Using a Pocket PC to download Themi flight logs

[Paul Remde]

Hi,

I have just successfully tested using a Pocket PC for Themi flight log
downloads and task declarations. A utility called PocketDOS is used on the
Pocket PC to allow the Themi DOS utilities to run. The process is pretty
straightforward for an experienced Pocket PC and DOS person like myself (OK,
I admit I'm a techno-nerd - the first step is being able to admit it), but
it may not be easy for many people. I have documented the procedure
required as well as listed the required data cables. You can see details:
http://www.cumulus-soaring.com/themi.htm

Note that this procedure would work with any DOS utility for connecting to
any GPS flight recorder. Cables for connecting a wide variety of GPS flight
recorders to a variety of Pocket PCs is available in my Cable and Cradle
Selection Guide found here:
http://www.cumulus-soaring.com/goddard.htm#Cable_Selection_Guide

Good Soaring,
Paul E. Remde
Cumulus Soaring, Inc.
http://www.cumulus-soaring.com
3M, Airpath, Birecki Software, Cambridge Aero Instruments, Dittel, EMTAC,
Filser, flyWithCE, Garrecht (Volkslogger), Glide Navigator II, Goddard,
ILEC, Intercomp, LX Navigation, Power-Sonic, RAM, Rikaline, Scheffel
Automation (Themi), Schumacher, Schweizer, SeeYou & SeeYou Mobile, StrePla &
pocket*StrePla, Tasman, Transplant, United Instruments, Winter, Xenotronix

[unt]

Hi Paul

I tryed this too with a Filser LX20 and a Filers LX400. They have very old
DOS programs LX400.exe, LXFAI.EXE and LXGPS.EXE. With the LX20 I got
waypoints transfered but nothing more - no flight logs. It timeout after
receiving some data. With the LX400 I didn't manage to make any connection -
it works with 9600.
We know that these programs also give problems with Laptops.
Do you have an idea how to set the COM port more specific to e.g. 9600 or
19200 and this stuff? Maybe that would help.
My equippment is an IPAQ 3660. Could it be that a faster PDA could be
better?
I managed to use these programs with my MAC IBook and VirtualPC and an
USB2SERIAL adapter. It is more hardware included in this chain but it works,
so I think that it should work with an IPAQ and PocketDOS.

Thank's for any hint.

Rene.

"Paul Remde" > wrote in message
news:o6F%c.147652$Fg5.82715@attbi_s53...
> Hi,
>
> I have just successfully tested using a Pocket PC for Themi flight log
> downloads and task declarations. A utility called PocketDOS is used on
the
> Pocket PC to allow the Themi DOS utilities to run. The process is pretty
> straightforward for an experienced Pocket PC and DOS person like myself
(OK,
> I admit I'm a techno-nerd - the first step is being able to admit it), but
> it may not be easy for many people. I have documented the procedure
> required as well as listed the required data cables. You can see details:
> http://www.cumulus-soaring.com/themi.htm
>
> Note that this procedure would work with any DOS utility for connecting to
> any GPS flight recorder. Cables for connecting a wide variety of GPS
flight
> recorders to a variety of Pocket PCs is available in my Cable and Cradle
> Selection Guide found here:
> http://www.cumulus-soaring.com/goddard.htm#Cable_Selection_Guide
>
> Good Soaring,
> Paul E. Remde
> Cumulus Soaring, Inc.
> http://www.cumulus-soaring.com
> 3M, Airpath, Birecki Software, Cambridge Aero Instruments, Dittel, EMTAC,
> Filser, flyWithCE, Garrecht (Volkslogger), Glide Navigator II, Goddard,
> ILEC, Intercomp, LX Navigation, Power-Sonic, RAM, Rikaline, Scheffel
> Automation (Themi), Schumacher, Schweizer, SeeYou & SeeYou Mobile, StrePla
&
> pocket*StrePla, Tasman, Transplant, United Instruments, Winter, Xenotronix
>
>

[Paul Remde]

Hi Rene,

I'm sorry, but I don't have any answers for you. I have heard that using
PocketDOS for data transfers may not work with older, slower Pocket PCs but
I don't know any more than that.

The baud rate must be set as needed by the flight recorder. Since NMEA data
is sent at 4800 baud most flight recorders transfer all data at that rate.
However, I think some change the baud rate to a higher one for flight log
downloads. I'm not sure how to change the baud rate in PocketDOS.

Also, I think there have been improvements to PocketDOS since it was first
introduced. Make certain you are using the latest version.

