How to customise the iPaq 310

[rmp]

HP's iPaq 312 has a 800x480 resolution 4.3" screen, Bluetooth, Outlook contact synch and a SiRF III GPSR. So it's ideal for in-car nav. It runs a cut-down version of Microsoft's mobile operating system, Windows CE 5. The bad news is that you can't install applications as you would normal PDAs. The good news is that it's easy to install and run OziCE, and then you've got autorouting and offroad mapping!

My 312 is now set up to run OziCE and the autorouting, at the same time, and I just switch between the two as I need to.

This is how to do it. I'm writing these instructions mostly from memory so feel free to post additions and corrections. They will also be useful for other similar devices. There are sometimes other ways to do things, I'll just describe one way.

If you want a real PDA with contacts, calendar etc, then don't buy a 312. Buy a 200-Series (not the Cruiser) iPaq instead. These mods are just for moving-maps, 312s have been modified for all sorts of things but as they don't interest me I won't be writing about them.

Oasis is the built-in shell, and I'll refer to the built-in autorouting software as StreetNav.

Step 1: Basic OziCE on the 312
This is very easy and takes only a minute.

1. Go to www.oziexplorer.com , then the OziCE page, and then download the wince_core_runtime.zip.

2. Unzip it on your PC somewhere, into the wince_core_runtime folder. Then rename that folder to something like OziCE.

3. Connect your iPaq 312 via a USB cable to your PC.

4. Copy the OziCE folder created in Step 2 to the iPaq in the \residentflash\ipaq\os\games directory to create \residentflash\ipaq\os\games\Oziexplorer or whatever you want to name the directory.

5. Edit the file \ResidentFlash\IPAQ\OS\CONFIG\SYS.TXT and change 'igoautostart' from 1 to 0. This prevents the built-in nav locking the GPS receiver open. You can use Notepad to do this. Here's what you're looking for in SYS.TXT (shown already changed to 0):

;autostart igo
igoautostart=0

After you've changed the file, open it again to check you saved it properly.

6. Disconnect the iPaq from the PC. Let it reboot.

7. Now go to the iPaq, into the Entertainment then Games folder. Magically, an Oziexplorer icon will appear. Click oziexplorer_arm, and enjoy. You will find the GPS on COM7. Do not run the Streetnav first, otherwise you'll need to reset.

You will need to get yourself an SD card and put all your maps on it as usual with OziCE. A 16Gb Transcend SDHC card is known to work.

Optional
1. In the OziCE directory copy any file, eg language.ini, to the filename hires.dat. This will set Ozi, on next load, to use larger fonts etc. You may prefer it without, in which case delete your newly created hires.dat. The contents of hires.dat are not relevant, Ozi just checks that the file exists, not what is inside it.


Now there is a problem with this setup, because the built-in nav also uses COM7, and unlike OziCE that program doesn't release the COM port when closed. So you'll need to do some soft-resetting when you finish autorouting to get back to OziCE, but not the other way around, and you cannot run both at the same time as there is no way to do application switching.

What we need to do next is have OziCE running at exactly the same time as the autorouting. That way OziCE can always log its track, and no tedious soft-resetting or closing of applications and restarting required to switch apps. That takes a bit more work, but it's possible.


Step 2 : Running OziCE and autorouting at the same time

1. Boot into Windows CE as opposed to Oasis by placing a file named celauncher.exe in the root of the SD card (see note below). Many people use Total Commander, a handy file manager, from Total Commander - PocketPC . Download the ARM version. You only need the executable cecmd.exe. Rename that to celauncher.exe. The root of the SD card is \SDMMC\.

2. Get hold of Port Splitter (freeware). Create a directory somewhere. Mine is \ResidentFlash\IPAQ\OS\GAMES\PortSplitter , and put in it:

aygshell.dll
extvsplit.dll
Port Splitter.exe
TOOLHELP.DLL

Then copy extvsplit.dll to \Windows.

3. Edit the registry to set GPS output to COM2, use Port Splitter to output on COM7 and COM0. \\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Drivers\Builtin\GPS\Index -> it’ll be set to 7, change to 2. You'll need a WindowsCE registry editing tool like Tascal Regedit Downloads - Tascal RegEdit Freeware Software .

4. Configure OziCE to use COM0. You leave the autorouter getting its data from COM7, which is now a redirect from PortSplitter but the autorouter doesn't know or care.

