Sansa Clip Zip Firmware 01.01.18

Tnx Tapeworm for this idea, now I know already how much files It displayes.

But what it still bother me, is that I added 3000 files on the internal and 4000 on the Sandisk SD Card , and it shows only 4930 songs.

Why is that?? I only have 6 folders in total, all the files are tagged with all the fields exept for the album cover field only the files from the card have it.

On a ipod when they say its 16gb you can actually fill it to the utmost,  no matter which channel or frquency or bitrate or duration the files are. I hope Sandisk will get to this feature

@ubtapes wrote:

 

But what it still bother me, is that I added 3000 files on the internal and 4000 on the Sandisk SD Card , and it shows only 4930 songs.

Why is that??

 

Apparently you have hit the database limitation. While listed as 8000 tracks, that number can be reduced significantly by length of file names, folders within folders, things like that. We have heard from others who hit their ceilings at about 5000 songs too.

1 Like

The post seems to be informative.

Nice work!

Some suggestions to radio part:

* smaller frequency digits so we can have two lines for  the RDS info or one line for a station name and other for the RDS info, anyway it would be nice to have possibility to set the station name;

* change the select button function so it can switch |<< and >>| buttons functions between tuning and changeing to the prev/next preset station -  in this mode we can display in the status line preset station number/number of preset stations - default mode should be to change between presets if there are any. 

Timer - better do not center the time string and use fixed left position.

Player - is there a possibility to add some kind of headphone sound spatialization in EQ as an additional option?

Great job

Best regards

– 

Adam

Tnx again Tapeworm,

Now, how can I get all the key info such as file size, filename chars limits etc…which well help me get there in the range of 8000.tracks.
If Sandisk claims that it is possible to have this amount of tracks, I believe there should be a way to accomplish that, if so where can I look it up?

I appreciate your help,

I’m sorry to inform, but the RDS is still not working here in Lithuania. I’ve updated the firmware manually to 01.01.18F (“System Settings->Info” proves, that the latest version is installed). Tried to format the player, reset to factory setting, tried to reupdate the firmware - the result is the same. There are only 2 stations from the FM range that shows something like “ADFJH” and this is total abracadabra, all other stations (17 stations) does not show anything.

Please note, that other devices - my cellphone, car radio receiver - shows RDS information on all the stations. Sandisk support thinks i’m dummy and gives advices like “please update the software once again” or “If the RDS info is not showing on the player than it is a local issue for Lithuania” and etc.

As i know there are 2 standards of RDS: RBDS (used in US) and RDS (used in Europe), so maybe this could be the problem ? I mean my player supports only US modification of RDS and is unavailable in Lithuania, could it be so ?

Totally unsatisfied with this player, Sandisk and eShop does not want to refund for this player, do not know really what to do :neutral_face:

Any help appreciated :cry:

@romanaleksejuk wrote:

I’m sorry to inform, but the RDS is still not working here in Lithuania. I’ve updated the firmware manually to 01.01.18F (“System Settings->Info” proves, that the latest version is installed). Tried to format the player, reset to factory setting, tried to reupdate the firmware - the result is the same. There are only 2 stations from the FM range that shows something like “ADFJH” and this is total abracadabra, all other stations (17 stations) does not show anything.

Please note, that other devices - my cellphone, car radio receiver - shows RDS information on all the stations. Sandisk support thinks i’m dummy and gives advices like “please update the software once again” or “If the RDS info is not showing on the player than it is a local issue for Lithuania” and etc.

As i know there are 2 standards of RDS: RBDS (used in US) and RDS (used in Europe), so maybe this could be the problem ? I mean my player supports only US modification of RDS and is unavailable in Lithuania, could it be so ?

Totally unsatisfied with this player, Sandisk and eShop does not want to refund for this player, do not know really what to do :neutral_face:

Any help appreciated :cry:

It sounds like the standard your local broadcasters are using isn’t being read by the CZ.  I’m in the eastern US and checked my player’s FM broadcast RDS info.  It’s receiving it again with the latest FW update and I’ve power cycled my player several times since updating.

