Garmin 430 Card Problem

ScottSchmidt · #1 01-24-2011, 06:43 PM

Yesterday, I fired up to come home from Tucson and my 430 would not recognize the cards. Both the Nav and Obst data was not recognizable. Just two days before I flew down with no problem and have not updated the cards for over a month. I have never had this happen before. I tried removing the cards and re-booting with no luck. Mine is a non-WAAS 430.
Any ideas out there or people have this problem?

I am going to re-flash the cards and see if that fixes it.

Ron Lee · #2 01-24-2011, 07:01 PM

I have never had that problem.

Ironflight · #3 01-24-2011, 09:48 PM

Sorry Scott - haven't seen it either - over five years on the 430 (non-W), and no issues with cards. Since the problem is with BOTH cards on yours, and it happened simultaneously, either you flew through one heck of a particle storm, or the problem is deeper in the unit (I suspect).

Paul

ScottSchmidt · #4 01-24-2011, 10:01 PM

Well, I will let you know what I find. The conspiracy theorist in me thinks the only thing that could have happened is that someone swapped my cards out on the ramp. It was the first time I have tied down without my cover.

Very strange.

Ron Lee · #5 01-24-2011, 10:39 PM

I did a quick google check and could not find anything. Maybe a master reset if that is an approved option.

tommylewis · #6 01-25-2011, 12:37 AM

Scott, in early Dec I had the nav data card in my 530w fail on the return flight from a lunch run. It worked on the way out, and worked until last 5 min of flight. When I called Jepp to get another copy of current database, I ask the tech support guy how often get calls like this, he replied 2 or 3 a day. When I tried to reprogram the database, the usb programmer did not find the card. I had to buy a new card. $195 for the waas card!!

turbo · #7 01-25-2011, 07:07 AM

these cards do go bad. i keep a spare for easy updating and a backup when traveling. what will a non wass card cost? i dont think a thief would replace yours with a bad one, he would just take yours. the cost of flying. how old were they?

ScottSchmidt · #8 01-25-2011, 09:18 PM

I was able to reprogram the NAV card today with no problem, the Jepp reader worked fine. Their tech group had gone home by the time I called today but he thought it would be a hardware or software issue since both the Nav and Terrain/Obst data did not work either.

I will try and run to the hanger in the next couple of days to see if that did anything. I really don't want to reprogram the Terrain/Obst data since I have it all on the Chelton already. I can't believe Garmin charges $200 for a one time program or $280 for a new card with the new data. Plus I would need to buy the Garmin card reader that is another $200. I'm sure someone has one locally that I could borrow.

I'll see if the tech group has any thoughts. I want to find out if one card goes bad does it affect the other or the complete system.

Thanks for the replies. It all helps.

AlexPeterson · #9 01-26-2011, 06:55 AM

I have a 430 waas unit, upgraded about 4 years ago. The unit is 10 years old now. I have perhaps 3 times in the last 4 years had a "Terrain Failure" message show on startup. It has never persisted, and a power cycle has cleared the problem each time. Given that the memory cards are priced as though it is 1995, I will not simply replace the card until it flat out dies.

Has anyone ever carved open a dead memory card, to see what guts are actually in it? Since the actual chip needed costs about a dollar or two, seems a worthy project for a hacker.

pierre smith · #10 01-26-2011, 07:17 AM

...who will swap your 430W card for an updated one for $50. I've done it twice.

Best,