Hi, A client has recently purchased a new Windows 8 Dell Latitude 10 tablet to use ArcGIS for Windows Mobile on. Now I know that strictly speaking the official line is that ArcGIS for Windows Mobile is not supported on Windows 8 at present. However, we have it up and running on another client's tablet also running Windows 8. The difference between these two devices is the GPS configuration:-* The device we have it working on is using an external GPS plugged in via USB which is being connected to by ArcGIS for Windows Mobile using a virtual COM port. * The new tablet from Dell has a built in Broadcom GNSS location sensor with GPS capabilities. However, it is configured to work with the OS via the Windows sensor/location (Not sure which one) API and as such, is not visible to the ArcGIS for Windows Mobile application which requires a COM port to connect to a GPS. I guess I have two questions:-* Has anyone mangaged to get ArcGIS for Windows Mobile to connect to a GPS using the Windows sensor/location API? * If not, then does anyone know how to create a virtual COM port which relays the data from the built-in Broadcom GNSS location sensor via the Windows sensor/location API? I really appreciate any time that people are able to put towards helping me out! I'm a little but stuck! Thanks, Tim

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Using ArcGIS for Windows Mobile with the Windows sensor/location API

TimWroblewski2

Hi,

A client has recently purchased a new Windows 8 Dell Latitude 10 tablet to use ArcGIS for Windows Mobile on. Now I know that strictly speaking the official line is that ArcGIS for Windows Mobile is not supported on Windows 8 at present. However, we have it up and running on another client's tablet also running Windows 8. The difference between these two devices is the GPS configuration:-

The device we have it working on is using an external GPS plugged in via USB which is being connected to by ArcGIS for Windows Mobile using a virtual COM port.
The new tablet from Dell has a built in Broadcom GNSS location sensor with GPS capabilities. However, it is configured to work with the OS via the Windows sensor/location (Not sure which one) API and as such, is not visible to the ArcGIS for Windows Mobile application which requires a COM port to connect to a GPS.

I guess I have two questions:-

Has anyone mangaged to get ArcGIS for Windows Mobile to connect to a GPS using the Windows sensor/location API?
If not, then does anyone know how to create a virtual COM port which relays the data from the built-in Broadcom GNSS location sensor via the Windows sensor/location API?

I really appreciate any time that people are able to put towards helping me out! I'm a little but stuck!

Thanks,

Tim

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AlexanderKhoroshun

Take a look at eve T1. it has built-in GPS:

8-inch IPS HD 1280x800 display, Intel Bay Trail Z3735F 1.8 GHz CPU, 2GB of RAM, 32GB onboard storage, MicroSD card support up to 64GB, a 4000mAh battery, 5MP rear camera, 2MP front camera, and 802.11ac Wifi

Price 159 EUR.

Eve

KayleeHerrick

Christopher, I plan to purchase a couple of Windows 8 tablets to use with ArcPad 10. Since you have a solution to what i need, do you mind sharing the model number of your Toshiba Encore 8. Apparently, Toshiba has now released the Encore 2 which comes in various models and I am trying to figure out which one will work with ArcPad 10 (which model has dedicated GPS).

Thanks in advance. - Oscar

ChristopherBradbury

Use the Toshiba Encore 8. You do have to open the com through the device manager, but it works wonderfully with ArcPad. Also the GPS does not require WiFi to work, and uses constellation tech.

DustinEdge

Hi All

just thought I'd update everyone with my tablet testing experience so far.

The first Dell latitude I had might have had a dud chip as I was not getting any information from the sensor. I got my hands on a second one and after uninstalling the official dell driver and installing the lenovo one (courtesy of Localiser forum posting) I was getting perfect GPS coordinates.

As a safety measure, I switched the wifi off to ensure that the Windows Location sensor was not settling for the wifi location.

I loaded ArcPad 10.2 and noticed that it had a "Location Sensor" option under the GPS configuration. While I could see my current position on the aerial photo, it wasn't reporting the usual GPS information....very strange.

I'm amazed that someone at ESRI had the foresight to access the location sensor from ArcPad, but the same was not implemented for AGM! Very disappointing.

It looks like AGM will need Localiser (or something similar) to expose the GPS data as a COM port.

Interestingly, the Panasonic FZ-G1 toughpad also runs Windows 8 and the builtin GPS has been exposed as a COM port so AGM worked just perfectly.

So it comes down to Dell & ESRI dropping the ball a little bit.

Cheers

DustinEdge

Hi Rebecca

A couple of things...

I just got my hands on a Panasonic FZ-G1 toughpad (with dedicated GPS chip) that's running Windows 8 with AGM 10.2. The COM ports were all visible and AGM 10.2 had no problem seeing the GPS and getting a lock.
Now, I'm not sure if this is something that Panasonic has done to ensure that the GPS is exposed via a traditional COM port, or maybe its because it has a dedicated GPS chip in the first place.

