Russ

I've set up my home for wireless access with a Linksys WMP Wireless PCI card and Socket CF Wireless Lan Card, set up in Adhoc mode.

As best I can tell, the two devices are connecting via the wireless lan, but I cannot get any of the connectivity based programs (Internet, mail, ActiveSync, or Messenger) to work. I get error messages similar to:

"The page you are looking for cannot be found" (Internet Explorer)

"Unable to connect to incoming mail server..." (Inbox)

ActiveSync times out with no connection, and Messenger says I need to connect to the internet.

Here's what I know:

1. All three connection settings on PPC are set to "Work Settings/Work"
2. DHCP is enabled on both devices. Addresses are listed on the Socket configuration screen for "IP Address", "Subnet mask", "Gateway", "DNS", "Mac Address", and "Host Name", but "WINS" is blank. I've never entered any of these addresses, so they were obtained via DHCP .
3. Both the Socket card and Linksys card are set to Adhoc mode and channel 11.
4. When I first insert the Socket card, the LED blinks once or twice slowly, then switches to a fast blink every second or so. Product documentation indicate that this means it is connected to network.
5. WEP is disabled on both cards.
6. In the "Wireless Network Connection Status" screen on the PC, the "Activity" status indicates that Linksys card has "sent' and ever increasing number of packets, but has "received" none.
7. I downloaded the "VxUtil" program, but I really don't know how to use it.
8. I've done a soft reset several times.

9. (late add) I should also mention that I had similar problems with an Ambicom card (one of the reasons that I replaced the card with the Socket card), so it looks like the problem is not with the card itself.

Any help appreciated!

Thanks,
Russ

duanedavis

Do you have a Wireless Access Point or a Wireless Router? Are your cards 802.11a, 802.11b, or 802.11g? Or do u just have the two cards?

jda5id

Yes, you can use AdHoc mode to share an Internet connection. Here is a tutorial from MS that shows how to do it if you are using XP.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/e.../02april08.asp

Russ

I have neither a WAP nor a Router: I'm configured for Adhoc connection (802.11b).

I used the tutorial on Microsoft's website (as suggested by jda5id) to set up the adhoc connection. Unfortunately, the tutorial is based on setting up connection between two computers running Windows (like a desktop and a laptop), and doesn't go into any detail about setting up a PPC.

Russ

duanedavis

Well, in that case, I would highly advise that you get a WAP or router. That will be easiest for you.

jda5id

Russ

If you look towards the end of the thread noted below you can see the steps that I followed to create a working ad hoc connection between my Axim and a laptop.

http://www.aximsite.com/boards/showt...&threadid=4527

This tutorial from Aximsite has the steps you need to follow to make sure you have the right settings for doing wireless ActiveSync.

http://www.aximsite.com/modules.php?...rticle&artid=3

The MS tutorial that you have already looked at talks about Internet connection sharing. Between these three, the information you need should be in there. I would personally love to write up a step by step process for this, but I have no ability to test what I suggest since I cannot have my laptop connected to both WiFi and the internet simultaneously (both cards can't fit in the laptop at the same time), hence no ability to verify the Internet connection piece.

Networking is tough and can be some trial and error, especially if you aren't familiar with the tools and terminology. Perhaps the suggestion to just go out and buy an AP or router will solve your issues, but it could just as easily create some new ones. I would suggest instead that you search as much as you can on this site and others to understand the pieces and make sure you know how everything is supposed to fit together before you go throwing hardware at the problem.

Russ

While I agree with Jda5id's recommendations, I discovered that Best Buy was offering the Microsoft MN-500 wireless base station with a $40 rebate, which brought the price down to match what I paid for the network card. So I traded.

I plugged everything in, installed the software, and Pow! Everything works! I didn't have to fiddle with settings on either device, it just works!

Russ

jda5id

Congrats!

duanedavis

Was I right, or was I right? Just getting a router or WAP is a helluva lot easier than doing all that Ad Hoc mode crap. I personally have a WAP & PCMCIA card, and it only took like two steps and I was connected.