Gerald Q. Maguire Jr.'s notes on using the HP iPAQ h5550

Hewlett-Packard Company (HP) iPAQ Pocket PC h5550: Specifications

iPAQ Pocket PC h5550 with stylus

1. Intel® 400 MHz processor with XScale technology (PXA255)
2. 128 MB SDRAM, 48 MB Flash ROM (of which 17MB is available as a File Store -- i.e., retained despite full resets; use the iPAQ Backup utility to copy files from the RAM file system to this area)
3. integrated Bluetooth® v1.1 (using National Semiconductor's LMX9814 Bluetooth™ WPAN Module) and WLAN 802.11b (aka Wi-Fi based on Atmel's USB 11-megabit WLAN Media Access Controller chip AT76C503A (built around a ARM7TDMI core) and a front end RF chip from RF Micro Devices; note the MAC address 00:02:8A:xx:xx:xx is assigned to Ambit Microsystems (now Hon Hai's Network Systems Group (NSG))
4. biometric fingerprint reader - based on thermal imaging using Atmel's AT77C101B FingerChip™
5. Secure Digital Card slot: Secure Digital (SD), Secure Digital Input/Output (SDIO), and MultiMedia Cards (MMC) support
6. Transflective TFT LCD display, 16-bit, 240 x 320 resolution, 3.8" diagonal viewable image size
7. overlay for pen and touch interface
8. audio microphone, speaker, one 3.5 mm stereo headphone jack; driven by an Asahi Kasei AK4535 16 bit stereo CODEC with headphone/speaker/microphone amplifier
9. USB/Serial connectivity
10. photosensor for authomatic backlight adjustment
11. vibrating alarm
12. 1250 mAh lithium polymer battery
13. size: 13.8 x 83.8 x 16 mm
14. weight: ~200g
15. case secure by four Torx size 6 screws
16. Built by High Tech Computer (HTC) - producer (original design manufacturer) of Pocket PC-based PDAs

The preinstalled OS is Microsoft® Pocket PC 2003. This OS also seems to be called "Windows® Mobile 2003". Examples of using this software - with lots of screen shots.

Additionally each user has an iPAQ PC Card Expansion Pack Plus - which enables them to add a PC Card to the iPAQ. This sleeve can accommodate a PC Card type II card slot. The "Plus" aspect refers to the hinged clear smoked plastic screen cover and a removable 920 mAh "Slim" battery.

Secure Digital vs. MultiMedia Cards (MMC) support

SD cards feature a write-protect switch and have support for securing data via "Content Protection for Recordable Media (CPRM)". This copyright protection technology was developed by 4C (IBM®, Intel®, Matsushita®, and Toshiba®).

Audio

The stereo microphone and headphone jack in the iPAQ is 3.5mm. To use headsets with 2.5mm connector you need to use an adapter (such as the Plantronics Adapter for HP iPAQ Pocket PCs). Note that this is actually a combo headphone/mic jack, hence it uses a 4-position 3.5 mm connector. [Vincenzo Ragone reports that the same cable will also work on an Axim x50v.]

One can easily make an adaptor for a soundcard compatible headphone/microphone.

Accessories

The AC power adaptor is a 5VDC 2000mA center pin positive polarity supply.

The DC plug adapter allows you to connect the AC power adaptor directly to the iPAQ (i.e., without using the cradle). This adaptor is useful when you want to charge the iPAQ and it is failing to charge when in the cradle.

PC Card Expansion sleeve - useful for using PC Card (for example a wired Ethernet - I have successfully used the sohoware™ Ethernet 16 bit PC card)

Cradle - provides both USB and serial connections. You should not connect both serial and USB connections at the same time. A view of the iPAQ in the cradle.

Bottom view of iPAQ showing connectors, audio jack, and reset switch

If you are thinking of developing simple accessories, etc. Gomadic sells prewired cables, connectors, etc.

