Support FAQs - PocketPC Bluetooth GPS Setup

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WINDOWS MOBILE 5 POCKETPC BLUETOOTH GPS SET UP PROCEDURE

Setting up a Bluetooth GPS receiver with a Windows Mobile 5 PocketPC device can be very frustrating and time consuming if the correct procedure is not followed.

This simple step-by-step guide explains how to pair your USGlobalSat BT-359 GPS receiver with your WM5 PPC device and how to enable Locator and Koterra to access the BT GPS data.

The general procedure should work with most, if not all NMEA compliant BT GPS receivers.

BT GPS SET UP PROCEDURE

USGlobalSat BT-359 LED indicators
Pairing the BT GPS device with your WM5 PocketPC
Configuring the GPS Settings on you WM5 PocketPC
Testing that your WM5 PPC is receiving valid GPS data using the GPSinfo Program
Getting Locator and Koterra to access the GPS data
BT GPS downloads

USGLOBALSAT BT-359 LED INDICATORS

Turn on the BT-359 and check that the blue LED is flashing slowly and the green LED is constantly lit.
The slow blue flashing LED (1 flash every 3 seconds) indicates that the bluetooth link is in search mode and has not yet been established a connection with the PPC.
On initial startup, the green LED should stay lit indicating that the GPS receiver is searching for satellites. Once the the BT GPS receiver has acquired a GPS position fix, the green LED will flash fast (1 flash every second).
The yellow LED is only lit when the GPS receiver is charging and is otherwise unlit.
For summary information on the BT-359 LEDs and setup, see the USGlobalSat BT-359 Bluetooth GPS Receiver Quick Start Guide
For detailed information on the BT-359 setup, see the BT-359 User Guide

PAIRING BT GPS RECEIVER WITH THE WM5 POCKETPC

Select the Communications Manager on the PocketPC.

Select the Bluetooth Settings pop-up menu.

Check the 'Turn on Bluetooth' box.

Bluetooth Settings Mode - Turn on Bluetooth

Select the 'Devices' tab.

Bluetooth Settings - Devices - New Partnership

Select 'New Partnership...' and the PPC searches for the BT-359. Make sure the blue LED is flashing on the BT-359.

Bluetooth Settings - Devices - Scanning for BT Devices

Once the PPC has detected the BT-359, it will display it's serial number in the window.

Bluetooth Settings - Devices - New BT Device Detected

Enter the 'Passkey' for the BT-359, which is '0000'.

Check the 'Serial Port' services box.

Bluetooth Settings - Partnership Settings

The new BT GPS device is now listed in the parnership list.

Now select the 'COM Ports' tab and highlight the 'New Outgoing Port'.

Bluetooth Settings - COM Port tab - Select Ougoing Port

Then hightlight the BT GPS device and select 'Next'.

Then select the desired COM port to use for the Outgoing Port, e.g. COM7 is automatically highlighted. IMPORTANT - Keep a note of this outgoing port number (e.g. COM7). Note that the 'Secure Connection' box should be unchecked.

Select desired COM port number for Outgoing Port

The Outgoing Port is now set to the desired COM port and the BT-GPS receiver is now paired with your WM5 PPC device.

Select COM port number for Outgoing Port

CONFIGURING THE GPS SETTINGS ON YOUR WM5 POCKETPC

Select 'Settings', 'GPS' on the PocketPC. Note that the GPS icon is sometimes hidden by the OEM on WM5 PPC devices and requires a registry change in order to be displayed. When Locator or Koterra is installed and run on the WM5 PPC, this registry change is automatically made and the GPS icon is displayed.

Select the 'Programs' tab and set 'None' as the GPS Programs Port.

Select 'Set' - 'GPS Program Port' - 'None'

Now select the 'Hardware' tab and set the 'GPS hardware port' - 'COM7' (e.g. the previously selected Outgoing Port number in the BT pairing setup) and 'Baud Rate' - '33600'.

Set 'GPS Hardware Port' -> 'COM7', 'Baud Rate: 33600'

Now select the 'Access' tab and select the 'Manage GPS automatically (recommended)' check box.

Set the 'Manage GPS automatically' check box

The GPS settings should now be configured correctly on your WM5 device.

TESTING THAT YOUR WM5 PPC IS RECEIVING VALID GPS DATA USING THE GPSINFO PROGRAM

Now you have the BT GPS receiver paired with your WM5 PPC and the PPC GPS settings configured, it's a good idea to test that your PPC is able to receive live GPS Lat/Lon position messages, before starting using your BT GPS receiver with Tierravision Locator/Koterra.
First, check that the BT-GPS is turned on and the green LED is flashing (i.e. GPS position acquired). The Blue LED should be flashing slow (1 flash every 3 seconds), indicating that the BT is not yet downloading GPS data.
Download the WM5 PPC GPSinfo Program to your Windows XP desktop and intall to your PPC using ActiveSync

Then, on the WM5 PPC select 'Programs' and start the 'GPSinfo' program by tapping on the icon.

Once, the application has started, set the COM port to the previously selected 'Outgoing Port', (e.g. COM7), the Baud Rate to '34800' and press the 'Start GPS' button.

If the BT GPS receiver has been correctly paired with the PPC and the GPS Manager settings have been correctly configured, then the GPS data should be displayed in real time.

Note that as soon as the Start GPS button is pressed on the PPC, the blue LED on the BT GPS receiver should increase its flashing rate to fast (i.e. 1 flash every second).
If the GPS data is being received in real time, then you can select the 'GPS Info' tab and see the view of the active satellites, including satellite designation, as well as receiver signal strength, direction, speed, coords, etc.
For more information on the displayed parameters, see GPSinfo User Manual

MAP CENTERING AND GPS TRACKING WITH LOCATOR AND KOTERRA

Now that the GPSinfo program has validated that the GPS data is being correctly received by the BT-359 and then transmitted to the WM5 PPC, it's very simple to display the GPS information on Locator/Koterra.
All that is required is to start Locator or Koterra, by tapping on the application icon.

After Locator/Koterra is started, it automatically searches on all the COM ports for valid GPS data and then if it finds GPS data on one of the ports, then it displays the GPS icon on the bottom right of the taskbar.

In order to enable map centering when BT GPS is enabled, tap the GPS icon on the bottom right of the taskbar. Then the current position shows up on the map and the taskbar icon is displayed with a white background.

In order to enable GPS tracking of the PPC when BT GPS is enabled, select the 'Tool', 'Preferences', 'GPS' menu.

Select the check box to allow others to track your PPC and adjust the GPS update rate as appropriate.

Set GPS Preferences - Allow others to track PPC

To view other GPS tracked devices, select 'View', 'GPS Tracking'.

The authorized GPS tracked devices are then listed.

To center the map on one of the GPS tracked devices, select the 'Show GPS tracked phones on map' checkbox, then highlight one of the phones and select 'Center on Map'.