Solved BlueSoleil & Bluetooth GPS

Kodama · April 8th, 2009, 10:07 AM

Hi,

I've been trying CF 2.0 for some time now. I was just about to purchase it because of the 50% off, but it just started to fail till driving me crazy a few days ago. So I left that purchase on Stand By.

Initial status:
Install was done on a clean Windows XP as all started with a HD breakage (I've been using other softwares on carpc till now).
After installing CF (without previously installing anything except for M10000 drivers) all worked fine. I was able to use my GPS using the bluetooth com port number 5 and phone seemed to work ok, as icons showed on CF screen.

Actual status: (a few days after use)
GPS signal died unexpectedly. No error message, nothing.
Phone icons started to dissapear/blink on centrafuse skin.
I've tried to connect to GPS by hand (from my Bluetooth devices/places - I don't know it's name on XP English versions)... When tried that BlueSoleil created a NEW com port... an OUTGOING com port, so in no way I'm able to connect to my GPS.
CF says that "Bluetooth is not started" when trying to enter Telephone features.
I thought that may be of some sort of trial limitation of bluesoleil that had ended. But I'm able to transfer files from and to my mobile handset, and no error/information messages are being shown by BlueSoleil.

I'm starting to give up, but I would like to know if that's an issue with bluesoleil being a trial version (as CF, btw). I won't buy anything if I'm not sure is going to work as first day.

Thanks in advance for your support.

P.s.:By now, I'll try if installing my Bluetooth drivers solves my GPS problem, but that would lead me with a surely not working handset control.

bigbadwolf · April 8th, 2009, 10:49 AM

I've been through hell and back with bluetooth and my GPS so I understand your frustration there. Let me suggest a few things for you to try. What BT adapter are you using?

First, shutdown and restart to make sure you're starting with a clean boot and also make sure you have nothing else (like Prolific drivers) trying to use the COM ports.

Delete ALL bluetooth connections from BlueSoleil. Start by just turning on your GPS and having BS search for new devices. When it finds the GPS pair it. Then double click it and search for services. Let it get assigned a COM port. Right click on that COM port, select properties and turn OFF "Auto connect" Close the window and go back into properties and turn Auto connect back on. This seems to trigger something that makes connecting a little more reliable.

Now, right click on My Computer-Properties->Hardware->Device Manager. Go to the COM port section. Find the COM port your GPS was assigned. Right click->properties->port settings. Change Bits per second to 4800.

This seemed to make connecting to my BT GPS much more reliable.

Once the GPS is setup, see if you can then connect your phone.

Reagan · April 8th, 2009, 11:14 AM

Bluetooth GPS receivers are not very reliable, especially during resume/hibernate. Some models seem to work okay (I use the Nokia LD-1W with the CF BlueSoleil), and others are plagued with issues. For max stability we recommend getting a serial or USB GPS device.

Kodama · April 8th, 2009, 11:57 AM

Thanks bigbadwolf & Reagan.

I've been trying what bigbadwolf said with no success.
First tried removing all connections, BS was completely unsuccesful when searching for new devices.
Then uninstalled CF & BS reinstalled once again. BS found my GPS, but I was completely unable to pair my phone on CF again. And, btw my GPS just worked for a few seconds after a reboot. Then I lost connection again.

What bothers me is not really the GPS issues, because as Reagan says I may buy a USB GPS and save me this hell. What bothers me is the phone not working... That's a real shame as, under my point of view, that was CF advantage in front of other software.

bigbadwolf · April 8th, 2009, 12:05 PM

Kodama... what Bluetooth adapter?

Another thing that's been absolutely a necessity is Xport which will usually instantiate a COM port connection even if CF won't.

Can you try manually connecting the GPS by opening BT Places, double click the GPS and then right click the COM port and choose "connect?" Then watch it for a minute or two. I am just curious if BS is totally dropping the ball here.

When you resinstalled M10000 (what is that?) drivers did it install it's own Bluetooth stack or are you using an aftermarket adapter?