If you are thinking about making things which connect to this bottom connector, see the excellent web page " Compaq iPAQ USB Cradle Charger Modification" by Charlie Reverte, January 27th, 2002. This page has a nice closeup picture of what the board in the iPAQ cradle looks like. See also a similar article about modifying an iPAQ 3870 cradle.

Leather cover for iPAQ. iPAQ in such a cover.
There are also other types of covers available (but we don't have them).

Common functions

To access files from a samba server via the Internet Explorer, enter:

file://\\hostname\path\file.xxx

You should see (e.g., using ethereal) this hostname being broadcast using NetBIOS datagram service, server message block protocol, Mailslot protocol, Microsoft Windows® Browser Protocol in the field Host Name.

If you have several trees exported from this file server you might be able to enter:

file://\\hostname\

If you are successful accessing the samba server, you will be prompted for you user name and password.

VNC client or server

It is offen useful to use the iPAQ to view a remote desktop (i.e. as a vnc client) or to allow a remote vnc client to view the iPAQ (i.e., a vnc server).

• Windows® CE VNC client
• Windows® CE VNC server (compiles under VC++6)

Another remote control package is Microsoft's Remote Display Control for Pocket PC ( current link as of 20080228) or SnapFiles' link to Remote Display Control

FAQ

• Finding the MAC address of the iPAQ; Look in the Asset Viewer. Note the WLAN must be on to see this information
• Initial charging problems - If you initially have trouble charging - use the direct power to USB adaptor (marked P/N 253652-B21); rather than putting the iPAQ in the cradle
• Reseting the device
  • Soft Reset: push the reset button in (with the stylus)
  • Hard Reset: Hold the bottom 2 hardware buttons down and press and hold the reset button for 5 seconds; then press the reset button again to power up. [Warning: you will loose your local files, settings, etc. - so be sure to synchronize before doing this to save your files elsewhere.
• WLAN problems - if you are unable to get the WLAN to function, even when you have assigned it as static interface, check (using ethereal or tcpdump) to see if the only packet it emits is of the form:

  source MAC: your MAC address
  destination MAC: 01:60:1d:00:01:00
  DSAP: SNAP
  SSAP: SNAP
  

  
  for example:
  

  01 60 1d 00 01 00 00 02  8a a2 fb 50 00 2e aa aa   .`...... .¢ûP..ªª
  0010  03 00 60 1d 00 01 00 04  4c 75 63 65 6e 74 20 54   ..`..... Lucent T
  0020  65 63 68 6e 6f 6c 6f 67  69 65 73 20 53 74 61 74   echnolog ies Stat
  0030  69 6f 6e 20 41 6e 6e 6f  75 6e 63 65               ion Anno unce    
  

  
  Check that you have not filtered out other traffic from WLAN devices - for example by MAC filtering at your access point.
• Also check that you have selected "my ISP" as the network connection to use for all applications and that your network card is set to use your "work" network. Otherwise you may find that the software expects to use a VPN.
• If you want to load a new version of the WLAN driver (such as SP27632: HP iPAQ Pocket PC h5400/h5500 Series WLAN Driver Update version 3.2.4.133 (19 May 04) which you can do from the HP support site http://h18007.www1.hp.com/support/files/HandheldiPAQ/us/locate/105_5643.html. Unfortunately you will need to load this to a Windows® machine and using ActiveSync® to transfer it over to the iPAQ.
• If you have a problem with ActiveSync® not wanting to allow the device to repartner under its usual name, i.e., you get the error message "The device name is already in use. You must enter a different name for your mobile device" - see the excellent notes about deleting a device partnership
• If you are using GPRS or want to use an SDIO camera or Socket scanner, you might want to install a new ROM image, such as SP27674: HP iPAQ Pocket PC h5500 Series ROM Update version 1.10 (7 Apr 04) (note: it is a huge 18.2MB file). If you do install a new ROM image follow the directions carefully or you will render the device inoperative. See also the the list of BIOS/Device/... updates.
  • If you have installed the new ROM, you can install the WPA support via HP iPAQ Pocket PC h5500 Series Wireless LAN Firmware Update with WPA Support version 1.103.5.164 (19 May 04) and HP iPAQ Pocket PC h5500 Series Wireless LAN Driver Update with WPA Support version 4.3.5.414 (19 May 04)
• If you have ROM version 1.00.xx and find that your iPAQ is powering off, because you have only been using the control button and not touching the screen, then upgrade to ROM version 1.10.xx ( details).
• For HP's FAQ for the 5550
• For more FAQs see: http://www.cewindows.net/
• See also Pocket PC Developer Network
• Note that WLAN applications seem to stop working at 15% of the battery power.
• Compaq iPAQ Battery White Paper
• Interesting site with replacement parts
• Werner Heuser's Repair4PDA - site for repairing, modifying, etc. PDAs

