Registered: Nov 1999
Location:
Posts: 40

Is there anything I can do to run an automated hotsync? I'd like to get my Avantgo and my backups done while I'm sleeping (along with my computer backup), and I'd rather not modify the cradle to "click" the button automatically. 8-)

-=- SiKnight

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Potomac, MD, USA
Posts: 90

There are programs which do this on PalmGear, but they are designed for the PalmV (a device which charges in the cradle anyways). I believe all other Palm devices (Palm III, Visor, etc) have their batteries drained just by sitting in the cradle, even when off. So its really a toss-off for you.

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JakeBlues2
"the BAND!"

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: College Station, TX
Posts: 143

Hmm...this looks like a job for Rube Goldberg...

Timed Mr. Coffee heats water into carafe next to dipping bird toy next to cradle. Heat from carafe heats liquid in the bulb in the dipping bird, which evaporates into the head part, causing dip...hits hotsync button...

Registered: Nov 1999
Location:
Posts: 40

Well, if it can't be done in software, a hardware mod to the cradle is not that difficult to do. It can be accomplished by soldering a wire to each of the terminals on the button for hotsync, and then connecting it to some form of computer controlled relay (run off the LPT1, perhaps?) and just, send a message, :: CLICK ::

It's a lot of work though, and it voids the warranty on the cradle (oh, horror, horror), but I just thought it's a design hindsight not to be able to initiate the sync process from the *COMPUTER* side.

-=- SiKnight

Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 79

That is one thing that I think that some of the CE devices have over Palm. I've never owned one but a guy at work has a HP Jordenada (or how ever you spell it.) He just keeps in in the cradle and it has a Real Time sync so that when he changes something in Outlook it automaticaly changes it on his device without any user intervention.

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: New Brunswick, NJ, USA
Posts: 11

Since my visor hasn't arrived yet, I can't test this myself, but maybe you should check to see if the programs has any kind of command line options. Then you could make it an "at" job in NT or a scheduled task. This would only work if there is an option to start it up and run a sync.

DAN

Registered: Nov 1999
Location:
Posts: 40

Doesn't matter. All the sync software that I've played with (in the 2 days that I've owned the visor now) starts the sync process, then pops up a message "Press the Hotsync button on the cradle now" or something to that effect.

I've played with synch software from Linux and Windows. No luck.

I am going to go ahead and build a hardware sync button pusher. It's going to be a simple circuit that short together the two contacts on the hotsync button.

Then when I sync the visor, I'll just write a bash script to go:

#(Press hotsync button)
#Hotsync software --sync --> /dev/ttyS0

Will keep you guys updated.

-=- SiKnight