Wireless "How-to" and "FAQ" for the Axim (merged) - Page 3

meggeler · 07-15-03, 04:17 PM

I am a new member of this board. And a new Axim owner. I had a lot of previous orginizers/PDA - from Sharp - Palm - iPaq.

Boy was I ...ised when my nice new Axim X5 wouldn't recongize my Linksys WCF12!

But after reading almost everything here I decided to try the DCF-660W, just a little money (CompUSA - $69 - $20 - $20 (mail in rebate)) I would escape a lot of aggrevation! Guess what - I installed and immediately it worked with PPC2003 :D

I wish to thank everyone who has contributed to the thread and the assistance I have gotten from the board.

Remember your old problem is my new problem! :)

Larry
aka Meggeler

soy power · 07-17-03, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ikehiker
Thanks for the compliment. You should be able to access your home network using the included software although it seems like PPC treats networks differently from other windows OS so it can get frustrating to make the connection. Anyway, I think the way to do is in file explorer, tap on open from the menu bar and type in the path to your shared drive/folder. I believe the format is \\computer-name\folder unfortunately I cannot test it because my shares are already held in memory from my use of PocketLAN (which does things similarly to Rescoe Explorer. I’d already paid for it and didn’t feel like paying for Rescoe to do the same thing even though it’s an easier program to use and has other features.)

DUDE! I have had my Wifi card set up for about a week now. I figured out how to remotely sync, but not how to browse my shared stuff. Didn't realize it was just a matter of typing in the location like that. It works just fine in Total Commander.

Gotta love forums. When you're tired of banging your head, just go read how someone else figured it out.

Thanks again

07-20-03, 12:43 AM

Thank you for doing this! Selfishly, I would like to ask that you maybe consider doing a bit more of a comparison of the pros and cons of wifi vs bluetooth. For example I would like to know how they compare on the following list:
Cost to purchase necessary equipment to go wireless with the Axim
Ease of set up
Security
Availability of other devices (now and in the future)

Again, thank you very much for putting all of this information in one place!

ikehiker · 07-20-03, 03:40 PM

I've added a few more details to the BT section. Unfortunately, I've never even used bluetooth so that puts me at a disadvantage to describing some of these points, especially the differences in 'ease of setup.' Anyone with experience that wants to supply details, I'd be grateful (as would, I'm sure, your fellow Aximites).

I have made a few refinements to other parts of the FAQ - added a few figures that I hope will explain some of these answers.

I've added some details from previous suggestions over the past week as well and plan to add more as time permits.

Furture suggestions/critisms are welcome. :)

TimCuller · 07-23-03, 02:24 PM

Ike, awesome job with the FAQ, thanks very much for it!

I do have a question for you though--in the wireless sync section on step 4 you state:

On the Axim, in Settings, Connections (tab), Connections, select Work Settings, Work Settings, Work.

I don't quite follow here. I click on settings, then the "Connections" tab. Then I click on the "Connections" icon. This brings up a screen titled connections. This screen has three icons on the left-hand side and then a corresponding series of three descriptions (with accompanying drop down selections and two sets of "Modify..." and "Connect" buttons) on the right-hand side.

The three descriptions are:
1) When needed, automatically connect to The Internet using these settings (drop down currently shows "internet settings")

2) When needed, automatically connect to Work using these settings (drop down currently shows "work settings")

3) My network card connect to (drop down currently shows "The internet")

So what am I supposed to do here? If I tap "work settings" in the second description nothing happens. If I click on the modify button I get a screen with the following tabs across the bottom: "General", "Modem", "VPN" and "Proxy Settings". I'm not sure what I should fill in here, if anything. (clicking on the "Connect" button brings up a "Trouble Connecting" dialog that states "Unable to connect with current settings..." ). Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated!

A general note on what I have: Axim Advanced with pocketPC 2002, and a linksys wcf12 wireless card. I can surf the internet without a problem. My desktop computer is running Windows XP. Let me know if there's any other information that would be helpful!

Thanks very much,

Tim

Shokpin · 07-23-03, 03:10 PM

Tim,
All three drop-down menus should be set to Work Settings.

ikehiker · 07-23-03, 06:38 PM

I'm not sure what you don't understand. You just change the settings to 'work settings' (or work for the third) by using the drop down list (tap the arrow and then tap the name 'Work Settings'). That should change it so the box now has 'Work Settings' displayed. Sometimes people have had to change them a couple of times to get it to stay.

