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There are at least ten (10) very good reasons to make IntelliGolf your #1 choice!
Have a Great Round!
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Uploading (or updating) a course into the IntelliGolf course database is easy to do. We have simply cut & paste instructions by clicking here. All IntelliGolfers will appreciate your time and efforts. Over 24,000 courses have been uploaded into the IntelliGolf database using the method described. Have a Great Round!
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If you are getting the error message "Error importing GDX file - GetLastError ()=32, please report to support@intelligolf.com" then you need to upgrade to IntelliGolf version 8.2 (or higher). As of January 22, 2007 version 8.2 (or higher) of IntelliGolf is required to access the IntelliGolf course database. To upgrade to our latest version 8.2 (or higher) series of products, please click here. To read more about our in-revision course database access policy please click here.
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Please click here for more information on the IntelliGolf course database access policy.
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Since 1997, IntelliGolf's upgrade policy has remained the same. Once you have purchased, or upgraded to our latest series of products (e.g. version 9.x), then all “in revision” updates for your same product and platform are FREE to you via electronic download (e.g. v9.1, 9.2, 9.3, etc). This also includes FREE access to the IntelliGolf version 9.x course database. Click here for more information on our course database access policy. Other companies charge up to $59.95 "per year" in annual membership fees and/or $19.95 per course download for similar services. Course downloads and product updates are free to our existing in-revision (version 9.x) customers.
We only charge an upgrade fee for:
* Upgrading an older version of IntelliGolf (version 8.x) to the latest "in-revision" series of products (version 9.x),
* Upgrading from one product to another (e.g. Birdie to Eagle), or
* Changing platforms (e.g. Palm to Pocket PC, etc).
For example, if you are currently running the IntelliGolf Birdie edition version 8.5 software for the Palm OS, then you would only pay a one-time upgrade fee to migrate up to the Birdie edition version 9.x for the Palm OS. Then, all future version 9.x (e.g. 9.1, 9.2, etc) Birdie edition updates for the Palm OS would be yours for FREE via electronic download.
Note: Based upon all of the changes to the various handheld/smartphone operating systems and to Windows operating system, Upgrades are only supported for one (1) major version back (e.g. version 8.x). If you are running a much older version of IntelliGolf (e.g. version 1.x-7.x), you will need to purchase a new full version of IntelliGolf by clicking here as the Upgrade will most likely not install properly.
Current customers please click here to upgrade to our latest in-revision series of products.
Upgrade Protection Policy: Customers that purchased a previous version of IntelliGolf (e.g. version 8.5) within 30 days of a new major release's formal announcement date will be provided with a complementary upgrade to the latest major version (e.g. version 9.0). These customers will be individually contacted via email within 30 days of a new major release on how/where to download their complementary upgrade. For version 9.0, this policy has been expanded to include all version 8.x orders from April 1, 2008 forward (i.e. 60 days) as a courtesy to our customers. Please do not ask for further extensions as the complementary upgrade will not install outside of the 60 day window.
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Upgrade pricing is $29.95 (Birdie edition) or $39.95 (Eagle Upgrade = Birdie Upgrade/$29.95 + Eagle GPS Option/$10.00). Click here for more current customer upgrade information. Note: Due to the many changes in the operating systems from the handheld/smartphone manufacturers, IntelliGolf's official policy is to support one major version in arrears (e.g. version 8.x). For more information on this policy please see the FAQ below.
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Click here for detailed information.
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Yes, basically it is as simple as copying your originally downloaded IntelliGolf (.exe) installation file to your New PC, double-clicking on it, and the moving your players, courses, and rounds database over to the new PC. So, let's get started.
Using the "Find" command in Windows (Start, Find, Files or Folders) enter "ig*.exe" into the Search box to find the original IntelliGolf installation file. When you find the .exe installation file, move that file to your new PC (via CD, network, etc). Once that file is on your new PC, simply double-click on that file and the IntelliGolf installation process will restart. Within minutes, IntelliGolf will be installed onto your new PC. Since the original IntelliGolf installation file has already been associated with your unique registration code, re-installing IntelliGolf from your original file should work fine for you. Note: If the "ig*.exe" file you find has a "t" in the 3rd position (e.g. igt*.exe) then that is the IntelliGolf "trial edition" file. You will need to locate the ig*.exe file that does not have a "t" in the 3rd position for the "live" version. If the ig*.exe installation file has an "up" in it, that is the Upgrade file (i.e. not the original installation file). You will want to install the original .exe installation file first, and then the install Upgrade file after the original installation file is installed on your new PC.
Next copy the IntelliGolf players, rounds, and courses (desktop) database from the old PC to your new PC. The name and location of the IntelliGolf database file is found in the lower right hand corner of the IntelliGolf desktop application. The database file is "\program files\intelligolf\golf.gdb" by default. Copy the IntelliGolf database file from the old PC to the new PC and then open it on the new PC using the menu command "File | Open…" in the IntelliGolf desktop software. You should be all set. Now IntelliGolf should be on your new PC including your existing players, courses, and rounds database. Easy.
Note: If for some reason you cannot find your original (.exe.) installation file, and did not make a back-up copy as recommended, then please see our "Lost Copy" FAQ in the General section by clicking your Back button in your web browser.
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For a list of known issues with IntelliGolf running on particular devices please click here.
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The IntelliGolf desktop component calculates an IntelliGolf Handicap. This is not an official USGA Handicap Index, nor does it use the USGA formula. It is however a good measure of your ability and can be used with confidence in your sidegame wagering. For more information on why IntelliGolf does not calculate an official USGA Index please see the IntelliGolf Handicap page.
The IntelliGolf Handicap is calculated using the best 10 rounds from the last 20 rounds. The number of strokes over 72 (average par for most courses) is then averaged from those 10 rounds and multiplied by 90%. If there are less then 20 total rounds then 1/2 of the rounds are used in the calculation.
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The IntelliGolf Eagle edition software has always included the Birdie edition's 1) handheld/smartphone software, 2) Windows desktop software, and 3) synchronization software ($59.95), and the Eagle GPS Option's 4) GPS and Bluetooth handheld/smartphone software ($10.00). When you order the Eagle edition (or Eagle Upgrade) software you will receive the Birdie edition software and the Eagle GPS Option software. That way, you'll get everything you need in one order :-). Simply install the Birdie edition software (first) for your particular platform and then the Eagle GPS Option software (second) for your particular platform. When done, you will find that the Birdie edition's desktop, handheld, and synchronization software has been installed onto your Windows-based PC and handheld/smartphone, and the Eagle GPS Option's software has been added to your handheld/smartphone providing "GPS and Bluetooth" support. If you want to read more about any of these products please visit www.intelligolf.com/products.asp
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Yes, you can easily export Round results from the IntelliGolf Birdie or Eagle edition's (included) desktop software into popular spreadsheet programs (e.g. Excel). Start up the IntelliGolf desktop software. Click on the Rounds tab. Click on the round that you would like to export so that it is highlighted. Right-click on the highlighted round and then click on the "Copy" menu item. You will be provided with a secondary screen to select the items that your would like to export (e.g. players, scores, putts, etc). Check the items that you would like to export and then click on OK. Those items have now been exported into the Windows clipboard. Next, start up your spreadsheet program. Click on one of the open boxes to highlight it. Right-click and then select "Paste". Your round data will be imported into your spreadsheet. Easy!
Tip: From the IntelliGolf desktop software, you can select a range of rounds by using the Shift key and your mouse, or select a set of non-contiguous rounds by using the Ctrl key and your mouse. That way you can export a wide variety of players and statistics for additional analysis via your spreadsheet program. Have a Great Round!
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On your question, below are a couple options for you.
1. Using the "Find" command in Windows (Start, Find, Files or Folders) enter "ig*.exe" to find the original IntelliGolf installation file. When you find that file, simply double-click on that file and the IntelliGolf installation process will restart. Since that file has already been associated with your unique registration code, re-installing IntelliGolf from your original file should work fine for you. Note: If the "ig*.exe" file you find has a "t" in the 3rd position (e.g. igt*.exe) then that is the IntelliGolf "trial edition" file. You will need to locate the ig*.exe file that does not have a "t" in the 3rd position for the "live" version.
2. If the IntelliGolf installation file is not present on your PC, and you did not make a back-up copy as recommended, IntelliGolf was associated with a unique registration code when downloaded. As such, you will need to get a new original of IntelliGolf with a new registration code. However, the good news is that Handango has just implemented a special Lost Copy Replacement Program (LCRP) that doesn't require Handango.com to be your original reseller. Now you will be able to get a new, fully live original of the IntelliGolf Eagle edition software (with a new unique registration code) for about 40% OFF the traditional list price of IntelliGolf. This Program is only available to our registered IntelliGolf users. That's the price you would have paid to upgrade to our latest version of IntelliGolf anyway. That should get you back up and running quickly :-). Please click here to visit the LCRP web page.
3. If you purchased IntelliGolf from Handango (ESD reseller) or via the IntelliGolf eStore (as hosted by Handango) within the past year, you were presented with an option to purchase Download Protection Insurance. If you purchased that insurance (please check your original order invoice from Handango), then you can read about Handango's Download Protection Insurance by clicking here. Just follow the steps listed to get a replacement copy of your original version of the IntelliGolf software.
