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A GPS communicates with a PPC using a Com port (bluetooth, cable, CF or SD). Only a single program can use a Com port at one time, thus it is not possible to use the Com hardware port to read a GPS with two programs at the same time; like tracking with Tierra Mapper and collecting point coordinates in a Visual CE database application.

This limitation, the ability to read a GPS with more than one program at the same time, is remedied by using software to create a Virtual Com Port for your GPS.

Windows Mobile 5 (WM5) Solution:

WM5 has Virtual GPS Port software built into the operating system. To set this up do the following on the PPC:
• Click the Start menu, then Settings, then go to the System tab (I have seen the GPS settings tool in the Connection tab on some devices and on the XV6700 PDA phone this option is hidden by default and has to be enabled through a registry change). Find the GPS settings icon and click it to setup the Virtual GPS Port.
• In the first tab, Programs, select the Com port that you want software programs to use – this is the Virtual Port. Com6 works well with most devices.
• In the second tab, Hardware, select the actual Com port for the hardware you are using. This varies based on device but for most bluetooth connections Com8 is the hardware port. Also set the Baud Rate to 4800 (you can use up to 33600 on some GPS’s but there is negligible performance gain and all GPS’s work great at 4800).
• In the third tab, Access, use the default that allows Windows to manage the port automatically.

Now you can read your GPS with as many program as you want at the same time by setting each program to read the GPS on the Virtual GPS Port, Com6 as setup in this example.

Pocket PC 2003 and Pocket PC 2002 Solution:

GPS Gate is a small software tool that allows users to set up a Virtual GPS Port. This software can be purchased at http://www.tierramapper.com/Products.htm and installation instructions can be found at http://www.tierramapper.com/GPSGate.htm .
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Cheers, Mike

Tierra Mapper Support