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9 Posts
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8955
March 1st, 2004 21:00
Bluetooth and ability to connect to a really cool GPS unit (ala Com port behind bluetooth)
I have a really cool Delorme Bluetooth unit, and it works great with an older IBM laptop and really old Widcom stack (who Dell get's their "my bluetooth places" code from).... but it won't work with my brandnew 8500 even though other Bluetooth devices work. Alas, it's not a hardware issue but really a software stack issue from my debug and conversations with others attempting to get remote com ports to work with widcom software.
Error:
BT GPS device found....pin-pair successful....discovering services....found serial port service...Serial port connection problem....device disconnecting
Problem Description:
The Widcom application stack your using for you Bluetooth has some sort of bug in their code when trying to attach to a remote serial port behind a devices Bluetooth. I believe you have the latest Widcom drop, and I have your latest download off the web page. Since I can use other Bluetooth devices with my Dell 8500, I can discover the GPS Bluetooth device and pin pair, I can discover services....and I can do all the above plus connect to Com port on this GPS unit with an older IBM laptop.....it is NOT a hardware problem with either the 8500 nor the GPS device.
Troubleshooting:
1. Attached to Bluetooth device with another non-Dell laptop running an older Widcom software stack
2. removed and reinstalled the latest BT softare for my 8500 several times (A02 revision level of Sept 2003)
3. Discussed and found some others have had problems doing remote serial port attach on other devices with this same WidCom stack
4. Tried to work through Dell Tech support...mostly new to Bluetooth...sent back and forth with software team which won't do anything beyond first 30 days...
5. Tried to work through Widcom directly - ignored
6. Requesting that Dell file a problem report with Widcom directly, should be easily repeatable with other BT-Com devices. I'm willing to work the issue but this "should" get fixed.
7. There must be someone at Dell that understands the BT stack your using and your own internal support agreements with Widcom and your BT hardware device provider????? Seems like I'm asking for a simple escalation to the origional provider....
wahzoo
9 Posts
0
March 3rd, 2004 06:00
I believe I have a resolution identified. In the case below, it's the Widcom Bluetooth software application version 1.4.1.1 supplied with the BT-300 transceiver in the Dell laptops., which provides a virtual serial port based on connectivity to a remote Bluetooth device (in this case a GPS unit).
As the GPS unit works successfully with another IBM laptop I have using an older Widcom software stack, and others have reported the same issue to Delorme and in other forums, I don't believe this is a hardware problem with either the Dell laptop nor the GPS unit.
According to the GPS provider, Delorme, they are well aware of this issue with the Dell laptops and the Widcom stack that is on them. However, it seems that Widcom has released a software stack version 1.4.2 that Belkin and Ambicom are using successfully. The downside is I have seen no evidence that Widcom provides direct end-user support, nor any way for me to get the latest code from them other than a direct Dell escalation and/or how you are normally getting support from Widcom.
So, does anyone know of a support path with Widcom? Does anyone know how to access their latest software release (1.4.2 at least)? I'm willing to test any software updates to test if the fix is indeed in a new software drop.
I'm also attempting to run this through Dell Tech Support...so hopefully there's a resolution as this (remote virtual Com port) should be a pretty typical usage model as BlueTooth continues to take off in laptops (it's already finally beginning to become prevelent in cell phones and PDA's).
wahzoo
9 Posts
0
March 16th, 2004 07:00
In case anyone followed this thread, I was finally able to get a sample version of the newer Widcom code and it did indeed solve the virtual comm port issue.
Now I just need to get an update when Dell support will be releasing the new Widcom drop so I can get formal support. The version I have is only a 90 day beta code.