I've never had an issue with my phone (LG Dare) and only wish the GPS connection was as reliable.

Scott · April 8th, 2009, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kodama

Hi,

I've been trying CF 2.0 for some time now. I was just about to purchase it because of the 50% off, but it just started to fail till driving me crazy a few days ago. So I left that purchase on Stand By.

Initial status:
Install was done on a clean Windows XP as all started with a HD breakage (I've been using other softwares on carpc till now).
After installing CF (without previously installing anything except for M10000 drivers) all worked fine. I was able to use my GPS using the bluetooth com port number 5 and phone seemed to work ok, as icons showed on CF screen.

Actual status: (a few days after use)
GPS signal died unexpectedly. No error message, nothing.
Phone icons started to dissapear/blink on centrafuse skin.
I've tried to connect to GPS by hand (from my Bluetooth devices/places - I don't know it's name on XP English versions)... When tried that BlueSoleil created a NEW com port... an OUTGOING com port, so in no way I'm able to connect to my GPS.
CF says that "Bluetooth is not started" when trying to enter Telephone features.
I thought that may be of some sort of trial limitation of bluesoleil that had ended. But I'm able to transfer files from and to my mobile handset, and no error/information messages are being shown by BlueSoleil.

I'm starting to give up, but I would like to know if that's an issue with bluesoleil being a trial version (as CF, btw). I won't buy anything if I'm not sure is going to work as first day.

Thanks in advance for your support.

P.s.:By now, I'll try if installing my Bluetooth drivers solves my GPS problem, but that would lead me with a surely not working handset control.

regarding the issue with your phone not working - start cf fresh, let the issue reproduce itself (get message box "Bluetooth not started", then go into settings and create a system report, post it up for us here, be sure to have logging enabled

Kodama · April 8th, 2009, 03:01 PM

@bigbadwolf
Sorry, forgot to post my BT adapter is an Acer BT-400 (or BT-500 I can't recall and it's quite inaccessible to check it). Anyway, I've tested with a Zoom Model 4320a with same results. Both of them CSR devices so BS is supposed to work with them "flawlessly".

The acer dongle has been working for a few years with Widcomm drivers and I have never run in such a desperate situation. From time to time GPS lost connection but it was as easy as stopping GPS soft, GPS antenna and turning both on again... Few seconds later all was working fine, and with new GPS soft it was as easy as pressing "turn antenna off/turn antenna on".

I've already checked the BT Places approach with connection being dropped or not starting ("unable to complete request" or something like that, sorry but my error messages are not in English so I translate them)

M10000 = EPIA M10000 Motherboard, no bluetooth stack, I meant Graphics, Ethernet, etc... drivers.

@Scott
I'll try to post you the log as soon as I can, hope to post it tomorrow or we'll have to wait till I come back from holidays. Thanks in advance.

Kodama · April 9th, 2009, 01:42 PM

Excuse me for replying to myself.

I've been trying to repeat the "bluetooth not started" message but instead of it I was unable of finding new devices.

Sooo... tired of all of this I dismantled my installation till reaching my Acer BT-600 (I can now confirm it's name). This BT dongle was plugged on a 7 port 2.0 USB HUB. At the same time, uninstalled BlueSoleil & Centrafuse. After that I plugged my Zoom 4320A Bluetooth dongle but this time directly to the motherboard... and... voila, after forcing windows to use BS CSR Driver it seems to work.

I'll give it a few days to see if everything is fine (by now I checked GPS by connecting & disconnecting a few times and checked that CF paired with my handset and displays its status)

Thanks you so much for your support, especially to bigbadwolf as doing what you first suggested seemed to solve my probs this time (with the other dongle & connecting it to the mobo).

assault · April 10th, 2009, 06:51 PM

Yeah I must say some things work better when they are plugged into the motherboard rather than a hub. But then I've had it the other way around too.....like my external hard drive works flawlessly from hub, but when connected to the motherboard it re-scans as though it was just plugged in when coming out of standby. GPS and bluetooth need to be plugged into the motherboard or else I get similar issues to you.