Ubuntu
kdepim package

HotSync Palm TX with KPilot

Asked by JohnL

Apparently this task is beyond my abilities and I need help. I recently purchased a new Palm TX and want to sync it with the KDE-PIM suite Kontact (calendar, contacts, notes, to-do, email). I am using KPilot (4.9.2-358 for KDE 3.5.8) on Kubuntu (7.10-Gutsy). Here are the results of my current configuration. I am willing to provide any additional information when requested.

> Palm cradle is connected directly by USB to my DELL Latitude D820 Laptop (not through a USB hub or docking station).
> Palm HotSync is configured to connect to the 'PC' via the 'Cradle/Cable' at a speed of '9,600 bps' while set to 'Automatic' Flow Control.
> KPilot 'Wizard' failed at 30% reporting KPilot crashed was caused by a signal 11 (already reported multiple time on Bug list w/o solution). Back to the Wizard configuration screen, I set my Use name to 'john' (as listed on the Palm HotSync screen) and set Device to '/dev/ttyUSB3'. I saved these setting by selecting 'Next' then 'Finish' (default set to 'KDE-PIM suite') in order to create '/dev/pilot'.
> The file '/dev/pilot' points to 'ttyUSB3'.
> The file '/dev/ttyUSB3' permissions are set to 'Can Read & Write' for 'Others'.
> Linked Palm device to the correct USB port using 'ln -s /dev/ttyUSB3 /dev/pilot'
> ensured permissions by 'chmod 666 /dev/ttyUSB3'
> Inserted the following line in '/etc/udev/rules.d/10-custom.rules'.
 BUS="usb", SYSFS{product}="Palm Handheld*", KERNEL="ttyUSB*", NAME{ignore_remove}="pilot", MODE="666"
> Inserted the word 'Visor' after the last line in '/etc/modules'.

After rebooting and the KPilot Daemon in my taskbar tray, I opened Konsole and entered 'tail -f /var/log/messages' to see how the above configuration worked while attempting to HotSync my Palm device; results follow:

> With the Palm resting in the cradle. The following lines list in the Konsole:
Nov 23 07:35:14 john-laptop kernel: [34783.644000] usb 4-1: Handspring Visor / Palm OS converter now attached to ttyUSB3
Nov 23 07:42:58 john-laptop kernel: [35247.460000] usb 4-1: USB disconnect, address 8
Nov 23 07:42:58 john-laptop kernel: [35247.460000] visor ttyUSB2: Handspring Visor / Palm OS converter now disconnected from ttyUSB2
Nov 23 07:42:58 john-laptop kernel: [35247.460000] visor ttyUSB3: Handspring Visor / Palm OS converter now disconnected from ttyUSB3
Nov 23 07:42:58 john-laptop kernel: [35247.460000] visor 4-1:1.0: device disconnected
Nov 23 07:44:27 john-laptop kernel: [35336.520000] usb 4-1: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 9
Nov 23 07:44:28 john-laptop kernel: [35336.692000] usb 4-1: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
Nov 23 07:44:28 john-laptop kernel: [35336.696000] visor 4-1:1.0: Handspring Visor / Palm OS converter detected
Nov 23 07:44:28 john-laptop kernel: [35336.696000] usb 4-1: Handspring Visor / Palm OS converter now attached to ttyUSB2
Nov 23 07:44:28 john-laptop kernel: [35336.696000] usb 4-1: Handspring Visor / Palm OS converter now attached to ttyUSB3

> Pressing the Palm HotSync button, Palm reports “Connecting with desktop using Cradle/Cable”. The following lines list in the Konsole:
Nov 23 07:46:15 john-laptop kernel: [35444.628000] usb 4-1: USB disconnect, address 9
Nov 23 07:46:15 john-laptop kernel: [35444.628000] visor ttyUSB2: Handspring Visor / Palm OS converter now disconnected from ttyUSB2
Nov 23 07:46:15 john-laptop kernel: [35444.628000] visor ttyUSB3: Handspring Visor / Palm OS converter now disconnected from ttyUSB3
Nov 23 07:46:15 john-laptop kernel: [35444.628000] visor 4-1:1.0: device disconnected
Nov 23 07:46:16 john-laptop kernel: [35445.372000] usb 4-1: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 10
Nov 23 07:46:16 john-laptop kernel: [35445.544000] usb 4-1: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
Nov 23 07:46:16 john-laptop kernel: [35445.548000] visor 4-1:1.0: Handspring Visor / Palm OS converter detected
Nov 23 07:46:16 john-laptop kernel: [35445.548000] usb 4-1: Handspring Visor / Palm OS converter now attached to ttyUSB2
Nov 23 07:46:16 john-laptop kernel: [35445.548000] usb 4-1: Handspring Visor / Palm OS converter now attached to ttyUSB3

 > Palm reports “The connection between your device and the desktop could not be established. Please check your setup and try again”. The following lines list in the Konsole:
Nov 23 07:48:29 john-laptop kernel: [35578.440000] usb 4-1: USB disconnect, address 10
Nov 23 07:48:29 john-laptop kernel: [35578.440000] visor ttyUSB2: Handspring Visor / Palm OS converter now disconnected from ttyUSB2
Nov 23 07:48:29 john-laptop kernel: [35578.440000] visor ttyUSB3: Handspring Visor / Palm OS converter now disconnected from ttyUSB3
Nov 23 07:48:29 john-laptop kernel: [35578.440000] visor 4-1:1.0: device disconnected
Nov 23 07:48:30 john-laptop kernel: [35579.184000] usb 4-1: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 11
Nov 23 07:48:30 john-laptop kernel: [35579.356000] usb 4-1: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
Nov 23 07:48:30 john-laptop kernel: [35579.360000] visor 4-1:1.0: Handspring Visor / Palm OS converter detected
Nov 23 07:48:30 john-laptop kernel: [35579.360000] usb 4-1: Handspring Visor / Palm OS converter now attached to ttyUSB2
Nov 23 07:48:30 john-laptop kernel: [35579.360000] usb 4-1: Handspring Visor / Palm OS converter now attached to ttyUSB3

What am I missing here, where have I gone wrong? Does anyone have a suggestion to help me make this work? I seem to be chasing my tail on this one.

Thank you / jwillar

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Revision history for this message
JohnL (jwillar) said : 		#1

If I only tried a few minutes more; I got my Palm TX to sync with Kontacts via KPilot.

From my Palm - HotSync screen I changed my settings from 'Local' and 'Cradle/Cable' to 'Local' and 'john-laptop' (my computer's name). To set this permanently on my Palm, I edited the Connection (John-Laptop) to connect to my 'PC' via “Cradle/Cable'. Selecting the details, I set the speed to '19200' with 'Automatic' flow control. Then in KPilot, I set the speed to match '19200'. The speed settings were match and set slower to enable a successful sync.

One more comment, make sure your Palm 'contacts' match those in 'Kontacts'. By default, Palm only had Friends/Business where I had many more in Kontact. After the sync was complete, most of my contacts on my Palm were “undefined”.

 I hope this prove useful to others, good luck.

JohnL

Revision history for this message
Ampers (ampers) said : 		#2

Do you know whether this will work with Evolution?

I am thinking of updating my E to the TX.

Revision history for this message
JohnL (jwillar) said : 		#3

Not sure, only have the TX. I recently had to do a fresh install of Kubuntu Hardy Heron and discovered my Bluetooth devices (keybd/mouse) work better. I'll be setting up my palm tonight and will see if there has been any changes/improvements on the ability to sync.