Problems synchronizing Palm Tungsten E2

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Start here, by reviewing these configuration instructions of the wireless synchronization of a Palm device and Mac OS X. There are somewhat outdated following the release of Mac OS X 10.4, but still applicable and adaptable.

In a Bluetooth synchronization, there is not HotSync button to press on a cable or cradle. You simply initate the synchronization in HotSync on your Bluetooth device. You still treat the setup of iSync 2 or 2.1 as if you were connected via cradle or cable: be sure that you open the Preferences… dialog of iSync and enable all three options under the General section. Also, when you are ready to initiate a synchronization, you should…

* launch iSync
* select Sync Now from the Sync Status icon in your menubar
* initiate a Bluetooth synchronization on your Palm device when the HotSync confirmation dialog appears

Fritz,

I had a similar problem with my T5 sometime ago. As I recall I wound up resetting the T5 to get rid of the "other" application tieing up the port (push the "hole" on the back of the Pilot once - I believe a soft reset did it.

Scott

I am having the same exact problem. Very frustrating as I was pretty excited about using bluetooth to do this stuff. Sync'd fine with a cable, but gives the "port in use" thing after a very long time out.

Dan

Fritz,

Thanks for the info. I spent about 2 or 3 hours working on this problem last night. I ran across this topic on macosxhints.com (search palm bluetooth) in an article on the palm lifedrive.
http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=2005061609383486&query=palm+bluetoo th

At the comments section at the bottom, there is much discussion of this (apparently known) issue with the DBT-120 bluetooth adapter and the palm/isync thing. I followed the steps in the hint and got it to sync with the palm desktop first, then with the isync conduit second.

Best,
Dan

I've been battling this "in use by other port" issue for two days before I came across Daniel's link. It fixed everything in less than 2 minuets. It also solved another problem I was having were I would have to run a USB HotSync first to update my computer, and then iSync to update my Bluetooth phone.

I've cut & paste "jzdziarski"'s solution from macOSXhints here:

The first thing that needs to be done is to change the Bluetooth-PDA-Sync service into a serial-based service:
1. Go into System Preferences -> Bluetooth -> Sharing
2. Click on the Bluetooth-PDA-Sync service
3. Select RS-232 from the 'Type' dropdown
4. Uncheck 'Require pairing for security' if it happens to be checked
5. Go into 'Devices' and delete any pairings you may have already attempted to set up. You won't need them for Hotsync.

Next, Hotsync needs to rebuild its list of ports. If you haven't already installed Hotsync, then you can install it now and skip this step.
1. Disable the HotSync manager and close all Hotsync applications
2. Use the finder to navigate to ~/Library/Preferneces/ByHost
3. Drag all preferences beginning with 'com.palm' into the trash and empty (there should be at least three of them)
4. Restart the HotSync manager

Finally, you'll need to activate the Bluetooth service in HotSync Manager. This is the easy part:
1. Open HotSync Manager
2. Click on the 'Connection Settings' tab
3. You will notice that Bluetooth-PDA-Sync now has a different icon (it is no longer a modem). Check the box next to this connection.
4. Enable HotSync

Now all that's left to do is set up a Bluetooth Hotsync on your Palm device. This is the same as always:
1. Click on the Bluetooth button on your menu bar and choose Prefs -> Setup Devices -> PC Setup
2. Click the button next to the HotSync icon labeled 'Set up your PC to synchronize using Bluetooth' and follow the instructions

Now just initiate a Bluetooth Hotsync from your Palm device, and you should be good.

Hi,

I have a T3, and am having the same trouble. I cannot sync.

I have tried the solution above from OSX hints, but it did not work. I have deleted the original com.palm files, restarted HotSync manager, but the Bluetooth-pda-sync still shows a modem icon. I have tried this several times but still cannot sync.

Can anyone offer any advice?

Thanks

Ian Bacon