.Date and Time from the main menu, the
> incorrect date is shown.
> *	When the unit creates a new rover or base file, it names the
> file with the incorrect date.
> 
> However, data collection is unaffected by this problem.  GPS units
> returned by field inspectors have contained mis-named files.  However,
> the data in those files reflects the correct dates that the data was
> collected, and the differential correction is performed correctly.
> 
> ANALYSIS
> The last firmware update, 2.20, was the Y2K update.  It was intended
> to FIX date display issues.  Many less-expensive GPS units continue to
> work just fine over time as long as they are undamaged.  It appears
> that the Trimble units collect the date correctly from the satellites,
> since position data is collected and stored correctly.  However,
> something in the date display and file naming functions in the
> firmware is reading the date incorrectly.  Since the problem appears
> to be in the firmware and since the 1999, Y2K version 2.20 of the
> firmware was intended to fix date display issues, it appears that the
> version 2.20 did not completely fulfull its original design
> specifications.
> 
> Also, it's my understanding that there are many of the Geo I's and
> II's still in service.  I'm told by staff at your service center at
> NEI that the US Forest Service has a very large number of them still
> in use.
> 
> RECOMMENDED SOLUTION
> If the problem is indeed in the firmware, it seems like it would be a
> fairly easy programming fix to correct the date display and file
> naming functions.  I propose that Trimble perform a brief exploration
> into fixing this problem and create a new firmware release, if
> feasible.
> 
> Regards,
> 
> David Wheelock     Application Specialist     david at oda.state.ok.us
> 
> Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry
> 2800 North Lincoln Boulevard
> Oklahoma City, OK 73105-4298
> Phone: (405) 522-5477 FAX: (405) 522-3590
> http://www.oda.state.ok.us
> 
> "We are usually convinced more easily by reasons we have found
> ourselves, 
> than by those which have occurred to others."
> Pascal
> 
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