Database Users

Need Help with Bluetooth Bonding GPS

Hiya all.
I have recently got myself a copy of Tomtom Navigator 5 for my XDA2 with the latest ROM and also bought a GP-27 Bluetooth GPS Receiver (purplegrid k3).
Got it all home did all the install bit no probs... Then the fun started!
I switched on the ole GPS device searched for it in the bluetooth bonded devices bit XDA2 found it bonded to it everything is sorted, and believe it or not everything in Tomtom 5 worked great....
The problem that I need help with is that although in my bonded devices list it says that I am bonded to 'cpit-GPS' everytime I start Tomtom 5 a popup balloon says that ' cpit-GPS wants to bond with this device' and I have to go through the whole rigmarol of rebonding it to my XDA2.
Surely my XDA2 should remember the devices it has bonded to, I dont have this problem with my bluetooth headset?
Is there anyway of getting my XDA2 to remember these GPS device bonded settings...
PLEASE HELP ME its driving me crazy..lol

Try managing 50+ of the things
This comes up quite often in our app. Our solution is to DELETE the existing BT connection then re-bond.
Worth a go.

does this cure it or do you still have to re bond each time?
Also what app are you talking about and 50+ of what?
Forgive me if I seem a bit dumb but your post is a bit vague.

Do you have bluetooth switched to on or discovery mode?

I have tried it on both and it does the same thing?
Any Ideas?

50+ XDAs
This solution resolves that particular problem. Do it once & it doesn't need doing again normally. The app is a bespoke FSE app utilising GPS for positioning but the problem that occurs is identical to yours.

TomTom - GPS receiver with short memory?

Hi,
I've trawled the forum and I've followed all the TomTom setup procedures. The Problem is they seem to be for people who can't get TomTom working at all. I can get it working, just awkwardly.
Once I pair with my GPS receiver and go into TomTom i can get a connection. However when i quit TomTom and turn off the GPS it seems to forget. Next time I turn it on I don't get a connection.
The way I understand TomTom is that it seems to wait for the GPS receiver to contact the phone. This seems odd as I would have thought the phone would be the one to initiate contact.
Anyway my GPS receiver just seems to forget what phone it was connected to. TomTom obviously isn't forgetting the port, windows obviously isn't forgetting the pairing. But Every time I use it I have to re-pair the receiver (thus reminding the receiver of the phone it's supposed to be bonded to). It's beginning to drive me a bit insane.
Anyone else have this issue? Perhaps it's to do with my incoming and outcoming ports? Hopefully someone has already solved this? Not seen any references to it anywhere.
Lewis

Hello,
Which version of Tomtom are you using ? The last one (5.21) ? If not, try to upgrade and try again.

Yep 5.2 latest release.
I was hoping upgrade would fix it but alas no.
Lewis

BigDamHero said:
Yep 5.2 latest release.
I was hoping upgrade would fix it but alas no.
Lewis
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't mean to be picky, but 5.2 or 5.21?
I've held off installing TTN on my Wizard, as it works fine on my iPAQ 4700, I have a cradle for that, and according to ttcode, my current device is actually my old 3970, not the current iPAQ... Last week, I had a couple of hour drive to do, so I thought I'd give it a whirl. After an email exchange with TomTom support (who were more helpful than I'd originally given them credit for), I had a new activation code for the Wizard. Here's what I did, from a fairly recent hard reset with no previous TTN install whatsoever. Skip the mail if it doesn't look helpful, but I'll detail my steps in case it helps anyone else...
Although I believe the PC install is mended in 5.21 I copied the map and voice cab files from the CD to my SD card and installed them from there. The GPS drivers and main app I installed from the download I got from the TomTom support site by running the setup util on my PC. Once everything was installed, I moved the maps which seemed to finish up in a sub-directory on the card to the root of the card.
I paired the GPS (my old Emtac BT one) and selected serial port profile. I tried all the offered serial ports in the "Other BT GPS" list in TTN but none worked. Then I went to 'COM Ports' in Comm Manager/Bluetooth Settings and selected "New Outgoing Port". I picked the GPS from the list of paired SPP devices, and it created a new BT COM port on COM6. That definately hadn't been in TTN's list of BT com ports before, but is now there in the list with about half a dozen others. I selected that in the "Other BT GPS" list of BT ports, and TTN connects to the GPS each time.
As I said, I'd recently hard reset the device to try and prove a problem with my BT car-kit soit's quite possible the clean install was the secret, but try creating a new outgoing COM port against the GPS and see if TT remembers that...
Dox