You don't need to modify the defaults that are applied when you change to these settings (the default for 'Proxy Settings' under the first 2 drop downs is for "This network connects to the Internet" to be checked).

The alternative choice ("The Internet") is for dial up connections or in the rare situation (at least rare in the home setups) when you do use a proxy server.

There are a few threads where people report successfully using different settings, but generally it functions for most people when they are all set to 'work.'

telnel · 07-23-03, 07:57 PM

OK, I've read through all of this and still have some questions. I'm not new to networking as I have run one here for quite a while and access the net over frame relay through a router. I was using static IP's on all my machines but when I added the Linksys router/AP last year I put them through there to hide them a little better using DHCP, even though everything still goes through another router. I had no problem getting my Ax to work on the network. I can connect to the net with my Ax fine, as long as the third setting is "Internet" In order to sync I have to change this to "Work" The only problem with this is everytime I change from one to the other I need to do a soft reset, which is a pain. What did I miss? Thanks!

ikehiker · 07-23-03, 08:34 PM

I'm able to surf the web (and sync and network) with all three set to 'work.' I know I had to add the DNS servers supplied by my ISP to the adapter settings (Settings, Connections (tab), Network Adapters. Select your WiFi card and tap on Properties and fill them in on the Name Servers tab) in order to connect to web pages. Do you know if you can currently connect with your browser using an IP number? I used to be able to set the DNS with the card set for DHCP but the last time I installed the Intersil drivers, it would not 'stick' so I had to set the WiFi to a static IP.

If you don't have DNS's from your service, I believe other people got their web connection to work with their router's IP set as the DNS. Since you have two routers set up, I wonder if you should use the IP for the one closest to your broadband?

That's all I can think of.

dtgrdn · 07-23-03, 08:50 PM

I would just like to thank ikehiker for suppling the Setting Up a Home WiFi Network info. I was able to connect to the internet with my wifi before reading this but could not connect to my wired pc's. After reading and following his suggestions I had it connected in 5 minutes.:)

The instructions were easy to follow and very helpful!!:D

Thanks again

ikehiker · 07-23-03, 09:30 PM

Nice campaign button. Maybe I should change my avatar :)

and dtgrdn, thanks for the comments and feed back. It's nice to hear it was worth it.

telnel · 07-24-03, 05:52 PM

Thanks Ike. Actually I had tried the DNS number at first when I first tried to set it up before reading your stuff. So I went back through everything last night after rereading your stuff and found that under the 'Work' settings I had not checked that my 'Network connects to the Internet'. As with most problems I've found it's usually something simple that I have overlooked. Now all 3 are 'Work' and all works well with no more soft resets all the time. Thanks again, I like your settings pages, they cover everything quite well.

ikehiker · 07-24-03, 10:05 PM

Great. It's always nice to have a satisfied "customer" :)

keith.moore · 08-08-03, 07:42 AM

I have recently upgraded to WM2003 and was struggling to get my WiFi working. I read your guide, and downloaded the recommended utilities. These allowed me to check the assigned IP addresses and to 'ping' each end.
The problem I had was that I only got a 'ping' response one way, PC to Axim was ok, but not Axim to PC. It eventually turned out to be my firewall (Norton Internet Security) on my XP PC blocking access.
Rather than allowing each program specific access, I entered my Axim IP address to its 'trusted' list, and voila, well nearly, ActiveSync now works across WiFi, but not PIE yet although I think I know what the problem is.
When I reread your guide I noticed your comment about turning firewalls off - would have saved me a few hours head scratching.

Igloo · 08-11-03, 09:28 PM

Ok, I read through the forms, and I am HOPING, someone can tell me, in lamens terms, what the heck I'm doing! :)

I am just about to purchase my Axim at dell.ca. I am going to purchase the following card:

True Mobile™ 1180 802.11b Wireless Compact Flash Card

Now, what I want to do is this:

Surf the net on my Axim
Access my email on my Axim
Use MSN Messenger on my Axim

Can I do the above just by getting this card and perhaps configuring my axim to log into my Sympatico Internet High Speed Account? Do I have to go through my Home PC to do this? I don't have a wireless component on my home PC :(.

I hope I hope I hope one or more of you can help me...perhaps post this message here, or PM or send me an email...

Thanks a bunch...this site is awesome and look forward to talking to you all.