Attention iPAQ BlueTooth users!

[Ed Hansberry]

<a href="http://www.compaq.com/support/files/handheldiPAQ/us/download/14376.html">http://www.compaq.com/support/files/handheldiPAQ/us/download/14376.html</a><br /><br />Compaq has released what looks like a COMPREHENSIVE BlueTooth update. Here is what the notes have:<br /><br /><b>Fixes</b><br />• Reduced the radio startup time on a power cycle of the iPAQ. <br />• Improved reliability of application on repeated power cycles of the iPAQ to prevent system lockup. <br />• Implemented fixes for compatibility issues with a 3COM BT PC Card and USB Dongle, specifically in the area of Bluetooth ActiveSync connections. <br />• Implemented fixes for compatibility issues with Digianswer Bluetooth Devices. <br />• Implemented a fix for bonding with Nokia 6310 BT phone. Failure to bond the phone and iPAQ will no longer require a reset of the iPAQ. <br />• Corrected ability to send multi-line notes in Task and Calendar items. <br />• Corrected a lock-up behavior on Device Information screen whenever the mating device is turned off or moved out of range. <br />• Record application is no longer interrupted when the iPAQ is turned on via Voice Record button and the Bluetooth Security Manager is loaded. <br />• Corrected issue with keyboard remaining active after a passkey is intentionally rejected. <br />• Corrected the time zone indicator setting when transferring Calendar items to a PC running Outlook. <br /><br /><b>Enhancements</b><br />• Additional support for re-occurring calendar, task and all day event appointments. <br />• Automatic update of saved device name changes. <br />• Business card transfers with the same name as an existing business card saved on the iPAQ will no longer over-write existing business card. A new contact will be created. <br />• File selection for a file transfer has been improved to allow all sub directories under My Documents folder to be viewed. <br />• When a new devices with support for DUN initiates a successful bond with the iPAQ, it will be saved in the default All Devices folder and be made default DUN connection if no other DUN device has been previously saved and made default DUN connection in All Devices group. <br />• When Bluetooth Radio is turned off, the BTM menu icon on Today screen will gray out menu items not selectable. <br />• New icons added for Camera, Display, Scanner and Printer devices. <br />• Improved behavior and enhanced messages for events such as jacket removal, attempting to start Bluetooth Manager when no hardware is present or radio is off, unable to load Bluetooth Stack due to memory limitations, etc. <br />• Several improvements in the installation and un-installation of Bluetooth Manager. Ability to uninstall without connecting to PC. <br /><br />This supports US English, German, French, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish and is for <b><i>all</i></b> models that use BlueTooth, not just the 3870 series with integrated BlueTooth. Thanks to Dale for posting this on <a href="http://www.pocketpcpassion.com">Pocket PC Passion</a>.

[marlof]

Don't let the typo in the date of the update (sometimes it states April 18, 2001, which should be April 18, 2002!) fool you: version 1.1 that Ed points to with this post is the newest update, and updates the previously released 1.0.12 version update. My iPAQ originally came with version 1.0.11 (as I skipped the previous update, I could still verify).

[Balsky]

What's pretty important is that it doesn't really fix the Bluetooth Stack error. It just asks you if you want to soft reset now or not.

That's very bad. This is the most annoying 3870 bug. They should have fixed that somehow and left the other things out instead.

-Dan.

[marlof]

And I had so much hope that this would cure the Bluetooth Stack Error once and for all. Sigh. Although I do understand that implementing a better error notification is easier to do than curing the error. ;)

[Janak Parekh]

Aargh. Just noticed the same thing. To be more specific, the driver says that "we can't turn on the bluetooth stack because there's not enough driver memory, do you want to soft reset?"

Is this a problem with the PPC2002 OS? That is, after you ActiveSync, there's not enough driver memory on the heap (or somesuch) to load the Bluetooth stack?

I'm starting to think I should leave the BT stack on all the time now and see if that helps. The long delay for turning the BT stack is gone. :)

--bdj

[crashdau]

:oops: I know it says on the web site that it is for the 38XX series, but, has anyone tried it on the 3835 yet? and did you notice any benefits from it?

crashDAU

[eosd30]

http://www.compaq.com/support/files/handheldiPAQ/us/download/14376.html

Compaq has released what looks like a COMPREHENSIVE BlueTooth update. Here is what the notes have:

Fixes
• Reduced the radio startup time on a power cycle of the iPAQ.
• Improved reliability of application on repeated power cycles of the iPAQ to prevent system lockup.


These two issues have been very annoying to me.

Although I'm disappointed that they still haven't figured out the Bluetooth stack thing, I'm happy they at least addressed the above two problems. I just installed the softPaq now, let's see what happens...

Vic

[Marc Zimmermann]

I know it says on the web site that it is for the 38XX series, but, has anyone tried it on the 3835 yet? and did you notice any benefits from it?


