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akptc
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Joined: Jul 14, 2005
Posts: 5
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 Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2005 3:27 am Post subject: HAICOM 303E does NOT work on Tablet PCs? |
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I saw lots of good info here on troubles with the Haicom GPS receiver when used in CF mode on PDAs; but it seems to work on at least on some. Based on the hardware review I read on this site, I got me one (Haicom 303E), to use with my Tablet PC (Fujitsu ST-400 and LT C-500). The darn thing simply won't work! I am into my n-h hour trying to get it to send *any* data to the PC (Win2000 Pro - CF mode; and WinXP Tablet PC Edition 5 - PCMCIA card adapter + Heicom 303E).
Hyperterminal connects to the GPS device but sees no data. The Haicom Viewer sees nothing as well. The device only shows the red LED intermittently when in the CF mode on my LT C-400 Tablet PC; no LED light on the ST-4000.
The documentation that comes with the 303E is a joke - no help at all. The manufacturer’s support site:
http://www.haicom.com.tw/supportpage.shtml - another joke!
Sorry to bother you all with my frustration here but I could use some help..
Has anyone been successful in using this gadget on Tablet PC or a laptp?
Cheers,
Andrew |
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nulusios
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Joined: 20/08/2002 12:49:16
Posts: 86
Location: Greece
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| Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2005 11:19 am Post subject: |
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???
Andrew what are you talking about?
AFAIK 303 manual says how you install the PCMCIA/CF driver... (a very simple thing)
The support page you mention has the appropriate driver (first... on top... couldn't be simpler).
What exactly is the problem?
Does your tablet have a CF or a PCMCIA slot? You confused me... or one and one?
The LED shouldn't light up except when some program opens the virtual COM port (you DO know the correct COM port for each of your tablets right?... through device manager). Read this THE GPS SOFTWARE not Hyperterminal.
If you needed Hyperterminal for some reason I cannot comprehend, you probably need 4800 8N1 without error correction.
303 is nothing weird to install and not at all different than ANY CF based GPS. A 30 second thing and you are on.
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NLS |
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akptc
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Joined: Jul 14, 2005
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| Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2005 4:30 pm Post subject: |
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| nulusios wrote: |
manual says how you install the PCMCIA/CF driver... (a very simple thing)
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I agree - it is simple, except it did not work in my case. Plug the CF card in your CF port (or PCMCIA port, with adapter), let Windows find the hardware, point to the correct driver, and voila! As long as it works... If it doesn't, you start wondering if your driver is the right one, and this is where a good manual would come in handy - this one only provides a readme file about drivers, which simply lists them.
| nulusios wrote: |
The support page you mention has the appropriate driver (first... on top... couldn't be simpler).
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Tried it, did not work.
| nulusios wrote: |
What exactly is the problem?
Does your tablet have a CF or a PCMCIA slot? You confused me... or one and one?
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One of the tablets I tested has both a CF and a PCMCIA slot. I tried both, neither worked. I then tried it on the other tablet (PCMCIA only), still nothing. I finally tried it on my Thinkpad T40 (PCMCIA) and still nothing.
| nulusios wrote: |
(you DO know the correct COM port for each of your tablets right?... through device manager). Read this THE GPS SOFTWARE not Hyperterminal.
If you needed Hyperterminal for some reason I cannot comprehend, you probably need 4800 8N1 without error correction.
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Sure I know my COM ports, I've been maintaining PCs for networks since 1994. Btw, it is the 303E manual that suggests that you can use Hyperterminal to test if the device communicates with your machine. I was actually able to see the data stream in Hyperterminal once, then could not repeat it. I drove around with the device plugged in for a long time (more than 1 hr outside), nothing. It appears that the PC hardware can see the device but the signal either stops or is not understood by the PC. I made sure the port settings were correct.
I finally got frustrated (and ran out of time) and purchased MS Streets & Trips with a Pharos receiver. This one worked a couple of minutes after being plugged in, on every PC I tried it on. It may be that my 303E unit is defective.