BigDamHero said:
Hi,
I've trawled the forum and I've followed all the TomTom setup procedures.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which?
There are 2 general ways to set it up, 1 works 100% (i use it so know it does ) 1 i dont use and have never tried so may well work in the reverse direction and be causing you errors.
The way i set up tomtom; pair the BT GPS. Open an OUTGOING port to the BT GPS, set my GPS as OTHER (wired/cable) NEMA device (NOT bluetooth) in TTN5. now my tomtom connects to the bluetooth, not the otherway round. This method has thrown up no errors for me at all.
If you have followed the reg edit/hack to show the GPS page in connections then i dont know how the settings differ and the possible results this could have on connection issues.
Let us know which way you are going

I have the exact problem as BigDamHero. Each time I wanna use TTN, I need to delete the previously paired BT GPS and then pair it again, otherwise the TTN will just say No GPS Device. I use TTN v5.21 and Wizard with Windows Mobile 5. I tried my BT GPS device on my brother's PDA which runs on Windows Mobile 3, and it connects like a gem every time. I am also looking if anyone has solved this issue, cos it is tedious re-pairing every time.

Had the same problem until 5 mins ago! Found an explanation in another thread, but only in Dutch..
Here's how to do it:
Turn on GPS
Activate bluetooth on device, go to BT parameters, delete previous pairing like you're used to
Create new pairing, choose GPS, enter passkey, check Serial port in services, go to COM ports and add outgoing port (e.g. COM6) like you're still used to :roll:
Add an incoming port too (e.g. COM7) <-- Here's the trick!
Set your GPS apps to use COM6 (the outgoing one)... and here you are! This time it will work, you can turn off GPS and device bluetooth, turn on again and it will connect by itself.
If you want a bit more you can activate GPS panel, set program port to COM8 (then you will have to use this in your apps) and COM6 as hardware port.
Everything works fine now!

hey man, wot a coincidence....i also just read that post which had the dutch explanation.....BUT however, it's not working for me.

toneslee said:
hey man, wot a coincidence....i also just read that post which had the dutch explanation.....BUT however, it's not working for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did everything in the list except for creating the incoming port and it still works everytime (I know that's no consellation to you). I wonder if something else you've installed, or the way you installed the app is causing the problem? Is it worth a hard reset and trying the entire install on a clean wizard?
Dox

A friend didn't need the incoming port either. I believe it has something to do with the GPS, as he has a different brand than me.
With mine, before adding the incoming port if I started an app without erasing/redoing the pairing before I would get a notification saying "Navman GPS wants to connect" and asking me to pair. It would keep coming every 10 seconds whatever I did.

BigDamHero, what brand / model of GPS is it?
Maybe we can see if anybody here, or over on pocketgpsworld has been able to make the same combination work and if so, what they had to do to get it to fly...
Dox.

well, tomtom was the very first thing I installed when I got my new vario. it was only after I got tomtom fully working (but still need to re-pair everytime), then I installed a couple of simple Card games.

toneslee said:
well, tomtom was the very first thing I installed when I got my new vario. it was only after I got tomtom fully working (but still need to re-pair everytime), then I installed a couple of simple Card games.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A quick glance at pocketgps suggests others are having similar issues. There's a thread here that suggests leaving it a while, and I seem to remember other GPS issue threads saying power up the GPS and let it get a fix before starting TTN. A more detailed probe round the forum will probably show more of the same.
Dox

I've just flashed my Qtek 9100 to a new ROM, (the O2 one), and since then I've been getting this same problem. With my previous ROM everything worked fine. I was able to turn of either my PDA or GPS, and they would always auto-reconnect in a few seconds. Looks to me like something broke during one of the ROM changes. Which ROM versions does everyone with/without this problem have?
By the way, I have a BT77 GPS.

