ForeFlight was a crash monster yesterday!

timwinters

timwinters

Ejection Handle Pulled
Joined
Feb 23, 2008
Messages
13,732
Location
Conway, MO
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Display name:
LTD
Background:

iPad, 5th Generation (MP2D2LL/A), running iOS 13.3 running ForeFlight Pro USA, v12.0 (48797). 128GB memory, only 32 GB used (I keep all my music on my droid phone).

I try to remember to reboot the iPad before flying with it and also ensuring that no other apps except ForeFlight are running when I'm flying. Yesterday was no exception.

Hadn't flown a lot over the last couple of months so I put 5 destinations in a bag and had Gerri pick one...she pulled KCGI (Cape Girardeau, MO) so we flew there for lunch plus hit a few other airports along the way and did some sightseeing. Logged 3.7 hrs.

ForeFlight:

Froze up 5 times.

Crashed 3 times.

I've never had it act up to this extreme before. And have likely only experienced two crashes TOTAL since I've been a subscriber, which is since almost day one.

I hope this isn't a sign of things to come...but it's what I've been dreading for the last few years...more features...less stability.

Damned good thing it was just a VFR pleasure flight and not an IFR work flight...only to have it crash in the middle of shooting an approach. I always take paper backups of airport diagrams, approach plates on any "real" trip, etc., but STILL!!!

(I just emailed ForeFlight customer service a copy of this)
 
You been chasing the newest updates?


Unless I have a reason to update, like lack of function or a MUST have feature, which is rare, I don’t.
Devices stay fast, don’t really have crashes, just a thought
 
James331 said:
You been chasing the newest updates?


Unless I have a reason to update, like lack of function or a MUST have feature, which is rare, I don’t.
Devices stay fast, don’t really have crashes, just a thought
Click to expand...

I don't update until ForeFlight gives an "all clear" (b.t.w. I posted what version of iOS I was running...)

I don't agree that one shouldn't update...security patches are oft included in updates...at least that's my technotard understanding.

Besides, my iPad never crashes, no other apps crash. It was ForeFlight that crashed yesterday...
 
timwinters said:
I don't update until ForeFlight gives an "all clear" (b.t.w. I posted what version of iOS I was running...)

I don't agree that one shouldn't update...security patches are oft included in updates...at least that's my technotard understanding.

Besides, my iPad never crashes, no other apps crash. It was ForeFlight that crashed yesterday...
Click to expand...

Unless I see a issue I don’t, even after the all clear. I need to see a reason, if it’s a REAL security concern or a must have feature I’ll risk it, but still risk v reward
 
Surprising to me. I’ve been flying with FF and an IPad since 2011 and have never had loss of its use that I can remember.
 
Only had FF crash one time with me...about 2 years ago....they knew there was a problem and initiated an update a few days later. No problems since...unless I let sunlight shine on my screen...then my ipad shuts down.
 
FF is real good about this stuff, they'll show you how to catch the crash files and set it up to monitor as you go. I haven't had any issues in a long time.
 
James331 said:
You been chasing the newest updates?


Unless I have a reason to update, like lack of function or a MUST have feature, which is rare, I don’t.
Devices stay fast, don’t really have crashes, just a thought
Click to expand...

^^^That^^^

I'm running Foreflight 10.4.6 on IOS version 12.1 with no intention of upgrading.

I've been working on computers and networks since 1981. Unless an update fixes a bug that affects me, fixes a security bug that affects me or adds a feature that I want, I do not install it. Period. End of story.

I've got some clients who ask about updating the software on their routers, switches or firewalls. Usually I tell them they don't need to. If they insist, I make sure they know all the ways it can go wrong.
 
PaulS said:
FF is real good about this stuff, they'll show you how to catch the crash files and set it up to monitor as you go. I haven't had any issues in a long time.
Click to expand...

yes, they contacted me yesterday in response to me sending them a copy of my OP, and I sent them a diagnostics report. I'll report back when they advise what was found.
 
donjohnston said:
My reply: Microsoft Bob.
Click to expand...

Danged kids! MS-DOS 1.25 on 5.25" floppies. Before they implemented sub directories. Because on a single 320K (not a typo) floppy, why would you need them? WIndows 1.0 also on 1.25" floppies.
 
jsstevens said:
Danged kids! MS-DOS 1.25 on 5.25" floppies. Before they implemented sub directories. Because on a single 320K (not a typo) floppy, why would you need them? WIndows 1.0 also on 1.25" floppies.
Click to expand...
You have me beat. I think my first Windows version was 2.0
 
This morning's exchange:

ForeFlight: Hi again, Tim. If you're flying with cellular data turned on, please disable that. It may help.

Me: Hello, I don't have a cell account for my iPad so the below is not applicable. I do, however, always have it connected to my droid phone's WiFi...I have unlimited data on my phone, so no reason to have any other data plans.

ForeFlight: Thank you for sending crash logs. We believe the connection to your phone may be causing some of these issues. At your next opportunity, try it without that connection and let us know if the crashes and freezes continue. Connecting to a phone for hotspot or cell is not recommended during flight.

