TomTom6 + Solar Bluetooth GPS receiver

[asthana]

Hi,
I have got a XDA exec with Tomtom6 and a Solar Bluetooth GPS receiver...I am able to pair the device with my PDA and am also able to configure and define incoming and outgoing ports...COM 8 for incoming and COM 4 for outgoing....when I try and go to my tomtom software the only option which I get is to select the GPS type, in order to configure the device....and after selecting it keeps connecting to GPS device and nothing happens....I have even tried with Incoming (COM4) and Outgoing (COM8) and even with COM0 settings for COM ports within XDA, but to my bad luck I am not able to connect to the GPS device....can someone kindly help me with the above please
thanks

[Arejay]

I have the same set up with the same problem. I have been told that port allocation & therefore GPS recognition is a known problem although TomTom tell you that there are no conflicts with the Exec & TT6. I have been informed that it is necessary to either download a program called GPS Dash or make changes in registry but I cannot find an idiots guide of what to do. Any help would be much appreciated before both the Exec & TT get thrown out the window. :mad: :confused:

[Arejay]

I put a posting on a Radio Control forum that I subscribe to RCMF.co.uk as there are quite a number of very knowledgeable folks that frequent the site.

This is a reply that I received today from a guy who I think works for O2 and he has agreed to me posting her.
.................................................. .....
Now then..... Bit of a complicated one this

Courtesy of our device specialists

First step:

You will need to install a registry editor. They’re available from various websites, I suggest Googling “Pocket PC registry editor”, but we can’t guarantee the reliability of third party software.

· On the XDA Exec, Go to Start > Programs and then load the newly installed registry editor.

· NB: This has to be done exactly as below in order for it to work:

Go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ControlPanel\GPS Settings
Delete the DWORD marked "hide"
Add a new DWORD called "Group" and give it the value of "2" (dec)
NOTE: There are different types of keys you can add, you must make sure you add a DWORD, Click it so the values entry appears then add the value 2 as described above.

· Exit the Registry editor.

· Select Start > Settings. Then go to connections using the tabs at the bottom of the settings screen.

· The GPS panel should now show up in connection settings.

Next:

· After the Bluetooth receiver has been paired with the device, you’ll need to do the following:


· In Bluetooth Settings, select COM Ports tab at the bottom > New Outgoing Port > [Choose GPS Receiver], click Next then select the OUTGOING port to 8. Click Finish. Select OK (top right corner)


· Go to Start > Settings > Connections and open the GPS control panel, select the GPS program port to COM 0 then click Hardware tab. Set Hardware port to “None”. Select OK (top right)


· Start TomTom, Click Preferences then GPS settings, select “Other Bluetooth GPS”, and COM 0 should be at the top of the list (Important: IF “COM 0” is not in the list, you will need to hard reset the device, ensuring your contacts and saved files are backed up beforehand. It may then be necessary to begin this process again after re-installing TomTom). Select COM 0 as the GPS Port and then exit TomTom. (Make sure you fully exit the program so it’s no longer running)


· Go to Start > Settings > Connections and open the GPS control panel again, now select COM 8 in the Programs section (the one we set up as “0” previously). Select OK (top right).


· Open Bluetooth again in the connection settings menu and go back to COM Ports. Select GPS Receiver by holding the stylus down on the word and selecting edit then change the outgoing port from “Port 8” to “Port 0”. Select Finish, then Select OK (top right).


· Go back to Start > Settings > Connections and open the GPS control panel again and in the Programs port select NONE.
Select OK (top right), then OK again to close settings menu.


· Finally start TomTom and the GPS receiver should connect automatically. Wait for a couple of seconds and click the GPS settings and it should be connected.


The port settings shouldn’t be changed after this point, or the process above may need to be repeated, so the customer should now steer clear of the GPS settings.


If the device experiences issues connecting to GPS, you should ensure the GPS receiver is powered up and then exit TomTom and restart it. If this doesn’t resolve, a soft reset may be needed.

GPS Dash can be downloaded from www.gpsdash.com, but we aren't aware that this needs to be added first – you should try the above before installing, we can’t offer support upon, or guarantee the reliability of GPS Dash or any other third party applications.

Hope this helps.
..................................................

I will be trying this probably next week so will let you know if I have any success.

[Astro1]

Arejay

I have been fumbelling around for ages trying to get TT6 to work on an XD11i .

I know that it is possible as there are members on line who tell me they have it running !!.

I am trying to get a bluetooth reiciever to talk to TT6 but getting no where .

Dont suppose you could ask your friend if there is a XDA11i fix as well ?

I just get the No GPS Device all the time despite the two items talking ( lots of flashing on the Reciever led )

Best regards


Astro1

[Arejay]

Hi Astro

Excuse my ignorance but I assume that the XD11i is an O2 product. If it is I`ll certainly ask the question.

