Installing programs on WinCE

It's been a while, but I think you have to connect the DC to a desktop computer through Windows Mobile Device Center (you might have to Download that) ... then you run an EXE file your computer to install.

It depends on the box. Windows CE builds tend to be fairly custom as the OS is customized by whoever builds the hardware. Which data collector will you be using?

> It depends on the box. Windows CE builds tend to be fairly custom as the OS is customized by whoever builds the hardware. Which data collector will you be using?

I have a Jett XL, running CE v. 4.2. I've been told it's the same machine as a Carlson Surveyor. It's got an ARM-WINCE processor with 40 mb ram. It came with SurvCE v. 2.5, using it with a Topcon gun, and so far am underwhelmed. Not exactly user friendly or intuitive...circular menus everywhere, etc. I looked at Topsurv PC, and thought I'd try to put a CE version on this unit if I could ever figure out which version of Topsurv (7 or 8) works with which version of WinCE (4.2, 5,6), and which version of ActiveSync works with either XP or 7 & to get the software installed. Not simple so far, and Topcon's site isn't a huge help.

The FC-2200 was a Jet box. Topsurv 7 or 8 should load onto it if you have the right installer file.

ActiveSync no longer exists. ActiveSync It's now called Windows Mobile Device Center. It works pretty much the same, but that's the new version that works with Win7.

> The FC-2200 was a Jet box. Topsurv 7 or 8 should load onto it if you have the right installer file.

The question is, what's the right installer file?
Topsurv 7.5.2 for example comes in the following flavors:
For FC 2200 and FC 2500
Allegro CX
TC
RR
Win Mobile
They're all zip files. I tried the Win Mobile one, unzipped it (on a PC) then moved it to the unit via a CF card, but it still saw it as a zip file, not an exe that would run on CE. Perhaps if I try the same thing with the FC-2200 version it might work. Otherwise, I'm thinking that if I install Windows Mobile Device Center on my PC, then connect the DC directly to the PC, it might install that way, but I've never used WMDC, so I'll start reading.

edit: Do people connect a DC to a 'puter with a female/female null modem cable?

I am not sure about the file, but if you can connect with a USB cable, it will be much faster.

Good luck. I wish you were close to me. I would be willing to help you out in your learning quest. I have found that helping teach others helps you brush up on your basics as well.

> Good luck. I wish you were close to me. I would be willing to help you out in your learning quest. I have found that helping teach others helps you brush up on your basics as well.

Thank you, Jimmy, for that kind offer. Tennessee is looking a tad better than Vermont right now...3 below tonight 15 below tomorrow night. Cant bring myself to go out and do Polaris shots...Maybe I should pack up my gun and my Prism Girl and head south.:-D

You must connect via Activesync if XP or Mobile Device Center if Vista, 7 or 8. Run the executable on the PC and it will install to the controller.

> You must connect via Activesync if XP or Mobile Device Center if Vista, 7 or 8. Run the executable on the PC and it will install to the controller.

Thanks. That helps. I'm not even talking to it yet though. I'll try another cable...or a USB adaptor. Stay tuned.

I'm striking out.
I have known good null modem cable.
Set ports on both devices to identical settings (19,200, 8,1,no parity, hardware handshake); On either Windows 7 (running Mobile Device), or XP (running active sync), neither finds the unit automatically.
But, if just before or during clicking "connect", on the device, I open a connection ("my connection"), it authenticates, then says "connected", but NADA on the 'puter. Says it doesn't connect.

Should it be automatic? Seems it says it does. Is Baud rate an issue? Is there a limit to speeds on the Jett XL, even though WinCE has the options? Anything else to try?

Null modem cable might be the problem. I seem to remember there being a special Activesync version of a null modem cable. It had an extra pin active that alerted the PC that something connected to the serial port.

Does your DC have a USB port? I have a Ranger and Nomad, and they have "Mini-B USB ports" (which don't look like typical USB ports, but work the same). When I connect that to my computer, it find it automatically.

If you have to use a 9-pin, the difference between a null modem and regular serial cable can be an issue. I can not recall which one should be used, though. I remember having both because TDS download software required one type, and active sync required the other .... can't remember which is which, though, because I've been using USB for years now. But, when you get the right cable, if all is working right, it should find your DC automatically, and your DC will show up as an external drive one your computer.

I just checked the specs for a Jett XL and it says it has a mini USB. There are two different types of mini-USBs, so pay attention, but a matching cable would be like $10 at Walmart or Radio Shack. Just get a mini at one end, and regular USB at the other end, so you can plug it onto your computer.

9-pin serial is old technology and the operating systems are not doing a great job of supporting it, so switching to USB will save you some headaches.

> I just checked the specs for a Jett XL and it says it has a mini USB. There are two different types of mini-USBs, so pay attention, but a matching cable would be like $10 at Walmart or Radio Shack. Just get a mini at one end, and regular USB at the other end, so you can plug it onto your computer.
>
> 9-pin serial is old technology and the operating systems are not doing a great job of supporting it, so switching to USB will save you some headaches.

It may not be an "XL". There is definitely NO mini usb port. I'll just keep playing with it. It does have a removable CF card. If there was a way to install Topsurv with that connected to the PC, that would work, but I don't think there's a way to do that.

RFC,

I've watched you suffer long enough ha! ha! 😛
Time for me to chime in here.

I am NOT familiar with that controller, to know if you have a USB mini or not. But I know a much easier way to install TopSurv via the CFcard. This is undocumented, but works well.

WinCE devices do NOT unzip or install directly from the EXE files. You need to unzip the files on your PC, then execute the *.exe for your device on your PC, ActiveSync or Windows Mobile Device Center will copy the CAB file to your device. Then it will launch the install of the CAB file. You will get a prompt for the PC to connect to your device. Let it try, then continue with the install, you may need to hit cancel. The setup may seem incomplete. But it does do enough of what we need. It will create a folder on your pc with CAB file. This is the install for your WinCE device.

Copy the file "TopSURV.HPC2000_2577.CAB" file located on your PC at
C:Program Files (x86)Topcon Positioning Systems IncTopSURV
to your CF card

Place the CFcard in the controller.

On controller use the explorer to navigate to this CAB file

Execute the CAB file. It should start the install. Be certain to install to local disk, when prompted.

If I remember correctly the CAB file will be deleted from the CFcard upon install.

If this does NOT work, you may need to copy the CAB file from CFcard to your device before execution.

Good luck!!!

Lee Green

No, it seems like would make sense to copy your install program to the CF and run it on the device, but windows CE isn't set up to work like that. As far as I know, the only way to run an install is to have the device recognized by ActiveSnyc/Mobile Device Center, and run the install from the PC.

I used to have a Ranger 200, which didn't have a USB port, and it was fickle about connecting through the COM port (even with the right cable) ... I wish I could remember which cable to use ...

Edit. I stand corrected by the above post.

That was going to be my next suggestion, though I couldn't remember if the installer would extract the cab files without being connected to the controller.

Dan,

Sure you were...

Actually I tested it, just to be certain of the path and file name, to avoid the "nay sayers". But we still got one, Pseudo. He recanted it. So we'll let it go.

Lee Green