Setup Program & Utilities
MobileCollect Software Programs
Several different software programs can be used to support the set up and use of MobileCollect. These programs are described below. Copies of the User’s Guides and the software are available in the links below. You can install these programs on as many computers as required. All of these programs have been tested on Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10 and Windows 11. All of the programs shown below are included on the MobileCollect CD that is shipped with MobileCollect.
Xpress Setup Program
The MobileCollect Xpress Setup Program is used to set up and configure the MobileCollect Bases and Mobile Modules. The Xpress Setup Program provides access to the most common setup features required by most users to configure their Mobile Modules (Mini, Digital and RS-232) and Bases (USB, USB MicroBase and RS-232). The Xpress Setup Program is easy to use, and we strongly recommend that you take a look at this program. If the features you require are not supported by the Xpress Setup Program, you can use the Extended Setup Program.
Extended Setup Program
The MobileCollect Extended Setup Program is used to set up and configure the MobileCollect Bases, Remotes and Mobile Modules.
The Extended Setup Program consists of a series of tabs. The Main Setup tab is used for Base and Remote configuration. The other tabs in the Setup Program will be enabled or disabled based upon the unit (Base or Remote) that you are configuring. Most people that use the Extended Setup Program to configure their Mini, Digital and RS-232 Mobile Modules could use the MobileCollect Xpress Setup Program.
WedgeLink Xpress Keyboard Wedge Program
WedgeLink Xpress is a software keyboard wedge designed to work with MobileCollect Bases. A keyboard wedge reads data from a serial port and passes this data to a PC application in such a manner that the application thinks the data is entered via the keyboard. Keyboard wedges are commonly used with applications such as Microsoft Excel and other data database programs.
ComTestSerial Serial Communications TestProgram
The ComTestSerial serial communications test program allows you to test communications with any serial device. MicroRidge saw a need for a fast, effective and easy-to-use serial test communications program. MicroRidge developed ComTestSerial to meet that need, and are offering it free of charge to anyone who has a need for a communications test program. When testing your MobileCollect system, you can easily send the data received by a Base to ComTestSerial. You can also send commands from ComTestSerial to your Base. ComTestSerial is included with the Xpress and Extended Setup Programs.
RF Sniffer Program
The MobileCollect RF Sniffer allows you to determine the amount of RF communications occurring on each of the RF channels that can be used by MobileCollect. The Sniffer takes 500 measurements on a channel and determines for each measurement if there was any RF activity. After the measurements are taken on a channel, the Sniffer moves to the next channel and repeats the process. It takes approximately .096 seconds (96 msec) to capture the 500 measurements on a channel. The total time to scan all 16 channels is about 1.6 seconds.
USB Driver
MicroRidge products that require USB Serial drivers are all based on the USB to Serial IC manufactured by FTDI Chip (www.ftdichip.com).
The latest drivers and a description of the supported operating systems are available at www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm. The drivers included in the table below are the setup executable drivers available from the link in the Comments on the FTDI Chip site. These drivers have a file extension of exe. We do not use the drivers with the zip extension.
This driver is a WHQL (Windows Hardware Quality Labs) certified release. This driver is only for use with products containing the USB to Serial IC manufactured by FTDI Chip.