Me: Okay, if you say so. But it’s been on for almost ten years while flying with no issues (I think I’ve had a total of 2 crashes before last Saturday)…and having data is sure handy so that I can get updated METARs, imagery, etc. when on long XCs, (especially when conditions are marginal and/or when flying IFR).
 
timwinters said:
This morning's exchange:

ForeFlight: Hi again, Tim. If you're flying with cellular data turned on, please disable that. It may help.

Me: Hello, I don't have a cell account for my iPad so the below is not applicable. I do, however, always have it connected to my droid phone's WiFi...I have unlimited data on my phone, so no reason to have any other data plans.

ForeFlight: Thank you for sending crash logs. We believe the connection to your phone may be causing some of these issues. At your next opportunity, try it without that connection and let us know if the crashes and freezes continue. Connecting to a phone for hotspot or cell is not recommended during flight.

Me: Okay, if you say so. But it’s been on for almost ten years while flying with no issues (I think I’ve had a total of 2 crashes before last Saturday)…and having data is sure handy so that I can get updated METARs, imagery, etc. when on long XCs, (especially when conditions are marginal and/or when flying IFR).
Click to expand...

Translation: We broke something in the network code that we don't test because we didn't think anybody would use it that way. Please don't make us 1) find it and fix it, 2) add test cases to cover it.
 
timwinters said:
Me: Okay, if you say so. But it’s been on for almost ten years while flying with no issues (I think I’ve had a total of 2 crashes before last Saturday)…and having data is sure handy so that I can get updated METARs, imagery, etc. when on long XCs, (especially when conditions are marginal and/or when flying IFR).
Click to expand...

You're able to receive cellular data at altitude??
 
I almost wrote 160K floppy diskette, but I wasn't sure anybody'd remember. And yes, I had a diskette notcher to make them double sided (take them out and turn them over a.k.a. double sided). But I used that mostly on the Radio Shack TRS-80 Model 1 until I got the high density drives and the disk doubler.

Can I interest you in a Model 33 Teletype and some paper tape?
 
gkainz said:
I think I have my notch nibbler somewhere in the desk drawer ... :)
Click to expand...
Dang... And I thought I kept stuff too long.

I do still have my service manuals for IBM Displaywriters, Standard and Selectric Typewriters though.
 
timwinters said:
This morning's exchange:

ForeFlight: Hi again, Tim. If you're flying with cellular data turned on, please disable that. It may help.

Me: Hello, I don't have a cell account for my iPad so the below is not applicable. I do, however, always have it connected to my droid phone's WiFi...I have unlimited data on my phone, so no reason to have any other data plans.

ForeFlight: Thank you for sending crash logs. We believe the connection to your phone may be causing some of these issues. At your next opportunity, try it without that connection and let us know if the crashes and freezes continue. Connecting to a phone for hotspot or cell is not recommended during flight.

Me: Okay, if you say so. But it’s been on for almost ten years while flying with no issues (I think I’ve had a total of 2 crashes before last Saturday)…and having data is sure handy so that I can get updated METARs, imagery, etc. when on long XCs, (especially when conditions are marginal and/or when flying IFR).
Click to expand...

That blows, but you really should have an ADSB reciever in the air, you'll get traffic and weather. Plus it will be more reliable than cell coverage.
 
SoCal 182 Driver said:
You're able to receive cellular data at altitude??
Click to expand...

Yeah, around here, typically up to about 6k...sometimes higher but it gets iffy above that.

PaulS said:
That blows, but you really should have an ADSB reciever in the air, you'll get traffic and weather. Plus it will be more reliable than cell coverage.
Click to expand...

By the end of this month I will!
 
PaulS said:
That blows, but you really should have an ADSB reciever in the air, you'll get traffic and weather. Plus it will be more reliable than cell coverage.
Click to expand...
There are times when you're too low to pick up ADS-B weather but still low enough to get cellular.
 
GeorgeC said:
There are times when you're too low to pick up ADS-B weather but still low enough to get cellular.
Click to expand...

That maybe true, but I find if I'm that low, I'm not really going anywhere anyhow. Around here the ADSB usually fills in on the ground.
 
PaulS said:
That maybe true, but I find if I'm that low, I'm not really going anywhere anyhow. Around here the ADSB usually fills in on the ground.
Click to expand...
What kind of radius do you get on METARs when airborne?

@John Collins, is there a service volume defined on FIS-B?
 
donjohnston said:
And version 1.0 only supported single sided, 8 sector disks which could only store 160K per disk.
Click to expand...

TI 99/4A, 16 KB ram, no disk drive, data written to a cassette tape.

That's the first one I owned. I started learning on a TRS-80 Model 1 with 8 KB ram and cassette storage.
 
donjohnston said:
My reply: Microsoft Bob.
Click to expand...

Clippy: "Would you like some help with that?"

jsstevens said:
Danged kids! MS-DOS 1.25 on 5.25" floppies. Before they implemented sub directories. Because on a single 320K (not a typo) floppy, why would you need them? WIndows 1.0 also on 1.25" floppies.
Click to expand...

CP/M. 8 inch disks. Remember the MITS Altair?
 
You youngsters (OK - this was before my time - but does anyone remember these?)
upload_2020-2-6_16-57-35.jpeg
 
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