How to get the latest NR version on the Simpad working?

[sapnho]

I just installed Ben's latest 800x600 version for the Simpad but all I get is an error message "Cannot find NetRemote (Or some of its components)".

I have followed Jeroen's instruction and installed AYGSHELL.DLL into the windows directory. NetRemote.exe is also in the Windows directory. The CFF file is in My Documents/Net Remote.

Any ideas?

[Manu]

I have a Skeyepad (http://www.skeye.com)under Win CE 3.0 and I have the same message :(

Manu.

[Ben S]

Sapnho, it should work if you pull all of the drivers out of the same directory. It's trying to load the drivers and they're based on dynamic linked MFC right now.

I'm having Jeroen see if he can get the MFC301 dll to work on the Simpad, because it would stink to have to compile each driver with static MFC (ballooned size, I believe).

If he can get that to work, you should be able to use the current 0.99 version on the Simpad (or Skeyepad).

[sapnho]

Ben, I am not sure if I have understood what you mean by pulling out the drivers of the same directory. In which directory does netremote. exe, in which the cff file need to go?

Thanks for your help with this special simpad quest!

[Ben S]

The NetRemote executable should go in \Program Files\NetRemote, the ccf in \My Documents\NRCCF (default)

You'll need to (for now) pull the nr_*.dll out of the \Program Files\NetRemote folder otherwise you'll get the error that it can't find a component".

The missing dll is (I believe) mfc301.dll. If we can copy that from the PPC, we'd be all set, I believe.

[sapnho]

I moved the files to the corresponding folders but I still get the same message. The file you sent me was just one executable netremote.exe and there aren't any nr_*.dll in the program or windows directory.

How did Jeroen manage to get it to work? :roll:

[Ben S]

So the only files in \Program Files\NetRemote should be NetRemote.exe and zlibce.dll, right?

Jeroen is looking to set me up with a Simpad, and then hopefully I can answer all of your questions regarding this. Until then, Jeroen will need to help you out.

[sapnho]

So the only files in \Program Files\NetRemote should be NetRemote.exe and zlibce.dll, right?

Oops, where does zlibce.dll come from?

[jeroen020]

Hi Saphno,

Sorry for chiming on this late, I didn't see this thread earlier.

You do need to remove all nr_* DLL's (or rename them, like I did) to get NR to run (if not, it will give you error messages for each DLL and then an error, causing termination of NR).

You will need the zlibce.dll file indeed - it's in the NR program directory. If I take it out/rename it, NR will not start - probably the same error you experienced. And check that the MFCCE DLL (I'm using MFCCE300.DLL) is in the NR program directory too. I saw you can download zlibce.dll at http://213.229.8.2/regen/files/dlls.htm (but do this at your won risk, I don't know this site)

Good luck,

Jeroen

[sapnho]

Jeroen,

that works. Thanks! At least I can get it to start up now, will have to work through the configuration tonight! :?

[Ben S]

Did you have any luck, Sapnho?

I just received my Simpad, and I've just put it away for the evening, after 2 hours of nothing but frustration.

After finding a copy of aygshell.dll that -seems- to work, the device does nothing but lock up on me. I can get NetRemote to run, kind of. It doesn't show any graphics unless I tap around on the screen until I obviously hit a button. Going to any dialog then locks up NetRemote because it won't accept on "okay" buttons.

Click open ccf, and then double clicking my documents also locks up the device. I think I hit the world record for number of soft resets in the 2 hours.

I hope the other guys have better luck, otherwise I'm waiting until Jeroen gets back to figure out how he got his running, so that I can focus on other features for the Simpad. For now, I don't need the frustration.

[Mastiff]

I'm getting mine tomorrow or Thursday. Have you tried with the older NetRemote version (I belive it was .98) that Joeren had working first? That may be easier than getting .99 to work without really knowing the problem.

btw who is this danielo that's user number 3 here? I'm number 4, after admin, you and him, and it annoys the hell, out of me! He hasn't even posted once! :evil:

[sapnho]

No, I haven't made any progress yet. It also locks up on me as well. As I don't know enough about software and drivers, I decided to wait until the community has figured it out. I am working on a nice CFF and will post that as soon as the Simpad is working.