Have a Great Round!
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If you own the IntelliGolf Birdie or Eagle edition software, they both come with the IntelliGolf "desktop" software that holds your personal golf database. Note: If you own the IntelliGolf Par or Eagle OTA edition software, they do not come with the IntelliGolf desktop software. As such, there is no way to back-up your golf database. Assuming you have the IntelliGolf Birdie or Eagle edition, please perform a synchronization operation (i.e. HotSync, ActiveSync, etc) to upload your courses, rounds, and players from your handheld to the IntelliGolf desktop software. Next, start-up the IntelliGolf desktop software and click on the Rounds tab (top left). At the bottom of the Rounds screen you will see the name and location of your IntelliGolf database (e.g. C:\program files\intelligolf\golf.gdb). Please use Windows to copy the xxxx.gdb file name listed to another folder (leaving the original file in tact) or to a back-up CD. That file (xxxx.gdb) contains your currently listed rounds, players, and courses. Now you have a back-up copy. It's that easy :-).
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Yes. Please click here for a listed of the new version 8.x features. Please click here for a list of the new version 9.x features.
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Yes. Version 8.0 (and above) of the IntelliGolf desktop software includes our new Earth Viewer coordinate entry feature. It will allow you to enter the latititude and longitude coordinates for key target destinations into IntelliGolf prior to starting your round of golf (i.e. without needing a GPS receiver). These include the 200, 150, 100 yard/meter markers, the front, center, and back of the Green, and up to three (3) custom fairway locations per hole (e.g. lake, sand, tree, etc). After entering this data into the desktop software, you can synchronize it to your handheld/smartphone and you will be ready to golf! Click here for complete instructions.
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The United States Golf Association (USGA) has confirmed that measuring devices, such as GPS systems or rangefinders, will be permitted for use at the discretion of tournament organizers (Committee) by Local Rule. This applies to devices that measure distance only, not any other conditions that might affect a player's play (e.g. wind or gradient). This New Decision is defined in the USGA's Rules of Golf (Y2006) under section 14-3/0.5. The IntelliGolf Eagle edition software conforms to this New Decision (Section 14-3/0.5) as it provides GPS-based "distance" information via its support of industry-leading GPS receivers and handhelds (i.e. devices). This is excellent news for all IntelliGolfers! Other changes to the USGA's Y2006 Rules of Golf can be found at http://www.usga.org/playing/rules/changes_rules.html.
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GPS-enabling your handheld/smartphone is EASY AS 1-2-3. More below.
1. Ensure that your handheld/smartphone includes support for Bluetooth. Please see your manual.
2. Get a Bluetooth-based GPS receiver. For a list of IntelliGolf-compatible GPS receivers please click here.
3. Get the IntelliGolf Eagle edition software for your handheld/smartphone platform. To see our list of IntelliGolf Eagle products please click here.
That's it. Plus, accessing the GPS satellites that circle the Earth is FREE with IntelliGolf. There are no service fees, cellular fees, or annual subscriptions to buy. See below.
Note: There are now a variety of smartphones on the market that include embedded GPS chips in them that are accurate enough for golf. You can find a list of these smartphones in Section I by clicking here. If you do not own one of these GPS-enabled smartphones, we recommend adding a highly accurate Bluetooth-based GPS receiver to your handheld/smartphone. A list of compatible Bluetooth-based GPS receivers can be found in Sectin III by clicking here.
Connecting a GPS receiver to your handheld is easy using Bluetooth. Bluetooth is a wireless technology that allows headsets, GPS receivers, and other devices to talk locally with your handheld/smartphone. Virtually all of the handhelds/smartphones that are shipping these days are Bluetooth-enabled. Plus, IntelliGolf is compatible with the widest range of Bluetooth-enabled GPS receivers in the industry. The best part is that GPS receivers have come down substantially in price (~$100). That compares to $350-$450 for GPS-only range finders that also charge up to $59.95 per year in annual membership fees.
Getting Started:
Purchase/download the IntelliGolf Eagle edition software for your platform by clicking here. You do not need a GPS receiver to start using IntelliGolf today. You can download courses, score your rounds of golf, track shots, view statistics, and keep sidegame wagers while you are waiting for your GPS receiver to arrive. As such, you can download/install IntelliGolf TODAY while your GPS receiver is on order.
2. Purchase a Bluetooth-based GPS receiver that is compatible with your handheld/smartphone. You can view our list of compatible GPS receivers by clicking here. Once you receive your GPS receiver, please follow the Set-up/Discovery/Bonding instructions provided by the manufacturer. It's easy to do.
3. After your new GPS receiver is connected/working with your handheld/smartphone, start a New Round of golf from within IntelliGolf. A the bottom of the Main Scoring Screen (touch screen devices) or from the pull-down menu (non-touch screen devices), select the "satellite icon" or "GPS" (from Menu). Then select Set-up. Then, please follow the GPS set-up instructions listed in the IntelliGolf on-line Tours (Section 6) for your particular handheld/smartphone by clicking here. It's really pretty easy!
Once you're all set up, for GPS-enabled courses (i.e. that have a satellite icon next to them in the IntelliGolf course database), you will begin receiving distances within a few seconds (once you're on the golf course). Off the golf course, you will see "???" in the distance fields. That will let you know that everything is working fine, but the distances being reported are greater than 1000 yards/meters. You're all set!
For even more information on IntelliGolf and GPS, please read through our FAQs on GPS or give our GPS White Paper a quick read by clicking here.
P.S. To attached your GPS receiver to your golf cart or golf bag, we recommend using a piece of double-sided Velcro. That way you can take it on/off very easily for recharging in between rounds :-).
Have a Great Round!
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As you probably know, IntelliGolf supports the widest range of GPS receivers in the industry (http://www.intelligolf.com/intelliGpsCert.asp). This means that you have some excellent options in selecting the best GPS receiver for your handheld and/or situation.
I need a handheld and a GPS receiver If you do not already own a handheld, then you might want to consider getting a handheld with an "embedded/attached" GPS receiver. Some examples of this would be the HP 6915 (Pocket PC), AT&T Tile, HTC TyTn II, Motorola Q 9h, Navman PiN (Pocket PC), or the Garmin iQue (Palm OS) handheld ( see http://www.intelligolf.com/intelliGpsCert.asp ). While these GPS "systems" seem a little pricey at first, taken in total, they are very price competitive. Plus, they offer the best of all worlds. These GPS systems traditionally come with very good navigation software for driving in your car. They usually come with suction cup mounting system for attaching to your windshield or dash board (i.e. car or golf cart). And last, the flip-up GPS receiver is relatively small (1"x 1") making it very convenient to use.
I already own my handheld. I just want to add GPS receiver
If you already own a handheld, then you will want to select the best "add on" GPS receiver for your situation. First, you will need to determine if your handheld includes support for Bluetooth (i.e. wireless communication). If it does, then adding a Bluetooth GPS receiver to your system is a real possibility (more later). Second, determine if your handheld includes a Compact Flash slot or an SDIO slot. If it does, then adding a CF or SDIO-based GPS receiver to your handheld is a possibility. If your handheld does not include any of the above, then adding a GPS receiver to your handheld is not possible.
Walk or Ride?
Next, let's assume that your handheld includes embedded support for Bluetooth, has a Compact Flash slot, and a SDIO slot. Now what? It is time to ask yourself if you "walk" or "drive" a golf cart most of the time during your rounds of golf.
Drive - we suggest a Bluetooth GPS receiver
If you drive a cart most of the time, then we would suggest getting a Bluetooth GPS receiver. With a Bluetooth GPS receiver and a piece of double-sided Velco, you can temporarily mount your GPS receiver to the top of the golf cart (i.e. rented or owned). That way, the GPS receiver is always pointing up to the sky for the best reception. In addition, should you decide to walk out on fairway, you can always remove the GPS receiver from the cart and take it with you (i.e. Velco mounted). Also, since you haven't added anything physical to your handheld, your handheld will most likely fit into the cup holder of your golf cart. Or, you can purchase a handheld mounting system (i.e. suction cup mount) for your cart's windshield or dash board, from most handheld suppliers.
One other item to consider when selecting a Bluetooth GPS receiver is whether you want a rechargeable unit (e.g. DeLorme Bluelogger, Pharos iGPS, ALK CoPilot, etc) or a combo unit (e.g. DeLorme Earthmate). A combo unit is rechargeable but can also accept AAA batteries. All of the rechargeable GPS receivers that we tested had a battery life of greater than 5 hours (most 6-8 hours) per charging. That means you should easily be able to complete a full round of golf on a single charging. However, if you are going to play more than one round a day, or have a habit of forgetting to charge things, then getting a combo unit is a real plus. Note: Combo units are a little larger than rechargeable (only) receivers as they include a battery compartment.
