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

[AndrewSanchez_Meador]

That's great to know, but I'm not sure it moves us any closer to a solution. It's already been established that devices that connect via "physical serial port, a virtual COM port bound to a GPS receiver via Bluetooth or USB, or a program COM port attached to a GPS intermediate driver on Windows Mobile devices (on Windows Mobile 5.0 & newer systems)" work fine, as they interact with the ESRI's GPS library in the expected fashion. The focus here (based on the original post) is these integrated devices that utilize direct calls to the Location API...

We for one, bought the tablet because it has an internal reciever and the prospect of connecting anything external somewhat defeats the purpose...

[NickKopczyk1]

Agree completely with buying tablets because of internal GPS.

After some searching it looks like there are several products out there that pull the GPS COM into Windows location service.  There are none that do the opposite.  I've talked to a developer friend who seems to think it's possible to dump the NMEA string from the location service into a virtual COM.  We may have to pay for a custom solution on this.  I'll update if it is resolved.

On the other hand looking at some "updated" legacy GPS programs on Windows 8 there are solutions to hook into this data.  See TurboGPS for windows.  After insall you can connect via "windows API" checkbox.  I don't see how this isn't possible through a patch in ArcPAD/Mobile 10 from ESRI's side.

For now we'll be having to use BT or USB GPS devices.... Frusterating.

[KenSenter]

That's great to know, but I'm not sure it moves us any closer to a solution. It's already been established that devices that connect via "physical serial port, a virtual COM port bound to a GPS receiver via Bluetooth or USB, or a program COM port attached to a GPS intermediate driver on Windows Mobile devices (on Windows Mobile 5.0 & newer systems)" work fine, as they interact with the ESRI's GPS library in the expected fashion. The focus here (based on the original post) is these integrated devices that utilize direct calls to the Location API...

We for one, bought the tablet because it has an internal reciever and the prospect of connecting anything external somewhat defeats the purpose...

Agreed.  I was just pointing out that Dell's response is inaccurate.  They (or Broadcom) could supply a driver that uses a virtual Com port, Windows 8 doesn't prevent them from doing so.

[DeniseKing]

Esri Support and Mobile GIS Teams will soon have Dell Latitude 10 and Lenovo Thinkpad 2 tablets onsite for our own testing of these reported issues. Yet, I've been This is actually not true for Windows 8, only Windows RT. In the meantime, please see these updated Microsoft Forum thread on GPS & COM ports: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w8itprohardware/thread/3f8e22a0-52bc-431b-a901-2920...

Please continue to update your findings as Esri is greatly interested in these new Windows 8 Pro challenges ArcPad and ArcGIS for Windows Mobile users have encountered.

Thank you,
Denise

[TimWroblewski2]

Hi,

Its great to see others are having the same issues with their Dell Latitude tablets and that its not just me.  I don't have any further updates to the situation other than that I've had similar responses from Dell and ESRI to others on here.  Any updates from you Denise on the time frame we can expect to get a working copy of ArcGIS for Windows Mobile with Windows 8 and these new GPS chips would be great.

Many thanks,

Tim

[DeniseKing]

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/t...

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

[FredericPelletier]

Hi,

Since a COM Port is available on the model with "integrated GPS" option, I understand that ArcGIS and ArcPad will works.

There a few tools on the market that supports redirecting NMEA stream to any kind of ports (physical, virtual, TCP/IP), GPSGate (Franson) is a example (great tool !).

Is there any plan on ESRI roadmap to make ArcPad or Mobile compatible with at least a TCP/IP port or ideally implement the support for the new GeoLocation API (Microsoft)?

Regards

Frederic

[NickKopczyk1]

Denise,

My apologies in terms of wasting your time on this "problem".  As it turns out this broadcom chip in my Lenovo does not acually have a true GPS function as you stated.  It instead has a location determined through Wifi that only works while connected.  I only determined this by leaving any wifi connectivity.  I have the non-broadband version of the tablet.  That said, Lenovo is pushing this tablet as having GPS with no qualifiers or explanations.  I had a long conversation with Lenovo about the problem with the way they were stating their specifications.  Needless to say I'm walking away unhappy.  I think I should mention as well that the Dell has the same chipset and likely has the same problem with their terminology.  The dell owners may be stuck as I am with a device that won't do what is claimed.  Thanks for the investigation and sorry again about the confusion caused by Lenovo.

