We are often asked How much memory do I need to have available to run Anywhere WX software on my PDA? This is a fairly complex question due to the variations in PDA models, along with the fact that the iPAQ dynamically moves memory resources around as needed to accommodate different applications, as well as the fact that the Anywhere WX software uses memory in a dynamic fashion, and the total memory utilization of the program is highly dependent on the exact data coming down from XMWX at any given time. We have done extensive testing and have come to a few conclusions, the most important of which is as follows:

Free memory is the sum of the Free storage memory plus the Free Program memory as measured just before you start Anywhere Map (meaning after all software is installed). Every program you use on the Pocket PC will use some free memory, and even closing the application will not cause the memory to be given back to the free memory pool. You can view the memory available in your Ipaq by going to tapping Start, then settings, then tapping on the system tab, then the memory Icon. (Start> Settings> System> Memory) and looking at the displayed information. Immediately after resetting the iPAQ, check the memory and verify that you have at least 30/38MB of free memory.

Anywhere WX software™s memory utilization is quite dynamic. When it is initially run, it will require as little as 17 MB of free memory, but this amount can momentarily increase substantially as weather data is received and decoded, and different features are enabled and disabled in the software.

We recommend that at least some of the software be installed to a storage card, for maximum reliability. If you will be using both Pocket Plates AND Anywhere Map, a storage card is required.

Most PDA™s have 64MB of memory. Anywhere Map will install and run fine on 64Mb machines, but to use all of the features of the software requires using a storage card to move at least some components of the software out of main memory. A new iPAC 4700 has about 49MB of free memory with nothing installed. Anywhere Map requires about 3 MB of memory if all possible files are loaded to a memory card. This leaves 8 MB of memory in the PDA for all other applications to use if you wish to display weather and plates. MP3, pictures, note pad files, and the address book all draw from this 8 MB pool of remaining memory, and can rapidly use it up without some caution being exercised.

Beware of Garmin Que Street Mapping software

The Garmin street mapping software which Control Vision sometimes sells with the GPS 10 is one program that can wind up taking up a lot of the free memory. When this program is installed, EVEN if the databases are installed to a CF card, a rather large 5.11 MB file is left in main memory in a folder called "Garmin". This file seems to be some sort of demo database and can be deleted without any consequence. The file is called "GMAPBMAP.img" and should be deleted as this file alone uses up nearly all of the available memory.

Files that MUST be in main memory

We DO NOT recommend that the actual program file called Anywheremap.exe and PocketPlates.exe be installed on the memory card. Doing so can cause system instability and it not necessary.

In general, all database files can and should be installed to the storage card however. There are a few other files that must remain in main memory, such as the user settings, user waypoints and a few files for Pocket Plates.

This is a complete listing of the files that must be in main memory DAT folder for the PDA. While the file AnywhereMap.exe CAN be moved to the storage card, this is not recommended. If the actual executable file is run from a storage card location and the storage card is accidentally removed while the application is still running, the application is likely to abruptly terminate at a later time. It™s best to leave the executables in the DAT folder.

Any files not on this list do not need to be in main memory and should be on the storage card for maximum reliability.