Is OCN5 supposed to work THAT slow?

max90034 · 06-25-06, 03:35 PM

I am using OCN5 since it was released (used OCN4 before). This software has more features that I really need so no complains about this. However, there are 2 things I hate about this program:

1) It starts slow and all menus are terribly slow. It takes probably about 30 sec or so to start it. Even worse when, e.g., I enter street address it takes seconds to go from one field to another. When it navigates it takes seconds after I press the screen before I get into the menu. Basically any input takes at least few seconds to process. I can not imagine why it takes so long for 600+ MHz CPU to go through the menu options. My cell phone goes through it navigation applet menu much faster. I run OCN5 on X50 from BIS. I guess that start up time could be better from SD card but I think that response speed would be the same no matter where the program is located after it is loaded to the memory. In sum, this program is much slower than any other program I have ever used on PPC and it makes it pain to use.

2) I use Bluetooth based BT338 GPS. Each time I start OCN5, I can not be sure if it finds GPS or not. Yes, it does most of the time but occasionally I have to soft reset X50 to make them see each other. And, of course, I have to follow that sequence: first start GPS, then start bluetooth on PPC then start OCN5. If I turn PPC off without quitting OCN5 it most likely would not see GPS next time I turn PPC On.

I am wondering if this is the way how OCN5 is supposed to work or something is wrong with my setup? Are these common features of PPC GPS software? I would give up some of the features just to have OCN respond faster. There problems are so annoying that I would not buy OCN5 if I knew all this in advance...

JakeRich · 06-25-06, 03:41 PM

OCN is very modular, so the delays you are experiencing are typical. As for BT, most of the applications I use, including OCN, don't like to have the Ax powered off without shutting down the BT connection first. BT is a somewhat fragile interface and it doesn't respond well to unplanned interruptions.

max90034 · 06-25-06, 04:00 PM

Thanks for the comments. Does it mean that delays are because OCN5 loads new modules from storage? Would it improve then if I install OSN5 to SD? I will try. Even if so, it seems that EVERY action takes a while, it can not be that many modules.

EngrPaul · 06-25-06, 04:02 PM

Originally Posted by max90034

I guess that start up time could be better from SD card but I think that response speed would be the same no matter where the program is located after it is loaded to the memory.

Having your map files on A FAST SD card helps the whole program run faster. This is the only card I will put my maps on:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820211029

From my own benchmarking and constant comparison in actual usage, this particular card is the absolute best match for speed when put in a X50v/X51v. Do not deviate from the 2GB size and 50X speed. For some reason, 1GB, 4GB, and 150X cards are not as fast in the Axim.

I keep OCN5 installed to BIS for reliability reasons. Installing it to SD card, even this one, doesn't make the program that much faster.

EngrPaul · 06-25-06, 04:18 PM

If you do not need to be using the entire seamless package, and a regional map will be just fine, use regional. A smaller map file starts up quicker, uses less memory, and runs a bit quicker. With the national package or better, you have a license to use the smaller maps, just use the DVD to transfer them to card with a card reader. With a 2GB card, consider having both maps on your storage card and switching back and forth as described here:

http://www.oncoursenavigator.com/for...px?f=13&m=4266

If you are just practicing with OCN and/or planning a route, consider not having your BT active. The program runs faster without GPS running.

If you install OCN5 to a storage card, you risk a corrupt prefs.ini file. Be sure to make a backup after installation.

I have no speed problems with OCN5, even with a large seamless map. This is because I have a super SD card!

**Rishad** · 06-25-06, 04:20 PM

I have both A-data 50x and Sandisk (regular) 2GB SD cards. The Sandisk is much faster especially when you write to it (both on PC and PPC). What benchmarking did you use?

max90034 · 06-25-06, 04:23 PM

Thanks. I will try few things you suggested. I have just reinstalled OCN to SD card, will see how it works from there. I use 1 Gb SanDisk Extreme III card. It was fastest that I could find 1 year ago.

EngrPaul · 06-25-06, 04:28 PM

The answers to your questions are here:

http://www.aximsite.com/boards/showthread.php?t=99097

EngrPaul · 06-25-06, 04:33 PM

If you want the details in a concise chart, see the attached. :)

EngrPaul · 06-25-06, 04:34 PM

Originally Posted by max90034

Thanks. I will try few things you suggested. I have just reinstalled OCN to SD card, will see how it works from there. I use 1 Gb SanDisk Extreme III card. It was fastest that I could find 1 year ago.