Ben, I am sure you will a find a magical fix soon! May the force be with you! :wink:

[Mastiff]

Just be happy he hasn't got a wife with as much patience for working on computer projects in the spare time that I have! If I had spent as much time on anything computer related as he has on NetRemote, it would be "May divorce be with you" here... :wink:

Sorry, I'm in a sarcastic mood right now after fighting with a dial-up connection that won't dial down for several hours! :x

[grog]

Hi guys,

My SIMpad arrived today (thanks Jeroen!) and it took some experimenting but I finally got it working with NetRemote! Here's what I did:

- Install NetRemote .99 using the PPC2002 installer package
- leave the .dlls that NetRemote installs in place (you do need these!)
- copy mfcce300.dll to the NetRemote directory (I used the one from the link that Jeroen supplied in an earlier post - http://213.229.8.2/regen/files/dlls.htm)
- copy aygshell.dll and doclist.dll to the \Windows directory on the SIMpad - I found "dummy" versions of these here: http://www.geocities.co.jp/SiliconValley-Cupertino/2039/dummydll.lzh

That's it! NetRemote works fine for me now. I've tested Media Center and Girder control so far and both work fine. What's really cool is how quickly it connects to Media Center from power on - under 5 secs!

Now the one problem I'm still having is it's still stuck in 240x320 resolution. Ben - have you built a version yet that removes this restriction?

Regards,
Jason

[Ben S]

Jason - You're the man!

Not just running, but running the exact same PPC2002 installer package! That's awesome!

Maybe I'll add to the PPC2002 installer an option to install these other .dlls.

I have it working in 800x600, and will make it available in a few days. There are some caveats which I want to work out because I release it to you guys to play.

How is performance for you, Jason?

[grog]

Hi Ben,

I haven't done a lot of testing yet but on the surface performance seems to be pretty good (I haven't noticed any particularly bad performance). One thing I noticed last night though - IR Passthrough seems to have a problem. It causes NetRemote to lock up on the Simpad. I only played with it a bit so I'm not sure yet if it's a problem with my setup or specifically with the Simpad. Other than that everything seems great so far.

Can't wait to get it going in 800x600 though! The Simpad's display is nice and crisp so it should look great!

Regards,
Jason

[Mastiff]

Yeah, it's very annoying only to be able to use the little upper right corner!

[Ben S]

Okay folks. You can download an update here (http://www.netremote.org/dl/NetRemote-15-Sep-2003.zip) that allows for fullscreen (800x600) on the Simpad or any other WinCE device.

Performance is not quite as fast as I'd like. Just for kicks I did the following:

* Set the taskbar to not always on top
* Set the RDP client (Remote Desktop) to not show the connection bar
* Logged into the HTPC via the simpad.
* Ran NetRemote

It runs great. Super fast.

Two problems with this approach:

1) Powering off the Simpad with it connected to the HTPC and then back on doesn't reconnect automatically.
2) RDP with Windows XP logs out the local session on the HTPC. This can be resolved with an application called WinConnect Server that allows for multiple sessions. It's a bit pricey, though.

[Mastiff]

And another problem: You need a computer that's not used for instance as an HTPC to be always on to do this. Not to mention that it has to be fast enough to run Windows XP. Nice experiment, but probably not very practical for most. I have not even managed to run a regular Remote Desktop connection yet on my system, probably because I have so much eyecandy on the computer I tried with (my dear HTPC in Cinema Inferno).

[Ben S]

True, but the nice thing about WinConnect is that it doesn't lock out the current session, so you can continue using Theatertek or whatever and still have another session logged in.

Anybody else having any luck with their Simpad and the new version? For the Media Center tree, you can use the right arrow on the nav pad to pop open the right click menu.

You can't config, yet, unless you get something that allows you to emulate a right click (As in the other thread).

[sapnho]

I just replaced my Airlancer MC-11 card in my Simpad with the Siemens I-Gate. Boy-what a difference!! No more disconnects, no drivers that need to be installed and only €30.-

I can only recommend to use the Simpad with the Siemens I-Gate card. It's the third card I have tried and the only one with a flawless operation.

AND: Reconnect time is only 4-5 seconds!

[Mastiff]

Yes, that's the one that came with Joeren's batch. I fought with my Trend AP, but except for that it's brilliant.

[danielo]

Hai,

>btw who is this danielo that's user number 3 here? I'm number 4, after >admin, you and him, and it annoys the hell, out of me! He hasn't even >posted once!

This is my version of 'first post' attack on new forums i hunt new ones down all day and try to become its first member !!!
:lol:

But really it happend when we made the shift from avsforum, Sorry ive not posted before these things happen the av habbit can be so demanding that we shift focus for a while to a different part of the system. Now Jeroen has tricked me by inviting me for diner last week and prompting me with a new simpad knowing i would not have any resistance to this !! So back in line and setting up the simpad in my system.

Im a fulltime programmer working on paid opensource most of my time now. Been friends with Jeroen for a few years and we somehow seem to end up with the same gadgets.

Big hi to jeroen for the help on getting my simpad up and running with some wellpointed emails and the many days ill loose redoing my layouts from the ipaq to the simpad

Daniel.

[Mastiff]

OK, I forgive you. :D I was wondering if it was some kind of a system account or something like that. Just make up for it in the coming time with lots of informative and good posts for us all! 8)