Need help with Wifi ActiveSync

02-15-03, 07:58 PM

Has anyone gotten ActiveSync over Wifi to work? I can't get it to work with my setup. I am using a Linksys Router/Access Point and the AmbiCom CF Wifi card.

I can get my Axim to be able to get email via the wifi connection and to surf the web, but I cannot use active sync. I have tried using the Home and Internet and Work setting in various combinations but it won't work.

If you have had it work could you please post the process that I need to go through on both the desktop and the Axim to get it to work?

I am also running WinXP Pro on the desktop.

Thanks,
-Eric

clapaz · 02-15-03, 08:26 PM

i have all three connection settings on work settings (last setting is actually just work). i found this on a post somewhere and that seemed to do that job for me.

pmoto · 02-15-03, 08:47 PM

I use my WiFi to sync all the time. I also use a Linksys Router/WirelessAP. I have a Linksys WCF12 CF card for my Axim.

As was mentioned in the last post, I also have all connection settings set to "Work".

Here is a tip I read on one of the forums, (it worked for me).

Make sure you have estblished a partnership with your Axim using the cradle or sync cable.

Once you have this partnership set up and working correctly, make sure your Axim is in the cradle and then on the PC ActiveSync click on
File - Connection Settings. Make sure there is a check mark by Allow network connection.

While the Axim is still in the cradle perform another sync.

After the completion of this sync, remove the Axim and establish a wireless connection using your WiFi card.

Start ActiveSync on your Axim and hopefuly it will connect to your PC.

That's all I did, and it worked first try.

02-15-03, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by pmoto
I use my WiFi to sync all the time. I also use a Linksys Router/WirelessAP. I have a Linksys WCF12 CF card for my Axim.

As was mentioned in the last post, I also have all connection settings set to "Work".

Here is a tip I read on one of the forums, (it worked for me).

Make sure you have estblished a partnership with your Axim using the cradle or sync cable.

Once you have this partnership set up and working correctly, make sure your Axim is in the cradle and then on the PC ActiveSync click on
File - Connection Settings. Make sure there is a check mark by Allow network connection.

While the Axim is still in the cradle perform another sync.

After the completion of this sync, remove the Axim and establish a wireless connection using your WiFi card.

Start ActiveSync on your Axim and hopefuly it will connect to your PC.

That's all I did, and it worked first try.

hmm... still doesn't work. I have done the above and it will start to connect, but then stops. I really don't want to have to perform a hard reset, but I may have to to see if it will help the problem. Anyone have any other ideas before I do a hard reset?

Do I need to open any specific ports on my router? Do I need to do anything specific on my desktop to enable the wifi activesynce?

Thanks,
-Eric

Therigwin · 02-15-03, 10:34 PM

do you have any firewall software running on your PC that may stop it?

02-15-03, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Therigwin
do you have any firewall software running on your PC that may stop it?

Funny you should ask that :) I was just coming to post a question regarding this topic. :)

I am running Norton Peronal Firewall. I have turned it off for the time being, but I still can't get fully connected. I can get a status saying Connecting... but nothing else happens. It has been on this for the last 5 minutes.

How do I configure NPF to accept my Wifi Connection and let it go in? Anyone familar with it?

Thanks,
-Eric

alert5 · 02-15-03, 11:02 PM

Try this.

Start up Activesync on your Axim, but do not sync. Click Tools at the bottom left, then Options. Check both "Enable sync when cradled" and "Include PC when syncing" and type in the name of your computer as shown under "My Computer" Properties.

Now click on "Server". You don't need anything checked in the top particulars, but at the bottom type in your Server Name, that is your computer's name again if it isn't there.

Click on "Schedule" and mine is set to synchronize with my PC (server) every 5 minutes, but more importantly make sure "When synchronizing remotely with my PC, disconnect when complete" is NOT checked.

I think that last box is checked on by default and of course you'll just momentarily sync then unsync if it is on.

02-15-03, 11:26 PM

Well it still isn't working. I have tried everything mentioned so far. I can get it to say connecting, but not connected.

I have figured out how to configure Norton Personal Firewall to let the connection thru, but it just stalls on connecting.

I have to be missing something easy.

-Eric

alert5 · 02-16-03, 12:02 AM

COLOR=blue]I can get my Axim to be able to get email via the wifi connection and to surf the web, but I cannot use active sync. I have tried using the Home and Internet and Work setting in various combinations but it won't work.[/COLOR]

Irritating for you I'm sure. Let's see if I understand the problem. With your PC turned off, you can fire up the Axim and connect to the web via your wifi, right? And you can get email through your ISP's email account as opposed to syncing your inbox?