That card should be working good

Don't turn off your device until about 10 seconds after leaving OCN if you install it to a memory card. This prevents prefs.ini corruption.

max90034 · 06-26-06, 02:49 PM

I found that OCN5 works a little bit faster from SD card than from BIS. However, it does not mean it becomes fast. It's still very very slow in response to any input and I think it's just badly written code. I didn't have a chance to compare it with other GPS programs, but if others are not so sluggish I would not recommend OCN5 now. May be OCN6 will be better…

STi Sev · 06-27-06, 12:19 AM

OCN5 is a freaking snail, regardless of SD cards.

My friend has the Ultra-II (just like me) and we couldn't believe how slow it was. Man, sucks to be him.

I love my iGuidance. :)

RobMan · 06-27-06, 11:02 AM

Originally Posted by STi Sev

OCN5 is a freaking snail, regardless of SD cards.

Hmmmm .. I never thought of it as a snail -- been pretty happy with the speed. I do use regional maps which certainly run faster than the seamless USA. Here are some specifics:

Axim X30H - 30mb free program memory; 8.2mb free storage memory
OCN5 and three regional maps installed to Kingston 1gb SD 50x

Startup OCN to legal disclaimer screen - 14.3 seconds

With no GPS enabled, to calculate a route with a start point and end point approx 72 miles apart using a RECENT address and a new (data entry) address:

- Tap on ROUTE PLANNING button time to next screen - 0.7 seconds
- Tap on RECENT DESTINATIONS button time to next screen - 2.4 seconds
- Select destination, add to route and back to route screen - 2.3 seconds
- Tap on REGION button to select state - 2.3 seconds
- Pick a state time to next screen - 0.8 seconds
- Tap ADDRESS time to next screen - 0.9 seconds
- Tap CITY time to next screen - 2.4 seconds
- Entering city - almost instant - As I enter city name by letter - city choices pop up. I enter PEND and can pick Pendergrass .. select it and instantly return to address screen
- Tap STREET time to next screen - 2.3 seconds.
- Entering street name - again almost instant. Smart choices as indicated above.
- Tap NO. (to enter street address) time to next screen - 2.3 seconds
- Entering street number - again almost instant. Smart choices as indicated above.
- Calculating Route - 13.4 seconds
- Display route on screen - 1.8 seconds

Actual time creating this route from scratch including data entry time -- 46.7 seconds.

I then added six more stops creating a 1500 mile route through seven states -- the time to calculate was 1' 25". The route was as follows in regards to distance:

Stop 1-2: 73 miles
2-3: 424 miles
3-4: 69 miles
4-5: 378 miles
5-6: 357 miles
6-7: 180 miles
7-8: 23 miles

Curious as to how long it takes IG or others to create a route of this length? Also, when GPS is on and OCN has to recalculate the route due to a route deviation, the re-routing is very quick for me. I will try and time it next time I am out.

My $0.02 worth :approve:

06-27-06, 11:20 AM

Originally Posted by RobMan

Curious as to how long it takes IG or others to create a route of this length? Also, when GPS is on and OCN has to recalculate the route due to a route deviation, the re-routing is very quick for me. I will try and time it next time I am out.

My $0.02 worth :approve:

Hi Rob,

I don't think he was referring to route calculations, I believe he was referring to the start-up and approx 1-second delays going from screen to screen that you've noted above. I've found route calculation time to be on par with other software. The program start-up and clicking from screen to screen is slow as a snail compared to the other programs I've used (iGuidance, Mapopolis & PocketMap Navigator). This is my biggest gripe about OcN. It's just dog slow compared to the others. When using the others, a screen tap elicits an almost immediate response - no waiting for a second or so for the colored-circle-thingy to spin while you wait for the next screen to come up.

This was my experience on both a 400mhz X5 Advanced and my 624mhz iPaq - both with lots of free memory and a 133x SD card. The only thing that helped was to load OCN into main memory, but even then it was slower relative to other programs when it came to startup and navigating menus.

Regards,

Gary

RobMan · 06-27-06, 06:23 PM

Originally Posted by gatownsend

Hi Rob,

I don't think he was referring to route calculations, I believe he was referring to the start-up and approx 1-second delays going from screen to screen that you've noted above. I've found route calculation time to be on par with other software. The program start-up and clicking from screen to screen is slow as a snail compared to the other programs I've used .....

Hey Gary. Thanks for the response and clarification. Glad to hear the route calculation is on par with other packages. I've never used any other NAV s/w other than OCN, so I have no baseline to compare the response times to. OCN5 is definitely a dramatic improvement over OCN4 in terms of start-up times. The slight lags really don't bother me too much as most of my trips during the week are hundreds of miles, so running through the initial navigation screens is not a big deal. I could see it it would be if you were routing to numerous addresses or contacts in a short period.

This is good information and I will use it for my next software purchase, so thanks. A bit off topic, but the IG3.0 looks really nice, they have added a number of features that I use, but I have to wonder why the map data is Q32005 instead of a bit more recent?