BLUETOOTH GPS FAQ

Bluetooth and Compact Flash GPS units

Q. Why can't my Pocket PC running Mapopolis Navigation software see the Bluetooth GPS?

A. There are two steps required to get the Bluetooth GPS running on a Pocket PC PDA or phone. The first step is to connect the GPS to the PDA. This is analogous to connecting a cable between the PDA and the GPS. It is accomplished by using the Bluetooth Manager. Most folks are able to get this done. But, to get the GPS working with the GPS software there is a second step required.

In order for the GPS software to find the GPS it has to know which com port it is attached to. When the BT connection is made to the PDA the Bluetooth manager determines that it is a serial port connection and assigns it to an outgoing COM port. It could be anyone of the 10 Com port numbers available on a PPC device (0 to 9). There is no standard usage of COM port numbers among PDA manufactures although COM1 usually refers to the physical connector on the bottom of the unit. Users familiar with the workings of their device may be able to determine the exact port used on the device, but for everyone else a trial an error approach will work. Start Mapopolis and select the GPS settings (options). Then try each port one at a time until the connection is made. To try a port, select the port number from the settings and then use the GPS page to start the GPS. You must have the connection stopped to see the new port number and then press start. Generally the PDA will pop up the BT manager connection and offer to connect to the GPS when the correct port is selected but occasionally the connection will just appear. It this does not happen then stop the connection and try a different port number. Usually automatic port searches will not be successful at finding the correct port. Once the connection is established this number will always be used so you only have to do the search once.

It is not necessary to have a GPS fix while this connection search is being made. The GPS unit will output messages anyway so long as it is on.


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Q. How can I use GPSInfo? I tried GPSInfo and it will not connect to any com port for the Bluetooth GPS.

A. GPSInfo will not work on some of the newer devices as it will not initiate the Bluetooth connection. If you want a program with this capability we suggest you visit http://www.visualgps.net and download the free VisualGPS for your laptop or VisualGPSce for your PDA. It has several nice features not present in GPSInfo.


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Q. Can I use my Bluetooth with more than one program?

A. A GPS is attached to a com port on your PDA. It can only be used by one program at a time so be sure and turn off the GPS connection or exit the program before you start a second program that needs the GPS. You can leave both programs running if you wish but only one can access the GPS at a time. If you really need more than one program using the same GPS you can purchase a port expander program such as the one from Franson called GPSGate (link http://franson.com/gpsgate/). This is a special driver that creates a virtual com port for the second program to use.


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Q: Does the Mobile Crossing Bluetooth GPS work with any Bluetooth device?

A: The Bluetooth standard provides for several distinct protocols to be used to connect devices. To connect the BTGPS to another device requires that the device support the SPP (Serial Port Protocol) option. Most computers, PDA’s, and Smartphones that support Bluetooth do support this protocol. It has been reported that some phone companies, most notably Verizon, have chosen to not include this protocol on some of their equipment. Please ensure that the device you intend to use supports the SPP option.

Note that, in addition to SPP support you will also need a program running on the device that knows how to talk to the GPS via Bluetooth and can display the information for you. The basic GPS only reports information to the device it is hooked to. This information includes status data, location data in 3D, velocity and time. It is up to the device to use this data in some fashion that is meaningful to the user.

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Q: Can the Mobile Crossing GPS units use an external antenna?

A. Yes, the antenna needs to have an MMCX connector. It must be a low power unit capable of running on 2.5 V DC.

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Q: What are the lights on the Bluetooth GPS for?

A: There are 3 lights. The blue one on the left indicates Bluetooth communication. It flashes rapidly to indicate a connection. The center lamp shows the GPS fix status. The right lamp shows that the battery is being charged or that the unit needs to be charged.

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Q: Why can't my Palm running Mapopolis Navigation software see the Bluetooth GPS?

A: There are two place in Mapopolis that must be used to turn on the GPS. The first is on the menu under GPS but the second is more obscure. From the Mapopolis menu select settings and then bring up the drop-down list of categories in the upper right corner. Select GPS settings to show a new page. The top of the page has a selection menu that must select the BT GPS specifically. By default it selects a serial GPS. Once you have this setting correct the BT GPS receiver will be found when you select start GPS.