hp 1945 and installing software over Bluetooth

[Pat Logsdon]

Ok, I'm starting to get really frustrated. :evil: I have a refurb 1945 that I got the wife for Christmas, and I'm trying to set it up for her, so she can use it as soon as she opens it up on Christmas morning.

First of all, ActiveSync can't find the thing via USB, and installing new drivers doesn't seem to help. So that route is out for now as far as installing software. Since she hardly ever syncs her current PPC, I figured I'd try to set things up via Bluetooth. Here's my set up and the problems I'm encountering:

I have to set this up at work on my laptop, so I'm using an Ambicom BT CF card in a PC card adapter. I managed to get ActiveSync working to the point where it will sync files, but when I try to install software, I run into a very hard, very blue wall.

I get to the window that asks if I want to install to the default installation directory, and I can choose the SD card, FileStore, etc. It doesn't matter which one I choose - the following ALWAYS happens:

The installation says that it's starting and I get the progress bar, which goes without any progress for about two minutes. At this point, I'm watching the ipaq and the ActiveSync window on my laptop like a hawk. At the minute and a half mark, two things happen. First, the ipaq drops the ActiveSync connection. No window, no warning, it just kills it. Next, I see a box pop up on the laptop from the Ambicom "Blue Neighbors" program, labelled "Select Device to Connect", with the Ipaq's name highlighted. If I click OK, I then (quite logically) get a warning from the Add Programs wizard, telling me that the device is no longer connected, and to connect the device and run the Application Manager again.

I did some poking around in the ipaq's bluetooth settings, and found that the ActiveSync connection is using the "Serial Port" service name. If I go to the Serial Port section of the Bluetooth settings, it tells me that the input port is com 8, and the output port is com 5. This is totally confusing to me, since ActiveSync works on com 4, and doesn't even show com 8 as an option - it only goes up to 7. And I can't change the incoming port in the serial port profile.

I also can't figure out why the BT connection is being killed.

Does anyone have ANY ideas? Something to try? Anything?

Help?

[Steven Cedrone]

I'd try and go back and get USB working. But hey, that's just me... :wink:

Steve

[Pat Logsdon]

I'd try and go back and get USB working. But hey, that's just me... :wink:
Yeah, I'm starting to come to that conclusion. Especially since I figured out the USB problem - I forgot to plug the power cord into the USB cable. :roll:

I just hope the bluetooth works with the GPS unit I'm getting her...

[Janak Parekh]

Yeah, I'm starting to come to that conclusion. Especially since I figured out the USB problem - I forgot to plug the power cord into the USB cable. :roll:
You shouldn't have to. :| The cable should work fine without power...

Re the BT problem: I think the Ambicom card might be at fault. Steve, wasn't that one of the ones you tried without success?

I just hope the bluetooth works with the GPS unit I'm getting her...
From what I've heard, these work very well. In my BT experiences, everything but AS has been very reliable.

--janak

[Dave Potter]

You know, even once you have it synching over BT, you can still connect it via USB as well to synch and install programs. Just make sure that you have USB still checked off in ActiveSync on her PC (File --> Connections Settings)

Use the USB connection whenever you need to install software - but use BT to sync it on an ongoing basis.

[Steven Cedrone]

Steve, wasn't that one of the ones you tried without success?

My first dongle was from ActionTec...

Now using a Belkin... :way to go:

Steve

[freitasm]

I did some poking around in the ipaq's bluetooth settings, and found that the ActiveSync connection is using the "Serial Port" service name. If I go to the Serial Port section of the Bluetooth settings, it tells me that the input port is com 8, and the output port is com 5. This is totally confusing to me, since ActiveSync works on com 4, and doesn't even show com 8 as an option - it only goes up to 7. And I can't change the incoming port in the serial port profile.

Nothing to do with your problem, I assure you.

The COM ports for Bluetooth on your Pocket PC don't need any configuration. It's all on the server side (computer). And since AS is working fine, but not for installation I'd rule out a Bluetooth problem.

Hey, the devices are already connectied, so why worry about doing any other change?

Check that your computer is not getting too high CPU utilisation for any other reason. Some old Bluetooth drivers would simply stop processing when the CPU reached 100% use, to give some time to other processes. This is not happening on new drivers, AFAIK.

When this disconnection happens, hit CTRL-ALT-DEL and check what's running and if there's anything using the CPU to the max.

[freitasm]

My first dongle was from ActionTec...

Ah, the same lovely guys that posted yesterday on alt.cellular.bluetooth with a fake name saying "A friend bought the product from this company, and it's awesome". Suspicious, uh? Then doing a lookup on ActionTec IP and the poster's IP we found out it was the very same address. The product is not that great and they spam newsgroups. Ooops. OT now.

Ciao!

[Pat Logsdon]

You shouldn't have to. :| The cable should work fine without power...
Yeah, that's what I thought - but I got a USB driver error every time I tried to use it before I plugged it in. Then I plugged in the power cable and boom - my laptop instantly recognized the device and installed the correct driver. :roll:

Re the BT problem: I think the Ambicom card might be at fault.
I think you're right. I've been severely underwhelmed by the Ambicom "Blue Neighbors" utility. Very poor design and usability at the least. Plus, it doesn't help that the logo is a disgustingly happy looking blue tooth with antennae. :pukeface:

From what I've heard, these work very well. In my BT experiences, everything but AS has been very reliable.
I can confirm this. Got the Fortuna Clip-On GPS unit yesterday, and it works beautifully. Paired up with the iPaq with no problems, and got a satellite lock inside my house within 10 seconds. :rock on dude!:

I'm now faced with another problem - her gear is now better than mine! :bawl: