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Topic:
TR 2.1.333 does not work on IPAQ 5555
This thread has 10 replies. Displaying all posts.
Post 1 made on Friday July 2, 2004 at 16:13
ostm
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I have bought the Total Remote audio dongle and accompanying software and installed it on my IPAQ 5555. The software does not work, not in IRDA mode not in 'Griffin' mode.

When I install it on an IPAQ 3660 all works fine.

Are there known problems with the TR software and PPC2003 ?

When I look at the IR LED's thru the viewfinder of my digital camera (this makes the IR light visible) when pressing a button, I see no IR flash, whereas on my 3660 I do see the LED's flashing. I guess there is some software issue here.

Griffin support says the software should work best on the 55XX series. I dont see what I am doing wrong here, just installed it as it comes from the disk.

Help, I am clueless !
Post 2 made on Saturday July 3, 2004 at 18:06
barend
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Not a clue, but as I've read the 55.. series does work with the audio plugin.
Barend
Post 3 made on Monday July 12, 2004 at 15:33
Don Stratton
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I assume you checked the option for IR transmitter is set to "Griffin Technology IR device"?

FYI, the primary "most modern" PPC used in testing is a 5555. It is known to work well using the audio transmitter.


--Don
OP | Post 4 made on Thursday July 29, 2004 at 10:35
ostm
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Hi Don,

I was on vacation, that's why I replied only just now.
Yes, I have the setting to Griffin Technology IR device. No result. I know it does not work on this 5555 using the 'normal' IR port neither.
Although both work when I use the software on a 3660 ipaq, so it can't be the device not working correctly.

Can it be related to a particular PPC firmware or so ?
I know I upgraded mine with the latest found on the HP-support site.
Post 5 made on Thursday August 5, 2004 at 16:46
Don Stratton
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If you were able to use IrDA and the audio transmitter on a 36xx and not a 55xx, I can only explain that as a configuration issue specific to your 55xx. You basically diagnose it yourself; it works on one PDA using EITHER output option and does not work on another PDA using ANY output option. It just ins't logically reasonable.

Look for any open app that might seize control of the audio port, such as MP3 players, video players, games, etc. Try temporarily disabling "enhancements" such as Today plugins, Wisbar varients, etc. to see if one of them may be interfering.

Big time heavy-duty experiment: hard reset the 55xx and install ONLY the latest Total Remote. If it works, you have a software conflict. If it doesn't, there could be something unique to your 55xx that is different than mine such as OS version, ROM updates, etc.

Not much to go on, but you haven't given me much to work with. :/ "It works for me" is the universal cry of all developers. ;)


--Don
Post 6 made on Wednesday September 22, 2004 at 18:31
Qwelldrin
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IPAQ 55xx series I have now tried Total remote version 2-1-381 on no less than 4 55xx Ipaqs with mixed results. On only one occasion did the IPaq 5555 work with the Total remote TR unit.
Testing process,
IPAQ 555x in IRDA mode works fine. (On all units)
IPAQ 555x in Griffin TR mode (3 Failed to work, 5555 Worked ok)
All units activated the TR unit(IR Flashes) viewing through Video camera.
IPAQ 5550 returned from HP after repair and loaded with all current updates virgin state. (Would not work with TR unit, ok on IRDA)
IPAQ 5555 Hard reset and only installed with Total remote 2-1-381.
(Would not work with TR unit, ok on IRDA)

A second TR unit was used from a 5450 which has been working for last 6 months.
This gave the same results as above.
The original TR unit was used on the 5450 this also worked without problems.
5450 will work well in CIR and TR mode.
I have seen somewhere on a thread that because of the low volume output of the 55xx series this can cause the TR unit to function incorrectly.
If anyone could shed some more light on this it would be appreciated.

Qwell
Post 7 made on Friday September 24, 2004 at 17:29
Don Stratton
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On 09/22/04 22:31 ET, Qwelldrin said...
IPAQ 55xx series I have now tried Total remote
version 2-1-381 on no less than 4 55xx Ipaqs with
mixed results. On only one occasion did the IPaq
5555 work with the Total remote TR unit.
Testing process,

Wow! I don't know what to say. I only have one iPaq 5555, but it is my personal PPC and one of two primary test units for Total Remote, so it gets used for every single build and every single release version. Needless to say, I have never had any problem with it. If I had encountered a problem, then by definition that version/build of Total Remote would never have been released until it did work on my unit. This has NEVER happend; every version of TR (even the betas) has worked. Oh sure, many of the betas exhibited bugs and stuff we needed to fix, but they were fixed and officially released.

Given the staggering possible number of permeutations of hardware, software, firmware and so on it is not even slightly surprising that an application might not run in all circumstances. _NONE_ of the PPC vendors provide detailed technical support infomation on changes to their systems (hardware, software, firmware or what) so we are constantly being surprised by updates that mysteriously break/alter performance. All we can do is react when something goes wrong... and even then we can only act if we can reproduce the error. I would say most of the time, in this kind of situation, we cannot determine what the problem might be without endless amounts of brute-force usage and trial. :(

A second TR unit was used from a 5450 which has
been working for last 6 months.
This gave the same results as above.

At least this TENDS to indicate there is nothing wrong with the transmitter itself, unless it is a mechanical tolerance issue where the connections work on your 5450 but are just barely out of tolerance in the 5555.