[Astro1]

Hi Arejay

Yes the XDA11i is an o2 product with a great spec but no longer supported as newer models now availiable ( aka exec/ orbit etc ) it is an HTC device 2020i but has never been converted to wm5 so getting left behind.

Thanks in advance for you help , getting very frustrated here!

Astro1

[Arejay]

Received a reply from another guy who I know to be very knowledgeable on most things to do with PC`s etc.

Try this solution
After pairing your gps reciever go to tomtoms satellite config and select "other cable" rather than bluetooth. Select a speed (start at 2400 and work up) then when it asks for the port select the bluetooth port. there may be two ports so you will have to suck it and see but this is the solution I used on my SPV M2000 which is an XDAIIs. When you find the right port and your reciever connects you can try it again but with different com port speeds.

I expect I will get another reply soon and I`ll post t here.

[Astro1]

Arejay

I spent the afternoon going through all of the tom tom settings , leaving it a while between each.

After pairing I started Tom tom and went to the buetooth and the other nema settings( within the tt6 change preferences / gps section ).

One at a time I went through the offered port numbers.

By choosing any setting that was not port 6 the GPS reciever turned to stand by , going back to port 6 and it came to life again .( this was the case with both " other bluetooth and other nema " choices.)

With either choice and port 6 selected there was a lot of Bluetooth activity but at no time did TT6 like the choice ( little blue/ yellow disk doesnt spin) or at any time did the GPS find as satalite .

Using either of the two remaining choices tom tom( wireless or wired ) had the same effect ( turned the GPS off) .

With the other two setting choices I ran through the possible speeds but this made no difference .


TT6 continues to say "No GPS Device " which is short for not paired or set up correctly .

Any help here greatfully appreciated , getting to my wits end. ( wonder if I have brought a duff GPS unit ? but then why the activity when port 6 is selected ? )

Checking in Bluetooth settings the outgoing port stated ( cant be changed ) is port 6 !

XDA11i is a wm2003se device .

I have had no joy getting other programmes to talk to the gps either ?

Astro1

[Arejay]

First the bad news: :(

Astro - Quote from O2 guy
We are at a loss here to be honest, TT is an unsupported app so it
may be that it's the application that is causing the problems rather
than the GPS itself.

I think this is why people suggest installing GPS Dash?

Sorry I couldn't offer any more help

Now the good news: :D :D

I now have TT6 up and running on the Exec.

I initially set it up as per the instructions that I posted but there was a problem getting the Com 0 at the top of the list in GPS Preferences in TT.
I then did the hard reset and reset all the parameters exactly as per instructions and TT linked to the GPS receiver immediately.

The one good thing about mucking about with computer bits, is the massive sense of relief when it all starts working ok. :)

[Astro1]

Arejay

Thanks for your help , there are others that I am aware of that have it working though .

Appreciate that tt6 maybe unsupported though as it is a new programme whilst the XFA11i is some years old !

Thanks again

Astro1

[DeltaDart]

I have a O2 Atom and an O2 XDA II and I have been able to get a Solar GPS bluetooth unit to work with both units. I didn't need to install any registry tools and don't believe that you should need to, to get this to happen correctly.

Firstly on the o2 Atom.

1. Open Bluetooth and pair to the device and check the box to have this device used as com port.

2. Click on com ports. If you already have one, click and hold to delete it. Leave screen and return to make sure that the registry has been updated. You should now have a clean com port list. Choose an incoming port as GPS doesn't need to be bi-directional. It only needs information in, not out.

3. Go to >> Settings and then >> System.

4. There is an icon for External GPS. Click it.

5. Under GPS Program port choose the com port that you created in step 2. Hardware doesn't need a port in this instance. For safety sake, change the com port speed to match that of your GPS device (normally 9600). Under >> Access tab, make sure that manage connection automatically is checked.

6. Open TT6, and tap screen >> Change Preferences >> Right >> Right and then choose Show GPS status.

7. If you need to, click the configure option choose the appropriate GPS receiver (probably Other Bluetooth and then hit select followed by continue.

8. Choose the bottom-most post of the same number that you have created. After a short pause, TT6 will return to the previous screen and all being well, you should have a GPS signal.

On the Xda II, pair as you would any Bluetooth device. As there is no External GPS link in the Settings >> System all you need to do is create the incoming port. Complete the same TT6 setting with regards to the receiver and you should be good to go.

Remember, that all GPS devices take some time to acquire data and in that time, they can appear as not connected. I find that if you power on the GPS receiver and within 60 seconds start TT6, but the time you are ready to go I have a valid GPS signal and away we go.

Good Luck.

Delta