Walk - we suggest a Compact Flash, SDIO, or Bluetooth GPS receiver (w/ belt clip)
If you walk most of the time, then you might want to consider getting a Compact Flash or SDIO-based GPS receiver. These GPS receivers insert directly into the top (or side) of your handheld. This makes for a convenient one piece design, particularly if the slot is on the "top" of your handheld as it will still fit into your pocket. However, the downside of using plug-in GPS receivers is that they get their power from the handheld. If your handheld's battery is not fully charged, you will want to use the GPS receiver sparingly. Also, please check with the manufacturer before purchasing a plug-in GPS receiver to "make sure" that it is compatible with your handheld. Note: We do not recommend sleeve-type GPS receivers. They seem to draw a significant amount of power from the handheld and/or require the purchase of addition software to function properly.
The other "walking" option is to get a Bluetooth GPS receiver that includes a belt clip. You will want to check with your GPS manufacturer on the availability of a belt clip for their GPS receiver. Some offer belt clips and others do not. With a belt clip mount, you can clip the Bluetooth GPS receiver to your belt, or golf bag, and still enjoy the wireless benefits of Bluetooth.
I hope this overview has helped you to select the best GPS receiver for your handheld and situation. Have a Great Round!
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Please see detailed IntelliGolf detailed GPS instructions by clicking here.
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Yes, please click here to review the IntelliGolf White Paper (article). It covers these topics in more detail.
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Yes, course uploads and downloads (including golf course essentials, course scorecards, etc) are a FREE service provided to our current "in-revision" (i.e. version 9.x) customers for their personal use with IntelliGolf. Please click here to read more about our in-revision course database access policy. As you know, competitive products charge up to $59.95 per year in annual membership fees and/or up to $19.95 per course download. Plus, IntelliGolf course downloads are only 5-8Kb per course as compared to 400,000 bytes for other products. IntelliGolf saves you time, memory, and money. For more information on our Upgrade Policy, please click here. To upgrade to our latest version 9.x series of products, please click here. Note: Internet connection and/or wireless data access fees are the responsibility of the user.
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The IntelliGolf Eagle GPS option software includes support for GPS and Bluetooth. For GPS-surveyed courses you should be able to view distances to the front, back, and center of the Green, the 200, 150, and 100-yard/meter markers, and you can enter up to three custom fairway locations (e.g. sand trap, dog-leg, creek, etc) per hole. Note: The IntelliGolf Par, Birdie, and Desktop editions do not include support for GPS and Bluetooth.
Please see IntelliGolf software overview web page for more information by clicking here.
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Please click here for a list of compatible GPS receivers, smartphones, and handhelds.
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For many years we have been researching the possibility of adding course maps to IntelliGolf. In discussions with IntelliGolf users, and other products users worldwide, they have told us that course maps are “cool” to use the first couple of times. Thereafter they are time consuming to use on the course, large to download, costly to purchase (e.g. $9.95 to $19.95 per course), or come with high annual membership fees (e.g. $29.95 to $59.95 per year). As such, we have taken a more practical approach in IntelliGolf. Rather than charging for course downloads, consuming large amounts of handheld memory, and requiring significant (wireless) download times, we are providing IntelliGolf users with the ability to upload/download compact course scorecards with GPS-coordinates (vs maps) for the front, center, and back of the green, and to the 200, 150, and 100 yard/meter markers. This saves handheld memory, download times, and download costs.
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Yes. The IntelliGolf Eagle edition for the P900/910 is shipping now. Please click here for upgrade information.
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Generally, when the DeLorme Earthmate GPS receiver is not connecting with IntelliGolf, but is connecting with the DeLorme Street Atlas software, it is because the Street Atlas settings need to be changed to “NMEA” compliant. The Street Atlas software can use either DeLorme’s proprietary communications protocol or the NMEA industry standard protocol. In the Street Atlas software, go to Settings, GPS, and select NMEA 0183. Now all NMEA compliant applications should be able to communicate with your Earthmate GPS receiver, including IntelliGolf. Tip: If your GPS receiver is connected to your handheld via a serial connection, set the Baud Rate to 4,800. Tip: If you want to wirelessly connect your Earthmate GPS receiver to your handheld via Bluetooth, please make sure that your handheld supports Bluetooth, that you have a Bluetooth-enabled GPS receiver, and that Bluetooth communications are turned on in your handheld (see your handheld manual for details).
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Please visit the appropriate IntelliGolf Tour (i.e. on-line manual) for more information on setting up your GPS receiver with IntelliGolf. They can be found by clicking here. Section 6 covers this topic (i.e. IntelliGPS). Also, there is more information on (generally) how to connect/bond your Bluetooth-based GPS with your smartphones in this this PDF file.
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First, make sure to power up the GPS receiver at least a couple minutes before you start your Round of golf. That is the normal time it takes for a GPS receiver to initiate and connect to the GPS satellites circling the Earth. Then, before you get to the 1st Tee Box, tap on the Satellite Icon in IntelliGolf to connect to the GPS receiver. After about 10 seconds (the initial Bluetooth start-up time for GPS receivers) it will give you GPS distances to your various target locations. Rather than exiting the GPS screen after your tee shot, leave it in the GPS screen until you reach your ball (i.e. tee shot). That way, the GPS receiver will be constantly updating its GPS locations as you drive/walk down the fairway. When you get to your ball, it will only take a couple seconds for it to give you accurate GPS distances to your next target destinations (as it is not going thru the 10 second re-start sequence again). Repeat the same for as many shots as it takes your to get to the green (some times more, some times less :-). When you are on the green, and have finished the hole, then go back into the main scoring screen and enter your foursome's scores, wagers, etc. On your way to the next Tee Box, tap on the Satellite icon again (to re-connect via Bluetooth) and you'll be ready to tee off with GPS distances in hand.
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There are basically two (2) GPS modes in the IntelliGolf Eagle, Eagle OTA, and Eagle GPS option software: GPS Simulator Mode and GPS Live Mode. GPS Simulator Mode is for customers that have not (yet) invested in an IntelliGolf Certified GPS Receiver. In this mode, the IntelliGPS screens will provide you with "approximate" distances from the "tee box" to the center of the green and to various key target locations in the fairway. These include to the 200, 150, 100 yard/meter markers. As such, customers that do not own a compatible GPS receiver will still be able to view approximate distances from "tee to green" and "tee to fairway markers". This assists in club selection from the tee box.
For example, it is not always wise to hit your Driver on every Par 4 hole (e.g. 377 yard hole). IntelliGolf's Simulator Mode will visually present you with approximate distances to the 200, 150, and 100 yard markers (and to the green) from the tee box. Depending upon the traps, lakes, and trees that are present, it may be wiser to hit your 3W from the tee box to the 150 yard marker (227 yards away) as compared to hitting your Driver to the 100 yard marker (277 yards away). The IntelliGPS simulator screens will provide you with an easy, visual way to view these approximate distances without having to do the math (i.e. IntelliGolf takes the math out of golf).
For customers that own an IntelliGolf Certified GPS Receiver, in GPS Live Mode the IntelliGolf Eagle edition will recognize, communicate, and convert your "actual" longitude and latitude location into distances to/from any Surveyed point on the hole. While on the tee box, IntelliGolf will use the IntelliGPS algorithms to present GPS distances to a) the 200, 150, 100 yards markers, b) the front, center, and back of the green, and 3) three custom fairway locations per hole (e.g. sand trap, stream, lake, etc). As you travel down the course, while in the IntelliGPS screen, IntelliGolf will communicate with your GPS receiver (about every 2 seconds) to determine your current location. When you stop, IntelliGolf will use your present longitude and latitude location to determine GPS distances to the target destinations listed above. As such, in GPS Live Mode, the IntelliGolf Eagle edition software will provide golfers with GPS distances 1) on the tee box, 2) on the fairway, and 3) on up to 3 custom fairways points from any location on the tee box or fairway.
In summary, the IntelliGolf Eagle edition includes two GPS-related modes: Simulator Mode and Live Mode. In Simulator Mode, golfers can view approximate distances from "tee to green" and "tee to fairway markers" even if they do not own a GPS Receiver. That helps with club selection from the "tee box" and takes the math out of doing these calculations manually. In GPS Live Mode, IntelliGolf will provide golfers with GPS distances from 1) tee to green 2) tee to fairway markers, and 3) tee to custom points, from anywhere on the hole. Have a Great Round!
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After tapping on the "satellite icon" at the bottom of IntelliGolf's Main Scoring Screen (MSS), tap on Setup in the GPS screen. From the pull down menus set Device = NMEA Compatible, Port = Serial cable on SP2, Baud = 4800. Then tap on OK. Then, go outside and give your PiN initially 1-2 minutes to connect to the satellites circling the earth. After that, it will connect within seconds during your Round of golf. BTW - Make sure to "exit" all other applications (i.e. navigation software) on the PiN when using IntelliGolf. Only one application can access the PiN's GPS receiver at a time. Have fun!