I have seen somewhere on a thread that because
of the low volume output of the 55xx series this
can cause the TR unit to function incorrectly.

Actually, I have not really found any problem with the 5555, but I do have reason to suspect that the audio on 41xx series iPaqs may not all be created equal because some people have absolutely no problem and some cannot ever get it to work. This is another great example of how I would love to ask someone from HP (or HTC) what the hell they might have done that they didn't tell the rest of the world about. :/


--Don
Post 8 made on Monday September 27, 2004 at 12:12
Qwelldrin
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Don,
Thanks for the reply. Griffin technology have been great in there support for the Total remote package. They even offered to have a discussion with the TR programmers to find out if anything could be done to resolve the problems we have been experiencing.
A replacement TR unit was offered to be sent out but as I have now tried three TR units and none seem to work on either my 5550 or my neighbours 5555. It would seem to be a HP hardware issue I will continue to chase HP for as much information as possible to any changes that have been made on different versions of the 55xx series.
For your info.
Product revision Level: 4.0
ROM date 24/03/04
ROM version 1.10.10 ENG
OS version Windows CE 4.2
Post 9 made on Wednesday September 29, 2004 at 11:38
Don Stratton
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On 09/27/04 16:12 ET, Qwelldrin said...
Don,
Thanks for the reply. Griffin technology have
been great in there support for the Total remote
package. They even offered to have a discussion
with the TR programmers to find out if anything
could be done to resolve the problems we have
been experiencing.

I have forwarded your kind words to the tech support guys. They are still smarting from at least two rippings they got this week over poor support, so they will be pleased to see that not all Total Remote customers hate them. ;)

For your info.
Product revision Level: 4.0
ROM date 24/03/04
ROM version 1.10.10 ENG
OS version Windows CE 4.2

My ROM is 1.00.10 ENG, 06/14/03 so maybe that has something to do with it. I am loathe to "update" it for fear that HP has done something stupid to the audio path, but I guess I will in the name of science. I will measure the audio output capabilities under both versions of firmware, and if there is a difference I will make a futile attempt to talk to HP about it. Unfortunately, I have absolutely no contacts at HP, and there is no way I am going to get the help I need at this level from their telephone tech support people, so I am not optimistic. Anyone who wants to hook me up with someone from HP is welcome to contact me.


--Don
Post 10 made on Sunday February 20, 2005 at 12:42
caryG
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February 2005
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Hi,

I have the same problem trying to run Total Remote 2.2.577 on an iPaq H5550 with firmware 1.10.10 ENG. The TR application works fine with the built-in IrDA, but nothing happens when I select the "Griffin Technology IR device".

To check if some sort of signal comes out of the TR transmitter, I checked the two LEDs through my Sony DSC-V1 digital camera in 'nightframing' mode and I can see a very weak signal being emitted on the TR LEDs. I tried with two other TR modules and the behaviour is the same.

When I connect headphones in the audio jack and use the TR application, I can clearly hear a loud sound when pressing buttons in the TR application. When I go back and select the IrDA as the Infrared sending device, there is no sound in the headphones when pressing buttons in the TR application.

So everything looks like it should work, but it doesn't.

I tried several things like changing the System volume on Sounds and Notifications and system volume, but to no avail. In fact, any changes made did not alter the sound perceived through the headphones.

By process of elimination, the culprit is the audio jack on the iPaq. Is the audio signal too weak for the TR module to work on? It shouldn't be since the sound heard via the headphones was really loud. I tried sending commands up against the IR receiver on my Sony DVD player and nothing happened. This is somewhat different from the 100 feet claim by Griffin Technology and the compatibility claim with the iPaq H5550 isn't true from what I see.

I see other threads with lots of people having the same issues with the Total Remote module on iPaqs H55xx.

Surely, we would know by now what the problem is, since most people with H55xx have this issue?

Can anybody assist? This piece of equipment would be great if only I could get to work.

Thanks very much in advance for all replies and assistance.

Cary G
Post 11 made on Sunday February 27, 2005 at 02:42
ian_finder
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February 2005
1
You should all install the Linux bootloader at handhelds.org and use it to extract exact copies of your windows CE roms (Don't worry-- you can use it without linux, you won't notice it's different from the stock windows ce loader). You can extract, reflash, and share your exact rom images for testing purposes, without risking anything (as long as the bootloader is installed properly) Also, you'll need a serial cable to reflash, but w/e. I think it'd really help with total remote debugging. Also, don't worry-- any 5550's firmware will run on any other 5550 unit-- there's no weird H/W revision thing. Hell, I even hacked a 5450's firmware into my 5550! (Unfortunately, and predictably, Nevo didn't work) Btw-- You don't need the serial cable and hacked bootloader to extract the rom-- only to reflash it.

Oh--- And if Griffin wants to sent me a free totalremote, I'd _gladly_ reflash my unit with every available firmware and help with advanced debugging on the 5550 (and simpler debugging on the axim x30.) HeHeHeHe. :-D On a more serious note, though, If I can get rom images from people, I may actually be able to help with aspects not involving the total remote hardware (but who knows, I mighy buy totalremote in the future)

This message was edited by ian_finder on 02/27/05 02:51 ET.


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