Project "Canadian Bluetooth" Was a Success!

[Jason Dunn]

Yesterday I said I was <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=6989&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=30">giving Bluetooth another try</a>, this time with a client of mine who wanted to be set up with a Bluetooth Phone and Pocket PC. After the initial snag of discovering that Toshiba simply wouldn't sell the Bluetooth version of the E740 in North America, we switched to a Dell Axim and a Socket CF Bluetooth card. So how did the process go?<br /><br />All in all, quite painless. There were a few glitches though - I installed the driver off the CD onto the Pocket PC, disconnected the Pocket PC, soft reset it, put in the Socket card...and got a "Card Not Recognized" error. :? I then went to the Socket Web site, downloaded the newest driver (which was dated pre-Axim anyway), and tried to install it again. This time the install took, and I walked through the wizard. It was pretty easy to get it bonded to the phone, and once I called Rogers AT&amp;T and got the "phone number", (*99#9 or something), I was nearly done. One glitch though that Microsoft should address - they're still using the default dialing preferences from the Windows desktop. How many of us really need to put 9 in front of all dialing strings to get an outside line? :lol: I'm sure there are quite a few of you that use a dial-up modem to get Internet access, but let's face it: wireless is the future. It took me a few clicks to find the dialing preferences screen (it's not easily accessible from the control panel), delete the 9, and try to connect. BAM!<br /><br />I was really impressed with the speed of the hand off, and strangely enough, the GPRS connection seems to initialize even faster than on my XDA. Different carriers though, so Rogers may have a more optimized routine than the <a href="http://www.fido.ca">Fido network</a>.<br /><br />All in all, I'd say I had a pretty good Bluetooth experience. 99% of the reason why is Socket Communications - <i>way to go guys!</i> The step by step wizard was nothing short of amazing, and if it wasn't there it would have taken me much longer to get things up and running. This only reinforces my opinion that Bluetooth itself is never the problem - it's the implementation and drivers from the company selling the product that either makes it painful or wonderful. If only more companies were like Socket Communications!

[denivan]

I agree that Bluetooth, give the correct implemantation can be painless. I have an old ipaq + silver slider + socket BT card connected to my T68i and it works great. The socket install wizard really shows what 'consumer friendly' should be like...unfortunately my socket card died on me :( After a while I started to get a 'card not recognized error' . Usually a soft reset would solve the problem, but after time it got worse. Apparantly this is a known, but not that common problem...I've contacted expansys (the retailer) and I'll receive a new card shortly.

BT rox ! sort off ! ;-)

Ivan

[FredMurphy]

Bluetooth is definitely getting better, and Socket's forums and attentiveness to customer opinion certainly help.

Whenever I've had to reinstall (PDA requiring hard reset, etc.) Connection Manager and the Dialing Patterns in particular is always the bit that takes the longest to sort out. e.g. In the UK, when dialing from abroad you have to leave off the initial "0" but there seems to be no way to do this without a work around (even in XP). :(

Fred

[Foo Fighter]

Does anyone make an SD BT card?

[dh]

Palm sell a BT card that I have used in the past on an old 505. I believe the card is made by Toshiba who also sell it under their own brand.

[R K]

The Toshiba BT SD Card has been out for a while.
I don't know how well it's doing these days though. The last time I heard anything about it was when I heard that it only works in Toshiba Pocket PCs. I haven't been able to confirm this though so I don't know whether these are just false rumors or terrible truths.

[that_kid]

I have to say that like Jason my first BT encounter was horrible. It wasn't the technology that caused the frustration, it was the implementation that one company took that had me cursing my laptop and Ipaq. Once I tried the Belkin BT dongle things went smooth and I haven't had any problems since. As I type this while sitting outside enjoying the weather, my 3970 is connected to this laptop via BT doing it's sync thing.

[Calculon]

Jason,

Did you have to sign up for the Rogers data service in order to get the connectivity? Last time I tried, several months back, that was the only way and it still didn't work. Rogers said they weren't supporting it.

Hmmph... and to think I helped set up their GPRS network!

Cheers!

[Jason Dunn]

Did you have to sign up for the Rogers data service in order to get the connectivity? Last time I tried, several months back, that was the only way and it still didn't work. Rogers said they weren't supporting it.

My customer has a regular phone plan with them, we called up and signed up for their $50 a month flat-rate plan, and we were off.

[mobileMike]

I agree the Socket Card is great. I think their support forum is the best. BTW: Socket does or will have an SD bluetooth card.

[whydidnt]

Does this really create a seamless connection? I'm using a T-Mobile PPC edition right now, but also own a T68i. I've been drooling over the 5450 but don't want to give up the convergence of the all-in-one device. However, if I could just leave the t68i hooked to my belt and to everything via headset and IPAQ that may change my mind. Is it that seamless, or will I find myself reaching down to the phone to connect, hang up, etc?