5. Get a copy of PocketNav.exe. Put it into \SDMMC\. When run it’ll create a little lightning bolt icon in the bottom-right corner of the screen. Press and hold this icon to switch between applications. http://www.scottandmichelle.net/scott/cestuff.html

6. Then reset the device, and with a celauncher.exe file in \SDMMC it will just boot into Windows, not Oasis. Copy extsplit.dll from your PortSplitter directory back to \Windows, it’ll be deleted after the reset.

Then run PocketNav.exe, followed by PortSplitter, then OziCE or StreetNav. PortSplitter will need to be configured again to split COM0 and COM7.

7. To make it a bit easier get hold of MortScript www.sto-helit.de - MortScript to automate some of the setup. Use the "PNA" version. What I have done is:

placed in the root directory of the SD Card, \SDMMC\
- celauncher.exe (renamed autorun.exe)
- mortscript.exe
- mortzip.dll
- setup.dll
- celauncher.mscr which is just a text file containing:

Copy ( "\ResidentFlash\IPAQ\OS\GAMES\PortSplitter\extvspl it.dll", "\Windows\extvsplit.dll" )
XCopy ( "\SDMMC\Setup\Desktop\*", "\Windows\Programs" )
XCopy ( "\SDMMC\Setup\Desktop\*", "\Windows\Desktop" )
Run ( "\SDMMC\PocketNav.exe" )
Run ( "\ResidentFlash\IPAQ\OS\GAMES\PortSplitter\Por t Splitter.exe" )

now when my 312 reboots it executes celauncher.exe, which runs the script above. In the \SDMMC\Setup\Desktop directory are all the shortcuts I want, and these are copied to the Start Menu and Desktop. You have to do something like this as the 312 wipes out those directories after every reset.

MortScript will automatically execute a script file (.mscr) if it finds one with the same name as its autorun.exe file. So, in the step above autorun.exe is renamed celauncher.exe so it runs on boot, and the script is named celauncher.mscr so it is run automatically.

8. So the final setup; after a reset (which copies the files as above), run PortSplitter to set up the redirects for COM0 and COM7, then TaskBar, then OziCE and/or StreetNav. If you don't reset, and you won't need to in normal operation once it's all set up, then just switch on/off as usual. Switch between the two (or more) apps using PocketNav.


Other Notes
1. Putting any file in the root directory of an SD card and renaming it "celauncher.exe" will set the machine to boot into Windows itself, not the pretty blue Oasis shell, and run the renamed file.

2. Once you do that, you can then run Control Panel (control.lnk in the device root). Change the USB client from Mass Storage Device to Serial Client and then you can use connect using ActiveSync to explore the device. The advantage of ActiveSync is that it doesn't force a reboot of the machine when disconnected from the PC, and you can create shortcuts after your Explore the device by right-clicking and choosing Paste As Shortcut. You can always change it back when you need to.

3. The iPaq 312 runs an ARM processor, so given a choice of .exes, choose the ARM version.

4. If you want a spare cradle or suction mount, go to http://www.hp.com/buy/parts -- not cheap though. $150 or so combined! Part numbers: 455683-001 – cradle, 457266-001 -- windscreen suction mount.

5. If you want to do the Outlook contact synch (it's not a full PDA contact manager) get the Contact Manager software from HP iPAQ Handheld Mobile Devices . Then you can use the Bluetooth function for hands-free calling with your Bluetooth phone. There is no NMEA (GPS) signal through Bluetooth.

6. All the DLLs, software etc referred to above are free and easily available, search the web for the latest versions. They are the same versions as go in Mios, Navmans as it's all the same underlying operating system.



I haven't worked all this out myself, I really just copied what others have done. These instructions are all at your own risk and worth what you paid for them. Don't blame me if you end up bricking your unit. I don't guarantee everything will work.

Corrections and suggestions welcome.

Useful URLs
WebHome < Ipaq310 < TWiki -> has lots of info, and links to more.




