Need PDA Recommendation

[Bill_Jacobs]

Hi Ben,

I can try to post some code, but I can't get to it today.

One primary work around concerned digital output using dynamic tasks with a USB-6210 device.  After creating an empty NI-DAQmx Base task, then calling Create Virtual Channels to add the digital output channels to the task, the NI-DAQmx BAse Start Task VI call would always fail to return.  The workaround was to remove the Start Task vi call and use the auto start parameter on the Ni-DAQmx BAse Write VI.

I'll not here that the NI example Write Dig Port.vi uses the Start Task.vi call and not the auto start parameter.

I believe you told me you were using a USB-600x device, and when I used one of those, I did not have that problem.  The Start Task vi did return with that device.

Another bug concerns using calls such as Create Task.vi and Clear Task.vi in an AI loop.  The Create Task.vi would always work the first time through the loop, but not always the second or subsequent times.  The solution here is to structure the program so that Create Task only gets called once at program start and Clear Task only once at program end.  This will result in a reliable program but is not the optimal solution for me.  My system will have multiple sensors connected and I wanted to allow reconfiguring at run time.

There was one bug for which there is not work around at this time.  This bug is with graph indicators.  They do not autoscale properly.  The black area of the graph, where the actual waveform is displayed does auto scale.  The axis never does.  So if the default scale on my plot is +-10.0, and I plot a +-2.0 waveform, the waveform will fill the space, but the axis still shows +-10.

This is true for both the X and Y axes.  There is no real work around.  It is true that if I pull down the Windows Mobile start menu.  this forces LabVIEW to redraw everything and when that happens, the axes are scaled properly.  But this is not a good workaround.

I had to return my Archer.  I had it only for a two week demo.  I asked for a quote and I hope to get approval to buy one in the next few weeks.

Thanks

Bill Jacobs

[BenBabb]

Hello Bill,

Thank you for the information.  It is unfortuneate to hear of any bugs in software.  I didn't notice the clearing task error because I put my create and clear tasks as you described.  I have not had any tasks that require run time reconfigurations before.

I hope you get an Archer quickly.

Cheers,

Ben

[oilyfingers]

Dear all. I am jumping into this because I too am wanting to run Labview on a PDA and I need the PDA to act as a USB controller to get data from a microcontroller board via a virtual COM port over USB.

Really what I want to know is what PDA you would recommend we purchase that will be able to do this, and how to configure a virtual COM port over USB to receive data in Labview Mobile.

Many thanks

Dave

[BenBabb]

Hello oilyfingers,

It depends on the environment you plan on using the PDA in.  Juniper Systems Inc. manufactures rugged hand helds that can be used in harsh environments.  That sometimes puts them out of some budgets.  Each one of our hand helds have a dedicated RS232 port as well as USB host capability.

Where are you planning to use the hand held?  What kind of budget do you have available?

Cheers,

Ben

[oilyfingers]

Hi - this is just for a demo of a prototype so the environment is nothing more dangerous than a conference! I was thinking about something fairly cheap like an HP device. I just need advice on getting one which support labview mobile and also can act as a USB controller without problems. Thanks.

[oilyfingers]

Hey, can anyone help with this? I really need to purchase a suitable PDA. It needs to be able to act as a USB controller. It needs to have a (mini)USB port and it needs to run Labview PDA/Mobile. Labview on the PDA needs to be able to read in USB data as a virtual COM port. Please help!! There are many PDAs out there. I need suggestions of something reasonable cheap and general that will work.

[Bill_Jacobs]

Hello.

I'm the guy who originally started this thread.  I had to put my project on hold, but I did learn a few things about LabVIEW on a PDA.

I'm not sure I unerstand what you are trying to do other than you want to use a PDA to read data from another device.  The other device is some sort of microcontroller.  Does it have a USB port or an RS-232 port or both?  If it has USB, is it a client type port, not a host?

Bill

[Greg_J]

Hi Dave,

Here's a list of the LabVIEW Mobile Module supported devices up to 2009.  Regarding the serial communication, you'll need to install NI-VISA to communicate serially from your PDA device.  But be careful when communicating with NI-VISA through USB, as its compatibility can be device specific (device being your microcontroller).

I hope this helps!

- Greg J

[oilyfingers]

Thanks for this, very helpful.

Do you/anyone know whether Labview for mobiles will work with Windows Mobile 6.1? (The supported devices page says version 6.0)

Cheers

Dave

[AEwing]

For what it's worth, I have used LV Mobile (mostly 8.6 and 9, to date) with an Dell Axim X51 (WinMob. 5) and an HP IPAQ 210 (Win Mob 6, the latter still can be bought new, the former still has support online).  Have gotten simple apps to work on a TMobile WinMob 6 phone.

One can get a serial cable for the Axim from SerialIO, or can get a bluetooth serial link setup (with either of the pdas).  I like the ones that can be configured to automatically connect, I have the Bluesnap-USB from SerialIO.

To connect to USB you need a USB hosting PDA, most of the consumer PDAs do not have this capability that I know of.  However the IPAQ 210 does (requiring a special cable).  You can use a Socket USB serial port to this connection, it comes with the Win Mobile drivers.  You can also get USB hosting thru a Solar Express Compact Flash USB Host card.  This works with the Axim and the IPAQ, likely will work with all WinMob 5 or 6 devices with a CF slot.

Thru either the IPAQ's native host USB port or the SolarExpress Card USB port I can connect and acquire data from a NI-6215 or a NI-6009.  This is pretty cool and makes for a pretty small package solution (esp. the 6009).  But battery power is an issue, so go for one of the larger extended battery packs, unless you can work tethered.

These PDAs of course have both Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity, as well.

Hope this helps.

Al