Other software (source)

• PocketPuTTY an ssh client for Pocekt PC
• XFree an X windows server and some applications for Pocekt PC
• The openwince project - collects open source software for Windows® CE platform developers
• PocketWarrior PocketPC WiFi Survey tool - Prism card wardriving tool
• DotGNU, you may also need to get:
  • NET Compact Framework 1.0 SP2 Redistributable
  • You might also need the appropriate installer
  • Denise Barnes', "Fundamentals of Microsoft® .NET Compact Framework Development for the Microsoft® .NET Framework Developer" provides a good introduction to .NET
  • You might also find the command line shell and some other tools useful
• Perl for Winows® CE
• MyIpConfig - shows current IP configuration for multiple network adapters
• pocketping - ping utility
• pSynCE - tool for synchronising Windows® CE devices with a Linux host
• Wouter Vanden Hove, Introduction to C#, 21 November 2003 - a very nice introducetion to writing C# code using Anjuta and Mono.

Powering on the iPAQ

From http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/dnroad/html/road03132002.asp?frame=true

Commercial software

• PocketDHCP V0.22 and some other useful tools
• Cambridge Computer Corp.'s software for Windows® CE, including:
  • vxUtil
  • vxFTP
  • vxSniffer
• Adobe's Acrobat Reader®
• RealPlayer® for Mobile Devices
• Microsoft's downloads for the Pocket PC

Linux

Handhelds.org has ported linux to the iPAQ and some people at KTH has run this software. Including minisip. Before you put linux on, be sure to save the bits of the original ROM - so that you can put them back before you return your iPAQ.

SynCE is an open source synchronization solution between Linux Desktops and Windows® CE clients

Some notes from Alan W Black (author of the Festival speech synthesis program) about running programs on a WinCE device when you don't have a Windows® system to connect it to

Freeware

• http://www.freewareppc.com/

Accessories

Navman's GPS 3450 iPAQ sleeve or Navman's GPS 4400 Wireless - Bluetooth-enabled GPS device. See also Pocket GPS Portable Navigator in CompactFlash format and Pharos Bluetooth Pocket GPS Navigator

Reviews and other sources of information

Li Wei's iPAQ Tutorial for KTH/DSV students.

Alisa Devlic has produced a set of instructions on how to develop GPS applications in .NET Compact Framework and deploy them on IPAQ. She has used Franson GpsTools.

AdamaDBrown's iPaq 5550 and iPaq 5555 Review(8/24/2003) and Lisa Gade's HP iPAQ 5550 Pocket PC 2003 with 400 MHz XScale Processor, posted Sept. 7th, 2003.

Pravir Chawdhry send some notes on 2005.11.29

Toshiba makes several PC Card Hard Drives: 2 and 5 gig PCMCIA card drives; which could be used in the PC Card Expansion Pack.

http://www.ipaqabilities.com/

Virus/Worm/... attacks

The first Trojan horse has appeared: Backdoor.WinCE.Brador.a is a utility which installs it self as SVCHOST.EXE in the following folder:

      <Root folder>\Windows\Startup

Thus it is automatic executed at every system startup. A description of its behavior, messages, ports used, etc. is detailed available - see also.

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