Hey sorry for the total lack of reply. Been snowed under with exams.
Ok I tried most of what you guys said but didn`t work. BT ports aren't available to select as hardware ports.
However I have managed to solve it. The key was to pair the GPS, and create an UNENCRYPTED OUTGOING port. That's all. Previously I had encrypted ports outgoing and incoming. My GPS applet in control pannel is set to none so it,s nothing to do with that.
I don't know what my GPS is. Its unbranded. One of the cheap common ones.
Hope this helps some people with the same problem.
Lewis

GPS device

Hi
I just bought an GPS-Mouse, in order to make TOMTOM usefull.
It worked a couple of days ago, but TOMTOM can't find the GPS-device now.
Does somebody have some usefull tips for me?
(GPS mouse is a Adapt AD-500 GPS Bluetooth receiver)
Cheers

I only use holux, but try restarting phone that usually helps

xboxhaxorz said:
I only use holux, but try restarting phone that usually helps
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup same here, Holux M-1200 with iGo MyWay software. But are you sure you set up a secure connection with the bluetooth and set it as a com port 6 or 7 with the correct baud rate? Did you follow everything step by step in your manual for the tomtom?

Well, I tried to follow the manual, but it didn't really help me. There was very little information in the manual, and the information in it was not very clear. The fact is, that it worked a couple of days ago, and now I cannot connect anymore...

I have a motorola BT GPS, supposedly motorola is rock-solid, but I've had troubles with it at times. Rebooting the phone would work occasionally, turning off the GPS would work occasionally, turning off both would work occasionally, if you get the picture, no ONE thing did it each time.
Recently, I found Franson GPSGate (the full version) This keeps a good connection with the bluetooth GPS better than it ever has been before, even when walking away from and then back to the gps device. It also generates a comport that multiple GPS programs can use at once. Very handy little program.
Hope it helps someone.

itrek bluetooth for me....
Do you know about the settings, External GPS icon on the Wing? Go in there and make sure you've got com port set i have mine at program port 6 which is where most gps like to sit for some reason but if it's not working for you play with that setting unfortunately it's trial and error but play with it. I don't know what you'd need "hardware port" for but since you're using a mouse and not a bluetooth unit can't hurt to play with that too, and in the last screen be sure you've got "manage automatically" checked, or maybe you need to uncheck it. All stuff to play with. Did you put any software on lately that could have hosed something? Did you try reloading tom tom? See if you can find one of those freeware utilities that talk to the gps unit and see if it can find it.

This device doesnt have a internal gps correct ? I always thought it didnt but I see some people talking as if it does. Then again, you all wouldnt be buying externals if that was the case.

WM6.5 Bluetooth problem thread

I opened this thread to sign here all the BT problems found on our BA using WM6.5
I'm using Radio 1.13 on WM6.5 21198. I can pair a Qstarz 51channel GPS antenna correctly, but after the pairing the device remains disconnected. After checking the Serial Port box in the device settings i'm able to tap on 'Connect', but then the BA always report 'Unable to connect, connection failed or password wrong'.
I tried with Broadcomm stack b3900 but i get an error on startup about 'Storage' file being deleted or something else.
I tried with Helmi BT stack b3400 and it works: i can pair and connect. However connection seems to be unstable and after a few i get the device disconnected automatically, i don't have even the time to set up correctly Navigon Navigator. After a SR sometimes i get 'Unable to turn on bt cous of lack of memory, try to sr... blablabla'. Sometimes i have to HR to leave this error message.
better experiences?

I never use the CONNECT in the BT Settings to connect to my Holux GPSlim236. I just Add New Device... then set the COM Port to port #6, then go to Start/Settings/Connections/External GPS ... Under the Programs tab (Select NONE), under Hardware tab (Select the COM Port you set on BT, in my case COM Port 6), on the Access tab (Mark Manage GPS Automaticaly. Then I go open whatever GPS Software I'm going to use, and it usually connects to the GPS Reciever automatically. [edit] If it doesn't connect, then I go to the settings of the GPS Software and I tell it what my GPS Reciever COM Port is. I usually have to do that with Live Search and iGO8(all though iGO8 has a search for GPS that always finds it too)[end edit] However, from the best of my memory, I have never seen my GPS listed as CONNECTED. So again, I don't think you need to try to Connect on the BT Settings page. Give it a try, hope this helps.
Another option is to contact Qstarz support and ask them how to properly set up your GPS on WM6+. They should be able to walk you through.
[Edit:] I will test tonight if I get that error message by trying to use the CONNECT funtion on BT Settings. Also, I'll see if when the BT GPS Receiver is connected, if it shows on BT Settings as CONNECTED. I'll post back my findings as an EDIT to this post.[End Edit]
<Edit> I've done some further testing as promised. Here is my finding:
*When the BTGPS Reveiver is connected to the phone, there is no indication on the BT Settings as that it is "Connected", however it is, as Live Search, Pharos, iGO8 and Google find it without any troubles.
*I tried to highlight the GPS Receiver and tap on CONNECT, but the softkey is greyed out(not available).
*I tried tap n hold over the Receiver with the same results, connect is not available.

