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

TimWroblewski2 · ‎01-15-2013

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

DanMallett · ‎03-07-2013

@Denise. Can you confirm that the GPS works with the Lenovo device and provide the model#, details, a link to the manufacturer's website, etc.

Is the Sierra Wireless some type of external USB GPS you plug in or actually part of the tablet?

Thanks.

DeniseKing · ‎03-08-2013

@Denise. Can you confirm that the GPS works with the Lenovo device and provide the model#, details, a link to the manufacturer's website, etc.

Is the Sierra Wireless some type of external USB GPS you plug in or actually part of the tablet?

Thanks.

Was ordered through Esri Purchasing so no idea but used tech specs from Lenovo site directly & then specifically requested model w/internal GPS receiver & mobile broadband modem to support Esri's Mobile GIS software applications (ArcPad, ArcGIS for Windows Mobile, ArcMap using GPS Toolbar, ArcGIS Engine w/custom GPS library objects & multiple ArcGIS Runtime SDKs).

Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet 2
Machine Type Model 3682-2AU
Serial# R9WN1VT

In one of my posts above, I compare 2 Lenovo tablets we received: 1 w/GPS & 1 w/Sensors only. We easily connect w/GPS but cannot w/Sensors & this is because Esri's Mobile GIS software requires COM port to connect to GPS functionality and doesn't support the Sensors at this time available with new Windows 8 OS tablets.

Denise

DeniseKing · ‎03-09-2013

Everyone,

Again, I return to Help documentation for all Esri software which states GPS connections require COM port to read and parse NMEA sentences from GPS receiver in ArcPad, ArcGIS for Windows Mobile and ArcMap's GPS Toolbar. However, I do encourage customers to POST the enhancement on ArcGIS Ideas site under Products category Mobile GIS > ArcPad. The ArcGIS Ideas is a submission portal which lets our customers get involved. You can suggest new products, promote favorite enhancements and interact with ESRI Teams. Or if already posted, VOTE for it and same for customers using ArcGIS for Windows Mobile and ArcMap's GPS Toolbar.

Good luck,
Denise

NickKopczyk1 · ‎03-11-2013

FYI

I went and created this topic in the ideas post. You can promote it here.

Please vote we'll get what we need faster. Maybe Denise can do some lobbying as well.

Thanks

DanMallett · ‎03-11-2013

FYI

I went and created this topic in the ideas post. You can promote it here.

Please vote we'll get what we need faster. Maybe Denise can do some lobbying as well.

Thanks

@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

NickKopczyk1 · ‎03-12-2013

@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.

JasonWarzinik · ‎03-12-2013

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,

GeoffCoupe · ‎03-13-2013

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

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/

NickKopczyk1 · ‎03-13-2013

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.

TimWroblewski2 · ‎03-26-2013

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