Axim X5, doesn't like any WiFi cards

BigCheeze · 04-29-08, 07:31 PM

Hello everyone, this is my first post here, so hoping you folks can help me (my physicist tried, but it appears I'm past crazy so he's out). I was cleaning out my office when I found my Axim and decided to give it a go. We're going to Mexico for vacation in June and thought it would be handy to be able to check my e-mail and surf p0rn (no, no... just kidding) from this instead of taking a laptop. But it appears I have issues (yes, I already made that joke).

Problem: Dell Axim X5 won't recognize any CF WiFi card I put in it. I have a Trendnet TEW-222CF and a SanDisk Connect-Plus (one with 128MB memory). I did upgrade the Axim to WinCE 2003 (yes I actually bought the disk from Dell). I tried it with and with out the CF timing update patch installed. Downloaded the latest drivers for both I could find. Every time I try to put in the card it says that an "Unrecognized card" has been put in, and when I try to configure the WiFi setting it says it doesn't see the card.

Any thoughts, suggestions, advice, indecent proposals, death threats, or winning lottery numbers??

technofreak · 04-29-08, 08:10 PM

when i had an X5, i used a linksys wireless G CF card with no issues......

dunno what you can do though...

ikehiker · 04-29-08, 10:02 PM

Few people had any luck with the Sandisk card on the X5. I'm not familiar with the TrendNet but you might try the Intersil reference drivers, most easily installed with the Perfect Prism utility. There's a link to it in the WiFi FAQ linked from my signature. The FAQ also has a list of cards known to work with the X5.

BigCheeze · 04-30-08, 08:15 PM

Thanks ikehiker, I'll give that a try. :approve:

BigCheeze · 04-30-08, 08:53 PM

:( Still no go. Matter of fact when I plug in my Trendware nothing happens, when I plug in the SanDisk it locks up until I pull it out.

Why do I have a feeling that my PDA is da'hosed. Does anyone know a way to reload the OS from scratch?

ikehiker · 05-01-08, 09:33 AM

A hard reset on your PPC (depress the reset button and power button simultaneously) is equivalent to reinstalling the OS on a PC.

BigCheeze · 05-01-08, 12:41 PM

Originally Posted by ikehiker

A hard reset on your PPC (depress the reset button and power button simultaneously) is equivalent to reinstalling the OS on a PC.

It's close, but in a full reinstall you are replacing all files. I don't believe a hard reset does that. It only cleans everything out and sets everything back to "factory" settings. So unless I'm mistaken about that, it's not quite the same.

My hopes are that some how something got corrupted and that a complete reinstall will replace that. Of course, I'm just taking a shot in the dark here, but that's cause I don't wanna buy a new one :D :rolling:

ikehiker · 05-01-08, 01:08 PM

The files used in restoring from a hard reset are stored in ROM. Since these are never written to, it's highly unlikely that they'd become corrupt.
So, while it's not quite the same as what you were suggesting, in practical terms it is and I don't see how having problems with two WiFi cards, one of which is known to have problems with the X5 and the other (as far as I know) has no track record with your device, leads to the conclusion that you need the OS replaced.

drumdude9864 · 05-07-08, 03:06 AM

With the right drivers, the Symbol LA-4137 works amazing.

BigCheeze · 05-09-08, 09:14 PM

Originally Posted by ikehiker

The files used in restoring from a hard reset are stored in ROM. Since these are never written to, it's highly unlikely that they'd become corrupt.
So, while it's not quite the same as what you were suggesting, in practical terms it is and I don't see how having problems with two WiFi cards, one of which is known to have problems with the X5 and the other (as far as I know) has no track record with your device, leads to the conclusion that you need the OS replaced.

Thanks for your reply. I think the reason I'm thinking this is because after I did the upgrade I think the wireless stopped working. But I have to admit it's been a while so I'm not sure if that's true or not.

Do you have a card you would recommend? Don't want to spend alot to be honest, because then suddenly it becomes more worth it to throw it in the trash and buy a laptop.

Again, thanks for your help!!!!

ikehiker · 05-09-08, 10:56 PM

As drumdude9864 said, the Symbol card is good and can often be found on eBay for a good price. I also had Ambicon and SMC 802.11b cards that worked well with the X5. I'm not sure how readily available these cards are now since I'm sure they're all EOL. The WiFi FAQ (linked from my signature) has a few more details about WiFi cards for the X5.

terilew · 06-04-08, 07:34 PM

I have the Dell Axim X5 and a while back I bought a Sandisk Connect plus wi-fi card. I couldn't get it to work so I put it away. I took it out this week, thinking I'd sell it on ebay as-is (I think we all know how badly the Sandisk cards work with the Axim) but just for the heck of it I installed the driver on my ppc and put the card in the CF slot. At first I got the message...device unrecognized. I took the card out, restarted the ppc, put the card back in and still recieved the same messaged, then I did a soft reset (I think that's what it is) pressed the little indention on the left side of the ppc, put the card back in and it worked!! Now here is the problem I've found, it won't work unless the ppc is connected to a power source and I have to take out the card and reinsert it every time I turn the ppc on. Hope this works for you.