Wifi home networking is driving me crazy

esperdiv · 08-11-03, 01:19 PM

What I want to do:

Share my desktop's files with my Axim. Sync wireless.

How I'm setup:

WindowsXP home on the desktop. Axim X5 A05 ROM (PPC2003). Linksys wireless router. Ethernet cable between router and desktop. Wifi connection between Axim and router. Ethernet cable between router and cable modem.

What works:

Axim connects to the internet through the router.
Axim can ping my windowsXP desktop using vxUtil.

What does not work:

Whenever trying to access \\mydesktop from the Axim, the OS complaints that I must setup a VPN connection to the machine and the connection is never made.

What I've tried:

Using pockethosts to add my fixed desktop ip.
Enabling the small VPN in XP home through "Accept incoming connections" in network settings.
Creating a VPN connection on the Axim.
Using the IP adress instead of the computer name in explorer.
Using resco explorer (no go with PPC2003 for network connections).

What I'm about to do:

Chug everything out the window...

Can anyone avoid this frustration?

Thanks alot!

08-11-03, 04:33 PM

Ethernet cable between router and desktop? Shouldnt that be-

Cable Modem > router >PC
>PC2
>Ax
>whatever

***are both the Ax IP and the PC IP on the same Subnet? IE both start with XXX.XXX.XXX.YYY where the Xs are the same and the Ys are different?

***is the subnet mask the same on both? gateway?

Did you set the Ax connection for "Work Settings" on the first 2 options of the network panel?

Do you have any software firewalls on the PC?

You shouldnt need to set up VPN for anything if all you want to do is sync and browse... *** judging from your problems I sense those might be the answer... hope this helps...

dtgrdn · 08-11-03, 04:39 PM

If that doesn't work try this
http://www.aximsite.com/boards/showt...hreadid=14368.

It sure helped me when I couldn't connect to my pc

ikehiker · 08-11-03, 06:05 PM

dtgrdn,
Thanks for pointing esperdiv to the How-to. It may not be as much help since he's on WM03.

esperdiv,
Having said that and based on a few posts by people with WM03, I do believe a possible solution is to make your connection settings "Work" instead of "Internet." This is necessary for syncing PPC02 wirelessly and at least one person said that worked for them with WM03. Also, if I understand what you said in your post, I do believe you have the system set up right as long as the ethernet cable from modem connects to the WAN port and the one from the PC connects to one of the LAN ports.

08-11-03, 10:05 PM

Yes I was puzzled at first when trying to connect to my home LAN when the Axim asked me to create a VPN connection, this is simple not necessary. As a previous poster said don't use 'connect via isp instead use 'work ' and then you will by pass the VPN bit.

If after that you can not see your network shares then the problem will be an i.p mis-configeration.

Iam using WM03

08-11-03, 10:26 PM

Have you got DHCP enabled on your router ?

I take it that it is a Wirless router ?

---

I prefer to use fixed i.p's on my LAN and Axim because it allows me to know where to find each system, print servers and wirless access points. With DCHP the i.p will change often and if by some chance you have 2 DHCP servers running then you will have problems.

----------------------
Axim 400
WM03
256 CF
128 SD
Dell Trumobile wireless CF
Netgear wireless access point
Mentor Broad Band router
Sitcom Printer Server
Cable Modem

esperdiv · 08-12-03, 08:31 AM

Thanks everyone, tonight I'll try to use only the work settings. I was going through My ISP for the internet connection.

I'll let you know if it works.

Thanks again.

esperdiv · 08-12-03, 09:53 PM

Hi again everyone,

I'm glad to let everyone know that you have found the solution to my problem.

I kept trying to set my connection to work using the following procedure which was WRONG:

Settings...Connections...Connections...Advanced... Select Networks and setting both boxes to My Work Network. This is where I was wrong.

You have to set your connection to work as follows:

Settings...Connections...Wireless Ethernet...[Your AP NAME]...Connects to : WORK

And that's it. Maybe mickeysoft could have made this even more confusing to befuddle just about everyone including seasoned computer users (such as me). The settings "My work network" and "connects to work" seem to be two different entities, the differences I have not even begun to ponder. Simlarly a connection can be made to "My ISP" and your network card can access your AP through "The Internet", which is crystal clear to me. Similarly, you can have fun making connections to "My work network" through "The Internet" or the equally intriguing connecting to "My ISP" while the AP is set to "Work". I can see the support calls lining up.

Anyhow, thank you everyone my problem is solved. For reference, to future humans who may happen upon a similar problem, what my puny mammal-brain has learnt out of this is:

The stuff on the Connections applet of the Connections settings page (how confusing can this get) is of no real importance if you're having a problem such as I described. The solution is to set your AP to connect to Work even though you are at home. Don't let vocabulary get in the way.

ESPER out...

Flintstone · 08-28-03, 11:35 PM

Just got my Axim today and installed a Dlink DCF-660W CF Air card. After enabling WEP and telling the Axim that the wireless connection is to the "Internet", I connect to the net fine. Very cool. It is surprisingly fast compared to a Palm 720 I had. My problem is trying to find my network computers. I followed the instructions above to switch to "WORK" to get rid of the VPN message, but I still get a "Network path not found" in File Explorer when I try to open a path to \\ANYMACHINE\MYSHAREDDRIVE . I can log onto that drive from any of my Win XP desktops. Can anyone think of what I'm doing wrong on the Axim? And can anyone explain why the Axim insists that you keep switching from "The internet" to "work" - can't it figure this out for itself, or at least associate IE with "Internet" and File Explorer with "Work"? Seems major stupid. Flint