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To set-up the IntelliGolf Eagle edition or Eagle GPS Option software for Pocket PCs (Windows Mobile Professional/Classic) to work with your AT&T Tilt or HTC Ty Tn II, start a New Round of golf (or resume an existing one), tap on the GPS icon at the bottom of the Main Scoring Screen, tap on Setup, change Device to "Direct connection" using the pull-down menu, change Port to "COM4: Active Device", and change Baud: to "NMEA Default". Click OK. That will return you to the GPS screen. Initially, you will see a message "GPS data not being received for the current device setup.". That is OK :-). It takes about 2-3 minutes for the internal GPS receiver to warm-up and start receiving signals from the GPS satellites circling the Earth. BTW - You need to be outside (in clear view of the sky) for the internal GPS chip to start receiving GPS satellite signals. Have a Great Round!
P.S. If your GPS receiver doesn't start receiving GPS signals after 2-3 minutes, exit IntelliGolf's GPS screen and then re-enter it again. Sometimes the GPS chip needs to be initially re-queried by exiting and re-entering IntelliGolf's GPS screen.
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Please see the footnote at the bottom of the "GPS Certified" table regarding the Garmin Mobile 10 (vs GPS 10). Please click here to be transferred to the GPS Certified table now.
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As you might guess, your GPS receiver is receiving signals from the GPS satellites that are circling the Earth. These signals, in the form of latitude and longitude data, are then passed to IntelliGolf from your GPS receiver. The IntelliGolf Eagle, Eagle OTA, and Eagle GPS option handheld/smartphone software takes these latitude and longitude data and converts them into distances. As such, IntelliGolf will only be as accurate as the GPS receiver that you have purchased. In addition, you will find that GPS accuracy increases with the number of GPS satellites. For example, if you look at the lower right corner of IntelliGolf GPS distances screen, you will see a number listed. That is the number of satellites that your GPS receiver is communicating with at any given moment. Generally, if there are only 3-4 satellites showing, then the accuracy of the GPS data that is being received will be marginal (i.e. fluctuate quite a bit). You may see fluctuations of 4-9 yards while standing in the same position. However, if you are showing 10-12 satellites, you will find that the GPS data being received is excellent (i.e. hardly any fluctuations) and usually within 1-3 yards of your exact position, or even less.
The number of satellites shown is a function of the quality of the GPS receiver that you own and a function of your position on the Earth. Newer GPS receivers (e.g. DeLorme BT-20) with the latest GPS chip sets tend to get better reception than older GPS receivers (ALK CoPilot). As such, getting a newer, WAAS-enabled GPS receiver that supports at least 12 channels is a real plus for golf. Generally, more channels means more satellites = better accuracy. IntelliGolf will only be as accurate as your GPS receiver.
Note: If your GPS receiver is showing a high number of satellites (8-12), but your distances are fluctuating a lot, you should probably contact the manufacturer of your GPS receiver. We've only heard about this situation a few times, but in those particular cases the GPS receiver was defective (or broken). If you're not seeing this same relationship, then you either have an older GPS receiver or something is not working properly with your GPS receiver. IntelliGolf will only be as accurate as your GPS receiver/chip. We hope this information helps. Have a Great Round!
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When this is happening, mainly seen on the Treo 650, it is usually because you have multiple Bluetooth-based devices paired with your handheld and it is getting confused or you are not running IntelliGolf version 9.x (or higher). Unfortunately, the Treo 650 does not provide a way to delete non-trusted devices (i.e. no gold key next to the device listing) from the Bluetooth set-up screen, only trusted devices (i.e. with a gold key). As such, non-trusted device listing can accumulated over time and cause your Treo to become confused when trying to connect to your Bluetooth-based GPS receiver. To delete trusted and non-trusted devices from the Treo, there is a free little software routine that you can download and install onto your Treo 650. It will let you quickly delete trusted and non-trusted devices. To download this routine, please visit http://3division.net/hub/btcached/ and click on the Download button. Save the Btcached.zip file to your Windows-based PC. Then unzip it into a known folder. Once unzipped, you will find two files named btcached.prc and Btaddressdatabase.pdb. Next, double-click on the btcached.prc file and it will be added into your (Palm) synchronization folder. Press the HotSync button on your Palm and the Btcached.prc file will be installed onto your Palm. From your Palm's main application screen, look for the BTcachED icon and select it. Now, you should see all of the devices that are paired with your handheld. Use the "Delete device from cache" to delete the paired devices that you don't need or want. Please make sure that your Bluetooth-based GPS receiver is listed with a golf key next to it (i.e. a trust device).
If your GPS receiver is not listed with a gold key next to it, you will need to pair it to your Treo. First, turn on your Bluetooth-based GPS receiver and let it warm up (facing the sky) for about 1 minute. Next, from your Palm's main application window, tap on the Bluetooth icon. Tap on "On". Tap on "Setup Devices", then "Trusted Devices", then "Add Device". Your Palm will start searching for Bluetooth-based devices in your area. You should see your GPS receiver appear. Tap on that device and then tap on OK. It will then ask you for the passcode. That is usually "0000" (four zeroes), but your GPS device manual will tell you for sure. Your GPS receiver will then be paired with your Palm.
Next, go back to your Palm's main application windows and restart IntelliGolf. Resume an existing Round of golf, or start a New Round. From Hole #1, tap on the satellite icon at the bottom of the Main Scoring Screen. After seeing "Connecting" for a few seconds, you will reach the Main GPS screen. Tap on "Setup", then select NMEA Compliant, Bluetooth, and NMEA Default, then tap on OK. Now you should see a list of your pair Bluetooth devices. Tap on the entry for your GPS receiver and then OK. That should designate your GPS receiver to IntelliGolf and return you to the Main GPS Screen. Within a few seconds you should start seeing GPS distances (or "???" in the distances fields if you are off the course) for GPS-enabled courses. There is more on GPS-enabling your favorite course(s) in the GPS section of our FAQs. To exit the GPS screen, tap on OK and you will returned to the Main Scoring Screen.
BTW - If you continue to loose the connection between your Palm handheld and GPS receiver, you might want to check our IntelliGPS Certification Table to ensure that your GPS receiver has been "certified" compatible with IntelliGolf. You can view our IntelliGPS tables by clicking here.
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Generally, this symptom appears when you have connected your Bluetooth-based GPS receiver to either another navigation-based handheld (e.g. E65), or have installed new navigation software onto your current device (e.g. Treo 650). Unfortunately, some of the new navigation devices/software update the "device driver" on the GPS receiver to maintain "exclusive" access to it. The reason is that the navigation device/software wants the Bluetooth GPS receiver to be connected at all times "only" to it (i.e. for driving directions). So, the new device driver tells the GPS receiver to "disconnect" from all other devices and reconnect "only" to the navigation device (i.e. handheld) after 10 - 20 seconds. As such, you will see GPS distances in IntelliGolf for about 10-20 seconds and then they disappear (i.e. the connection is lost). This sympton will occur over and over again until a factory reset is perform on the GPS receiver to reinstall the original device driver (more below).
The good news is that a "factory reset" of the Bluetooth GPS receiver will usually restore the original device driver and solve this problem. In the case of the BT 338, this is done by removing the battery for about 10 minutes (i.e. clearing it) and then reinserting the battery. Please check your GPS receiver's manual for specific information on how to reset your GPS receiver to its original state. Once your GPS receiver is reset to its original state, it should work fine again :-).
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Recently, an IntelliGolf customer sent us instructions on how they got Garmin's Mobile 10 GPS receiver to work with IntelliGolf. Since Garmin has not sent us a Mobile 10 GPS receiver yet, we have not been able to verify these set-up instructions, but we hope that they will help you.
"I have managed to get the Garmin Mobile 10 GPS to work with IntelliGolf and a PDA with Windows Mobile 6 (T-Mobile Wing in my case). I figured some of your customers might like to try my configuration:"
1) Turn on the Garmin Mobile 10 GPS (blue light flashes)
2) Turn on Bluetooth on the PDA (via Communication Manager)
3) From the Comm Manager, go to "Settings", then "Bluetooth", then do the following:
a) From the "Devices" tab, select "Add New Device,.."
b) It will search for devices, select the "Garmin GPS…." when it appears, then click "Next"
c) Enter in the Passcode, the default pairing code for the Mobile 10 is "1234", then click "Next"
c) Check the "Serial Port" check box, then click "Finish"
d) Go to the "Com Ports" tab, select "New Outgoing Port..", then "Next"
e) Select an available port, like "COM6" on my device
f) Leave the "Secure Connection" checked, then click "Finish"
4) Put your GPS outdoors in the open where it can get a signal
5) Start Intelligolf on the PDA
6) In the GPS Device Setup, select "Direct Connection", "COM6" (or what ever port you created in step 3e), and "NMEA Default".
7) You should be good to go.
Thanks Richard!
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The numbers (e.g. 11) at the bottom of the GPS distances screen, next to the satellite icon, shows the number of satellites that IntelliGolf is receiving signals from via your handheld/smartphone or GPS receiver. The higher the better :-).
The "!" appears when IntelliGolf senses that the accuracy provided by the GPS "chip" in your handheld/smartphone/receiver is outside (greater than) 10 yards/meters. This is a caution signal to let you know that the accuracy of the GPS distances being provided to IntelliGolf by the GPS chip in your device may be outside of one (1) club length (i.e. > 10 yards/meters). However, some of the new handhelds/smartphone include AGPS (Assisted GPS) capabilities. This feature helps to increase the device's "actual accuracy" by utilizing your local cell tower network. There is more on this in Wikipedia by clicking here.
