[aprssig] APRS Runner Tracking

[AC]

Disagreements are good when they're calm and constructive like this, 
just be sure to make the attributions correctly.  Andrew didn't make the 
statement, I did.

In any event, I've seen enough flash cells wear out quickly that I am 
very cautious about write cycles used especially when no wear-leveling 
system is implemented (as would be the case of the Kenwood radios).
The figure often quoted (100,000 cycles) is for a whole *chip* assuming 
wear leveling is implemented and working and also assumes spare flash 
cells are available for provisioning.  But the lifetime on a single 
flash cell (for one up to three bits of data, depends on the cell) is 
much shorter.  Depending on the technology used, the quality of the fab 
line, and the environment (electrical and mechanical), a single cell 
might only have a few hundred to a few thousand cycles available before 
errors appear.


On 8/8/2013 04:42, ka8vit at ka8vit.com wrote:
> I would agree with you, Bob.
>
> I think Andrew's concerns are unfounded.
>
> The only time I have ever seen a flash or EEPROM "wear out" due
> to exceeding the number of read/write cycles is when my code
> had a bug and was stuck in a loop.
>
> And even then it only "wore out" the 10-bytes I was writing to.
>
> Have never heard of it happening with even extreme use.
>
> 73 - Bill KA8VIT
>
>
>> On August 7, 2013 at 3:54 PM Robert Bruninga <bruninga at usna.edu> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>> Set your position to your checkpoint. Then each time you want to
>>>> report a particular runner number, just change the MYCALL of the radio
>>>> to the runner number...
>>
>>> Interesting idea but you won't catch me doing it and
>>> that's because you're forgetting that the radio stores data
>>> in flash memory which has a finite lifetime. I prefer
>>> not to wear out the flash memory in my radio prematurely
>>
>> Hummh. I have about 8 or so D7's between my oriingal prototype and all
>> the ones at work, and so the age is from 15 years old to about 10 years
>> old, and not one of them has failed for anything, though several have no
>> control knob from having bounced on concrete numerous times.
>>
>>> It all gets stored in flash which wears out.
>>
>> Yes, but 100,000 cycles is sure a long long time. Let say 20 entries per
>> marathon 5 marathons a year, that is about 1000 years life. I doubt even
>> Kenwood will be around then...
>>
>> Bob
>
> ====================================
> Bill Chaikin, KA8VIT
> USS COD Amateur Radio Club - W8COD
> WW2 Submarine USS COD SS-224 (NECO)
>
> ka8vit at ka8vit.com
> http://ka8vit.com
> http://www.usscod.org
> ====================================
>
>
>
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