I have not noticed any problems with Blue tooth on build 21198.

Same problem to me with Jentro BT8.
Now trying HELMI_BA_BTstack_Build 3400.CAB.
Hope this one works.
frafor said:
but after the pairing the device remains disconnected. After checking the Serial Port box in the device settings i'm able to tap on 'Connect', but then the BA always report 'Unable to connect, connection failed or password
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

I am also having the same problem. Is there any fix for it. Can some one get xplode to help us with same problem

kabbab said:
I am also having the same problem. Is there any fix for it. Can some one get xplode to help us with same problem
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Read markanthonypr's and frafor's posts above. Those are the only two solutions found so far. I am currently trying out markanthony's solution and so far it seems to work. I'll have to do some further testing.

I've been able to connect my GPS using helmi's b3400 stack, the connection is far stable but i have to set up the GPS ports fast, then open Navigon Navigator because otherwise the GPS enters standby mode and it looses the connection. However in these days i'll try the new build
markanthonypr: i too use 'add new device', but after the wizard procedure the GPS is listed under 'Disconnected devices' so then i have to check 'Serial port' service and tap 'connect'. Here i get the error message.

frafor said:
I've been able to connect my GPS using helmi's b3400 stack, the connection is far stable but i have to set up the GPS ports fast, then open Navigon Navigator because otherwise the GPS enters standby mode and it looses the connection. However in these days i'll try the new build
markanthonypr: i too use 'add new device', but after the wizard procedure the GPS is listed under 'Disconnected devices' so then i have to check 'Serial port' service and tap 'connect'. Here i get the error message.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried w/o checking the Serial Port? I don't check the serial port. I just tried what you've stated, and got the same error you are talking about. But like I said, It connects to BT GPS Receiver w/o the Serial.

markanthonypr said:
Have you tried w/o checking the Serial Port? I don't check the serial port. I just tried what you've stated, and got the same error you are talking about. But like I said, It connects to BT GPS Receiver w/o the Serial.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well mark, you were right on the money with your suggestion. It seems that 6.5 controls external gps devices from within that option in the settings rather than the BT console. I am using Destinator 7 with my Pharos BT GPS and aside from taking a few minutes to connect, it works like a charm once it does connect...

egzthunder1 said:
Well mark, you were right on the money with your suggestion. It seems that 6.5 controls external gps devices from within that option in the settings rather than the BT console. I am using Destinator 7 with my Pharos BT GPS and aside from taking a few minutes to connect, it works like a charm once it does connect...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL well I'm glad yours is working. I tried using Frafor's method, got his same error, went back to the method I always use, and now it won't connect LOL blah... I'm sure it will after a soft reset.
Speaking of soft reset. I've been searching all over for the darn XP ShutDown and can't find it. I know its here, but, why can't search find it? I wouldn't dare to ask you to point me in the right route, would you think I had the guts to as that? "Giggling"
Edit: Oh and I did use the Search !

i attached it for you, but be aware of the fact, that this is the basic version with a very xp like look for themes and how to install them go to: http://ppcsoft.narod.ru/english/

markanthonypr said:
LOL well I'm glad yours is working. I tried using Frafor's method, got his same error, went back to the method I always use, and now it won't connect LOL blah... I'm sure it will after a soft reset.
Speaking of soft reset. I've been searching all over for the darn XP ShutDown and can't find it. I know its here, but, why can't search find it? I wouldn't dare to ask you to point me in the right route, would you think I had the guts to as that? "Giggling"
Edit: Oh and I did use the Search !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wouldn't dare to tell you to search... you know better than that
As far as the BT, it seems that it isn't a matter of drivers after all, but rather how 6.5 is handling them. Stick with the original drivers, I think that there are a few surprises in stock with the other BT stacks (Helmi's and broadcomm's)
Also, if I could recommend you Destinator 7, it seems to do just fine. I haven't tried Tomtom 6 or iGo 6 (all of which I used to use), but this one is very lightweight and the maps are not ridiculously big either.
Good to see you around buddy!!