I will say though that some information is being displayed peculiarly.  My wife’s car (a 2010 Chevrolet) shows all RDS info correctly (i.e. the station call letters).  The CZ though shows some strange info on a few stations, namely, some stations show their call letters beginning with the letter “K”.  No stations in this area have call letters starting with K.  All of the stations with the problem are Clear Channel Communications-owned stations.  Hmmmm…

When the player is being launched for the first time, there is an option to choose the region, i’ve chosen “Europe”.

So, if there is an option of selecting the continents, that means that this player SHOULD BE adaptive for the concrete RDS system (as i mentioned before - there are only 2 RDS system versions). If my cellphone (generic SonyEriccsson) is able to recognize RDS correctly, my car radio (worlwide SONY) is able to recognize it correctly, why were Clip Zip developers unable to implement this feature correctly ?

Sorry, but the phraze “It sounds like the standard your local broadcasters are using isn’t being read by the CZ” is not really an explanation of the problem, and far less - not a solution :angry:

@romanaleksejuk wrote:

When the player is being launched for the first time, there is an option to choose the region, i’ve chosen “Europe”.

So, if there is an option of selecting the continents, that means that this player SHOULD BE adaptive for the concrete RDS system (as i mentioned before - there are only 2 RDS system versions). If my cellphone (generic SonyEriccsson) is able to recognize RDS correctly, my car radio (worlwide SONY) is able to recognize it correctly, why were Clip Zip developers unable to implement this feature correctly ?

Sorry, but the phraze “It sounds like the standard your local broadcasters are using isn’t being read by the CZ” is not really an explanation of the problem, and far less - not a solution :angry:

As far as I know, the only effect the Region setting has is to stick EU users with a reduced volume (to meet with EU regulations limiting volume on audio devices). Hopefully with a future update, it should also change the FM tuning range and increments to region-specific settings.

I believe the issue was between the FM receiver chip and the Zip’s interpretation of the data string.  Previously, i could restore RDS information if I would pause / mute FM, then open a music file from the Music library.  Afterwards, RDS would restore normally.

As far as the RDS standards between US / EU, this may involve the FM chip itself, and its interpretation of the RDS data.  The update does restore the information display, at least it does here in the States; perhaps a little testing with EU signals will be the hot ticket to solve this for the Zip worldwide.  It’s possible that one fix uncovered another issue.

Did your Zip display the EU (local, in your case of course) RDS data?

Locally, the Clear Channel broadcaster is using the same Harris exciter / encoder as other stations.  We have two layers of FM information in the US, a digital “HD Radio” carrier, plus the original analog signal, with RDS.  On the HD side, the song information is also broadcast as part of the digital signal. (I have receivers that show both the HD and RDS concurrently).

Try the above trick with your Zip (pause FM, go to Music, play a file, pause, then go back to FM)  The RDS information should begin to refresh after 5-10 seconds.

Bob  :smileyvery-happy:

@romanaleksejuk wrote:

When the player is being launched for the first time, there is an option to choose the region, i’ve chosen “Europe”.

So, if there is an option of selecting the continents, that means that this player SHOULD BE adaptive for the concrete RDS system (as i mentioned before - there are only 2 RDS system versions). If my cellphone (generic SonyEriccsson) is able to recognize RDS correctly, my car radio (worlwide SONY) is able to recognize it correctly, why were Clip Zip developers unable to implement this feature correctly ?

Sorry, but the phraze “It sounds like the standard your local broadcasters are using isn’t being read by the CZ” is not really an explanation of the problem, and far less - not a solution :angry:

I’m just a customer like you, I don’t work for the company nor do I know much about the insides of the CZ.

@neutron_bob wrote:

I believe the issue was between the FM receiver chip and the Zip’s interpretation of the data string.  Previously, i could restore RDS information if I would pause / mute FM, then open a music file from the Music library.  Afterwards, RDS would restore normally.

 

As far as the RDS standards between US / EU, this may involve the FM chip itself, and its interpretation of the RDS data.  The update does restore the information display, at least it does here in the States; perhaps a little testing with EU signals will be the hot ticket to solve this for the Zip worldwide.  It’s possible that one fix uncovered another issue.

 

Did your Zip display the EU (local, in your case of course) RDS data?