To date, most handheld/smartphone/receivers only provide software applications with GPS "chip accuracy" information (i.e. not AGPS information). As such, the actual accuracy of your device may be far better than 10 yards/meters (i.e. in the 1-3 yard/meter range :-) being reported to IntelliGolf depending upon whether your devices includes AGPS capabilities. In previous versions (e.g. 8.x), IntelliGolf would only provide GPS distances when IntelliGolf sensed that GPS "chip accuracy" readings were inside of 10 yards/meters. If GPS chip accuracy was outside of 10 yards/meters, IntelliGolf would show the message "Accurate GPS distances are not being received" (i.e no distances). In IntelliGolf version 9.0 and higher, IntelliGolf shows all GPS distances (for GPS surveyed courses) and puts the "!" icon at the bottom of the screen when GPS "chip's accuracy" is outside of 10 yards/meters. That way, you will get to see all GPS distances as "actual accuracy" may be far better than GPS chip accuracy for AGPS-enabled devices :-). Once the handheld/smartphone/receiver manufacturers start providing "actual accuracy" sensing/reporting, we will link the "!" icon to the device's "actual accuracy" vs "chip accuracy" readings. For now, IntelliGolf will provide you with the best GPS readings possible (actual accuracy) and an indicator ("!") when GPS chip accuracy is outside of 10 yards/meters.
P.S. If you see numbers ("nn") next to the satellite icon and do not see any GPS distances in the GPS distances fields, that is probably because your course has not been GPS surveyed by a fellow IntelliGolf. GPS surveyed courses have a satellite icon next to them in the IntelliGolf course database. We have more information on how to GPS survey your favorite golf courses in this section (GPS) of our FAQs.
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If you currently own, and have installed, a previous live .exe version of the IntelliGolf Par, Birdie or Eagle editions versions 8.x software, you can change platforms by simply purchasing the Birdie or Eagle edition "Upgrade" for your new platform. For example, if you currently own the IntelliGolf Par, Birdie or Eagle edition for the Palm OS (i.e. existing platform) and would like to change platforms to the IntelliGolf Birdie or Eagle edition for Pocket PCs (i.e. new platform), you can purchase and install the IntelliGolf Birdie or Eagle edition "upgrade" for your new platform to change platforms. To switch platforms please visit the Intelli-eStore and select the appropriate IntelliGolf "Upgrade" product. The Upgrade will save you about 40% as compared to purchasing the full IntelliGolf product. Plus, if your current "golf.gdb" players, rounds, and courses database (DB) still exists on your PC (Birdie and Eagle versions only), the Upgrade will automatically sense the your current DB and also convert it to your new platform's DB format :-).
IMPORTANT - The upgrade must be installed using the same PC that is currently running your existing version of IntelliGolf. The upgrade must find an existing live version of IntelliGolf on your PC to upgrade and/or for a platform change to work.
DB BACK-UP: It is always a good idea to make a back-up copy of your existing "golf.gdb" database. You should find it in the C:\Program Files\IntelliGolf directory. Simply copy this file to another directory on your PC or to a diskette or CD-R. Then, you will have a back-up copy of our IntelliGolf courses, rounds, and players database :-).
Note: If you have not kept current with the version 8.x upgrades, and are running IntelliGolf version 7.x (or earlier), you will need to purchase a full new version of IntelliGolf for your new platform via the Intelli-eStore. The latest IntelliGolf version 9.x upgrades will not upgrade the much older version 7.x (or earlier) software to version 9.x based upon all of the updates that the handheld/smartphone manufacturers have made to their operating systems in the past few years.
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If you are currently running the IntelliGolf Par OTA (Over-the-Air) or Eagle OTA version 8.x software products for your existing platform (e.g. Sony Ericsson, Nokia, etc) and wish to change platforms (e.g. Palm, Pocket PC, WM Smartphones) and/or upgrade to Birdie or Eagle edition software for your new/existing platform, then you will need to purchase the full live version of the Birdie or Eagle edition software. You can do this via the Intelli-eStore by clicking here.
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If you own our new IntelliGolf "version 9.x" Birdie or Eagle edition software changing platforms is very easy. That's because our latest version 9.x IntelliGolf software for the Palm OS, Pocket PC, Window Mobile Smartphone, Blackberry, and Sony Ericsson P900/910 software has already been bundled into your product.
1. To change platforms, please connect you new handheld/smartphone to your PC. Make sure that you have installed the manufacturer's latest synchronization software (e.g. ActiveSync, HotSync, BB Desktop, PC Suite, etc) provided with your new handheld/smartphone.
2. Start up the IntelliGolf version 9.x Desktop software. Click on View (top), Options, and then the Devices tab (top). Click on the down arrow (v) next to "Device type" to reveal the support devices. Select your device (type) and click OK.
3. Click on the File tab (upper left hand corner) and then Install Device Software. You will then be provided with instructions on how/what to do the install the latest version 9.x software onto your device. It's that easy! Have a Great Round
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If you are running the much older version 7.x (or earlier) IntelliGolf Par, Birdie, or Eagle edition software and have not kept current with our latest version 8.x or version 9.x upgrades, then you will need to purchase a new live original of IntelliGolf for your new platform by clicking here. The latest IntelliGolf version 9.x upgrades will not upgrade the much older version 7.x (or earlier) software to version 9.x based upon all of the updates that the handheld/smartphone manufacturers have made to their operating systems in the past few years.
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Yes. The IntelliGolf Eagle and Eagle GPS option software is now shipping for the Blackberry 7100-, 7700-, 8700-, 8800-series, Pearl (8100), and Curve (8300). Please click here to visit the Eagle edition's product description web page. To view screen shots of the IntelliGolf for the Blackberry product, please visit our Quick Start Tour by clicking here.
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The web site www.allblackberry.com has done a very good job of documenting this Blackberry issue and providing a solution. It appears that earlier releases of the Blackberry Desktop Software and Device Software may prevent applications from being loaded onto the Blackberry properly (in particular for the Curve). Please read the rest of this FAQ and then click here for the solution. You should allow yourself about 30 minutes to update your Desktop Manager and Device Manager software to the latest RIM versions. Everything worked fine after we updated our PCs to the lastest RIM desktop and device software :-).
After reading through the 3 Steps listed on allblackberry.com (by clicking here), you can skip Step #1. We have verified that the intelligolf.alx and intelligolf.cod files are being installed properly into the appropriate directory on your PC. As such, please start with Step #2 (RIM Desktop Manager update) if you are not running version 4.3 of RIM's Desktop Software now. To determine what version of RIM's Desktop Manager software you are currently running, click on Help and then About Desktop Manager from the Desktop Manager's main window.
After completing Step #2, please proceed to Step #3. This will install the appropriate Device Software onto your PC for your Blackberry. Once Steps #2 & #3 have been completed, you should be able to install IntelliGolf (and other applications) successfully onto your Blackberry!
Note: For Vodaphone customers, if this does not fix this issue for you, please follow the instructions listed on the Crackberry web site by clicking here. We'd suggest that you renamed the "vendor.xml" file to "obs_vendor.xml" rather than deleting it. Then, you can always rename it back to vendor.xml if this fix doesn’t work for you. Better safe than sorry :-).
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If your Blackberry is not set-up (yet) to allow data access to/from the Internet, RIM provides information on how to set-up your TCP (wireless data) connection. Please click here to visit RIM's TCP set-up web page. Or, you can visit it directly by going to http://www.blackberryforums.com/blackberry-network/2185-blackberry-internet-msn-chat-web-telnet-tcpip-no-bes.html. This (RIM) web page will show you how to set-up your APN, Username, and Password for making a Direct TCP connection.
In addition, IntelliGolf supports four (4) network connectivity options: Direct TCP, Device Default, Enterprise gateway (BES/MDS), and Public gateway (BIS-B) . For more information on setting up IntelliGolf for your particular network, please click here
Note: On some of the newer Blackberry's you will find the TCP section by selecting Settings (from the main Blackberry screen), then Options, then Advanced Options, then TCP. In the TCP section, you will simply enter your carrier's information (as listed in the URL above) and then "reset" your Blackberry as described via the URL (i.e. turn it off, remove the battery, and then re-install the battery, etc). Have a Great Round!
The IntelliGolf software for the Blackberry provides that ability to wirelessly download courses from the IntelliGolf golf course database directly to your Blackberry using your (carrier's) data access plan. If wireless data capabilities are already set-up on your Blackberry, please go to the Rounds screen in IntelliGolf, press the trackball/wheel, select Courses, press the trackball/wheel, select Download, enter the Course name (e.g. Pebble Beach), press the trackball/wheel, select Search, and IntelliGolf will display the course(s). Use the trackball/wheel to highlight the desired course, press the trackball/wheel again, and select Download. Within less than 1 minute the course will be downloaded to your Blackberry. That will save you up to 300 keystokes as compared to manually entering all of the hole yardages, par ratings, hole handicaps, etc. It's easy with IntelliGolf.
