Mobile Systems - Hardware Compatibility

• Smart Phone / PDA
• Magnetic Swipe Reader PDA Sled
• Signature Capture
• Receipt Printer
• Printer Driver
• Important Information

It is best to acquire your Smart phone / PDA from a cellular carrier. Your selection of carrier may be based on signal strength in your area, communications speed in your area, initial purchase cost, purchase rebates, monthly data cost, and other factors. Carriers may let you try their Smart phones and communications plans for a month before you commit to a longer-term contract. Presently, MyFBO.com supports the HP iPAQ™ 6900 Series (from AT&T or unlocked from HP) and the Treo™ 700w (from Verizon) in the U.S.

For carrier information, please see:

http://www.wireless.att.com/
http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/index.jsp

Other phone models may be supported. Click here to view a more complete list. Note that a Windows Mobile device with a touch screen is required to capture signatures.

Please confirm compatibility with MyFBO.com Support prior to SmartPhone Purchase.

Back to Top

MyFBO.com supports magnetic stripe reader sleds from Grabba International. These swipe reader sleds can be purchased directly from the U.S. arm of this Australian manufacturer.

To purchase a sled for the HP iPAQ™ 6900, please visit:

http://www.grabba.com/index.cfm?pg=grabbamall_details&con=955&cat=54&pi d=698&rg=us

To purchase a sled for the Treo™ 700w , please visit:

http://www.grabba.com/index.cfm?pg=grabbamall_details&con=955&cat=54&pi d=667&rg=us

You may also wish to order the card cord (12 volt adapter) for your sled. This will allow charging of both the sled battery and your PDA battery from a ramp vehicle.

Other phone models may be supported. Click here to view a more complete list. Note that a Windows Mobile device with a touch screen is required to capture signatures.

Back to Top

MyFBO.com licenses PDA signature capture software from Bennet-Tec. You can install necessary the signature capture driver from the MyFBO.com PDA Menu – PDA Configuration page. If the signature capture driver has not been installed, you will be prompted to complete the installation at the time a signature is required.

Back to Top

The Pentax® PocketJet3 printer kit with Bluetooth™ communications is recommended for this application. PocketJet printers are specifically designed for mobile use, have few moving parts, and do not require ink cartridges. The printer is very small (about 10” wide) and uses 8½” thermal paper (11” cut sheets or roll stock), allowing standard-size receipts to be prepared.

Bluetooth is recommended over IrDA (infrared) communications for this application because the credit card sled may block your PDA’s IrDA port, and because IrDA requires a line of sight to the printer. MyFBO.com purchased and tested the PocketJet3 Kit with Bluetooth, as well as the fast release vehicle mount and car cord. (The vehicle mount also holds the paper roll, helping to keep your ramp vehicles organized.) A complete User’s Guide includes the simple instructions for configuring Bluetooth communications. This printer operated immediately with the PIEprint driver (see below) once Bluetooth communications were configured.

Information about PocketJet printer purchase from the manufacturer can be found at:

http://www.pentaxtech.com/Products/pocketjets.html

Back to Top

Both HP and Pentax recommend the PIEprint driver for use with their products. This inexpensive driver is easy to install, configure, and operate using either the web-based instructions or PIEprint helper installed on your PDA with the driver. Printing is also easy – just hold the PDA stylus down on the screen and select “Print” from the pop-up menu.

For additional information, please see:

http://www.fieldsoftware.com/PIEprint.htm

Back to Top

1. MyFBO.com supports Microsoft® Windows Mobile™ devices such as the HP iPAQ™ 6900 and the Treo™ 700w. Please check with MyFBO.com Support before considering other Smart phones / PDA's.
    
2. A cellular data plan is required to link your Smart phone / PDA to the MyFBO.com online system. Voice communications are optional.
    
3. Using your Smart phone / PDA for entering or swiping credit cards requires online credit card processing already be enabled in your online system. If you are not processing credit cards online from your desktop, you cannot do so from your PDA.
    
4. Each of the MyFBO.com Mobile PDA functions (credit card swipe, signature capture, and receipt printing) require add-on software be installed in your PDA. Some of this software can only be installed through your desktop computer using Microsoft® ActiveSync.® Thus, you must have a desktop computer and purchase a desktop synchronization cradle with your PDA.
    
5. Swiping credit cards requires that you attach your PDA to a portable magnetic stripe reader cradle or “sled.” This sled may block some of the functionality of your PDA such as the camera or infrared port. You should not plan to frequently remove and reattach the sled, as this may require that you soft-reset your PDA and restart one or more software drivers.

Back to Top