#------------------------
common\ui\drive_carefully.ini
put ; in front of each lne in <script sc_drive_carefully_init>

CPM test control panel force 600Mhz

#----------------

To reset:

press wheel. keep pressed
reset device. keep wheel pressed
keep wheel pressed
yes, still keep it pressed

after about 15 seconds the engineering menu comes up. Very carefully select option 10 and press the wheel in.


change the "\HKLM\System\Explorer\Shell Folders\StartUp" registry key value to "\ResidentFlash\IPAQ\OS\WINDOWS\StartUp",
- create the "\ResidentFlash\IPAQ\OS\WINDOWS\StartUp" startup folder,
- install the Opera 8.6 for WM to the "\ResidentFlash\Program Files\Opera" dir,
- create a \sys folder to "\ResidentFlash\Program Files\Opera\sys"
- run it,
- quit (Menu / Tools / Exit menu),
- copy the "\Application Data" folder to the "\ResidentFlash\Program Files\Opera\sys\Application Data" folder
- copy the "\Windows\AppMgr" folder to "\ResidentFlash\Program Files\Opera\sys\Application Data" folder,
- copy the "\Windows\Opera Software Opera.unload" file to the "\ResidentFlash\Program Files\Opera\sys\Windows" folder,
- install the MortScript (http://www.sto-helit.de/index.php&#39;mo...=view&entry=65),
- download this script: http://sancho.hu/files/PDAMania/opera.mscr (right click and "Save Target As...")
- copy the file to the "\ResidentFlash\IPAQ\OS\WINDOWS\StartUp" folder
- press soft reset (and the script auto-copies the necessary folders to the root dir),
- use the Opera!

455683-001 – cradle
457266-001 -- windshield

I'm not using a script to copy to desktop. I have post a few time ago about this : I change registry definition of Desktop, Start Menu and StartUp shell folders to point to Resident Flash/iPaq/OS/Windows/ instead of their /Windows counter part. So now my Desktop and Start Menu are persistant.

EDIT: Copy following in a .REG file and use TRE to import (or do manually using CECMD.
REGEDIT4[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\Explorer\Shell Folders]"StartUp"="\\ResidentFlash\\IPAQ\\OS\\WINDOWS\\Sta rtUp\\""Programs"="\\ResidentFlash\\IPAQ\\OS\\WINDOWS\\Pr ograms\\""Desktop"="\\ResidentFlash\\IPAQ\\OS\\WINDOWS\\Des ktop\\"

\\HKLM\Drivers\BuiltIn\GPS\Index
Current value is 7 as expected.





[IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/ADMINI%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msohtml1/01/clip_image001.gif[/IMG]Posted - 05/02/2008 : 08:46:32 [IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/ADMINI%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msohtml1/01/clip_image002.gif[/IMG] [IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/ADMINI%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msohtml1/01/clip_image003.gif[/IMG]

I uploaded the app launcher.
You can get it here :
http://www.gpspassion.com/upload/ipa...pplauncher.rar

So the idea is to put any program, script,... (anything that can be opened with a shortcut) on the SD card.
Assume it's called myapp.exe and is located in /SDMMC/Program Files/myapp/myapp.exe
- now create a submap 'MyApplication' in /ResidentFlash/IPAQ/OS/GAMES
- create a shortcut in this submap to the original (SD card) myapp.exe (copy original exe, paste shortcut in GAMES/MyApplication submap with explorer or cecmd) and rename it to MyApplication.lnk
- copy the little applauncher.exe in the GAMES/MyApplication submap and rename it to MyApplication.exe
- optional : add a little MyApplication.bmp to the GAMES/MyApplication submap

Now you should be able to start the SD application from within the GAMES interface in OASIS.

Kudos to Lutz for the idea of opening a .lnk file and his help with the coding.

Additional note concerning booting in winCE : I have a 4 GB SD card (not SDHC !) and it boots in winCE (so it's probably a SDHC issue)




Here are a couple of quick hacks. For those like me who find the default Windows CE font way too small for easy viewing, edit these entries in the registry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\GDI\SysFnt
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\GWE\Menu\BarFnt
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\GWE\Menu\PopFnt

I have mine set now to 24, 18 and 18 respectively: the units are point sizes.





f you want a large keyboard, here's how:
1, find a CE simulator for ARM and grab following files
LargeKB.dll
LargeKB.map
LargeKB.pdb
LargeKB.rel

2. copy those files to \ResidentFlash\Ipaq\OS

3. save following content(without line) to a .reg file and import it to ipaq310
_________________________________________
REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{A523DFC7-1A7E-4AF6-991A-510E75847828}]
@="LargeKB"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{A523DFC7-1A7E-4AF6-991A-510E75847828}\DefaultIcon]
@="\\ResidentFlash\\Ipaq\OS\\LargeKB.dll"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{A523DFC7-1A7E-4AF6-991A-510E75847828}\InprocServer32]
@="\\ResidentFlash\\Ipaq\OS\\LargeKB.dll"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{A523DFC7-1A7E-4AF6-991A-510E75847828}\IsSIPInputMethod]
@="1"

________________________________________


Then you will see a new entry "largekb" in input panel. Enjoy your large keyboard!