[KenSenter]

Denise,

My apologies in terms of wasting your time on this "problem".  As it turns out this broadcom chip in my Lenovo does not acually have a true GPS function as you stated.  It instead has a location determined through Wifi that only works while connected.  I only determined this by leaving any wifi connectivity.  I have the non-broadband version of the tablet.  That said, Lenovo is pushing this tablet as having GPS with no qualifiers or explanations.  I had a long conversation with Lenovo about the problem with the way they were stating their specifications.  Needless to say I'm walking away unhappy.  I think I should mention as well that the Dell has the same chipset and likely has the same problem with their terminology.  The dell owners may be stuck as I am with a device that won't do what is claimed.  Thanks for the investigation and sorry again about the confusion caused by Lenovo.

I don't know what chip your lenovo came with, but the BCM47511 which is in the Dell is true GPS.  From Broadcom's website:
"The BCM47511 is the latest generation of standalone GPS SoC solutions, adding GLONASS functionality, while remaining pin-compatible to the BCM4751 GPS SoC solution.  The Broadcom® BCM47511 standalone GPS receiver and the Broadcom BCM2076 combo receiver with Bluetooth and an FM tuner feature dual constellation support of both GPS and GLONASS satellites.  BCM47511 GPS receivers will have the ability to use an additional 21 GLONASS satellites currently (24 projected in the future), on top of the existing 30 U.S. GPS satellites, nearly doubling the number of satellites that can be used for navigation.  In urban areas, many GPS satellites are blocked by buildings, so the additional 21 satellites offered by the GLONASS system will provide significant improvements in location performance and accuracy over currently available GPS receivers.  The BCM47511 SoC solution is Broadcom's latest generation of standalone receiver, featuring both integrated GPS and GLONASS.  Since it is pin-for-pin compatible with Broadcom's popular BCM4751 SoC solution, customers can quickly upgrade their products to include GLONASS navigation support."

Speaking of which, I was digging through the driver from the Dell website and I noticed references to the BCM4751 and a driver called BcmGnssBus.sys which it says: BcmGnssBus.sys - ACPI/UART&GPIO Driver wrapper exposes ACPI/UART driver
    as COM22 for BcmGnss.dll
Which to me sounds promising, but unfortunately I can't get my hands on the tablet.  The guys using it need it every day.  So I can't mess around with it anymore.

[NickKopczyk1]

I don't know what chip your lenovo came with, but the BCM47511 which is in the Dell is true GPS.  From Broadcom's website:
"The BCM47511 is the latest generation of standalone GPS SoC solutions, adding GLONASS functionality, while remaining pin-compatible to the BCM4751 GPS SoC solution.  The Broadcom® BCM47511 standalone GPS receiver and the Broadcom BCM2076 combo receiver with Bluetooth and an FM tuner feature dual constellation support of both GPS and GLONASS satellites.  BCM47511 GPS receivers will have the ability to use an additional 21 GLONASS satellites currently (24 projected in the future), on top of the existing 30 U.S. GPS satellites, nearly doubling the number of satellites that can be used for navigation.  In urban areas, many GPS satellites are blocked by buildings, so the additional 21 satellites offered by the GLONASS system will provide significant improvements in location performance and accuracy over currently available GPS receivers.  The BCM47511 SoC solution is Broadcom's latest generation of standalone receiver, featuring both integrated GPS and GLONASS.  Since it is pin-for-pin compatible with Broadcom's popular BCM4751 SoC solution, customers can quickly upgrade their products to include GLONASS navigation support."

Speaking of which, I was digging through the driver from the Dell website and I noticed references to the BCM4751 and a driver called BcmGnssBus.sys which it says: BcmGnssBus.sys - ACPI/UART&GPIO Driver wrapper exposes ACPI/UART driver
    as COM22 for BcmGnss.dll
Which to me sounds promising, but unfortunately I can't get my hands on the tablet.  The guys using it need it every day.  So I can't mess around with it anymore.

The lenovo does indeed have the BCM47511 and I did review the info on Broadcom's site.  The only thing I can think is that the chip is a mediator betweeen the BCM4751 (no extra 1) and the system.  Meaning the BCM4751 (GPS) is compatible but the BCM47511 does not actually catch the signal.  I'm still in talks with Lenovo about the actual capability of this device.  There is a possibility that I have a version that was shipped with a bad antenna but i'm thinking that's a slim possibility.  I'll update as I learn more.  Thanks for the input.