What's the purpose of setting the unit to 'factory defaults' after the update is loaded onto the DF unit..??
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What's the purpose of setting the unit to 'factory defaults' after the update is loaded onto the DF unit..??
Just a precaution is all. We've had some folks who have had problems updating their units that were not related to power interruptions or pressing buttons before it was done. Resetting the menus before updating makes sure that you start with the same menu settings before the update occurs and makes sure and resets the menus after updating as well in case they get glitched during the update. With the addition of new menus, moving menus around, or adding settings to menus its best to reset afterwards as well.
Make sure you do this with the unit connected on your boat so that the unit is in the Normal operating mode. Otherwise it will not remember the menu settings and therefore will not have actually reset the menus when you update it.
I can see no problems with this if the boat and transducer are in the water....
But, if my boat is in the garage.....and because the update install procedure you mention requires that the unit be powered on before the SD card is inserted into the unit....isn't the unit going to be in a "confused" state looking for a sonar return in the air by powering the unit on into the "normal operating" mode while sitting in the garage...??
I have done 4 1197c SI updates,2 updates 798c SI,in the garage they work fine.
good info guys
So, after the unit is powered up in the garage...does the unit just search for a "sonar return" while you stick the SD card in the slot to upload the software update...??
Yes it will just start searching for a valid sonar return but this will not be a problem. When you install an SD or map card the unit is programmed to read the information on it. If it’s a map card it will start displaying the map data for the area where you are (or where you have the cursor). If it’s an SD card it will start either loading Nav Data if the memory card has it or it will enter into the programming mode if it sees a software update file.
You can do this without the unit being on the boat but you would have to make sure and force the unit into the Normal operating mode just to make sure that the menus get reset to the factory defaults, else it will automatically go into the Simulator mode as Jaxsprat stated. The unit can make a software update from any mode but the menus can only be truly reset from the Normal (or forced Simulator mode). Since most boats have a transducer, power cable and battery source that can power the unit through the update process it makes sense to do your software updates there.
Should the SD card have nothing on it except for the firmware update that I want to install into the unit ....??
I’ve updated units with SD cards before that had screen snapshots, sonar recordings and Nav Data on them before along with update files for other model Humminbird units. Now it did not make a difference those times that I have done it but I don't know that it won't in all instances. It should make no difference but if you may want to be cautious and have only the software update file on it.