I also have a DELL tablet running Windows 8, but from I can gather, it only has a Location Sensor that uses the wifi, and not a dedicated GPS chip. I tried using that extension that I posted about earlier, but it didn't make a difference. This is my comment on that blog:
Seeing as the tags say "AGM SDK" only and that previous forum postings (from ESRI) have indicated that access to the Location API in subsequent versions would only be available through customisation

I suspect like alot of other bugs, ESRI does not deem this issue worthy of their time and it will not get resolved anytime soon. As always, I would love ESRI to prove me wrong...

Maybe someone else might work it out....

Regards

RebeccaHorsburgh

I seriously cannot believe this!!

Found this buried on the resources page...after filtering for sample code built by the ArcGISMobileDevTeam.

The Windows sensor/location API extension adds support for the use of GPS receivers with Windows 8 laptops and tablets.

http://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=45044c94f07c40c3996bc0c43948f050

I really believe they have some major communication issues between teams over at ESRI

Dustin have you tried this extension with AGM 10.2? I can't seem to get it working on my Dell Latitude 10 tablet.

DustinEdge

I seriously cannot believe this!!

Found this buried on the resources page...after filtering for sample code built by the ArcGISMobileDevTeam.

The Windows sensor/location API extension adds support for the use of GPS receivers with Windows 8 laptops and tablets.

http://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=45044c94f07c40c3996bc0c43948f050

I really believe they have some major communication issues between teams over at ESRI

DustinEdge

so AGM 10.2 is out. But no documentation regarding bug fixes and/or enhancements. Thanks ESRI....that's really helpful.

Anyone had a go as yet?

Cheers

DustinEdge

Georges,

Esri are working on including the sensor API for GPS at 10.2 ArcGIS for Windows Mobile. As a result it will be released shortly after the official ArcGIS 10.2 release. The date is not finalised as yet.

Cheers
Gordon

Hi Gordon

can someone from ESRI please give us an update on the ETA for 10.2 AGM?

Thanks

BenjaminRogers

For all those still stuck on this
Try downloading centrfuse localizer from the link below
http://www.centrafuse.com/us/centrafuse-localizer
It's currently working for me on a Lenovo Thinkpad Tablet 2 (Wifi version only)
Just had to run the program as administrator to get it to run.

Hope this helps!!

DustinEdge

What GPS connection settings are you using in ArcPad. I have trouble getting the 3682-22U to actually see GPS coordinates with the latest version of ArcGIS Windows Mobile 10.1.1.133385. It finds and connects to the GPS on COM3 but the fix type stays "Invalid" or gets one coordinate shows PDOP for a second, and then no other updates. Whereas I open a GPS testing app called "GPS device tester" and can see the coordinates coming through COM3 just fine. Loading up ArcPad now to see if it works.

Hi Jason

I've been having a similar issue with a Trimble Nomad and ArcGIS Mobile 10.1.1
Still trying to work out a solution

Cheers

MarkTwyman

Hey Geoff,

Thanks for your post. So are you saying that since we have the Ericsson C5621gw model, there is currently no way that I can utilize the GPS on ArcGIS mobile 10.1.1 for example?

Thanks for any info on this...

Nick

Thanks RED_ZMAN for the shout out!

Localizer works directly with the sensor driver and detects whether or not raw NMEA data is available. If it is, it is delivered to the virtual comport directly. If it is not, Localizer creates standard NMEA GGA,GSA,GSV and RMC strings from the available platform data and sends that to the virtual comport. The process is transparent to the consuming application. All data is "live", meaning that it is taken from the chipset (if available). No data is simulated.

The current version features automatic updates and improved performance. The next release will also provide language support for German, Russian,Spanish, Dutch and French.

Cheers!

GeorgesMaalouf

Thanks Gordon for your quick reply. Really appreciated.

Georges

GordonSumerling

Georges,

Esri are working on including the sensor API for GPS at 10.2 ArcGIS for Windows Mobile. As a result it will be released shortly after the official ArcGIS 10.2 release. The date is not finalised as yet.

Cheers
Gordon

GeorgesMaalouf

Hi All,

is this problem solved in ArcGIS for Windows Mobile 10.2? I couldn't get a beta version for 10.2 to check it.
When ArcGIS for Windows Mobile 10.2 will be released?

Thanks

NickDeMerchant

Hey Geoff,

Thanks for your post. So are you saying that since we have the Ericsson C5621gw model, there is currently no way that I can utilize the GPS on ArcGIS mobile 10.1.1 for example?

Thanks for any info on this...

Nick

Pardon me for jumping in to this thread, but I think there is more information that you should be aware of.

In the US, the Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet 2 model that has Broadband capability is fitted with the Sierra EM7700 - Gobi Wireless device. As your screenshot shows, that device also provides an NMEA stream via a virtual COM port.

