Important pre-install notes

1. Check for restrictions: Before attempting to install software on your mobile device, first check to make sure that you will not be restricted from doing so. Many IT departments enable restrictive permissions on company hardware, preventing proper installation of external software. Check with your IT staff to verify that you can indeed install the new software - or ask them to do it for you.
2. Wait to connect: Do not plug the PDA device's USB cable into your computer until all software has been installed and you are prompted to do so.
3. Get a full charge: Your PDA should be charged for a full 24 hours before you use it.

The Symbol™ website

Visit the Symbol™ website for more information on setting up your PDA device.

Symbol MC50

Note: This device is no longer available through Tracker Products. It has been replaced by the MC55.

Product link: Symbol MC50

User manual: Symbol MC50 user manual

Symbol MC55

This is the most popular PDA device we sell, designed for agencies that require the mobile processing of items but don't need cell phone connectivity.

Product link: MC55

User manual: Symbol MC55 user manual

Symbol MC70

This PDA device adds the functionality of cellular connectivity for futher enhanced mobile tracking.

Product link: MC70

User manual: Symbol MC70 user manual

Download the PDA software

You will need to download the following software to use your PDA device.

Microsoft Active Sync Site (For computers running Windows 2000 or Windows XP): Download

Microsoft Mobile Center Web Site (For computers running Windows Vista or Windows 7): Download

Current PDA software: Download

Cradling your PDA for the first time

For all versions of Windows operating system.

This section demonstrates the process of cradling a PDA for the first time while using the Microsoft Active Sync partnership setup. The Vista mobile device setup screens are slightly different but very similar.

After the install of the Active Sync software, the next step is to cradle the PDA for the first time and create a partnership with the computer.

1. Power up: Turn on the PDA device by pressing the grey button on the top right corner of the front of the PDA device.
2. Calibrate: If this is the first time your PDA has been turned on, you will be prompted to calibrate the touch screen. Simply follow the prompts. Once you have completed the calibration you will be taken to the main screen of the product.
3. Plug it in: Go ahead and plug in the USB cable for the cradle (without the PDA on it) into an available USB port on your computer.
4. Dock the PDA: Once the PDA has fully booted and the cradle is plugged into the computer, you can place the PDA on the cradle. The PDA should easily slide into the cradle and lock into the available connector device. You will see a LED at the top of the PDA if you have a good connection.
5. Initialize partnership: After your computer goes through the process of installing the scanner, your Active Sync software will recognize that the scanning device has been plugged in. It will prompt to setup a new partnership for the unit.
6. 
   Select Standard: Select the default option of standard partnership and click Next.
7. 
   Select Synchronize: Select the default option of Synchronize with this desktop computer and click Next.
8. 
   Confirm Synchronize: Select the default option of “Yes, I want to synchronize with this computer only”.
9. 
   Uncheck boxes: Uncheck all of the boxes on this screen unless you want the PDA device to sync with your calendar. In most cases you will NOT want these boxes checked.
10. 
    Finish: Click Finish to begin your first synchronization process.

Install Tracker PDA Software

The PDA should now be physically connected to the computer and properly communicating. At this point the Tracker PDA tools need to be installed.

1. Navigate to file: Navigate to the directory on your computer where you downloaded the necessary install files.
2. Begin install: Double click the PDASoftware-CurrentRelease.msi to begin the install of the PDA tools.
3. 
   Click next: Click the next button to begin the install (Note: If the install advises that you do not have the necessary .Net framework, you will need to stop the install and install the DotNetFX.exe that you downloaded at the beginning of this install document. Once you install the .Net Framework you can proceed with the install of the PDA tools)
4. 
   Click next: Click next at this screen
5. 
   Check boxes: Make sure to place a check in both Tracker PDA Tools and .Net Compact Framework 2.0
6. 
   Install in Applilcation folder: The software must be installed to the application folder. Make sure you say 'NO' to the question of whether you want to install to the default folder and then select the application folder. The software will now begin the installation of the product. If your PDA is cradled, which it should be, you will see the following screen which indicates that the Tracker PDA software is being installed on the PDA device. After you select 'NO' to the default folder you can then click 'Yes' or 'OK' to any messages you see.
7. 
   Finish: Installation is now complete

Setting up the PDA Tools on the PDA Device

We now need to setup your PDA software to work with the Tracker system. If the PDA device is not turned on please turn it on now.

1. Do not remove the PDA device from the cradle. You want to configure the PDA while it is still in the cradle. All configurations in this section will occur on the PDA device.
2. 
   Start: Click the Start button in the top left hand corner and then select “Programs”.
3. 
   Select "Evidence Tracker": In the programs menu you should see an icon for the Tracker PDA tools (Titled: Evidence Tracker). Click on this icon.
4. 
   Begin setup: The procedure in step three will activate the software and prompt you to begin the setup of the device. Please make sure that this information is filled in each box:
   • Web Address: (http://...): This box will contain the link to your Tracker site. For hosted clients, this link will be something to the effect of https://livedemosecure.trackerproducts.com:44433/ (Make sure the trailing / is included). Obviously you would not type this example link, you will want to type your site link. If you do not know your link, bring up your Tracker site and whatever link is displayed in the address line of Internet Explorer when you see the login screen is the actual link. Remember, your link that is provided by Tracker http://mycity.trackerproducts.com is NOT the final link. When typing this link in your browser it will redirect you to the secure site which is the link you need. For hosted sites this final link will ALWAYS begin with https://. Make sure you use the full link including the https. If you see a number at the end like :44433 make sure you use that. Some hosted sites may NOT see this number. PURCHASED customers will need to get this link from your IT person.
   • Username: You will create your own username and password in the Tracker site. To set this username and password, login to your Tracker site, click the File drop down menu in the top left corner of the screen and go to Setup then PDA Credentials Setup. On this screen you will setup the desired username and password for all PDA's being used.
   • Password: Enter the password you created in the previous section.
   • Sync on ActiveSync Connection: This should be checked.
   • Path to Sync Executable: Do not touch, this is correct information.
5. 
   Click the general tab: Click the general tab at the bottom of the screen and configure these options:
   • Event File Path: Leave this alone
   • Custom Values Path: Leave this alone
   • GMT Offset: You will need to select your correct time zone; EST = -5 CST = -6 MST= -7 PST= -8
6. Click done: Click “Done” in the bottom left corner.
7. 
   Click Yes: After clicking done it should pop up and ask if you want to sync now? Click “Yes”.
8. 
   Check for errors: After you click yes it will go through a process of syncing the PDA with the hosted server. If there are any errors on this page you will need to call support. However, the most common error will be incorrectly entering the username and password information. If you get an error about logging into the server, go back and try to reenter the username and password.
9. 
   Check screen: If all goes correctly, you will get a login screen like this.

Your device should now be properly setup and installed and prepared for use.

Install a new version of the PDA Software

Installing a new version of the PDA software is very easy. First, download the current copy of the PDASoftware-CurrentRelease.msi file. Once the file is on your local computer you will want to run (double click) that file so that it activates the installation. Upon install you will see the following screen.

Make sure you first uninstall (remove) the existing copy. Once that is removed run the PDASoftware-CurrentRelease.msi file again and this time it will walk you through the install of the PDA. See the top of this page for more details instructions on installing the PDA software.