WM2003 and WiFi. Work vs the internet

pananza · 09-12-03, 05:31 AM

I have Windows Mobile 2003 on my Axim and I'm online with my Dell True Mobile 1180 CF card. Most things works, sometimes, but I cannot figure out a stabile configuration.

What are the differences between the "Work" and "The Internet" settings for connections? Why does it even need to know? Some things only works then in one settings and some things only work in another.

First I configured every thing to work at my office.

Settings/Connections/Wireless Ethernet/Network Adapter
"My network card connects to" is set to "Work"

Settings/Connections/Connections/Advanced/Select Networks
"Program that automatically connect to the internet should connect using" is set to "Work Network"

"Program that automatically connect to a private network" is set to "Work Network"

In Pocket Outlook I have defined three accounts. All are set to use the "Work" settings when retrieving email.

Using the above settings I can surf (pocket ie) and check email (pocket outlook). I can even sync via WiFi to my laptop, though this only works sometimes. Sometimes I end up in "Guest" mode, but this I understand is a problem for many users. Sometimes it works just fine.

Now for the part I cannot understand. During lunch at the local cafe with WiFi hotspot (or something other) I want to check mail.

First I have to change all the "Work" crap to "The Internet" for the connections and card, then I have to change the settings of all three mail accounts to use "The Internet" and not "Work".

This is soooo idiotic.

Can anyone please explain why this is so? I refuse to beleive that Microsoft has made it this difficult and cumbersome by design. I must be doing something wrong.

(The card is setup with DHCP both at Work and and the local hot-spot, WEP is enabled when connected to work).

TeeCee · 09-12-03, 10:31 AM

Yes please someone answer this - I got my Axim yesterday and im having the exact same problem with reliability (specifically with MSN) over wireless and understanding what the difference is between the 2 modes.

yay my lst Ppc and my 1 st post here! (done on my Axim - which BtW rocks!).

Thanks in advance

Howard2k · 09-12-03, 12:19 PM

I'm usig PPC2002 not WM2003 so my message will not line up exactly but hopefully it helps.

The Internet/Work thing works like this.

The Work/Internet things are containers. The idea being that people often have different settings for each. So at work you might use a proxy server, while at home you may have no proxy but might use a VPN.

So Work and Internet is each a container. You then define which container your resource (ie. NIC) pulls it's information from.

Once you graps that concept you're on you way.

If your settings at work and at home (or Internet) are actually the same, you can just set everything to Work or Internet and leave it.

Anyway, that's PPC2002, WN2003 will be a similar concept I believe but not exactly the same.

09-12-03, 01:20 PM

I've been synching my internet email and my work email on my work computer, and my internet email on my home computer which connects through MSN. Make sure you have your Active sync set up to connect through to the internet with MSN. I'm discouraged that MSN has little capabilities with the POCKET PC's as of yet. They are coming out with pocketMSN but its not likes its part of your existing MSN account. And AOL wants to charge you to get their Pocket PC software. And when you get it you can't even connect to the internet, just to your AOL account.

pananza · 09-15-03, 03:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Howard2k
The Work/Internet things are containers. The idea being that people often have different settings for each. So at work you might use a proxy server, while at home you may have no proxy but might use a VPN.

I thought this might be the case. The only real difference I've found is that the Work container give you the ability to have a VPN connection as well.

Do you know if there are other differences. I want to sync with activesync via WiFi and not USB. I've had problems when using "The Internet" settings. Seems to be more stable when using the "Work" setting.

What they should have done is to move a lot of the settings to the wireless profiles and not the card. At work I use a static IP and at home, and all public hotspots I use DHCP. But unfortunately there is no easy way (that I have found) to set this up so when a network is detected it sets up as configured for that network.

The easiest solution would be to have two different brands of WiFi cards. But that costs money.

09-15-03, 06:09 AM

The connections system was easier in the old PPC 2000 in that each connection had a icon and a descriptive name much like widows 98 ect.

I only ever used modems with that PPC (no wireless) so its not a direct comparison, however I do think that MS in an attempt to make thing easier for the average user have in fact made things more complicated.

Transcend · 09-18-03, 10:57 PM

I am having the same problems with wm2003 and my PEAP school connection. It is very inconsistent as to whether or not i can authenticate. We have APs EVERYWHERE (over 350) and it randomly logs on and off as i walk about.

Sometimes it will regain a connection, sometimes now. I use an SSL tunnel with certificates (PEAP), and it seems to work more often then not in Work Mode...

cumbersome to say the least

pananza · 09-19-03, 04:08 AM

I have the Dell TrueMobile 1180 WiFi CF card. When ever I cannot connect for a sync I use the Network troubleshooter in the Dell Client to "ping" the host. The first ping often takes a few seconds, but then it suddenly runs smooth. If I try to sync now, it almost always is a success.

I've tried various programs to enter the name and ip of my host in the hosts file, but then I only get connected in "guest mode".

The Microsoft Active Sync technology is flaky at best.

I can remain connected though TCP/IP over WiFi without any problem if I use other programs. Only Activesync that looses connection.