Note 1: If you network connection is not set-up yet, please please click here to view RIM's instructions on setting up a Direct TCP connection.
Note 2. If you receive an error message when trying to download courses, please click here to view more information on setting up IntelliGolf to wirelessly download courses in your particular environment (e.g. standalone, BES, etc).
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Yes, the Blackberry 8300-series (Curve), 8800-series, and 8310's integrated GPS chip is compatible with IntelliGolf. We would highly recommended that you purchase/download the IntelliGolf Eagle, Eagle Option, or Eagle Upgrade "version 9.01" (or higher) software to use with the smartphones. Version 9.01 (or higher) adds enhanced support for the GPS chips in these smartphones thus providing the best GPS accuracy possible based upon the GPS chips embedded into these smartphones.
For information on how to test the accuracy of the embedded GPS chip in your Blackberry please click here.
For information on how to set-up IntelliGolf to work with the embedded GPS chip in your Blackberry please click here.
Verizon Blackberry 8830 customers please click here as it unfortunately appears that Verizon has limited access to the GPS chip in your Blackberry.
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Blackberry Forums provides some useful information on GPS troubleshooting by clicking here.
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IntelliGolf includes the ability to connect to an external GPS receiver using Bluetooth. Based upon continued improvements in GPS technology, you will probably find that the newer external (third-party) GPS receivers offer increased accuracy and speed over integrated GPS receivers. This is particularly important for golf. For example, when using the DeLorme BT-20 Bluetooth GPS receiver or a Nokia LD-3W Bluetooth GPS receiver, 10-12 satellites were traditionally found within seconds. This generally produces accuracy readings of 1-3 meters (sometimes even less).
We have another very good (general) FAQ on what is required to GPS-enable your by clicking here.
Connecting an external Bluetooth GPS receiver to your BB is relatively easy. First, go outside and turn on your Bluetooth GPS receiver. Give it about a minute (initially) to start acquiring satellite signals. While it is doing that, go to the BB's main screen and select Settings. Then select Options, then Bluetooth, and then Enable Bluetooth by using the BB's trackball/wheel. Press the trackball/wheel again and select Add Device. You BB will start searching for Bluetooth devices in your area. Select your Bluetooth GPS receiver and enter its passcode (usually 4 zeroes: 0000). The devices will be paired. Then, exit back out to the BB main screen.
From the BB's main screen, start IntelliGolf. Next set-up and start a new round of golf. Once you are at the 1st Hole, press the trackball/wheel and select GPS. Press the trackball/wheel again select Setup and you will see a Device pull-down menu. Press the trackball/wheel again and you will be presented with the available devices. Select your Bluetooth GPS receiver. Then, select Done to proceed back to the GPS distances screen. You should begin to receive GPS signals from your new Bluetooth GPS receiver within seconds for a GPS-enabled course. There is more information on GPS-enabling your favorite courses in the GPS Section of our FAQs.
Note: After the GPS settings have been changed on your BB, if you receive the IntelliGolf message "GPS data not being received" for an extended period of time, it may be necessary to power down your BB, remove the battery from your BB, and then re-insert it after about 10 seconds. Also, please turn off your GPS receiver and then turn it back on after your BB has restarted. That will reset the Bluetooth connection. For some reason, some BBs need to have the battery removed and re-inserted for the new GPS settings to be accepted by the BB. Have a Great Round!
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To enter names into the Object 1, 2, or 3 custom fairway fields using a Suretype keypad (vs qwerty keyboard) when GPS surveying a course, press the trackball/wheel (TBW), select Survey, press TBW, select Object 1, with Label ______ highlighted in yellow, press TBW, Select/change, and then type in the Object name as usual. After entering the Object name, press TBW, then OK, and then Record the data point.
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IntelliGolf supports four (4) networking connection types. Depending upon your situation (i.e. Consumer or Enterprise user), you may wish to change IntelliGolf's initial setting from "Direct TCP" to one of the other options. That said, Direct TCP usually works well in most situations including both consumer and enterprise environments. As such, if Direct TCP is not working for you, please ensure that your Blackberry's service plan includes the ability to connect and download "data" from the Internet before changing networking options (i.e. consult with your IT folks and/or your wireless service provider).
Should you need to change networking options, your choices include Direct TCP, Device default, Enterprise gateway (MDS), and Public gateway (BIS-B). If you are working in a Blackberry Enterprise Server (BES), you may want to select either Enterprise gateway (MDS) or Public gateway (BIS-B) depending upon the advice of your IT personnel. If you are working in a consumer environment, you may want to select Device TCP or Public gateway (BIS-B). If none of those work, then try Device default. Device TCP uses your carrier's networking option (i.e. usually WAP). BIS-B uses the RIM's Blackberry Information Server (BIS) to exchange data. BES/MDS uses the BlackBerry Enterprise Server at your location to exchange data. Device default uses other options that may have been pre-configured on your BB
To change IntelliGolf's networking options, go to the IntelliGolf Rounds screen, press the Trackball/wheel (TBW), select Courses, TBW, TBW, select Download, TBW, TBW, select Network Access, select the network access type (TBW), press the BB's Menu key, select Done, and then use IntelliGolf to Search for, and Download, a course scorecard.
Note: In some cases, for the networking change to be accepted by your Blackberry, you will need to exit IntelliGolf, turn off your BB, remove the battery for 10 seconds, replace the battery, and then re-start IntelliGolf. After trying the various networking options, and consulting with your IT manager and/or service provider, if you are still unable to download courses, please contact us via the Support tab at the top of www.intelligolf.com with details of your particular situation. Have a Great Round!
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The Blackberry currently has a Java-based (RecordStore) database limit of 64Kb per record type. Based upon this RecordStore limit, that means you can store approximately:
* 10-15 Rounds (depending upon the number of sidegames being played);
* 20-40 Courses (depending upon how many have GPS coordinates included), and
* 100s of Players on your Blackberry.
For those users that want to keep more players, courses, and rounds, the IntelliGolf Birdie and Eagle edition software includes the ability to synchronize all of these items to the include Windows-based IntelliGolf desktop software. The IntelliGolf desktop software does not have any (practical) limits on storing rounds, courses, and players (i.e. GBs on your PC :-). The RecordStore limit is only on the Blackberry and is a function of RIM's Java implementation (i.e. probably to protect memory overruns).
BTW - The IntelliGolf handset software will let you know when you are approaching the Blackberry's RecordStore limits. If you experience this issue, simply synchronize your rounds, courses, and players to the Birdie/Eagle edition's included desktop software and delete some/all of these rounds, courses, and players from your Blackberry. Have a Great Round!
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If you are doing a first time install of IntelliGolf, this will typically be very quick (10-15 seconds). For upgrades, if the Blackberry's operating system (OS) determines that the previous (older) IntelliGolf software modules can be deleted immediately (i.e. without doing a soft reset), the new IntelliGolf application should install fairly quickly too (10-15 seconds). However, if the Blackberry's OS determines that some/all of the previous IntelliGolf modules can not be deleted immediately, then the upgrade will take longer (up to 2 minutes). Once the installation is complete, the Blackberry will do an automatic (soft) reset to complete the installation. This is the equivalent of restarting your Windows-based computer after certain applications are installed or removed. This process is normal :-).
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Some IT Managers do not allow the loading of 3rd-party application software onto company-provided Blackberries without their prior approval. As such, your IT Manager has probably set-up a Blackberry Enterprise Server (BES) policy restricting the installation of 3rd party applications onto your device ( see http://www.blackberry.com/knowledgecenterpublic/livelink.exe/fetch/2000/348583/796557/800708/800651/Support_-_Invalid_digital_signature_errors_when_installing_an_application.html?nodeid=816905&vernum=0).
The solution is to contact your IT Manager and ask them to either 1) remove this policy on the Blackberry Enterprise Server (BES) or 2) whitelist (i.e. approve) the IntelliGolf application on your BES. Your IT Manager can find details on how to do either of these items in the BES Administrator's Guide.
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Please see our known issues for the Pearl clicking here. It's about the 2nd or 3rd listing down.
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There is a bug in RIM's desktop software that has been fixed in version 4.2 forward. By updating your RIM desktop software to version 4.2 (or greater) this issue will go away and everything will sync properly in IntelliGolf. To check this, start up RIM's desktop software on your PC. Click on Help, then About, and read the version number. If you are running version 4.1 or earlier then you will want to download and install RIM's latest desktop software. It's easy to do via the pull-down menu on RIM's web site. To visit RIM's desktop software upgrade web page please click here. Simply download and install RIM's version 4.2 (or later) desktop software using the pull-down menu. That will fix this issue for you. Have a Great Round!
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IntelliGolf includes a unique feature that lets you adjust the screen display size for your particular smartphone. While IntelliGolf will display fine on most phones, it is easy to optimize IntelliGolf screen display for your particular phone. From the "IntelliGolf - Rounds" screen (where your rounds are shown), select Options, then Preferences, Options, and then Screen Size. On the screen, it will show you the Height and the Width of the readings that IntelliGolf is getting about your phone. If the left most column of numbers (e.g. final score) is off the screen, enter an adjustment number (e.g. 15) into Adj in the Width row. You should now see the final score numbers move onto the screen. Try other numbers until you find the "lowest" number (e.g. 12) that works properly. If you find that the writing at the bottom of the screen is off the screen, then do the same for the Height row Adj field. Once you have determined the best setting(s) for your phone, select Done, Done, and return to the Rounds screen. You should be all set. Have a Great Round!