Only if you use your iPAQ in conjunction with Compaq's Bluetooth sleeve. If not, why would you want to waste memory with a driver that you don't need?

[Daniel]

I actually used to get the stack error on my H3660, but I realised that it was only because the installation form ActiveSync doesn't work. You have to install from the CD for all the registry changes to be made. Maybe there's some issue with the ROM on some of the H3870s such that the registry is all screwed up by default.

Daniel

[Marc Zimmermann]

One additional -unmentioned- fix is that the Bluetooth stuff doesn't grab the focus about 2 seconds after powering the iPAQ up. It was nagging me deeply when I turned it on, pulled down the Start menu and then see it disappear due to the $%& driver doing some initialization. Maybe it's a side effect of speeding up the initialization phase.

[kagayaki1]

I REALLY agree with Marc and others: the startup cycle fix is worth its weigh in gold. I can't even express the level of frustration with my 3870 in turning it on, and waiting for 2 seconds to do a "refresh" kind of thing. So nice now... :)

[albsilva]

Hi,
Do you think it's still convenient to apply the the 'Bluetooth Service Pack (1.0.12 - 11 Mar 02)' before?

Regards,
Alberto Silva

[albsilva]

As you all may know, the iPaq 3870 has built-in BT.

However, when installing this update, I was presented with a message asking me to remove the BT sleeve!!!! How could I do that? 8O

:idea: Well, the problem was that I had a CF sleeve on the iPAQ, which I had to remove... however I guess this is a minor bug...

Regards,
Alberto Silva

[angelseye2000]

Compaq has partnered with Widcomm concerning Bluetooth Software. So the failure of the Bluetooth Stack error is with Widcomm.

WIDCOMM's core Bluetooth software technology is integrated into both the Compaq Bluetooth MultiPort(TM) module and the IBM ThinkPad Bluetooth UltraPort(TM) module; WIDCOMM's BTW-CE is integrated into the Compaq iPAQ Bluetooth Wireless Pack and the new iPAQ Pocket PC H3870.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/011022/220564_1.html

Big guess why Compaq didn't partner with Extended Systems? Checked there website and saw that they licensed there Bluetooth software development kits (Embedded and Windows) to more than 100 companies for implementation in next-generation products. There customer list is impressive: Palm, 3Com, Motorola, Hewlett-Packard, Fujitsu, FlashPoint, Xircom, Red-M, Nissin, Taiyo Yuden, Silicon Wave, NEC, Mitsubishi, Crossbow, JVC, Pico Communications, Norwood Systems, Hughes Network Systems, Johnson Control and Visteon, just to name a few.

Interesting Bluetooth News:

Chairman Bill Gates announced at WINHEC that Microsoft will put its muscle behind the Bluetooth wireless networking technology later this year, selling keyboards and mice that use the technology to connect to PCs.
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2002/apr02/04-18BluetoothPR.asp

Microsoft also demonstrates Blue802(TM) Technology From Intersil And Silicon Wave at WinHEC 2002. This is World's First Dual-Mode Bluetooth(TM) And 802.11b Wireless Technology Solution Delivers Simultaneous Operation Of Both Technologies In One Device.
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2002/apr02/04-18BluetoothPR.asp

Intersil, Silicon Wave sample combo Bluetooth/WLAN solution
By Patrick Mannion
EE Times
April 19, 2002 (4:25 p.m. EST)
MANHASSET, N.Y. — Intersil Corp. and Silicon Wave Inc. are ready to demonstrate the first radio transceiver circuitry that supports both IEEE 802.11b wireless LANs and Bluetooth communications. The four-piece chip set enables the seemingly simultaneous operation of both networks without mutual interference.
http://www.eetimes.com/story/OEG20020419S0055 Including Mobilian

[angelseye2000]

Wrong link, try this one......

Microsoft Demonstrates Blue802(TM) Technology From Intersil And Silicon Wave During WinHEC 2002
World's First Dual-Mode Bluetooth(TM) And 802.11b Wireless Technology Solution Delivers Simultaneous Operation Of Both Technologies In One Device
http://biz.yahoo.com/iw/020422/040942.html

[angelseye2000]

Found this:

"Remove any hardware from the Ipaq, any leeves, SD card's ....
Then reset, install the softpaq.. It should work I have updated 2 Ipaq's (3870) and it works...
You could also try the remove option and then reinstall..."

http://www.ppcw.net/forum/showthread.php?fid=38&tid=65

[Marc Zimmermann]

Do you think it's still convenient to apply the the 'Bluetooth Service Pack (1.0.12 - 11 Mar 02)' before?


It shouldn't hurt (I installed the new release over the SP1), but also do no good since it's being overwritten with version 1.1 later on.

[paulS]

:(
What I don't understand is how such a big bug could have got out the door. Surely five minutes testing would have uncovered it; that's how long it took me to find it.