I only ask because it is easy to confuse ActiveSync and wireless connectivity, so it is important to know your Axim is functioning fine as a wireless PC on your network. It is just when you use the wireless connection as opposed to the USB cable that you cannot get a sync.

By the way, the connection settings I use are Internet/Internet/Work and I do have my default domain name of "workgroup" set in the Axim sync options.

You will figure this out.

02-16-03, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by alert5
Irritating for you I'm sure. Let's see if I understand the problem. With your PC turned off, you can fire up the Axim and connect to the web via your wifi, right? And you can get email through your ISP's email account as opposed to syncing your inbox?

Yes, I can surf the web and get my mail using @Mail without be logged into my computer and without having my computer on the cradle.

Quote:

Originally posted by alter5
By the way, the connection settings I use are Internet/Internet/Work and I do have my default domain name of "workgroup" set in the Axim sync options.
You will figure this out.

I have tried this too. Where did you put the "workgroup" in the Axim? I can't edit any of the defualt settings (work, home or internet)

Thanks for all the help on this all.
-Eric

Mr Plow · 02-16-03, 12:36 PM

The answer is WINS or name resolution. You most likely do not have a WINS server or a way to resolve the name of your PC. I had the same problem at home but not at work. The resolution is to use PocketHosts to assign an IP address to your PC's name on the AXIM.

Syncing now works for me but accessing a network share off of my PC doesn't. It does however at work.

clownmstr · 02-16-03, 12:54 PM

I agree with Mr. Plow on the WINS. I got everything to work except the wireless syncing. I entered in the IP address of my PC to sync with in the WINS of my wireless CF Card (MA701) and bingo! It worked. Good luck

jacklew · 02-16-03, 05:52 PM

I have an MA701 card and have few problems. It is set to obtain an IP address from my SMC2404 22Mb/s access point/router which has DHCP enabled and also to associated those to other computer names. I have several wired and WiFi PCs that gets their IPs automatically too.

The Axim will access any of their share folders without problems provided it get its 192.168.0.x IP successfully from the SMC. There are a few times that does not happen - use vxIPConfig, PocketDHCP, your CF card's utility, soft reset, or reseat CF card to make certain you get a valid (not a 169.x.x.x) IP address, DHCP server, and default gateway. Once you have these, you will be able to connect. You don't need WINS. You must be able to ping first before accessing websites through IE and retrieving email.

If you do not use a DHCP server (router or pc), then you need to map IPs to host names.

Settings | Connections | Connections has everything set to Internet.

ActiveSync | Tools | Options | PC - check Enable sync... and Include PC (name of your host PC)

ActiveSync | Tools | Options | Schedule - uncheck When sync... disconnect...

I can sync to the PC, surf the net, access shared folders on any PC (w/Resco File Explorer), and retrieve my email without the cradle.

nomar05 · 02-16-03, 07:20 PM

I've been experiencing a Wifi ActiveSync problem. It ONLY occurs when I sync wirelessly. My sync options are set to synchronize Calendar, Contacts, Favorites, and AvantGo. It always drops my LAN/Internet connection during the sync of AvantGo. If I remove AvantGo from my sync list, I never have a problem. After my LAN/Internet connection is lost, I can not ping my other machines.

I can usually restart my Lan connection on my Desktop PC (WIN2000) by choosing Settings > Network Connections > LAN Connection > Disable / Enable.

If I put my Axim back in the cradle and sync it that way, it seems to fix it for a while. Then it will synch ok via my wi-fi card (D-LinkAir DCF-660W) for a while. Then it’s breaks all over again.

I even downloaded the new D-LinkAir DCF-660W drivers that were released a couple weeks ago....still did not help.

I can’t figure this one out. It’s been driving me nuts for days now.

Again, it ONLY occurs when I sync wirelessly. Has anyone else experienced this problem?

missc · 02-16-03, 08:00 PM

I have had the same problem as Eric, except mine was syncing fine for the first 3 or 4 days. Then it stopped. It would "ring" like it was going to sync but the little green activesync symbol would not spin and it would not do anything. It appeared to lock up. I'' changed my settings and currently have them all set to Internet settings. I installed the pocket host and it started working again with periodic lockups. I wish I knew what I did to get it to work again. I have Windows XP Pro and Linksys also.