ScoutPalDB Beta: Hardware Requirements

ScoutPalDB Compatibility and Requirements

You can buy a ScoutPalDB-ready new Pocket PC PDA and scanner package from ScoutPal, or you can use the hardware that you may already have or plan to purchase somewhere else, as long your equipment meets these compatibility requirements:

ScoutPalDB is compatible with touch screen Pocket PC devices that use the Windows Mobile 2003, 5, 6, 7, or newer operating system. These devices have a stylus, used to tap on the screen in order to make choices. ScoutPalDB is not compatible with a device that is not "Windows Mobile", or does not have a screen that you tap with a stylus.
Learn more about compatibility...
1. ScoutPalDB is only compatible with Windows Mobile devices that have a touch screen. These devices have a stylus, used to tap on the screen in order to make choices. If your device is not "Windows Mobile", or it doesn't have a screen that you tap with a stylus, it is NOT compatible.
2. Visit http://pocketpccentral.net for help determining if you have a Windows Mobile touch screen Pocket PC, or a Windows Mobile smartphone, or something else entirely.
3. An example of a smartphone is the Motorola Q. Since the Q doesn't have a touch screen and a stylus, it is not compatible with ScoutPalDB. Microsoft naming conventions can be confusing, for example some vendors will call their Pocket PC phone a "smart phone".
4. If you have an older Dell Axim X5 running a pre-Windows Mobile 2003 OS, you might be able to upgrade it to Windows Mobile 2003 with this upgrade utility. Some X5's also need to use ActiveSync version 3.6.
Read the "Pocket PC's" section below to learn more about shopping for a Pocket PC PDA. If you are also shopping for a bar code scanner to work with a PDA, read the "Bar Code Scanners" section below.

Windows Mobile Pocket PC PDA/phones are also compatible, as long as they use Windows Mobile 2003+, and they have a touch screen. (As stated in item 1 above). Examples include the Treo 700/800w, and the HTC Touch/Diamond/Pro. When coupled with a Bluetooth scanner they make a fine choice for ScoutPalDB.
Learn more about Pocket PC phones...

Windows Mobile Pocket PC phones:

Many Windows Mobile Pocket PC phones with touch screens are compatible. Keep in mind that other operating system devices like the Palm Treo 650 and Treo 700p are not Windows Mobile, so they are not compatible. However, Treo 700w and Treo 800w series (Sprint 800w | Verizon 700wx) phones are compatible. (The "w" stands for "Windows".)

Pocket PC phones don't have CF card slots, and you will need to use their SD card slot for the database files. But nearly all of these phones have Bluetooth, so you can use a scanner like the Microvision ROV Bluetooth scanner.

A few examples of Windows Mobile 6 Pocket PC phones:

Carrier	Available Direct From Carrier	Available used on eBay, etc.
Verizon Wireless	Touch Diamond - Saga - Omnia - Omnia II	XV6900 - XV6800 - XV6700 - Touch Pro - Treo 700w - Treo 800w - SCH-i760
Sprint PCS	Touch Pro 2	Mogul - Touch Diamond - Touch Pro - Treo 700wx
AT&T Wireless	Ignite - Incite - Fuze	Treo 750 - Tilt - Epix
T-Mobile	Touch Pro 2	Wing

Phone models come and go nearly every day. Some of these models may no longer be available new, although you may be able to purchase them on ebay. Please check cell phone company websites and/or visit their stores to see their latest models. When shopping used, be sure that the device is unlocked or branded for your carrier.

If you already have a Pocket PC, you must check your Pocket PC's operating system BEFORE attempting to install ScoutPalDB. It will NOT be compatible with ScoutPalDB if it is anything else other than a touch screen device running Windows Mobile 2003 or Windows Mobile 5 or Windows Mobile 6 (also called Windows Mobile Classic and Windows Mobile Professional.)
Click here to learn about the other things you will need to setup and use ScoutPalDB: memory cards/readers, scanners, etc...

