Bluetooth tap, tap tap

Formula400 · 01-18-06, 04:55 PM

I have had my BT338 Bluetooth GPS receiver, Destinator PN (Europe maps) GPS software combination working with my x50v for a few weeks now. I'm pleased with the performance, but am disappointed by the lengthy procedure required to get the system up and navigating. The biggest time waster is getting Bluetooth connected.

I would like to be able to switch on my BT338, then switch on my x50v, press just one button or tap just one icon to start Bluetooth, connect to BT338 and start Destinator running. Then I would just need to select my destination and tap Navigate in Destinator. Is this a dream, or should this be possible?

Currently I have to carry out the following sequence of events in the correct order:
Switch on my BT338, switch on my x50v, tap Bluetooth icon, tap Turn Bluetooth On, tap Bluetooth icon, tap Bluetooth Manager, tap tap BT338 GPS Shortcut icon to connect x50v to BT338, tap to close Bluetooth My Shortcuts, tap to close Bluetooth My Shortcuts again. I can now tap my Destinator icon to start my mapping program, select my destination and tap navigate. That's a lot of taps! If I get the sequence wrong at any stage (e.g. BT338 switched off), I usually have to go back to turning Bluetooth Off and start tapping again.

So,

Question 1): should it always be necessary to 'connect' the x50v and the BT338 after turning Bluetooth ON, or should I be able to configure Bluetooth to automatically connect when it is turned On, if the BT338 is already ON? I have tried all the Bluetooth settings that I can find, but have not achieved this.

Question 2) If this lengthy process IS necessary, should it be possible to write a Windows Mobile 2003 Script to perform these activities automatically? Has anyone done this?

I still enjoy using the system, but would like to make the startup a little more efficient (and error-free) than it currently is.

As usual, thanks for all your help and assistance,

Geoff

motionmind · 01-18-06, 05:07 PM

You can use a program called BTSwitch to just tap once to turn BT on, though that may only work with the MS BT stack. I don't have a link but you should be able to find it in these forums easily enough. There are a couple of programs like it. As for your GPS, it seems like the GPS software should do all the work to connect to the module. Tomtom5 turns on BT for me and connects intself to the GPS, so I may just be spoiled by it.

jdeleon0526 · 01-18-06, 05:15 PM

I use this oZBT to automatically BT on when I am using my QUE Nav application.

http://oz.sciox.org/ozbt.html

I also have a BTswitch.

01-18-06, 07:42 PM

I use OzBT as well. Its great for associating programs that need to use BT. After associating the program(s), when you launch that program, it will automatically enable BT.

JakeRich · 01-18-06, 08:37 PM

I have set one of my front buttons to be WiFi enable/disable. To start D-PN, I press that button twice (starting BT) then start the GPS and tap D-PN to open it. Done!

To shut down, close D-PN, press the programmed button twice, power button once, done.

beernutz · 01-19-06, 01:56 PM

Here is another 'Yea' vote for OzBT (actually I'm using OzBTWF which controls both Bluetooth and Wifi). Oleg, you are my superhero and you should, IMO, add a Paypal 'Donate' option to your website because your free utilities are THAT good.

Originally Posted by lawman

I use OzBT as well. Its great for associating programs that need to use BT. After associating the program(s), when you launch that program, it will automatically enable BT.

Formula400 · 01-21-06, 05:26 AM

Thanks to all who replied.

Jake, your sequence using just the hardware buttons works perfectly.

Geoff

punk1959 · 02-18-06, 07:31 AM

Originally Posted by Formula400

Thanks to all who replied.

Jake, your sequence using just the hardware buttons works perfectly.

Geoff

Guys

Sorry but I dnt' understand. Are you saying that by using the front buttons to launch bluetooth and PN you don't need to do the BT connect stuff?

Baz

Grahameh · 03-11-06, 04:18 PM

I really appreciated Formaula400's detailed query because that was my problem. There does not seem to have been a reply to the final question on whether the front button works. I would like to know how, as it seems to be necessary to get into Bluetooth manager to select the device - and BT Manager doesn't seem to be available as a button. I'll try OZBT although the instructions are a bit daunting.

JakeRich · 03-11-06, 08:45 PM

Sorry, I didn't see the final question. The answer is yes, when I use the front button to enable WiFI and the blue led is flashing, I don't have to do any more to connect other than firing up the GPS application. The previous pairing in BT Manager is re-established automatically, as long as you have checked the box for that option when you first initiated the pairing.

Grahameh · 03-11-06, 10:39 PM

Originally Posted by JakeRich

Sorry, I didn't see the final question. The answer is yes, when I use the front button to enable WiFI and the blue led is flashing, I don't have to do any more to connect other than firing up the GPS application. The previous pairing in BT Manager is re-established automatically, as long as you have checked the box for that option when you first initiated the pairing.

Thanks for the quick reply.
I actually got ozBT going quite easily. Seems to work fine.

I wasn't sure what you meant by the front button. The WiFi button is on the side on my X50v or have you redesignated buttons? I have tried to find the option to automatically reestablish a connection but can't find it.

JakeRich · 03-11-06, 11:17 PM

Glad that ozBT worked for you, but it's not needed. Simply open BT Manager, tap New, establish the pair to the GPS, then connect. Now open your gps software and get the software working with the unit by pointing to COM7. That setup will get the pairing established both in the o/s and application.

Now stop the software and disable wireless. Tap Start, Settings, Buttons and set a button to be "Wireless Power." I have Button 3 (normally messaging) set since I don't use my Axim for email, but any of the front or side buttons will do.

The button will now turn on/off the wireless. When you press the button once, you get a message to repress it in less than 5 seconds to enable/disable wireless. What comes up is whatever was last up, so if you had BT running and disabled it, then pressing the front button will enable BT. For the GPS application use, what I do is turn on the Axim, press the front button twice to enable the BT, then turn on the GPS and start the mapping software. The software finds the GPS on COM7 and I'm good to go. No tappety, tap, tap to do the pairing.

Note, the button just enable/disables whatever wireless you last used. If you open wifi and not BT, then the button will turn on/off wifi. If you have both on when you last disabled wireless, then both will come on. If BT was last, BT will be enabled.