bluestation::instructions & caveats for bluestation

bluestation is software that will turn your computer into a scanner.
it will sense local Bluetooth devices and send them along to the bluestates database.
plus it shows you who's around!

Only Bluetooth-equipped personal computers can run bluestation;
bluestation requires Java to run.

Your personal computer must have:

• The Java Runtime Environment (JRE) version 1.4 or better (go here to get it)
  • If you're running OSX, you already have it installed.
  • If you're running Windows XP, you probably don't have it installed.
  • If you're running LINUX, you might have it, or you might not.
• An internet connection (doesn't really matter what kind, or how fast, or how often)
• If running Windows XP, Service Pack 2 is required.
  • There are two types of Bluetooth drivers used in Windows XP SP2
    If you have the WIDCOMM drivers, go here first.
• OSX requires some additional preparation described here.

Once the JRE is installed, you should be able to click on one of these links:

• Windows XP (or Windows XP with WIDCOMM Bluetooth drivers)
• Linux
• OSX (do this only after you've followed the OSX preparation instructions)

This will launch the Java Web Start tool, and start bluestation.

If you are asked what application you'd like to use to open the Java Web Start file,
you'll need to find Java Web Start on your hard drive. The application is named "javaws".
(This is more likely to occur on LINUX than on Windows.)

Java may warn you that the application isn't properly signed. It is. So ignore that.
To quit bluestation, just close the bluestation window.

Caveats:

We've found that there are certain Bluetooth-equipped Windows XP PCs which won't run the software.
This is a WIDCOMM driver problem. We're working on a solution right now.
A quick examination of the Bluetooth control panel will tell you which drivers you're using.
If your drivers are Microsoft drivers, you're ok.
If they're WIDCOMM drivers, you'll have to use our work-around.

On the other hand, it's run on every LINUX distro we've tried it upon. (Fedora, Ubuntu)

Give it a try today, and let us know. (Please let us know.)

Back