You will need a way to copy files from your computer over to the Pocket PC's SD card.
- Preferred method: Use an SD card reader/adaptor. (If you have a Mac, this is the method you will use.) Many newer computers have slots for SD cards built-in. Although you can install and update ScoutPalDB using a sync cable, it's easier and faster if you have a way to write directly to the SD card. SD card adaptors are inexpensive and widely available, for example, Radio Shack sells one for just $13.
  - A card reader is simply a gadget that let's you stick the PDA's little memory card into your computer so that you can read and write to it , just like a CD-ROM or floppy disk. (Mac users can watch this YouTube if they need to learn how to work with an SD card reader. )
  - With a card reader, the memory card will appear to the computer as a "removable storage device", and you can drag/drop and copy/paste files into or out of it, just like it was a disk drive. (In fact, an SD card looks very similar to the nearly obsolete 3.5" diskette )
  - Many newer computers have a card reader already built-in.
  - If you don't have a card reader, they are very inexpensive (some models are under $15) and you can buy them at most computer supply stores, including Radio Shack .
- Or, you can communicate with the Pocket PC using its sync cable and Microsoft's mobile device synchronization software. Although your Pocket PC may have a software CD with sync software, you should install the latest version directly from Microsoft:
  - Windows XP users: Download and install Active Sync
  - Windows Vista/7 users: Download and install the Mobile Device Center
You will need to have Microsoft's .NET Compact Framework 2.0 installed on your Pocket PC. New PocketPC's typically already have it installed. If yours does not, no problem, the ScoutPalDB setup procedure includes steps to do the upgrade as necessary, or you can do it now: [Get .NET CF 2.0 for your Pocket PC]
Memory Requirements:
- ScoutPalDB Program: Unless you have loaded up your Pocket PC with a ton of other programs, you will almost certainly have room to install the program directly in your Pocket PC RAM memory, as it is under 100K. You can also install the program on a memory card if space is an issue.
- ScoutPalDB Database: Although the current ScoutPalDB ISBN database is close to 100 MB in size, a storage card of 1GB or greater capacity is recommended. This will provide plenty of room as the ScoutPalDB databases grow, including room for planned UPC databases.
Scanners and memory cards:
- Most desirable is a PocketPC that has an SD card slot for memory and a CF card slot for a CF scanner. Although the other combination (SD scanner and CF memory) can be used, SD memory cards are inexpensive and widely available (Radioshack.com), while CF card scanners are more ruggedly built than SD card scanners.
- If your Pocket PC has only one card slot, but it also has Bluetooth, you can use a Bluetooth scanner like the Microvision ROV Bluetooth scanner.

Pocket PC's:

We recommend that you shop for the Pocket PC that meets the requirements, as well as one that fits your personal needs. The most widely-used Pocket PC's are the HP iPAQ and the Dell Axim (no longer sold or repairable by Dell.)

If you want a single, integrated unit that you can hold in one hand, you will want a Pocket PC that has both a CF slot and an SD (also called SDIO) slot. That way, you have a slot for the memory, and a slot for a CF scanner.

If a PDA does not have a CF slot, but it does have Bluetooth, then you can use a Bluetooth scanner, but you will need to hold the PDA in one hand, the scanner in your other hand, and the book in your third hand.

Some scouts rely on a template that will sound a "beep" when a book meets a price/rank criteria. If you have a Bluetooth scanner and you can rely on a robotic "buy" signal like that, then you can put the PDA in your pocket, freeing up your other hand for picking up books. You can attach a wired or Bluetooth earphone to the PDA so that only you can hear the beep.

An example PDA that has both CD and CF slots and Bluetooth is the widely available HP iPAQ 210/211 series.

Example iPAQ searches on:

You can sometimes find used Axim's and iPAQ's on eBay, for example the Dell Axim X51, or the IPAQ h2215. There are hundreds of model variations, so check with the seller to confirm that their offering has an SD slot and a CF slot, and that it has a Windows Mobile 2003 or later operating system.

You can buy a new Pocket PC and scanner from ScoutPal: Learn more about our hardware packages

Bar Code Scanners:

ScoutPalDB will work with any bar code scanner that is advertised as being compatible with your particular Pocket PC, and comes with a "keyboard wedge" driver. Every scanner made for Pocket PC's that we have ever seen comes with a "keyboard wedge" driver, so generally there are no worries about that. But we recommend that you purchase your equipment from a seller that has a return policy, in case there is a compatibility issue with your Pocket PC.

If you have a Pocket PC phone that only has an SD card slot, but it does have Bluetooth, you can use a Bluetooth ROV scanner.

A popular choice for users that have a Pocket PC with a "Compact Flash" card slot are the Socket CF card laser scanners.

Here is a matrix of some different Socket Scanner model numbers. The Socket 5M or 5P model is by far the most popular choice:

Basic design	"M" Series - Class-1 laser scan engine	"P" Series - Class-2 laser scan engine (not necessary for indoor scanning, useful when scanning outdoors, like at garage sales.)	"E" Series - imager scan engine (Attractively priced, but not recommended, as performance is sub-par and highly dependant on lighting conditions.)
5=CF card	5M	5P	5E
3=SD card	3M	3P	3E
7=Bluetooth Cordless	7M	7P	7E

You can find Socket Scanners for sale at various prices throughout the web, for example here is a Google products search for "Socket 5P". You can also find Socket 5 scanners and other Socket products for sale on Amazon.com

You can also find Socket scanners used on eBay and other auction sites, try an eBay search using these terms:

"Socket 5m"
"Socket Scan"
"Socket Scanner Card"
"Socket Barcode Scanner CF Card Laser"
"Socket In Hand Scan Card Laser"
"Socket In Hand"