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Please see RIM's 8703e product description at http://na.blackberry.com/eng/devices/device-detail.jsp?navId=H0,C63,P204#tab_tab_features Under the Features Available section, please notice the number one (1) next to the GPS feature. That directs you to Footnote #1. We understand that only some of the carriers have enabled GPS on the 8703e. And, for those carrier's that have enabled GPS on the 8703e, it sounds like they require that you purchase some type of GPS service plan. As such, you might want to check with your carrier on their requirements to GPS enable your 8703e for use by 3rd-party applications.
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eAccess Solutions provides links to carrier/device-dependent upgrades for your Blackberry by clicking here.
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While most of the Blackberry 8300- and 8800-series smartphones provide GPS accuracy equivalent to that of dedicated GPS golf devices (within 1-5 yards of accuracy), you can follow the steps below to determine the accuracy of your particular Blackberry.
Blackberry GPS Accuracy Test: To test the GPS accuracy of your Blackberry, please follow the steps listed below.
Note: These GPS tests were documented/performed on a Blackberry 8800. Your sequence of events may vary depending upon your particular Blackberry model. Please refer to your user manual for model-specific instructions.
On your Blackberry (BB 8800 in this example), please select the Settings icon from the main screen. Next, select Options, then Advanced Options, then GPS, and highlight Device GPS (that's the embedded GPS chip). Next, go outside and away from any buildings/trees so that you have a clear view of the sky. Use the Blackberry's function/menu key to bring up the the pull-down menu that shows Refresh GPS. Highlight and select Refresh GPS. That will tell the GPS chip to scan the sky for GPS satellites circling the Earth. After a couple minutes, the GPS screen will be refreshed and it will show you the number of satellites that your Blackberry found. In addition, it will also compute the "Accuracy" that is being obtained by your Blackberry. Any application, including IntelliGolf, will only be as accurate as the GPS data stream that is being provided to it by your Blackberry's integrated GPS chip. While your results may vary, we have noticed that the Blackberry's internal chip varies in accuracy from less than 10 meters/yards to more than 10 meters/yards. Since 10 meters/yards is approximately the delta distance between clubs for most folks (e.g. 7 iron goes 155 yards, 6 iron goes 165 yards) it is very important for golf that the accuracy readings from your GPS receiver/chip are less than 10 meters/yards. Otherwise, you might find yourself hitting the wrong club. You can use the GPS Refresh routine multiple times to see how your Blackberry's embedded GPS chip responds at various locations (i.e. out in the open, under trees, etc). Once you have verified that the accuracy of your Blackberry's GPS chip is consistently less than 10 meters, please exit out of the GPS screens and return to your Blackberry's main menu.
Note 1: If the GPS accuracy of your Blackberry is consistently outside of 10 yards/meters you may wish to add an external Bluetooth-based GPS receiver to your system. There is more information on how to do this by clicking here.
Note 2. To view instructions on how to set-up IntelliGolf to work with the embedded GPS chip in your BB 8300- or BB 8800-series products please click here. Have a Great Round!
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First, you will want to download and install the IntelliGolf Eagle edition version 9.01 (or higher) software for the Blackberry. You can read more about this product and/or purchase it by clicking here.
Second, you may want to test the accuracy of the GPS chip in your particular smartphone. We have instructions on how to do that by clicking here.
Now, let's start IntelliGolf. From the Blackberry's main screen, select IntelliGolf (see the golf ball icon). After downloading a GPS-enabled course from the IntelliGolf course database (please visit the IntelliGolf Quick Start Tours by clicking here), start a New Round of golf. From the Main Scoring Screen (MSS), where the players scores will be entered, press the trackball/wheel and select GPS. Press the trackball/wheel again and select Setup. Press the trackball/wheel again and select "Integrated". That will tell IntelliGolf to use the integrated GPS chip in your Blackberry. Once Integrated is selected, use the trackball/wheel to select Done. That will take you back to IntelliGolf's GPS distances screen. At this point, your Blackberry may present you with a message similar to "The application IntelliGolf requests access to your GPS location information. Do you wish to grant access?" Please select (i.e. check) "Don’t ask this again" and then select "Yes". That will allow IntelliGolf to access the GPS chip in your Blackberry.
Now that you are connected, towards the bottom of IntelliGolf's GPS distances screens, you will start seeing latitude, longitude, and connected satellite numbers. Assuming that you are on a GPS-surveyed golf course (Note: there is more info on this in the GPS section of our FAQs), you will 1) start seeing distances in the various GPS distance fields (e.g. front, center, and back of green, etc), or 2) the messge "GPS locations are not being received", or 3) the message "Accurate GPS readings are not being received". If you see the message "GPS locations are not being received", then please wait 1-2 minutes for your Blackberry's GPS chip to "warm up" and to initially start receiving signals from the GPS satellites circling the Earth. Once the GPS chip is warmed up and receiving signals, this initial 1-2 minute delay will not be present :-). If the "GPS locations are not being received" message does not disappear after a couple minutes, please see Note #2 below. If you receive the message "Accurate GPS readings are not being received", that means that the accuracy readings that your Blackberry's embedded GPS chip is sending to IntelliGolf are outside of 10 meters/yards. There is a link at the top of this FAQ on how to test the accuracy of the GPS chip in your Blackberry. IntelliGolf will do its best to monitor your Blackberry's GPS accuracy readings and only report distances to you when they are inside of 10 meters/yards. That is to protect you from hitting the wrong club. To overcome this accuracy issue, please remain in position until valid GPS readings are shown. If you continue to receive this message, or this message appears and disappears frequently, you might consider adding an external Bluetooth GPS receiver to your Blackberry. There is more information on adding an external Bluetooth GPS receiver to your Blackberry by clicking here.
Note 1: For more information on GPS and GPS-enabling your favorite course(s) please see the GPS Section in our FAQs by clicking here. Have a Great Round!
Note 2: After the GPS settings have been changed on your Blackberry, if you receive the IntelliGolf message "GPS data not being received" for an extended period of time, it may be necessary to power down your Blackberry, remove the battery from your Blackberry, and then re-insert it after about 10 seconds. For some reason, some Blackberrys need to have the battery removed and re-inserted for the new GPS settings to be accepted by the Blackberry. Have a Great Round!
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Unfortunately, it appears that Verizon has limited access to the GPS chip in the Blackberry (e.g. BB 8830, 8130, etc) for 3rd-party applications. For more information on this please click here or visit http://forums.crackberry.com/f61/gps-verizon-8830-update-1279/ . I wish we had better news for you but this is out of our control.
All of the other features within IntelliGolf work fine with the Blackberry (e.g. scoring, statistics, sidegames, etc). As such, we would recommend that Verizon Blackberry customers get the IntelliGolf Birdie edition (vs Eagle edition) as it does not include GPS support and is $10 less, or switch carriers (e.g. AT&T, etc). There is more information on the Birdie edition by clicking here.
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Yes - please click here for more information.
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To set-up your Nokia N95 (N82, E66, or E71) to work with its embedded GPS chip, please follow the instructions listed below. While the set-up for each smartphone might be slightly different, the N95 set-up will give you a very good example of what to do. Have a Great Round!
1. If you purchased your Nokia N95 over 90 days ago, it is always a good idea to ensure that you have downloaded/installed Nokia's latest firmware (v21.0.016 or later) onto your N95. You can read about how to update the firmware on your phone by clicking here. This is important as Nokia recently added Assisted GPS technology (aGPS) to the N95's firmware. This substantially increases the accuracy of the N95's GPS :-).
2. Purchase and download the IntelliGolf Eagle OTA edition version 9.x software by clicking here.
3. Install the downloaded igeaglenk9xx.jar file onto your N95 (xx = sub-version number). This can be done using Nokia's Desktop-based PC Suite "Install Application" utility or by moving the IntelliGolf .jar file onto your N95 and using the N95's File Manager (Menu, Tools, File mgr.) utility to locate and select the .jar file.
4. Next, set the GPS Positioning data request setting to "Ask first time". To do this, select the Menu button, Applications, App. Mgr, skim down to IntelliGolf (installed), select Options, Open, skim down to "Positioning", click on it, and select "Ask first time", then OK. Back out to the Main Menu.
5. Ensure the your GPS hardware access settings are proper. To do this, select the Menu key, then Tools, the Settings, then General, then Positioning (bottom), then Positioning Methods, and ensure that Assisted GPS, Integrated GPS, and Network Based are all enabled (checked using Options). Once they are all checked, back out to the main Menu again.
6. Now its time to test your GPS chip's connectivity :-). Go outside under a clear sky with you N95. Select the Menu key, then Tools, then Connectivity, then GPS Data (bottom), and start up that application. Select Position and you will most likely see the message "No Connection" for about 1 minute and/or "Waiting for GPS" for 1-2 minutes.
