Installing USB Switcher App for Geo7X Series, Juno 3 Series, and GeoExplorer 6000 Windows Mobile Devices

Last Modified: March 18, 2020

Purpose

This document provides step-by-step instructions for installing the USB Switcher App on applicable Trimble receivers. Once a compatible Trimble has been properly switched using this app, the device can continue to use the data transfer utility in either Pathfinder Office or Positions for expedient file management.

Before You Begin

Trimble® has released the USB Switcher App to overcome the issues with Windows Mobile® Device Center running on PCs powered by the Windows® 10 operating system. The USB Switcher App changes how a Trimble Windows Embedded Handheld device connects to a PC powered by the Windows operating system. Instead of using Windows Mobile Device Center to access the internal storage on the device, with the app, you can instead access the SD card directly in a device and have that appear as a lettered drive in Windows on a PC.  You can then set up Data Transfer to send and receive data from the Trimble TerraSync software to the Trimble GPS Pathfinder® Office or Trimble Positions software from this lettered drive. 

When to use the USB Switcher app? The USB Switcher App works best for Trimble Mapping & GIS handheld users who already have the TerraSync software installed and set up on their device and only need to get data to and from the device. The solution does not work for users who need to install and license the TerraSync software on their device.  

Which Trimble devices are supported? This app works on Trimble GeoExplorer® 6000, Geo 7X handhelds, and Trimble Juno® 3x (3B, 3C, and 3D) devices. It does not work on devices such as the Trimble GeoExplorer 2008 and 3000 series, as they do not support Mass Storage. It does not work on Trimble Juno 5 / T41 handhelds or Trimble Nomad® handhelds as they do not have the USB Mass Storage driver installed. Those devices will require copying files onto SD cards and manual transfer to a computer.  On 2008/3000, and other older controllers like the Nomad, you can still transfer files via SD card but will have to physically remove the card from Trimble. See Appendix A.

How does it work?  The USB Switcher App runs on a Windows Embedded Handheld device and allows you to switch your device between using Windows Mobile Device Center (USB Mode: ActiveSync) and using USB Mass Storage. The USB Mass Storage option exposes the SD card in the device as a lettered drive in Windows. It DOES NOT expose the internal storage of the device; writing to the internal storage can only be done via the Windows Embedded Handheld operating system which requires the use of Windows Mobile Device Center. If there is no SD card in the device then nothing will appear in Windows. Once the Trimble is switched to using Mass Storage, then you do not have to re-install the app.  

What you cannot do with the USB Switcher App?  You will not be able to re-install Terrasync software on a device without WMDC.  You can circumvent this issue by taking the receiver to a nearby dealer or running WMDC on another computer.

Recommended SD cards Use this chart to see compatible SD card support depending on the device. SDHC memory cards cannot be used in devices that support only SD cards. Limit to 32 Gb or lower for 2008/3000 series devices. The Juno series requires a Micro SD card that fits under the battery.  Tests reveal any SD adapter/Micro SD card combo will work.  

Special Note about devices that cannot use the USB Swithcher App – See Appendix A.

SD Card readers.  Because you will need to extract the SD card out of the Geoexplorer 2008/3000 series, we also recommend a modern card reader. Many new laptops do not come with an SD card slot. 

Installing USB Switcher App on Geo7X, and Juno 

Install Instructions for Geo7x and  Juno 3 devices. SEE THESE STEPS FOR GEO6000 DEVICES

1. Download the USB Switcher zip file from http://trl.trimble.com/dscgi/ds.py/Get/File-871020/UsbSwitcher.zip
   
2. Extract the 3 files to a folder on a PC
   
3. Copy / Paste the 3 files to the Geo7x or Juno 3 device. To do this we recommend copying the folder containing the 3 files onto the SD card.  
   
4. Insert the SD card into the device.
   
5. Launch File Explorer from the main screen.
   
6. Select the Menu button (bottom right) and enable Show All Files.
   
7. Using the stylus, select Storage Card from the pulldown bar upper left in File Explorer.
   
8. Tap and HOLD the USB Switcher folder. Select Copy
   
9. Select My Device from the pulldown bar upper left in File Explorer.
   
10. Using the stylus, scroll to the bottom of My Device and tap and hold in the open white space.
    
11. Select Paste.  You should now have a USB Switcher folder in My Device.
    
12. If you have connected the device to the host computer via a USB cable, disconnect the USB cable from the Trimble, then proceed to the next step.
    