Chef_Tony said:
i attached it for you, but be aware of the fact, that this is the basic version with a very xp like look for themes and how to install them go to: http://ppcsoft.narod.ru/english/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you very much Tony!
egzthunder1 said:
I wouldn't dare to tell you to search... you know better than that
As far as the BT, it seems that it isn't a matter of drivers after all, but rather how 6.5 is handling them. Stick with the original drivers, I think that there are a few surprises in stock with the other BT stacks (Helmi's and broadcomm's)
Also, if I could recommend you Destinator 7, it seems to do just fine. I haven't tried Tomtom 6 or iGo 6 (all of which I used to use), but this one is very lightweight and the maps are not ridiculously big either.
Good to see you around buddy!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, I'm happy with iGO8 and the sexy female voice I have LOL and LiveSearch works awesome as well. They just updated again few weeks ago. Only thing I don't like about LiveSearch is it only saves 128MB on Storage Card. Everything over that gets downloaded on the spot and with the slow G connection of BA's, it can become a pain at times. But iGO8 Maps cover PR very well However, just to be nice, I'll try destinator. If you recomend it and Tony Cooks it, I'll eat it LOL
Umm btw, let me scoot to work... Later aligators
EDIT: Geez, I always have a second thought after pressing that darn Post Reply. I installed NF, its the same I had. Haven't seen any noticeable difference. A little higher build... Poofff Gone!

markanthonypr said:
<Edit> I've done some further testing as promised. Here is my finding:
*When the BTGPS Reveiver is connected to the phone, there is no indication on the BT Settings as that it is "Connected", however it is, as Live Search, Pharos, iGO8 and Google find it without any troubles.
*I tried to highlight the GPS Receiver and tap on CONNECT, but the softkey is greyed out(not available).
*I tried tap n hold over the Receiver with the same results, connect is not available.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well, when i'll flash to new build then i'll try this thanks

nothing to do, the GPS connects (1second flashing blu light), then the BA stucks on the passphrase window with the wait cursor, the GPS disconnects (fixed blue light) and then it enables standby mode...

frafor said:
nothing to do, the GPS connects (1second flashing blu light), then the BA stucks on the passphrase window with the wait cursor, the GPS disconnects (fixed blue light) and then it enables standby mode...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use TomTom Bluetooth GPS and have not faced this issue.

Chef_Tony said:
i attached it for you, but be aware of the fact, that this is the basic version with a very xp like look for themes and how to install them go to: http://ppcsoft.narod.ru/english/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
psShutXP is a bit annoying. I use this cab to soft reset & power off which is quite ideal for WM6.5 start menu I have repacked the cab files.

I've got the same problem and I think this is a problem GPS with MTK chipset. I've try 2 diferent GPS (qstarz and pentagram ) with MTK chipset and bouth work correctly only with WM2003 or on WM 5/6 from helmi with Helmi BT Stack 1,7.
With many ROMs GPS connect corectly and work to soft reset. After reset GPS connect for 1-2 sek and disconnect. It doesnt mater setting in GPS devices so i thing this is problem with receving BT data in our devices.
Also I try GPS from nokia LW-3 (or something like this) with sirfstar III and it connect without problem with diferent ROMS

I have a different problem since upgrading to Xplode's WM6.5 v21202...
I have working connections (not all at the same time) to three BT devices; Qstarz 51 ch gps, my old Tomtom BT gps, and the Stowaway (Think Outside) BT keyboard. All exhibit the same problem:
After a few minutes the connection seems to go and the device loses communication. It will then reconnect and continue fine for a while then same loss as before. This is particularly annoying when I'm using Tomtom to navigate!
I have not set up a serial connection for the Tomtom gps but did so for the Qstarz and keyboard. they all have the same comms loss.
I also have another BA running WM6.1 and this is fine with the devices...
Any suggestions please?
Thanks