 

Locally, the Clear Channel broadcaster is using the same Harris exciter / encoder as other stations.  We have two layers of FM information in the US, a digital “HD Radio” carrier, plus the original analog signal, with RDS.  On the HD side, the song information is also broadcast as part of the digital signal. (I have receivers that show both the HD and RDS concurrently).

 

Try the above trick with your Zip (pause FM, go to Music, play a file, pause, then go back to FM)  The RDS information should begin to refresh after 5-10 seconds.

 

 

Bob  :smileyvery-happy:

Tried it Bob, the CC stations always show the wrong call letter info.  The data isn’t remotely correct.  For example, one of the CC stations call letters, WRDU (106.1MHz, local to the Raleigh, NC area) shows up at KATA.  Other CC stations show the same strange things, their call letters are mucked up.  But, any ‘catch phrases’ for the station or what’s playing right now does show up properly.

I went back out to my wife’s car (a 2010 Chevy Equinox with the optional upscale Pioneer-designed factory system) to check on the RDS data it shows in the display.  I was wrong about it displaying the right call-letter info for CC stations, it displays no call letter infor for those stations.  All other stations in the area show the call letters though.

Either CC stations don’t broadcast the info and the CZ does something weird since they’re not, CC stations broadcast some jibberish and the Chevy’s radio doesn’t show it but the CZ shows it or some other situation I’m not aware of.  Whatever is going on it’s something peculiar to CC stations and there is a difference even with a more sophisticated receiver.

No big loss for me though, Clear Channel stations around here are the pits so I typically don’t listen to them.  :smileyvery-happy:  That company has ruined each station they’ve bought in this area.

@neutron_bob wrote:

 

Locally, the Clear Channel broadcaster is using the same Harris exciter / encoder as other stations.  We have two layers of FM information in the US, a digital “HD Radio” carrier, plus the original analog signal, with RDS.  On the HD side, the song information is also broadcast as part of the digital signal. (I have receivers that show both the HD and RDS concurrently).

 

Bob  :smileyvery-happy:

I forgot to mention that my CZ often shows  the song/artist info.  Is that from the HD radio carrier or is it sometimes in the analog data stream?

I live at the german/dutch border. All dutch station show RDS the german stations don’t. Does anybody understand that?

@romanaleksejuk wrote:


@certigny wrote:

I live at the german/dutch border. All dutch station show RDS the german stations don’t. Does anybody understand that?


It seems that radio function of the player is not popular, that’s why people are lazy to complaint about RDS problem, but the problem do exist in some countries. And the developers don’t care really… 
This is the problem of a big company, which does not respond on a single complaints (only typical pseudo-polite suggestions like “please restart you computer”).

I’m planning to post an article to some popular IT blogs about my story with the CZ and about SanDisk support, about their suggestions and reaction to the problem (with the emails, forum posts and all other evidence).

Contacting the International Consumer Protection Organization would be also a great experience for me.

 

I wish a Merry Christmas to SanDisk support team and to the developers, and yes, please continue ignoring serious issues. :robotmad:

This is a consumer-to-consumer forum, not official Sandisk support.  The posts you see here are from other owners like myself and we don’t work for Sandisk.

@tnmats wrote:

This is a consumer-to-consumer forum, not official Sandisk support.  The posts you see here are from other owners like myself and we don’t work for Sandisk.

  1. To enter this forum, you must click a link, which is called “Support”.

  2. In the forums header it is written “Welcome to the SanDisk Forums”.

  3. There are Sandisk Admins present on this forum, who work for this company.

  4. When i was registering a direct ticket as an additional explanation for the support - i have pasted a link to this thread, so the real support team saw and knew about this problem/thread.

So you can call this forum like “consumer-to-consumer” or etc. but the official Sandisk people knows about this forum, and they should be interested on bugs elimination of their products.

@romanaleksejuk wrote:


tnmats wrote:

This is a consumer-to-consumer forum, not official Sandisk support.  The posts you see here are from other owners like myself and we don’t work for Sandisk.


  1. To enter this forum, you must click a link, which is called “Support”.

 

No, you don’t.

