Problems with Max Pro upgrade
After doing some research, I thought it best to stick with Nobeltec VNS and
so upgraded to Max Pro (aka V10.02). This has been a month-long nightmare so
far.
Here's my story; At the outset, it should be noted that once installation
has begun, there is no going back to the earlier version or its charts, so
if it doesn't work you're out of business. Carefully following the
instructions, I ran the program to upgrade. It didn't work. Fixing this
problem required hours upon hours with tech support, manual deletion of the
original program and numerous individual files and the re-installation of
the new program, followed by restoration of user data like course lines,
tracks, etc. OK,so finally the program runs again and I breath a sigh of
relief.
Now it's time to load the charts from the 4 DVD set (Database 19). This
takes about an hour each time. At about 59 minutes and 30 seconds each time,
the program reports that the installation has failed and indeed, no charts
have been loaded. I have been through this routine with tech support no less
than 15 times. In the final iteration, tech support said to load the DVD's
onto the hard drive and use the Chart Manager to import them from there.
This didn't work either, but it did delete BOOT.INI, NTLDR and
NTDETECT.COMfrom the root directory so that the machine wouldn't boot
up at all. Tech support was no help on this one, telling me that my hard
drive had probably
failed catastrophically. There was nothing wrong with the drive itself and
fortunately my engineer brother-in-law still remembered enough DOS commands
to restore the system from the original disks. The problem was caused
directly either by the chart disks and/or Max Pro Chart Manager. This has
happened twice, each time on an attempt to copy the chart DVD's to the hard
drive. Take my advice. Do NOT do this, no matter what tech support may say.
First, Nobeltec said the chart disks were bad. Then they sent the wrong
disks and finally, the correct replacement chart disks arrived. They don't
work either. Same problem.
Today, I finally got someone in tech support who didn't try to shine me on.
Apparently, this is a known problem that no one at Nobeltec has been able to
solve. The problem has been apparent for some time (reportedly 3 months) and
at this point NO ONE, including their own salesmen can get charts to load in
the Max Pro programs. This is true even when attempted with earlier chart
databases (i.e. Database 18) and whether loading from DVD's or external hard
drive. A promise has been made to add my name to the list of users with
these problems and let me know when/if a fix becomes available. We'll
see...... Meantime, they've sent me some diagnostic programs to run and
asked that I send the reports back to them.
In any event, a call to Monica at Nobeltec Sales will get you a FREE unlock
code for
the $50 Raster Plus Pack which restores the usability of the free NOAA
raster charts that was taken out of the product so it could be sold back to
us. While this works to get by, it is a royal PITA to load each chart
individually using the chart table. In case anyone from
Nobeltec is reading this, I'd like to add that I hate the dongle that is
now required.
Am I the only one with this problem? A quick Google shows absolutely no
mention of these problems anywhere else.
What is it about Nobletec that is so much better than Coastal explorer
that people will put up with this kind of stuff?
John D. Hartung wrote:
After doing some research, I thought it best to stick with Nobeltec VNS and
so upgraded to Max Pro (aka V10.02). This has been a month-long nightmare so
far.
Here's my story; At the outset, it should be noted that once installation
has begun, there is no going back to the earlier version or its charts, so
if it doesn't work you're out of business. Carefully following the
instructions, I ran the program to upgrade. It didn't work. Fixing this
problem required hours upon hours with tech support, manual deletion of the
original program and numerous individual files and the re-installation of
the new program, followed by restoration of user data like course lines,
tracks, etc. OK,so finally the program runs again and I breath a sigh of
relief.
Now it's time to load the charts from the 4 DVD set (Database 19). This
takes about an hour each time. At about 59 minutes and 30 seconds each time,
the program reports that the installation has failed and indeed, no charts
have been loaded. I have been through this routine with tech support no less
than 15 times. In the final iteration, tech support said to load the DVD's
onto the hard drive and use the Chart Manager to import them from there.
This didn't work either, but it did delete BOOT.INI, NTLDR and
NTDETECT.COMfrom the root directory so that the machine wouldn't boot
up at all. Tech support was no help on this one, telling me that my hard
drive had probably
failed catastrophically. There was nothing wrong with the drive itself and
fortunately my engineer brother-in-law still remembered enough DOS commands
to restore the system from the original disks. The problem was caused
directly either by the chart disks and/or Max Pro Chart Manager. This has
happened twice, each time on an attempt to copy the chart DVD's to the hard
drive. Take my advice. Do NOT do this, no matter what tech support may say.
First, Nobeltec said the chart disks were bad. Then they sent the wrong
disks and finally, the correct replacement chart disks arrived. They don't
work either. Same problem.
Today, I finally got someone in tech support who didn't try to shine me on.
Apparently, this is a known problem that no one at Nobeltec has been able to
solve. The problem has been apparent for some time (reportedly 3 months) and
at this point NO ONE, including their own salesmen can get charts to load in
the Max Pro programs. This is true even when attempted with earlier chart
databases (i.e. Database 18) and whether loading from DVD's or external hard
drive. A promise has been made to add my name to the list of users with
these problems and let me know when/if a fix becomes available. We'll
see...... Meantime, they've sent me some diagnostic programs to run and
asked that I send the reports back to them.
