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Paul (MVP)

Sep 22 2006, 11:29

Post #1

The Main Man
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Group: Admin Team
Posts: 19,929
Joined: 6th November 2002
From: Norwich, UK
Member No.: 1

Device(s): HTC Advantage

So you've checked out the CamerAware Requirements and your device is supported, or perhaps you just fancy having a play to see CamerAware in action... and now you want to get started... well you've come to the right place!

Getting Started

Note: If you have any issues at all following this guide, please feel free to post in the support forum.

Setting up your Bluetooth GPS connection

The first thing we need to do to get started is to ensure that your device has a relationship with the GPS.

This section details how to configure your GPS. If you are using a cabled or integrated GPS, you can skip this section - it only applies to Bluetooth GPS'!

In order for CamerAware to access your Bluetooth GPS, you need to configure an 'outgoing COM port'. If you don't know how to do this, here's a quick guide!

POCKET PC users only:

- Click the Start button
- Click 'Settings'
- Click 'Connections'
- Click 'Bluetooth'
- Ensure 'Turn on Bluetooth' is checked
- Click 'Devices' - ensure your Bluetooth GPS is in this list. Only complete the following italicised section if it is NOT listed.
- Click 'New Partnership'
- Wait for your device to appear in the list
- Select your device, then click 'Next'
- You will be prompted for a passkey at this point, which will be detailed in your GPS manual. It is typically 0000, 1234 or 0183
- You will now be shown a list of profiles. Ensure 'Serial Port' is checked
- Press Finish
- Click 'COM Ports'
- Click 'New Outgoing Port'
- Click your GPS device
- Click Next
- Choose a port number, e.g. COM6
- Uncheck 'Secure Connection'
- Click 'Done'

You have now established an Outgoing COM port

SMARTPHONE users only:

- Click the Start button
- Click 'Settings'
- Click 'Connections'
- Click 'Bluetooth'
- Ensure Bluetooth is is set to 'On'
- Click 'Menu'
- Click 'Devices' - ensure your Bluetooth GPS is in this list. Only complete the following italicised section if it is NOT listed.
- Click 'Menu'
- Click 'New'
- Wait for your device to appear in the list
- Select your device, then click 'Next'
- You will be prompted for a passkey at this point, which will be detailed in your GPS manual. It is typically 0000, 1234 or 0183
- Accept the default or choose a new display name for the device
- Click 'Next'
- You will now be shown a list of profiles. Ensure 'Serial Port' is checked.
- Press 'Done'
- You will now be returned to the homescreen.
- Click the Start button
- Click 'Settings'
- Click 'Connections'
- Click 'Bluetooth'
- Click 'Menu'
- Click 'COM Ports'
- Click 'Menu'
- Click 'New Outgoing Port'
- Click your GPS device
- Click 'Select'
- Choose a port number, e.g. COM6
- Uncheck 'Secure Connection'
- Click 'Done'

You have now established an Outgoing COM port

Installing the CamerAware application

Now that you have configured Bluetooth, you're ready to install the CamerAware application.

You have to choices at this point. The first - and easiest option - is to install CamerAware using the desktop installer. To do so, simply click here to download and run the installer. You may install to either Main Memory or Storage Card.

The second option is to install from a CAB file directly on the device. To download the CAB file, visit this page from your device. Again, you may install to either Main Memory or Storage Card. Note that this is a 3MB file.

Installing .net Compact Framework 2.0 SP1

CamerAware is written using .net Compact Framework 2.0 SP1. Unfortunately, Smartphone and Pocket PCs don't yet contain this in ROM, so you need to install it manually.

To do so, download the redistributable package from this page and install to either Storage Card or Main Memory (if you have plenty of spare space) - both work fine, installing to Main Memory is slightly more performant.

Connecting CamerAware to your GPS

You should restart your phone at this point, to allow Windows to load the CamerAware fonts.

In the start menu of your device, you will now see a CamerAware icon - a pretty picture of a 'Safety Camera'

Click the icon to begin!

