5.3.6:    How to set up a PDA

Success with using a PDA on MEPIS Linux 7.0 depends on the handheld OS and hardware being used.

Palm devices

PalmOS devices work pretty well with Linux, and offer many advanced possibilities. All interactions depend on pilot-link, an application that is installed by default with MEPIS 7.x. A number of different frontends are available to use this backend on MEPIS, including Kpilot and Jpilot.

The following technique works on MEPIS 7 with many Palm devices, following most of the tips listed under Troubleshooting below.

• Using any installation method, install these two packages:

kpilot
libpisock9

• Connect your Palm handheld to the computer
• Open Kpilot and connect manually (the automatic detection method usually crashes the program) by clicking on Settings --> Configure Kpilot and click on Device in the left panel. Set the following parameters:

Pilot device:  /dev/ttyUSB0
Speed: 115200 (unless serial connection, then try 19200)
Workarounds: None (check another choice if applicable)
Encoding: default, unless you know differently
Pilot user: user name for your handheld

• If you are synching with Kontact for addresses, click on Addressbook in the left panel, and check vCard file as the Sync Destination
• Once setup has worked, you can perform a hot sync simply by pressing the hot sync button on your handheld or its cradle.

NOTE: KPilot's Palm DOC conduit does not convert text files to PalmDoc format and send them to the handheld. Nor does KPalmDOC, available in the repos.

Other PDAs

At the present, synching a PDA that's running Windows Mobile 2003 or 2005 OS is somewhat difficult, as is any RIM Blackberry PDA. However, there are active projects working on this. Check the sites linked below for new developments.

Troubleshooting

• If you have trouble connecting, plug your handheld directly into the PC (no hub).
• If you are using a Palm device that has been used on another PC, restore the factory defaults (hard reset)
• Make sure that the modules you need are loaded: visor, usbserial and uhci_hcd or ehci_hcd.
• If problems with HotSync occur, try modifying or even unchecking a conduit (such as Addressbook)

Links and Guides

• KPilot homepage: http://cvs.codeyard.net/kpilot/
• MEPIS Wiki: PalmOS devices: http://www.mepis.org/docs/en/index.php?title=PalmOS_devices
• Palm OS device reset primer: http://www.tankerbob.com/palm/resets.htm
• MEPIS Wiki: Blackberry http://www.mepis.org/docs/en/index.php?title=Blackberry
• MEPIS Wiki: PocketPC devices: http://www.mepis.org/docs/en/index.php?title=PocketPC_devices

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