 

  1. In the forums header it is written “Welcome to the SanDisk Forums”.

 

So? If you read the 1st paragraph in the Forum Rules & Guidlines (you did read the Rules & Guidelines when you first registered, didn’t you?), you’ll see

 

“The goal of the SanDisk Forum is to provide a place where all SanDisk users can gather as a community.  In this community users can share thoughts, ask questions, look for answers, give improvement suggestions and learn more about the SanDisk products they own.”

Nowhere does this site claim to be an ‘official’ or Tech Support’ forum.

 

  1. There are Sandisk Admins present on this forum, who work for this company.

 

Yes, there’s one . . . and only one. And he does have other duties and a full-time job at SanDisk, so he’s not here 24/7/365.

 

  1. When i was registering a direct ticket as an additional explanation for the support - i have pasted a link to this thread, so the real support team saw and knew about this problem/thread.

 

So you can call this forum like “consumer-to-consumer” or etc. but the official Sandisk people knows about this forum, and they should be interested on bugs elimination of their products.

 

Interested? Yes. And I don’t mean to sound insensitive, but you have to consider 1 complaint (or even a few) about some discrepancies in the RDS feed to the FM radio on one of their many products is not likely to illicit an urgent high-priority firmware investigation and/or re-write. As you said, the FM radio on these things are not as popular as playing user-added content in the form of mp3’s or other formats. In fact a lot of these devices (from other manufacturers) don’t even have FM on them at all.

 

And truth be told, SanDisk’s Tech Support even flat-out denied the Clip Zip officially had RDS capability until just very recently. Is it really that big of a deal for you? People have been listening to FM radio on various devices for decades now without it and were perfectly happy without RDS. Does the absence or inaccuracy of RDS on this particular device detract from or ruin your enjoyment of the broadcast? Isn’t it really the music that matters?

 

Interested? Yes. And I don’t mean to sound insensitive, but you have to consider 1 complaint from Lithuania about some discrepancies in the RDS feed to the FM radio on one of their many products is not likely to illicit an urgent high-priority firmware investigation and/or re-write.

 If you read all the messages carefully, you should see that there are one more complaint on this issue from the customer from German, people are too lazy to complaint on this issues. No matter how many complaints there are, there is a fact - RDS is not working at some countries.

 

SanDisk’s Tech Support even flat-out denied the Clip Zip officially had RDS capability until just very recently.

 When i was thinking to buy this product, i read an official paper, where there was RDS function mentioned, and this is not so important either this was recently or long time ago. The fact - this is official function now.

 

People have been listening to FM radio on various devices for decades now without it and were perfectly happy without RDS

You could be completely happy without one hand, but me - not. This function is really important for me and this is NOT your business why it is. And if it is mentioned in the official paper - it should work correctly.

 

Yes, there’s one . . . and only one. And he does have other duties and a full-time job at SanDisk, so he’s not here 24/7/365.

 I don’t care on that, if you don’t have enough time, then Sandisk must hire more admins.

 

 

 

Instead of disputing on unreleated topics with unsatisfied customers please focus on reporting the problems to the developer team.

 


@romanaleksejuk wrote:

 

Instead of disputing on unreleated topics with unsatisfied customers please focus on reporting the problems to the developer team.

 

Agreed.  The forums aren’t where you’ll get through to official channels quickly, customer support via chat/email/phone is the way to do it.  This is true for any product I’ve ever bought, I visit forums like this since companies often don’t seem to resolve things fast enough for my tastes and forums like this allow me to find other customers (like me) who’ve had the same issues. When enough gripe things get fixed (usually).

I’m not bashing you, it’s just that forums like this aren’t the ‘official’ way of griping to any company.  At least any company I’ve had dealings with that had user forums.  And yes, many consumer electronics companies aren’t that fast nor responsive to problems outside of their home market.  I’ve been burned before like you and it isn’t fun.

From what I have seen, the forum is a good way to raise an issue that SanDisk might notice–like writing a letter to a company’s Customer Service with suggestions. And SanDisk sometimes does pay attention–just note the evolution of the Clip line, as well as firmware enhancements (most recently, with “Play all” brought back to the Clip Zip). As to player malfunctions and similar issues (e.g. “my player won’t start”), SanDisk personnel may indeed offer a fix/suggestion in the forum. But best to get help is to telephone SanDisk’s Customer Service (or post here and hope for some help from a fellow user).