In any case, this is my 2nd bad experience with GPS units made in Taiwan. The 1st one was the GL-50 from San Jose Navigation. In both cases, in my user's opinion, the main problem is the manual. If something goes wrong, the troubleshooting part of the manual is of no help (it took several emails for the San Jose Nav folks to tell me how to make their unit work - info that was *not* in the manual). With the 303E, I maintain that the readme.txt file that comes on the mini-CD with the drivers is simply not very useful. And it is the only info that would matter if your GPS unit does not talk to your PC. For example, unless you are a real computer nerd (and I use the word proudly), what does "Bus enumerator for CF950 in local bus mode " mean to you when you are trying to figure out what's not working? Here it is in its entirety:
"UART/parallel port Reference drivers, version 4.06
Windows 9x/ME drivers
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Features: Automatic enumeration of all 95x UARTs, both internal and local bus
95x-mode driver for enhanced serial port performance
GUI configuration for all serial ports
Hook to use generic driver for Parallel port
(can disable parallel port interrupt)
Windows 2000/XP drivers
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Features: Automatic enumeration of all 95x UARTs
95x-mode driver for enhanced performance
GUI configuration for all serial ports
PCI serial ports run in memory-mapped mode for faster throughput
Parallel port driver
COM port remapping under port properties (Device Manager)
ACPI Power Management support
Windows NT4 drivers
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Features: Automatic enumeration of 95x UARTs
128-deep FIFO and fill level usage
Optimised interrupt handling, tx FIFO topped up on all interrupts
Registry or .inf-settable Vendor/Device IDs, trigger levels.
Memory-mapped operation for increased throughput.
Seperate parallel port driver and installer
To install the serial port driver, run "Install_Serial" from the \NT4_Serial directory
To install the parallel port driver, run "Install_Parallel" from the \NT4_Parallel directory
FILES IN THIS DIRECTORY
-----------------------
readme this file
oxpci.inf hook for PCI device and logical functions
oxpci2.inf hook for child devices (serial ports / parallel port)
oxser.inf installation file for standalone ports
oxmf.vxd Bus enumerator for UARTs and local bus UARTs (Win9x)
oxmfcf.vxd Bus enumerator for CF950 in local bus mode (Win9x)
oxmf.sys Bus driver for UARTs and local bus UARTs (Win2000/XP)
oxmfuf.sys Filter driver for PCI ports
oxpp.vxd Bus enumerator for parallel port
oxppui.dll Parallel port configuration utility
oxser.vxd Serial port driver (Win9x)
oxser.sys Serial port driver (Win2000/XP)
oxserui.dll Serial port configuration utility (Win9x)
oxui.dll Serial port configuration utility (Win2000/XP)
oxpar_2k.sys Parallel port driver (Win2000) - renamed to oxpar.sys during installation
oxpar_xp.sys Parallel port driver (WinXP) - renamed to oxpar.sys during installation
oxpar.inf Installation file for PCI parallel ports
oxpar2.inf Additional installation file for parallel ports (win9x)" |
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nulusios
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Joined: 20/08/2002 12:49:16
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Location: Greece
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| Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2005 9:09 am Post subject: |
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so it (just) seems to be a defective unit
have you contacted Haicom or better the shop you got it from?
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NLS |
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akptc
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Joined: Jul 14, 2005
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| Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2005 4:40 pm Post subject: |
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Yep, looks like it. The thing is, I did email Haicom, no reply. I got the unit on eBay from a person who swears it worked when he shiped it, that's why I tried so hard to make it work on my PCs. In my opinion, hardware can break, no big deal, but manufacturer's support, inclusive of decent manuals, is a must, and that' something that I do not see happening with Haicom.
Thank you for responding to my grunts here, it was nice chatting with you.
Andrew |
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nulusios
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Joined: 20/08/2002 12:49:16
Posts: 86
Location: Greece
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| Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2005 4:58 pm Post subject: |
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weird, I do have a mail thread with them going on for weeks
their site was down the last couple of days, could it be related?
Haicom is not a company NOT responding to mail.
Maybe try again?
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NLS |
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akptc
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| Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2005 5:55 pm Post subject: |
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What email address did you use to contact hem? Maybe I can try it?
Andrewt |
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nulusios
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Location: Greece
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| Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2005 7:23 pm Post subject: |
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jackliu at haicom com tw
talk to Jack and tell him you talked to Nick from Greece
I'm sure you'll work something out
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NLS |
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akptc
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| Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2005 7:32 pm Post subject: |
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Nick, thanks a lot, I appreciate the contact info.
Andrew |
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nulusios
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Location: Greece
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| Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2005 7:42 pm Post subject: |
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plus I already emailed him too
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NLS |
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