Whydidnt?

[Janak Parekh]

Does this really create a seamless connection?
Not as seamless as a PPC PE. With software like Running Voice GSM, or even Pocket Informant, you can dial out of your phonebook, but you must make sure the BT is on, the card is in, etc., then you must launch the software, and then dial from there. And, of course, you then have to pocket the Pocket PC and pick up the phone. (Oh, this feature doesn't work with the 6310i, AFAIK, because it has "passive Bluetooth" support--although it works fine with the T68(i) from what I've heard).

It's definitely workable, but it's not true convergence. For me, the BT is much more convenient for data applications.

--janak

[jimski]

For Internet and e-mail access the 5450 & T68i connection is in fact seamless. Leave the phone on your belt or in you bag, turn on your Pocket PC and connect.

I honestly have no interest in using my 5450 to dial the phone. That's what voice dialing is for.

I leave Bluetooth active on the T86i all the time. Even with it on the battery will still last a few days between a charge and I have a spare battery just in case.

I only activate Bluetooth on the 5450 when I need it. Unlike my 3870 experience requiring a soft reset almost every time Bluetooth was activated, the 5450 has not required a reset once to activate Bluetooth.

And if Jason thought the Socket setup was easy, wait until he tries pairing a 5450 with a T68i. :D The wizard is flawless. I was paired in less than a minute. I too needed to call AT&T though to find that *99 number.

My Motorola Bluetooth Headset was setup in about the same amount of time.

BTW- When traveling from the U.S. up to Canada, all I did was turn on my T68i when exiting the plane and was immediately connected to Rodgers ATT and their GSM/GPRS network. Nothing to change or setup. I have been trying to do this with Palms(VII & VIIx) and a Kyocera Smartphone for years with no success. :(

The GPRS speed is not great yet, but no worse than any other previous wireless connection I have tried. And the connections are generally good.

[Janak Parekh]

FI leave Bluetooth active on the T86i all the time. Even with it on the battery will still last a few days between a charge and I have a spare battery just in case.

I only activate Bluetooth on the 5450 when I need it. Unlike my 3870 experience requiring a soft reset almost every time Bluetooth was activated, the 5450 has not required a reset once to activate Bluetooth.
That's good to know. I keep the T68's BT on all the time too, and its battery effect is maybe 20%, but knowing the amazing life of the T68's battery it doesn't matter.

The 3870 with the upgraded ROM, btw, only needs a reset about 30-40% of the time compared to maybe 90% of the time prior. All in all, I'd agree it's a workable solution. Now, if only T-Mobile had better overall coverage...

--janak

[heliod]

The Socket card is the best in the market in terms of user interface, for sure.

Regarding good and quick connecting software, I suggest you take a look at Running Voice GSM (from www.pocketpresence.com) and connect2internet (from www.2kdevelopment.com). In my opinion, both are MUST HAVE if you are into Bluetooth.

I don't need to talk about Running Voice GSM. Its name goes in front of it. Regarding c2i, it automates the procedure of dialing to the Internet, making the configuration in 35 different countries (including Canada) a question of seconds.

The only (small) problem is that I only got it to work with the Socket card in conjunction with Running Voice GSM, when I uninstall RVGSM it cannot find the Socket ports. But it is worth it, for sure.

Helio

[hollis_f]

Does this really create a seamless connection?
Not as seamless as a PPC PE. With software like Running Voice GSM, or even Pocket Informant, you can dial out of your phonebook, but you must make sure the BT is on, the card is in, etc., then you must launch the software, and then dial from there. And, of course, you then have to pocket the Pocket PC and pick up the phoneNope, not if you've got some decent software. If you dial a call using mphone or simplecall then the PPC dials the number then drops the BT connection so the phone can use the BT headset. The phone never has to come out of your pocket/briefcase/etc.

It's very handy in my local pub. Reception is useless except for high up near one window. So I just place the phone on the window sill and make the call using the iPAQ and BT headset. Only problem is I have to remember to take the phone down again!

[Janak Parekh]

Nope, not if you've got some decent software. If you dial a call using mphone or simplecall then the PPC dials the number then drops the BT connection so the phone can use the BT headset. The phone never has to come out of your pocket/briefcase/etc.
Good point about the BT headset. Still, you've got three different things to make sure you're carrying. I have all three, but my friend who only has the PPC PE to worry about, has an extra convenience there. :)

It's very handy in my local pub. Reception is useless except for high up near one window. So I just place the phone on the window sill and make the call using the iPAQ and BT headset. Only problem is I have to remember to take the phone down again!
:lol: Just keep on talking until your headset crackles up, you'll remember then. :D

--janak