7. Once you start getting GPS signals, you will see the GPS Data screen start to fill in. Look at the row that reads "Accuracy". That will show you the accuracy of your N95's GPS chip in meters (e.g. 25M, 12M, 45M, etc). You will notice that these readings are constantly changing as your N95 is polling the satellites that are circling the Earth. IntelliGolf will only be as accurate as the GPS data stream that is being provided to it by your N95's integrated GPS chip. That said, if your N95 includes aGPS support, the accuracy of the data stream being provided to IntelliGolf should actually be much better than the Accuracy readings that you are seeing in the GPS Data screen. That is usually very good news!
8. Now, Back out of the GPS Data application to the main Menu. From the N95's main menu, select the Application icon and then select IntelliGolf (see the golf ball icon). After downloading a GPS-enabled course from the IntelliGolf course database (please click here to view the IntelliGolf Quick Start Tour for Nokia-based smartphones), start a New Round of golf. From the Main Scoring Screen (MSS), where the players scores will be entered, select Options, then select GPS. You will be ask to allow the application to use a connectivity application. Answer "yes". From the GPS screen press Options. You will probably see None listed next to the Devices heading. Press the center selection key on your N95. Select "Integrated" and then Done. You will then be ask if you want to "Allow the application to get positioning data". Answer "yes". Note: If you get ask the positioning data question over and over again, please click here to update a setting on your N95.
9. Assuming that you are on a GPS-surveyed golf course (note: there is more info on this in the GPS section of our FAQs), you will start seeing distances in the various GPS distance fields (e.g. front, center, and back of green, etc), or "???" in the distances fields, or the message "GPS locations are not being received". If you see "???" in the distances fields that's because you are more than 999 yards/meters away from the Green (i.e. probably not on the golf course). Once you get to the golf course, or are on the correct hole, you will see actual distances in those fields :-). If you see the message "GPS locations are not being received", please wait 1-2 minutes for you N95's GPS chip to "initially" connect to the GPS satellites circling the Earth. Thereafter, your N95's GPS chip should connect within seconds :-). Have a Great Round!
Note 1: For more information on GPS and GPS-enabling your favorite course(s) please see the GPS Section in our FAQs by clicking here.
Have a Great Round!
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On your Nokia-based smartphone (Nokia N95 used in this example), press the Menu button, then Applications, then App. Mgr, skim down to IntelliGolf (installed), select IntelliGolf (Installed), then Open, skim down to Positioning, select Positioning, select "Ask first time", and OK. Then Back, and then Exit back out to the main menu. When you re-start IntelliGolf, now your smartphone will only ask you once if you would like to allow IntelliGolf to be able to access the Positioning data (i.e. chip) in the phone.
On other Nokia-based phones, the process is the same but there are variations in how to get to the correct settings location. For example, on some Nokia phones you will need to press the Menu button, then Installations, then App. Mgr., skim down to IntelliGolf (installed), select Options, then Open, skim down to Positioning, select Positioning, select "Ask first time", and OK. Then Back, and then Exit back out to the main menu. When you re-start IntelliGolf, now the phone will only ask you once if you would like to allow IntelliGolf to be able to access the position data (i.e. chip). Have a Great Round!
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IntelliGolf includes a unique feature that lets you adjust the screen display size for your particular smartphone. While IntelliGolf will display fine on most phones, it is easy to optimize IntelliGolf screen display for your particular phone. From the "IntelliGolf - Rounds" screen (where your rounds are shown), select Options, then Preferences, Options, and then Screen Size. On the screen, it will show you the Height and the Width of the readings that IntelliGolf is getting about your phone. If the left most column of numbers (e.g. final score) is off the screen, enter an adjustment number (e.g. 15) into Adj in the Width row. You should now see the final score numbers move onto the screen. Try other numbers until you find the "lowest" number (e.g. 12) that works properly. If you find that the writing at the bottom of the screen is off the screen, then do the same for the Height row Adj field. Once you have determined the best setting(s) for your phone, select Done, Done, and return to the Rounds screen. You should be all set. Have a Great Round!
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It is a good idea to periodically update the software/firware in your Nokia phone. To do this, start up Nokia PC Suite on your desktop. Then, click on "Update Phone Software". That will start up Nokia's phone updating software and connect you to Nokia's software update web site. Next, click on the "Can I Update?" It will help you figure out what version of firmware you have on your phone and your phone's "Code". Simply enter your phone's Code in the box provided and click on "Go". Then, just follow the instructions on the web site.
Should you find that a newer version of the Nokia firmware is available for your phone, then click on "Get it" and follow the instructions. It takes about 15-20 minutes to update the firmware on your phone.
P.S. When you ask about "Backing up your phone" please be sure to back-up your phone's data. Otherwise, you will loose all of your Contacts, Meeting Plans, et cetera. Once the phone update is done, the Updater will show you how to reload all of those items.
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First, go outside and turn on your Bluetooth GPS receiver. Let it warm-up (i.e. start up) for about 1-2 minutes. That will let it get a good fix on the GPS satellites circling above you. Then, from your smartphone's Main Menu (window), select the Tools icon, then the Bluetooth icon, and ensure that Bluetooth is set to "on". Next, use the smartphone's center buttons to scroll to the right (on the top bar) to get to the Paired Devices window. Select Options and then New paired device. Select "More devices" and your smartphone will start searching for Bluetooth GPS receivers. Once it finds your Receiver, it will ask you for the passcode (usually "0000" - four zeroes). Enter that and select OK and your GPS receiver should now be paired with your smartphone. Then Exit back out to the Tools screen
Next, click on the Settings icon, the General, then skim down to Positioning, select Positioning, and then select Positioning Methods. Make sure that "Bluetooth GPS" is checked. Then, Back out all the way to your smartphone's Main Menu (window).
Now, on to IntelliGolf. Select the Applications icon, then select IntelliGolf. Start up a New Round of golf using a GPS-enabled course (i.e. with a satellite icon next to it). When you get to the 1st Hole, select Options and then GPS. Select Options, then Setup, then Options, and Discovery. Your smartphone will start looking for your GPS receiver. Once it finds it, you will get a messge saying "Bluetooth GPS receivers have been added to the device list" and you will most likey see "Integrated" in the Device list. Select Done. Then you will be provided with a Device list. Select your GPS receiver (e.g Nokia LD-4W). It will then ask for the passcode ("0000"). It will then ask you to "Allow application IntelliGolf to use Positioning data?" Select "Yes" and you will now be connected to your GPS receiver :-).
BTW - If you keep getting the "Allow application IntelliGolf to use Positioning data?" message over and over again, please (click here to update a setting on your smartphone.
Have fun golfing!
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If the layout of your smartphone's numeric key pad is not automatically recognized by IntelliGolf, please click here to learn how to easily map your key pad into into IntelliGolf.
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Yes. IntelliGolf runs on a variety of Java-based smartphones (e.g. Sony Ericsson, Nokia, Motorola, etc). For more information on this product please click here.
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IntelliGolf includes a unique feature that lets you adjust the screen display size for your particular smartphone. While IntelliGolf will display fine on most phones, it is easy to optimize IntelliGolf screen display for your particular phone. From the "IntelliGolf - Rounds" screen (where your rounds are shown), select Options, then Preferences, Options, and then Screen Size. On the screen, it will show you the Height and the Width of the readings that IntelliGolf is getting about your phone. If the left most column of numbers (e.g. final score) is off the screen, enter an adjustment number (e.g. 15) into Adj in the Width row. You should now see the final score numbers move onto the screen. Try other numbers until you find the "lowest" number (e.g. 12) that works properly. If you find that the writing at the bottom of the screen is off the screen, then do the same for the Height row Adj field. Once you have determined the best setting(s) for your phone, select Done, Done, and return to the Rounds screen. You should be all set. Have a Great Round!
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If the numeric keys on your smartphone are not entering correctly into IntelliGolf (e.g. you press 4 and 8 shows up in the scoring field) it is easy to map them properly to your keyboard using IntelliGolf. From the Rounds screen, select Options, then Preferences, then Options, and then select Numeric Keys. From the Numeric Keys window simply enter the corresponding key on your keyboard for the numbers 0-9. Then, press Done. Go back out to the Rounds screen and start you New Round of golf. You should be all set :-).
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Make sure the rounds, courses, and players to by copied to the palm device have their sync state turned "On". When a round, course, or player has its sync state turned "On" there will be an icon to the left of the name. To turn the sync state "On" right mouse click in the area where the icon should be displayed. To turn the sync state "Off" right mouse click on the icon.
If after making sure the sync state is "On" hotsync is still not working click on the HotSync icon in the Windows system tray, which is located in the lower right of the screen by defualt. Once the menu is displayed select "Custom...". Is IntelliGolf listed?
If IntelliGolf is not listed in the HotSync Custom setting then you will need to reinstall IntelliGolf. Something on your system has caused the IntelliGolf HotSync information in the system registry to be removed. Some other third party Palm software can cause this problem. Or if you have reinstalled or upgraded the Palm desktop it wipes out our registry settings.
If