However, in Europe (and possibly elsewhere), Lenovo uses the Ericsson c5621gw hardware for Broadband. See http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/downloads/detail.page?&DocID=DS033224

This hardware ONLY supports the Broadband function - it does not supply NMEA info via a virtual COM port. In fact, out of the box, a European ThinkPad Tablet 2 has no COM ports listed in Device Manager.

In both cases, GPS info is supplied via the Broadcomm chip, but the info is exposed via the Location Provider API. If the GPS application software isn't written to interface to this, but only to the legacy virtual COM ports, then it won't work.

See also http://gcoupe.wordpress.com/2013/02/24/microsoft-does-it-again/

ClasTernström

I can confirm that it works with the Lenovo Thinkpad Tablet 2 running ArcPad 10.1 in Sweden. No problem, accurate and stable. Using version 2.0.5.28. Just what we needed to get our tablets running as they should. Great work!!

Clas Ternström
Swedish National Heritage Board

NickKopczyk1

I can also confirm it works on a Lenovo TP 2 (broadband version) in ArcPad 10.1. I can recieve GPS now from both the cellular chip and COM as well as the Virtual COM I designated in the software. Great find! Thanks

Denise King

Did those of you looking at Centrafuse Localizer notice the known limitations of the Windows 8 GNSS to Com Port tool?
Limitations:

The number of active satellites and signal strength is simulated. It DOES NOT represent the quality of the actual GPS/GNSS signal and is provided for protocol compatibility only.

The Windows location platform is limited to a 1Hz refresh rate (once a second). At higher rates of speed, the displayed map position may lag behind the actual vehicle position.

Under NO circumstances should this product be used for precision navigation. It is provided "as-is", and intended for recreational use only. No warranty is given or implied as to the accuracy or availability of location information.

I can't imagine users utilizing ArcPad or ArcGIS for Windows Mobile for GPS data collection in the field that satellite simulation is an acceptable solution. Many organizations have GPS/GNSS requirements of acceptable PDOP, HDOP or other quality parameters and Centrafuse Localizer isn't able to provide these.

Regards,
Denise

I'm just wondering if anybody tried to use this product?
Centrafuse Localizer
http://www.centrafuse.com/centrafuse-localizer

AlexanderKhoroshun

Good news! Thanks, Jeremy!

AlexanderKhoroshun

I'm just wondering if anybody tried to use this product?
Centrafuse Localizer
http://www.centrafuse.com/centrafuse-localizer

JasonWarzinik1

What GPS connection settings are you using in ArcPad. I have trouble getting the 3682-22U to actually see GPS coordinates with the latest version of ArcGIS Windows Mobile 10.1.1.133385. It finds and connects to the GPS on COM3 but the fix type stays "Invalid" or gets one coordinate shows PDOP for a second, and then no other updates. Whereas I open a GPS testing app called "GPS device tester" and can see the coordinates coming through COM3 just fine. Loading up ArcPad now to see if it works.

Just an update, I did load the latest ArcPad and it connects and consumes the GPS via COM3 just fine so this seems to be a specific issue with ArcGIS Mobile for Windows. Also used a USB GPS puck with the same results. I am working with ESRI support and will follow up with any workarounds we come up with.

JasonWarzinik1

I just returned from a field collection in which we used the Lenovo TP2 (3682-22U) Broadband version with no wireless plan. The GPS worked fine. We were using ArcPad but the interface is the same for both programs.

What GPS connection settings are you using in ArcPad. I have trouble getting the 3682-22U to actually see GPS coordinates with the latest version of ArcGIS Windows Mobile 10.1.1.133385. It finds and connects to the GPS on COM3 but the fix type stays "Invalid" or gets one coordinate shows PDOP for a second, and then no other updates. Whereas I open a GPS testing app called "GPS device tester" and can see the coordinates coming through COM3 just fine. Loading up ArcPad now to see if it works.

nicogis

This is add-in for arcmap (I have used with tablet samsung http://www.samsung.com/it/consumer/pc-peripherals-printer/notebook/smart-pc/XE500T1C-A01IT-spec & Windows 8 & ArcGIS Desktop 10.1sp1).
This is a simple start point because I needed only simple position so you can use these api and create it for arcpad

nicogis

I have done a simple add-in for arcmap that use Windows sensor/location api
if it may be useful to someone ...
source code included
http://studioat.maps.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=b983b8d401b646b2a3ba57c31f4454c3

HenrikSvenningsen

If it's about getting WIN 8 on a tablet to "see" your GPS, mostly external GPS, you should try FRANSON GPS GATE.

We use this software (free) on our Samsung SLATE Tablets and it works just splendid....but without it....no GPS connection.