13. Enable Advanced Network Functionality.  On the Trimble select windows / Settings / Connections / USB to PC and check the box to enable.  Press OK and close.
    
14. With the SD inserted in the Trimble, Run UsbSwitcher by double-tapping the USBSwitcher app inside the My Device/USB Switcher directory.  If the Current USB mode says ActiveSync/WMDC or RSNID, press the button to Change to Mass Storage. The Trimble will reboot.
    
15. Confirm the app has switched to Mass Storage by browsing again in File Explorer to the USB Switcher app.  The app should now state Current Mode:  Mass Storage. If this is the case tap OK to cancel.  If it remains stuck on RNDIS (Active Sync) or Active Sync/WMDC, then check again that the Advanced Network Functionality checkbox is switched on the Trimble, and repeat Step 14.  You may have to repeat twice.
    
16. Once in Mass Storage mode (Current USB Mode:  Mass Storage), you are done.  
    
17. Connect the Trimble to the computer using the USB cable and the device will connect as a drive letter to any Windows 10 computer.  This setting will persist but you must have an SD card inserted.
    

Install Instructions for GeoExplorer 6000 handheld devices

The GeoExplorer® 6000 requires a driver to be installed on the handheld device before the installation of the USB Switcher App. 

1. Download the USB Mass Storage driver from http://trl.trimble.com/dscgi/ds.py/Get/File-936346/USB_MS.zip
   
2. Extract the 1 file to a folder on a PC
   
3. Copy-paste the USB_MS.cab file to the GeoExplorer® 6000 handheld My Device root file structure. To do this we recommend copying the file onto an SD card.
   
4. Insert the SD card into the device.
   
5. Launch File Explorer from the main screen on the Trimble.
   
6. Select the Menu button (bottom right) and enable Show All Files.
   
7. Using the stylus, select Storage Card from the pulldown bar upper left in File Explorer.
   
8. Tap and HOLD the USB_MS.cab file. Select Cut.
   
9. Select My Device from the pulldown bar upper left in File Explorer.
   
10. Using the stylus, scroll to the bottom of My Device and tap and hold in the open white space.
    
11. Select Paste. You will now see the USB_MS.cab file.
    
12. Single tap to install the driver.
    
13. Download the USB Switcher zip file from http://trl.trimble.com/dscgi/ds.py/Get/File-871020/UsbSwitcher.zip
    
14. Extract the 3 files to a folder on a PC
    
15. Copy / Paste the 3 files to the Geo7x or Juno 3 device. To do this we recommend copying the folder containing the 3 files onto the SD card.  
    
16. Insert the SD card into the device.
    
17. Launch File Explorer from the main screen.
    
18. Using the stylus, select Storage Card from the pulldown bar upper left in File Explorer.
    
19. Tap and HOLD the USB Switcher folder. Select Copy
    
20. Select My Device from the pulldown bar upper left in File Explorer.
    
21. Using the stylus, scroll to the bottom of My Device and tap and hold in the open white space.
    
22. Select Paste.  You should now have a USB Switcher folder in My Device.
    
23. If you have connected the device to the host computer via a USB cable, disconnect the USB cable from the Trimble then proceed to the next step.
    
24. Enable Advanced Network Functionality.  On the Trimble select windows / Settings / Connections / USB to PC and check the box to enable.  Press OK and close.
    
25. With the SD inserted in the Trimble, Run UsbSwitcher by double-tapping the USBSwitcher app inside the My Device/USB Switcher directory.  If the Current USB mode says ActiveSync/WMDC 
    

or RSNID, press the button to Change to Mass Storage. The Trimble will reboot.

26. Confirm the app has switched to Mass Storage by browsing again in File Explorer to the USB Switcher app.  The app should now state Current Mode:  Mass Storage. If this is the case tap OK to cancel.  If it remains stuck on RNDIS (Active Sync) or Active Sync/WMDC, then check again that the Advanced Network Functionality checkbox is switched on the Trimble, and repeat Step 25.  You may have to repeat twice.
    