[loanrangie]

If you use IMG to OZF (off the Ozi site) you can compress the maps down to approx. 700mb for vic and 900mb for NSW by reduces the amount of colours and some zoom levels, i have a 2gig sd card and have maps for all vic/nsw/tas on it plus TomTom map/voices/poi's and still have space.

[rmp]

Yes, I use IMG2OZF, really the best choice for OziCE. The latest ozfx3 format is quickest and best but not smallest. But with 16Gb SD cards for $120 or less space is no longer an issue.

[lokka]

What is your opinion of this unit i am considering to get one i dont realy want or need PDA functions im just after a good nav system that will run ozi and a good road nav system also id only ues it as a media player now and then i dont need it to work like a PDA as that side of stuff is done at home on my PC also the blue tooth dosent interest me so i wont wory about what ive read about its performance .....

How good dose the GPS system work in the bush dose it keep up and not loose its way and whats the car kit like the mount and the power set up how dose it go in rough conditions also how dose the voice prompts sound and can it be easly heard ....

Any advice on this or other PDA's with similar spec would be great as its a toss up between one of the 321's or a HX 4700 with external GPS for me so far .....

Cheers Chris

[rmp]

The GPS system is SiRF III and thus works very well. It has an external antenna slot you are unlikely to need. I do not and will not be using it as a media player so I can't comment. It runs OziCE easily as you see in my instructions. So far I would recommend it, on the basis of the screen which simply blows all the lower-resolution 4.3" units out of the water.

The 4700 is a full-on PDA with much the same screen. It would be easier and more flexible to customise, but you'd need to buy a mount and GPSR for it.

[lokka]

Well thats what i needed to hear as for the 4700 it is an option if i can get one at the right price including GPSR as my GPSR i have for the laptop wont plug into a PDA kinda whish i had have not brought the GPS set up for the laptop as its to bulky in car and some off road situations are not good for HDD's ...
That said il be on the look out now for either of the 2 options as all the software i need is available and my brother can teach me how to use the stuff

[lokka]

Well i now own one $250 bucks on special at dicksmiths as they were geting rid of em cause they werent selling good enough so they reduced them to offload which was great for me and office works with there 10% price beat guarantee wouldent beat the price (theres $449) because they have in the fine print they wont beat clearance sale prices ....

Well what can i say but wow the graphics are tops can see the screen easly in full sunlight even with my dark sunnies on and the view angle is great too but the picture quality just blows the others away the only draw back is the speaker could be a tad louder and that it is set up as a nav system only with game,pic,movie,music player and it also runs as a hands free for bluetooth mobiles and works ok at it ....

Mine will be having the above mods done soon and il enjoy runing it off road with ozi may even find a copy of tom tom and see how it goes running that insted of the HP nav stuff all i can say is so far im verry happy with it and the price i got it for was great tho they are cheaper from the US off ebay $220 AU dollars and i think that includes shipping tho may only be in the US i was going to go this way until i walked into dick smiths to check one out firstly

[rmp]

$250 is bargain of the year, I might get a second one!

[lokka]

$250 is bargain of the year, I might get a second one!

These are just a tad cheaper i havent heard back from him yet tho i only sent the message through the ebay contact seller system not via the link in his sale page maby i should have tryed there as that price includes shipping and at $220 is a bargain as im wraped in mine for $250

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/HP-IPAQ-310-T...QQcmdZViewItem

[lokka]

Well ive got mine now running oziCE tho one minor glitch it cant find the GPS signal as it is being used by another device it tells me and ive tryed resetting and allsorts and cant get it to work ...

I managed to resize the icons and start up screen no probs but cant work out the GPS bit ...

As for the second lot of reprograming to run track log on both systems thats a bit beyond me as i cant use the puter all that well and root logs and the like are best left for the cyber tech heads looks like ilhave to hand it over to my brother thats his feild not mine i suprised my self manageing to get the first bit right tho no GPS signal as yet