PhillipHannam

i have a solution for some i use Oziexplorer for my mapping
it works with Lenovo Thinkpad 2 running Win 8 Pro the software is http://www.oziexplorer.com/
all i had to do was update my software

Thank Phillip

TimWroblewski2

Just wondering if anyone has had any luck with the new Windows 8 Panasonic Toughpad? Does the GPS communicate via a COM port and therefore, allow for communication with ArcGIS for Windows Mobile?

Thanks,

Tim

NickKopczyk1

Denise and others,

Question for you in regards to the Lenovo ThinkPads

We are about to buy a Lenovo ThinkPad 2 Win 8 Pro tablets w/GPS & Mobile broadband to use with ArcGIS Mobile for Windows and want to verify; will the GPS will work via the aforementioned COM port even without an active cellular data service plan? We plan to copy the map cache and sync the features while in the office and use the map in a disconnected mode. How does ArcGIS Mobile work as far as performance? Have you guys been able to test any Windows 8 Pro devices that have the i3, i5, processors vs the Atom?

Thanks all for your time and advice,

I just returned from a field collection in which we used the Lenovo TP2 (3682-22U) Broadband version with no wireless plan. The GPS worked fine. We were using ArcPad but the interface is the same for both programs.

GeoffCoupe

Esri Support update on Lenovo ThinkPad 2 Windows 8 Pro OS testing:

there are 2 diff models of Lenovo ThinkPad 2 Win 8 Pro tablets - one w/GPS & Mobile broadband & one without
[ATTACH=CONFIG]21723[/ATTACH]

[TABLE="width: 960"][TD="class: padcell ttcell"]Esri Support has both models & you can see in screenshots of expanded Device Manager list that GPS model on left includes Ports (COM & LPT) as we specified during purchasing ThinkPad 2 tablet we needed integrated GPS
* Sierra Wireless Gobi NMEA GPS connection on COM4
[ATTACH=CONFIG]21724[/ATTACH]
also listed in Device Manager is Sensors including Broadcom GNSS Gelocation Sensor yet Esri Support hasn't performed testing or further research into Sensors yet

screenshot below is 2nd ThinkPad 2 tablet we have which doesn't include integrated GPS which is what I expect many of you have as well & which is likely reason you are unable to connect to GPS functionality within ArcPad or ArcGIS for Windows Mobile applications as both ArcPad and ArcGIS for Windows Mobile both state in documentation they require COM port to connect to GPS functionality.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]21725[/ATTACH][/TD]
[TD="class: padcell ttcell"][/TD]

[/TABLE]

found similar reports with other GPS software applications & variety of Win 8 Pro tablets, see http://forums.toshiba.com/t5/Satellite-Laptops-all-other/How-to-get-GPS-working-on-Satellite-U925t/td-p/346208

Will continue to update with ArcPad & ArcGIS for Windows Mobile testing going forward, as time permits.
Denise

linking to related ArcPad Forum thread on similar topic - http://forums.arcgis.com/threads/77053-ArcPad-10.x-on-Microsoft-Surface?p=276143#post276143

Pardon me for jumping in to this thread, but I think there is more information that you should be aware of.

In the US, the Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet 2 model that has Broadband capability is fitted with the Sierra EM7700 - Gobi Wireless device. As your screenshot shows, that device also provides an NMEA stream via a virtual COM port.

However, in Europe (and possibly elsewhere), Lenovo uses the Ericsson c5621gw hardware for Broadband. See http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/downloads/detail.page?&DocID=DS033224

This hardware ONLY supports the Broadband function - it does not supply NMEA info via a virtual COM port. In fact, out of the box, a European ThinkPad Tablet 2 has no COM ports listed in Device Manager.

In both cases, GPS info is supplied via the Broadcomm chip, but the info is exposed via the Location Provider API. If the GPS application software isn't written to interface to this, but only to the legacy virtual COM ports, then it won't work.

See also http://gcoupe.wordpress.com/2013/02/24/microsoft-does-it-again/

JasonWarzinik1

Denise and others,

Question for you in regards to the Lenovo ThinkPads

We are about to buy a Lenovo ThinkPad 2 Win 8 Pro tablets w/GPS & Mobile broadband to use with ArcGIS Mobile for Windows and want to verify; will the GPS will work via the aforementioned COM port even without an active cellular data service plan? We plan to copy the map cache and sync the features while in the office and use the map in a disconnected mode. How does ArcGIS Mobile work as far as performance? Have you guys been able to test any Windows 8 Pro devices that have the i3, i5, processors vs the Atom?

Thanks all for your time and advice,

NickKopczyk1

@Kopcz1nj thanks for doing this but I think your link doesn't work because you were signed in.

I got this link by clicking Share on the Ideas page:

http://ideas.arcgis.com/ideaView?id=087E00000004YOnIAM

Daniel, Thanks for the heads up. I see there's no way to edit my old post so we're stuck with it I guess.

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