27. Once in Mass Storage mode (Current USB Mode:  Mass Storage), you are done.  
    

Connect the Trimble to the computer using the USB cable and the device will connect as a drive letter to any Windows 10 computer.  This setting will persist but you must have an SD card inserted.

NOTE: If the USB Switcher app continues to return to Activesync Mode after a couple attempts to switch to Mass Storage, check the following

• You may still have the USB cable attached to the computer. Disconnect the cable and run the app again.
  
• Ensure the Advanced Network Functionality checkbox on the Trimble is checked. Go to Windows icon/ Settings / Connections / USB to PC.  This must be switched on (checked).
  
• Are all 3 files required for the switcher app placed together in the root directory of the Trimble device? (Steps 19 – 23).
  
• Try removing the SD card and reinserting the card to wake up the device.
  
• Is the device updated to the most current OS/FW?  See trimble.com/support and A-Z list.
  
• If there continues to be an issue, the device may need to have a “Factory Reset” which will return the Trimble to default settings. This is a good thing to do especially for very old, hard-working Trimbles.  Backup the Trimble before doing a hard reset.  You will need to re-install Terrasync which will require you to be able to connect using WMDC.
  

Configuring TerraSync To Read and Write To The SD Card

Configure the TerraSync field software to read and write data to the SD card rather than the Default internal storage. 

1. Disconnect the USB cable from the Trimble.
   
2. Launch Terrasync on the device.
   

When creating new data files or editing existing files, change the data file Location to Storage Card in any of Data/New, Data/Existing, or Data/Manager subsections. 

Background files for the Map section also have an option to load files from the SD card. Select Map Section and under Layers, select Background Files and change Location from Default to Storage Card.

Your GPS is now set to bypass ActiveSync (WMDC) as a file transfer software since the USB Switcher App controls the connection to the PC, and TerraSync knows where to look for files.

If you forget to change the file location to Storage Card during a GPS Job copy the files from the SD Card Use the Data/File Manager subsection selecting Options > Copy To. 

Configuring Data Transfer To Transfer Files Directly to/from SD

APPLICABLE for Pathfinder Office and Trimble Positions workflows.

You must now change how you use Data Transfer to get data to and from the device. As the SD card is now visible as a lettered drive on the Windows PC, set up a GIS Folder device in the Data Transfer Utility and point that to the lettered drive.  

1. Open the Data Transfer Utility.  Select Add a new device, and select GIS Folder: 
   

2. Select the lettered drive that is associated with the device: 
   

3. Choose TerraSync as the File Type, and select the TerraSync version: 
   

With these settings applied, you can use Data Transfer to send files directly to and from the SD card.

Transferring Coordinate System Files

You cannot transfer single coordinate system files or Coordinate System export files using the GIS folder option. If you want to add custom coordinate systems that are not available in the version of TerraSync you have installed, follow these instructions: 

1. In GPS Pathfinder Office, open Utilities / Other / Coordinate System Manager. 
   
2. Select the Coordinate System you want to export (if you want to use only the selected coordinate system).
   

3. Select File / Export, and rename the file to complete.csw.
   
4. Choose a folder on your PC and select Save.
   
5. Copy any related required files (e.g. geoids) to the same folder.
   
6. Copy the file(s) to the Windows Embedded Handheld device (e.g. via the SD Card Mass Storage connection). 
   
7. On the Windows Embedded Handheld device, move the file(s) to the Program Files / Common Files / Trimble / GeoData folder. 
   

APPENDIX A.  Devices NOT Compatible with USB Switcher App

There are several older GPS data loggers that due to the older version of Embedded Windows Mobile will not work with the USB Switcher App.  Here is a Table of devices and recommendations moving forward for data transfer.

*1. Manual transfer SD card reader must be accessed under the top cap. SD Card reader required.

*2. LC,LE,XC,XE models - microSDHC slot; B,L, X models  - SDIO/SDHC.  SD Card reader required.

*3 800LE,800LC models – SD; 800L,800B – SD/Compact flash.  SD or CF card reader required.

*4. Must install the SD Card Recognition CAB File – March 2011   See here

References and Links

SD Card compatibility matrix

http://trl.trimble.com/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-390286/MGIS_SprtNote_FieldComputers_SD_cards.pdf