Thanks,

Paul Remde
Cumulus Soaring, Inc.
http://www.cumulus-soaring.com

"unt" <unt(at)bluewin.ch> wrote in message
...
> Hi Paul
>
> I tryed this too with a Filser LX20 and a Filers LX400. They have very old
> DOS programs LX400.exe, LXFAI.EXE and LXGPS.EXE. With the LX20 I got
> waypoints transfered but nothing more - no flight logs. It timeout after
> receiving some data. With the LX400 I didn't manage to make any
> connection -
> it works with 9600.
> We know that these programs also give problems with Laptops.
> Do you have an idea how to set the COM port more specific to e.g. 9600 or
> 19200 and this stuff? Maybe that would help.
> My equippment is an IPAQ 3660. Could it be that a faster PDA could be
> better?
> I managed to use these programs with my MAC IBook and VirtualPC and an
> USB2SERIAL adapter. It is more hardware included in this chain but it
> works,
> so I think that it should work with an IPAQ and PocketDOS.
>
> Thank's for any hint.
>
> Rene.
>
> "Paul Remde" > wrote in message
> news:o6F%c.147652$Fg5.82715@attbi_s53...
>> Hi,
>>
>> I have just successfully tested using a Pocket PC for Themi flight log
>> downloads and task declarations. A utility called PocketDOS is used on
> the
>> Pocket PC to allow the Themi DOS utilities to run. The process is pretty
>> straightforward for an experienced Pocket PC and DOS person like myself
> (OK,
>> I admit I'm a techno-nerd - the first step is being able to admit it),
>> but
>> it may not be easy for many people. I have documented the procedure
>> required as well as listed the required data cables. You can see
>> details:
>> http://www.cumulus-soaring.com/themi.htm
>>
>> Note that this procedure would work with any DOS utility for connecting
>> to
>> any GPS flight recorder. Cables for connecting a wide variety of GPS
> flight
>> recorders to a variety of Pocket PCs is available in my Cable and Cradle
>> Selection Guide found here:
>> http://www.cumulus-soaring.com/goddard.htm#Cable_Selection_Guide
>>
>> Good Soaring,
>> Paul E. Remde
>> Cumulus Soaring, Inc.
>> http://www.cumulus-soaring.com
>> 3M, Airpath, Birecki Software, Cambridge Aero Instruments, Dittel, EMTAC,
>> Filser, flyWithCE, Garrecht (Volkslogger), Glide Navigator II, Goddard,
>> ILEC, Intercomp, LX Navigation, Power-Sonic, RAM, Rikaline, Scheffel
>> Automation (Themi), Schumacher, Schweizer, SeeYou & SeeYou Mobile,
>> StrePla
> &
>> pocket*StrePla, Tasman, Transplant, United Instruments, Winter,
>> Xenotronix
>>
>>
>
>

[Tim Newport-Peace]

X-no-archive: yes
In article <35k0d.15270$MQ5.14002@attbi_s52>, Paul Remde
> writes
>Hi Rene,
>
>I'm sorry, but I don't have any answers for you. I have heard that using
>PocketDOS for data transfers may not work with older, slower Pocket PCs but
>I don't know any more than that.
>
If data transfer is causing over-run errors, then a slower Baud rate
should help. As the volume of data is not that high the overhead in
using a slower connection is not that great.

>The baud rate must be set as needed by the flight recorder. Since NMEA data
>is sent at 4800 baud most flight recorders transfer all data at that rate.
>However, I think some change the baud rate to a higher one for flight log
>downloads. I'm not sure how to change the baud rate in PocketDOS.

Many IGC-Approved Flight Recorders allow you the set the baud rate to a
speed other than the default (Volkslogger, Filser, Colibri, SDI and LX
for example). The default speed is not the same for all recorders.

Having changed the speed in the recorder, you must change the speed in
the program. This is done with a parameter when calling the DATA-???.EXE
DOS program. The usual form is -b4800 for 4800 baud etc.

>
>Also, I think there have been improvements to PocketDOS since it was first
>introduced. Make certain you are using the latest version.
>
>Thanks,
>

Tim Newport-Peace

"Indecision is the Key to Flexibility."

[unt]

Hi

> If data transfer is causing over-run errors, then a slower Baud rate
> should help. As the volume of data is not that high the overhead in
> using a slower connection is not that great.

I tested this with the LX20 programs - no success. The LX400 program has
only 9600 and it is not possible to change. It is a really old one.

> Many IGC-Approved Flight Recorders allow you the set the baud rate to a
> speed other than the default (Volkslogger, Filser, Colibri, SDI and LX
> for example). The default speed is not the same for all recorders.
>
> Having changed the speed in the recorder, you must change the speed in
> the program. This is done with a parameter when calling the DATA-???.EXE
> DOS program. The usual form is -b4800 for 4800 baud etc.

I used the data-fil.exe program to fiddle with the logger file download - no
success, it sopps after about 10 seconds. Lxnavigation has made a program
called Downloader, which works for the LX20 et. al. But not for the old
LX400. That's the reason why I'm trying with the PoketDOS and the original
software from Filser.

At the moment I only see a solution in programming on my own with SuperWaba
(Java based and portable for Windows CE and Palm OS with the same source).
There is an example for Garmin GPS and I have the data structur files
received from lxnavigation for the LX400. I hope the winter is long enough !
;-)

René.

[unt]

You are right. I puzzled that, sorry.
I registered the Downloader from FlywithCE and it works perfect with my
LX20. But as I mentioned it does not support the old LX400 and that's the
point I need a solution for to get ride of the laptop stuff.

Cheers René.

"Tim Mara" > wrote in message
...
> DOWNLOADER is NOT an LX Navigation program, Downloader is from FlywithCE
> this programs works wonderfully for downloading most LX Navigation and
> Filser loggers direct to PDA, works with ipaq's and older Compaq aero
PDA's
> and eliminates the need for clumsy laptops
> available from Wings & Wheels
> http://www.wingsandwheels.com/lx_navigation_accessories_for_ip.htm
> or direct from FlywithCE http://www.flywithce.com/index.html
> tim
> www.wingsandwheels.com
>