Pocket PC Thoughts: A Truly Pocketable All-In-One Package - The Pharos Traveler GPS 525 (Part 1)

I was very pleased with the 802.11b WiFi transceiver included in the Traveler 525. It easily connected up to my home router and provided quick and easy access to the Internet, with pretty good throughput. It was considerably easier and more reliable than the connection with my Axim X50v. The Communications Manager provided by Pharos (or HTC?) is rather spartan, with not a lot of flash to it, but it seems to get the job done. The buttons on the screen basically get you connected to the service.


Figure 15: The main screen of the Communications Manager. Not much to get wrong here! :roll:

All the other parameters are set via the ‘Settings’ menu at the bottom right. Generally, everything you need is there, but there’s not a lot of flash, nor assistance for newbie users.


Figure 16: Getting a look at your WiFi connection.


Figure 17: Setting power utilization settings.


Figure 18: Turning Bluetooth discovery on and off.

Unfortunately, the profiles available in the Bluetooth stack seem to be limited to serial devices only. I was hoping to get the Traveler to route its audio navigation prompts through my Motorola HS820 headset, and while it recognized the unit as a headset, there was no way to get the audio rerouted through it.


Figure 19: I established a partnership with my Bluetooth headset, but it expected a serial connection. They paired up, but audio never got routed to the headset. :(

It also wouldn’t work with my Stowaway Bluetooth keyboard. Since I’ve given up trying to get Activesync working over Bluetooth (it’s a looonnnggg story), I’m sure how useful the Bluetooth capability is right now without the other profiles. For now, Pharos knows about the problem and say they are contacting the manufacturer about it.