Nomad Electronics
Nomad Electronics
Home | Profile | Active Topics | Members | Search | FAQ
Username:
Password:
Save Password
 All Forums
 Pocket Stars PDA
 Bug Reports
 Problems lunar phase page
 New Topic  Reply to Topic
 Printer Friendly
Author Previous Topic Topic Next Topic  

StarGazingMike

Netherlands
3 Posts

Posted - 09/22/2005 :  16:49:36  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Hi all,

First of all two thumbs up for Pocket Stars!! I downloaded the trial version yesterday, and I didn't have to think twice about registering. A couple of minutes later I was star gazing with the full registered version :-) It's really wonderful to be able to have this cool astronomy tool in my pocket at all times!
One very minor flaw I noticed, and I don't know if you can really call it a bug, is that sometimes something seems to go wrong with the lunar phase page. Sometimes the page incorrectly gives for the month september 2005 (which is the month in which I'm currently using Pocket Stars) a new moon (0.00% illum.) at the 1st, a full moon at the 2nd (saying "full" while a 1.15% illum. moon is displayed), and a blue moon (99,74% illum.) at the 18th.
I'm not really sure, but I believe this only happens when I don't exit the program by using the exit button on the about page, but use the X in the upper right corner instead, or don't close the program at all. When I then turn off the PDA and later on again and run Pocket Stars and watch the lunar phase page the above described problem happens. After a couple of minutes of inactivity when used on its battery pack, the PDA turns itself off and then I have the same problem.
Is this a known issue? Or is it something only I'm experiencing. Is it recommended to always exit the program using the exit button on the about page?
I use a HP IPAQ h1930. I've installed Pocket Stars on a 1GB SD card.

Besides this minor "bug" there's nothing I don't love about this program. Thanks, Jay!!

jaybo

USA
209 Posts

Posted - 09/23/2005 :  02:21:19  Show Profile  Visit jaybo's Homepage  Reply with Quote
Thanks!

I'm wondering if this problem has something to do with the installtion of Pocket Stars onto your CF card, and that the ephemeris file is being closed during the suspend. I've never seen this before, but if true, when you return to the standard star chart display and click on a body, you should get a message like "Ephemeris file invalid" in the status location at the lower left. This is a long winded way of asking - once you've triggered this problem, have you seen any other similar symptoms elsewhere?

Also, can you tell me the version of the OS (Start.Settings.System.About)?

- Jay

Go to Top of Page

StarGazingMike

Netherlands
3 Posts

Posted - 09/23/2005 :  10:29:21  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Thanks for the reply, Jay!

It's probably the problem you suggested i.e. the ephemeris file being closed during the suspend. When I have the problem with the lunar phase page and return to the star chart I don't get a message of any sort when clicking on a body, but instead the whole program closes down! When I again open the program it starts up again with the Pocket Stars starting screen and the problem is gone.

Could it be that I have a crappy SD card? I bought it fairly cheap (62 euros whereas most other 1 gig cards are sold for around 75) at a computer fair. It's a Hong Kong made product called "Sky Disk".

My PDA's operating system as found in the about screen is Microsoft Pocket PC Version 4.20.1081 (Build 13100)

I haven't noticed similar problems yet with other programs although I occasionally do get freezed screens with GPS moving maps in OziExplorer CE which uses maps I have stored on the SD card.

Do you suggest I try another SD card? I have another 64mb SD card I can try. Should I first remove Pocket Stars from the PDA and then install it again when I've inserted the other SD card? And do I then just enter the registration code again? Eventually I would like to have it back again on the 1 Gig card though.

It's not really a problem though as I just workaround by properly exiting the program. Or when the problem occurs by exiting the program and restarting again.

Thanks for your help.

Michael

Go to Top of Page

jaybo

USA
209 Posts

Posted - 09/23/2005 :  19:28:24  Show Profile  Visit jaybo's Homepage  Reply with Quote
Found it:

http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=27614&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

So it appears to be device specific and OS version specific. There may be a work around for your device by changing a registry key described in the above link.

- jay

Go to Top of Page

StarGazingMike

Netherlands
3 Posts

Posted - 09/24/2005 :  09:45:41  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Thanks, Jay!! That has been of great help!! The workaround described in the link you provided seems to be working! The value of the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\StorageManager\PNPUnloadDelay was set to 950 on my device. I changed it to the suggested 4096 and it looks as if the problem has been solved! I turned off and on the device about 10 times without exiting Pocket Stars and everytime the lunar phase page worked perfectly and on the star page bodies could be clicked without any problems.
I hope this has also solved moving maps of OziExplorer not always working smoothly. We'll see.
Thanks again for your help, Jay. Now I can fully enjoy your excellent astronomy application!

Regards from the Netherlands,

Michael

Go to Top of Page
  Previous Topic Topic Next Topic  
 New Topic  Reply to Topic
 Printer Friendly
Jump To:
Nomad Electronics © © 2000 - 2007 Nomad Electronics.com Go To Top Of Page
Snitz Forums 2000