As this is the first time you have used CamerAware, no previous connection details will be stored, so CamerAware will need to autodetect the GPS COM Port. Click the 'Connect' button. There will be a shhort wait while CamerAware finds your GPS. Behind the scenes, CamerAware will be finding your device, configuring the Windows Mobile 5 intermediary GPS driver (if appropriate), and checking everything is working correctly. Congratulations, you're running CamerAware! Your fix status and the number of satellites in view will be displayed, and as you move around, you will see your speed and heading update.

If you get a message saying CamerAware has been unable to connect to your device, feel free to post in our 'Connection Troubleshooting forum', and we will attempt to diagnose and fix your problem!

If you now tap 'Disconnect', i'll take you through the menu options in CamerAware.

CamerAware Options

If you tap the 'Options' menu on the right, you'll see a menu pop up. Here's what the menu options do!

- Register - This option launches the registration dialogue, where you can input your serial and activation numbers after purchase. You must do this before CamerAware will download a Camera database.
- Position -> Display - This option will display your current latitude / longitude in decimal degrees, useful if you break down or are in an emergency situation where you need to tell someone your accurate position. This option is greyed out unless you have a GPS fix.
- Position -> Display - This option will send to a contact of your choice a link to your current position on Google maps. This too is useful if you break down or are in an emergency situation where you need to tell someone your accurate position. This option is greyed out unless you have a GPS fix.
- Cameras - This menu allows you to select which types of Cameras you are alerted to. For example, if you did not wish to be alerted to Mobile Camera locations, you would ensure it is unchecked in here
- Display - This menu allows you to choose whether the current satellites status (default) or an odometer is displayed in the box below the current heading. You can also reset the odometer to zero in here.
- Expert -> Connect on Startup - This option (which is only displayed when 'Expert Mode' is checked in settings), tells CamerAware to connect immediately on startup without user intervention.
- Expert -> Disable volume warning - This option (which is only displayed when 'Expert Mode' is checked in settings), disables the prompt on startup if the device volume is set to the minimum level.
- Expert -> No Prompt on Exit - This option (which is only displayed when 'Expert Mode' is checked in settings), disables the 'are you sure you wish to exit' prompt.
- Expert -> Turn on BT at connect - This option (which is only displayed when 'Expert Mode' is checked in settings), automatically turns on and off Bluetooth when needed.
- Expert -> Dump NMEA to file - This option (which is only displayed when 'Expert Mode' is checked in settings), allows you to dump the NMEA data from the GPS to file for later processing. This is for advanced users only, and should only be used when the application is installed to Storage Card, as files get very large, very quickly

- Settings -> Backlight Always On - This menu item tells CamerAware to keep the device backlight on at all times when connected. If this is unchecked, the Backlight will only be turned on in an Red alert zone.
- Settings -> Speed in MPH / KMH - This allows you to set the units for the speed display.
- Settings -> Upload Settings - CamerAware can upload your position every minute to MoDaCo. This option is only recommended if you are on a flat rate data plan. To use this, you need to enter your MoDaCo logon credentials in here.
- Settings -> Upload Enabled - This enables the upload option. You need to ensure your MoDaCo logon credentials are entered in 'Upload Settings'.
- Settings -> GPS Settings - This option enables you to manually set a COM Port and Baud Rate for connection. You will likely only use this if you are having problems with the autodetection functionality, or perhaps if (like me) you have multiple GPS devices configured.

- Settings -> Expert Mode - This option enables the 'expert' menu.
- Settings -> Check for Update - This option launches the integrated CamerAware update checker. If a new application update is available, you will be prompted to download and install it. If you are a registered user, you will also be offered the option to download a Camera Database update if one is available.
- Settings -> About - This option displays the current application and database version.

Buying CamerAware

So you've got CamerAware running on your device, checked out the options, and now you would like to register CamerAware so that you can download the Camera database.

Well, it's really easy! CamerAware is £19.99, or £9.99 for MoDaCo Plus members.

For more details, and to buy, visit the Buying CamerAware topic!

--------------------

Paul O'Brien - Microsoft MVP, Mobile Devices, MoDaCo.network Founder. Check out my Blog!

£10 off a £20 spend at eXpansys - click for details

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