Locus download incompatible with Palm Pilot use
Posted By Lee McComb on 12/21/2000 at 3:35 AM

Palm Handhelds appear to crash the Locus IR download COM port, resetting it from COM 1 to COM 2 after the Palm data is downloaded through that port. I shouldn't have tried to progeam the Palm on a recently new Win 98 PC, but I did, as I was aware of this problem which crashed my older Win 98 PC a year ago.

My question is: how do I get my COM 1 setting back for Locus downloading through IR? No one at Ashtech knew the fix to this before; perhaps you have patch for it now?


Had the same problem with TDS and my Palm...
Posted By Lew Blocl, PLS CA on 12/21/2000 at 6:30 AM

just exit the Sync program, and it'll work fine.

TDS Support couldn't help me either!


Re: Locus download incompatible with Palm Pilot use
Posted By Bill Martin on 12/21/2000 at 1:25 PM

Lee,

I'm not familiar with the software used with a Palm to interface with a PC, but I know that with ActiveSync (used with Win CE handheld devices), once you specify a COM port for it to you, it dedicates that COM port to ActiveSync. No other application can use it. You physically have to disable the COM port from the ActiveSync software before it is available for use elsewhere. This may be the same case with Palm.

Bill Martin
Ashtech Precision Products


Re: Locus download incompatible with Palm Pilot use
Posted By Richard Phelan on 12/21/2000 at 2:56 PM

Hello:

What program are you using to Downlaod your Palm Pilot?

If it is Microsoft Active Synch you have to go into Connection Settings and tell Active Synch to stop using the COM port that you downloaded the Palm Pilot with, otherwise the COM port will not be available for other programs.

Best regards,

Richard Phelan



Re: Locus download incompatible with Palm Pilot use
Posted By Lee McComb on 12/21/2000 at 8:06 PM

Thank you for your responses. I suspected that the Palm software (for the Palm Vx handheld) was hogging the port. I removed the Palm application altogether, returning use of COM 1 to the Locus download. I will reinstall the Palm software, then try to learn how to disable COM port through the connnection settings, as Richard Phelan suggests, before attempting to use the Locus download again. If it doesn't work, then so much for the Palm stuff. The GPS application is far more important.

Once again, thank you for your replies.


Re: What about TDS48's?
Posted By J.D. Billings on 12/22/2000 at 9:40 AM

This


Re: What about TDS48's?
Posted By J.D. Billings on 12/22/2000 at 9:45 AM

This is a little off the subject, but we have not been able to download TDS data collector files through the IR port. We realize that this is not an advertised feature so we are not complaining, just wondering if it is possible.

Thanks
J.D.


Re: Locus download incompatible with Palm Pilot use
Posted By papabear bruin on 12/22/2000 at 3:50 PM

I asked this about 6-8 months ago, & nobody ventured an answer. FWIW, I haven't been able to make it work either. Glad I have 4 com-ports! I don't have to keep swaping cables.


Re: Locus download incompatible with Palm Pilot use
Posted By J.D. Billings on 12/22/2000 at 5:45 PM

We don't have to switch cables either. Always made it mandatory to have at least 2 com ports and 2 lpt ports on every machine. We just figured the i.r. port would save a bit of wear and tear on the 48. Besides, the whole i.r. download thing is about a fascinating to me as the automatic garage doors of the 1960's were.

J.D.