In any event, a call to Monica at Nobeltec Sales will get you a FREE unlock
code for
the $50 Raster Plus Pack which restores the usability of the free NOAA
raster charts that was taken out of the product so it could be sold back to
us. While this works to get by, it is a royal PITA to load each chart
individually using the chart table. In case anyone from
Nobeltec is reading this, I'd like to add that I hate the dongle that is
now required.
Am I the only one with this problem? A quick Google shows absolutely no
mention of these problems anywhere else.
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John,
I experienced the same problem and got to a work around with their 3rd tier
software engineer. The problem is with the C08x08 dat file on disk 8. Get
them to burn you a cd/dvd with that file from a source that was successfully
loaded. I'd send you a copy but it's a 2.3+ gig file and I'm on an aircard.
The load method is then to use windows explorer to copy the dat files (there
are 2 .dat files identified with the suffix .dat on each dvd for a total of
8 approx. 23+gig total) into a folder on your computer desk top (if you get
a request to overwrite an existing file just say yes as each disk has
certain duplicate files and you only need one). On disk 4 load only the
C07x07.dat). Then load the separate Co8x.08.dat from the individual good
file you've obtained from them(?). Then load the charts via chart Manager
by selecting to load from computer hard drive and directing the browsing to
the desk top folder filled with the C08x08 dat files.
Now wasn't that easy!
This is absolutely unacceptable and will be the end of Nobeltec if not fix
immediately. I went through 5 sets of data disk version 19 all of which
failed trying to load the C08X.08.dat file on 4 different computers. Trust
me it is not your computer and they should know it after my 3+ weeks of
working thru this. Make sure to always get a case number to refer to every
time you call. Also, ask that your case be upgraded to tier 2-3 support as
the tech support we call is tier 1 and can only perform within their
authority. If didn't have so much invested in regions(7) and my glass helm,
I'd switch to a more friendly PC based navigational software. Contact me
directly if you wish to discuss this further.
Joe
"Carolyn Ann" GH N-37
Currently in Brunswick Landing soon to be heading north to continue our
loop.
Snip".. Problems with Max Pro upgrade
After doing some research, I thought it best to stick with Nobeltec VNS and
so upgraded to Max Pro (aka V10.02). This has been a month-long nightmare so
far...."
Michael wrote:
What is it about Nobletec that is so much better than Coastal explorer
that people will put up with this kind of stuff?
It's gotta follow the "you get what you pay for" philosophy, to which I
generally subscribe. Max Pro is more costly, from what I can gather, it
will handle weather GRIB files, perhaps an advantage, but if the charts
won't load, all that doesn't do one much good.
I used Chartview early on, it was the predecessor to Nobeltec, and it
was OK, but upon switching to CE, I'd never go back. We've been up and
down the east coast, up into the NY canals, and most recently all over
the Bahamas and have used CE 2009 exclusively, without a problem.
I would add the caveat that the Maptech ENC version of the CYC charts is
a disappointment, not nearly as accurate nor as complete as the Explorer
charts, and not free. ENC Explorer charts as I understand are only
available through Furuno. I may not be 100% correct on that, but that is
my understanding. We use the explorer paper charts as our primary
reference, and use the Maptech to provide ENC display on the nav
computer. We confirm the CYC waypoints with data from the explorer paper
charts, and have not had any problems.
I am a real CE proponent, and can unequivocally recommend it based on
several thousand miles of logged cruising using the CE program without a
problem. We plan to head north again in a few months, so we'll see how
the Canada charting issue plays out!
Steve Sipe
Solo 4303 "Maerin"
Coral Harbour, NP, Bahamas
John, re: "Am I the only one with this problem?", you may be. I upgraded
from VNS-9 to MaxPro when it first came out, without any hitches or problems
at all. Have also updated the MaxPro version of VNS twice since, again
without problems. One hint however, I do NOT recognize the Database 18 and
Database 19 references at all, I don't think I have them.
Bob Peterson
"Lopaka Nane"
47' Lien Hwa CPMY
San Francisco
Mike, before you jump all over Nobeltec, do recognize that the problems John
reported are the exception, most of us who have used the product for awhile,
have no such problems! It is true that Nobeltec is corporately mortified at
the thought that someone might get away with something that looses them
revenue, so they have the most complicated and elaborate anti-theft policy
in the world. Before Nobeltec was sold to Jeppesen, they lightened up a
bit; I have used VNS since Version 7 for over five years and have never had
to use a dongle. But with the MaxPro version, they sent me a dongle and I
have had to use it, but no problem there.
Bob Peterson
"Lopaka Nane"
47' Lien Hwa CPMY
San Francisco
Coastal Explorer: No dongle, free upgrades (even version 2009 was free
to registered owners), free charts, no Internet required for setup or
use. They even created vector charts of some of the smaller harbors
that are not provided by NOAA. What's not to like? It does most if not
all the things Nobeltec does. I realize that some people have an
investment in time, money, or ego in Nobeltec, (the last time I priced
it Nobeltec was well over $1000). I am just trying to keep other people
aware that there is a good alternative for a lot less.
Bob Peterson wrote:
Mike, before you jump all over Nobeltec, do recognize that the problems John
reported are the exception, most of us who have used the product for awhile,
have no such problems! It is true that Nobeltec is corporately mortified at
the thought that someone might get away with something that looses them
revenue, so they have the most complicated and elaborate anti-theft policy
in the world.