Stevemann said:
I have a different problem since upgrading to Xplode's WM6.5 v21202...
I have working connections (not all at the same time) to three BT devices; Qstarz 51 ch gps, my old Tomtom BT gps, and the Stowaway (Think Outside) BT keyboard. All exhibit the same problem:
After a few minutes the connection seems to go and the device loses communication. It will then reconnect and continue fine for a while then same loss as before. This is particularly annoying when I'm using Tomtom to navigate!
I have not set up a serial connection for the Tomtom gps but did so for the Qstarz and keyboard. they all have the same comms loss.
I also have another BA running WM6.1 and this is fine with the devices...
Any suggestions please?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try a different BT stack. Some people have reported improvement in certain areas of functionality. However, everything comes at a price... the same people have reported that the range stinks. You will not be able to get much further than a couple of feet from your BA. Hope this helps...

Can't connect Bluetooth GPS Receiver

Hello
unfortunatly the search didn't work for me to find a solution (maybe anybody can help me..)
i simply want to pair my Universal with my bluetooth gps receiver.
in settings/connections/bluetooth i added a new device.
it took a while, then it found my gps receiver and asked me for passkey. i used "1234" - but i am unsure, if that was the right key (i'm 80% sure..)
after that i got a new entry in the list of the avaible devices.
so far so good... BUT:
the gps receiver only appers as "disconnected". when i want to "connect" to it, it says "Your device did not connect with GP-700. The connection failed or the passcode is incorrect."
maybe the passcode is incorrect, ok. but i can't insert a new passkey, because it won't ask me for new entry after searching for new devices. i also can't delete the gps receiver entry.
I checked the box in "select services to use from this device. Serial Port". is that correct?
...hmmm it has to be so simple but i can't pair... gr......
please help me

nobody knows an answer...? ;((

hi, we maybe able to help but need more info as i would for sure. what rom are you using? and possibly what radio version? i use a bt gps with mine and passcode is 1234. not sure if thats the case for all though. depending on the rom im using mine shows as disconnected sometimes but i also have to create a valid com port to use with it. hope that helps.

Also what program are you using with you BT device? Mine pairs with '0000'.
If I use Route66, I don't even need to pair it.
When using iGo8, I do pair it.
When using Google Maps, I also need to add a COM port (I use 1 as some programs can't use 0 - eg, MemoryMaps).

Hey, thanks for answering my question.
i am using Tomal v8.90 (light). My radio version is (after unlocking) 0.00.00. Should i flash it back to 1.18? do i have disadvantages?
i wanted to use tomtom..
hope these information helps

I think there's your problem. I'd flash either 1.15 or 1.18 radio.

hm... anybody can help me..?

ThaMasterT said:
hm... anybody can help me..?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Flash an updated radio...1.15

i flashed to 1.15 succesfully.
i found out, that 1234 for my device is the right passkey.
i connected in connections/bluetooth to my device (like i wrote above) and it says "connection successful". after that my device is listed under "disconnected" again. furthermore i can't connect to it, when i click on "connect" in the settings. i can't connect to it in tomtom, too...
when i click on the device (listed under connection-settings in "disconnected") the partnership settings will be displayed. here i can select services to use from device. it provide me a list with one item to check: "serial port". but even if i check or if not, it wouldn't affect anything(?). i simply can't connect to my device...

hey,
i solved that problem. i choosed "the right" com port to use the receiver.
thats a little weird, cus i already choosed some random com ports before and it never worked for me. unfortunately i didn't get some useful error messages or something from tomtom or other programs. now i tried a different port again and suddenly it worked...
sorry for the trivial problem and thank you very much for helping me.

btw: the device is still listed as "disconnected" in settings. who the **** cares...

i have the tomtom gps mkii sirf III and i don't get it paired or manually connected either, but then, when i installed the tomtom software, i found out, that it does not need to be paired in the windows settings first. ok, you might say, this is a coincidence, because tomtom works fine with their own hardware, of course. but no! in my settings there is also an "external gps" point, and all you need to do is put in a proper port and speed and it'll work. the easiest test for that would be google maps. in the beginning i also worried about pairing and connecting, but i found that i didn't have to do that.