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Did you know that you can use your cradle to charge your X51v without the power cable, because the USB cable itself delivers power? This means that you can split your cradle components - you've got 2 chargers for the price of one! Now you can use your Axim indefinitely while hanging at your local coffeeshop, without spending $20 for a portable charger. Otherwise -- on battery and wifi -- the hungry devil barely lasts longer than your cappucino.

This workaround is a combination hack from several different threads - I am simply compiling them for the new user because it took me a while to locate and figure them out myself.

This workaround gives you the ability to truly stop ActiveSync if you like, thereby allowing you to charge via USB, with the side benefit of making your axim more speedy when in use. It works for me. Your mileage may vary.

Background: You can only charge via USB while your unit is off while in the cradle, because the USB cable delivers enough juice to either sync or charge, but not both. OK, sounds easy. The problem is that every 5 minutes or so ActiveSync fires up, powers on the unit, and drains the battery again. What to do?

Here's how I got mine to work, step-by-step.
1. Get (partial) control of ActiveSync. You should first set ActiveSync to a manual schedule, and get rid of any attempt to sync to a phantom exchange server. This is the single most important thing I have done for the X51v. Go here for the fix:

http://www.aximsite.com/boards/showthread.php?t=104805

This won't solve the cradle issue (as you'll see), but it does prevent a lot of completely wasted processor time (read battery drain) while ActiveSync tries to figure out if it needs to connect to something when not connected to your PC. Not to mention preventing a heck of a lot of soft resets.

2. Disconnect the power cord from the cradle. Put your Axim in the cradle. Note that ActiveSync automatically launches while in the cradle even when your axim is on battery power. After the initial sync, turn off the power of your axim just to see what happens. Although your power button will go amber (charging), after a few minutes ActiveSync will wake up your device. This is what prevents you from charging through your USB cable. Whenever your Axim wakes up, it diverts power to the syncing process, and never goes back to charging (unless of course you have your power cord plugged in). Now try to close ActiveSync with a task manager (my favorite is MagicButton), or through Settings->System->Memory->Running Programs. When there is a network connection to your PC, it is impossible to kill ActiveSync.

3. On your PC, open Control Panel->Network Connections. Take note of your connections. Now pull your axim out of the cradle. Note that one of the connections will disappear. Put your axim back in the cradle and watch it reappear (usually called 'LAN Connection [#]'). Under device name it will say 'Windows Mobile-Based Device'.

4. Now the one thing that will stop ActiveSync from launching on it's own, is to create a situation where your Axim can't detect the network. You guessed it -- disable that connection. In order to disable, just right-click the connection, and select 'Disable'. You must do this while the device is on and in the cradle. Why? Because the connection gets hidden when your Axim is off or not connected, as we just saw in step 3.

5. Well, what a pain to have to open Network Connections every time you want to stop syncing. My quick and easy method is to right-click on the connection and select 'create shortcut'. You'll be asked to put it on your desktop, which you should do. Once you have made the shortcut, simply Shift-drag it to your task bar (the quick launch toolbar). Now if you ever want to stop syncing, just right click on that icon, and select 'Disable'. Then select 'Enable' when you want to sync again. Everything else will be automagic. NOTE: you must have the Axim in the cradle and on to enable/disable the connection, otherwise you will get an error because the connection can't be initialized.

6. Just to test whether this works properly, go ahead and disable that connection while your axim is cradled. Now pull out your Axim from the cradle -or- do a power-off/power-on (the reason you have to do this is because ActiveSync isn't smart enough to notice there is no network unless there is a system event). Using a 3rd-party task manager (or the tedious Settings->System->Memory->Running Programs), try to turn off ActiveSync. If your Axim behaves like mine -- no guarantees -- you'll see that pesky program die without a whimper. Pop the Axim back into the cradle, keep your fingers crossed, and you shouldn't see ActiveSync rise from the dead. (Note: you will still hear that USB connection sound ("doo-dee!") when you cradle/uncradle, this is normal).

7. OK, let's see if you can charge from the USB cable without the annoying ActiveSync wakeups. Power off your axim. You should see that comforting amber color (charging) on the power button. Keep watch for 10 minutes. Still amber? Success! Go drink that cappucino with your new portable charger!

Final Notes: You don't actually need to turn off ActiveSync on your axim to do continuous charging, as long as the network connection is disabled, ActiveSync shouldn't wake up your device once it's off. And if it does wake up (it can be quirky once in a while) you'll hear the USB sound, but it will soon turn itself off again and keep charging (unlike when there is a network detected).

Thanks to those that have discussed these issues in various threads in the past.

Also, tallshorty has found an alternative workaround for the activesync thing, it requires you to do poweroff/on quickly.

http://www.aximsite.com/boards/showthread.php?t=103490

I prefer the network disable method myself, simply because I like to be extra careful to avoid interrupting a (potentially) running process.

AKAJohnDoe

I threw my cradle in the back of the closet and use a Belkin USB sync+charge+auto charge device.

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kmak23

Belkin USB sync/charge cable does not work with my X51v. The Axim screen keeps blinking...

beepbeep

You have a defective cable. I use a no-name cable and it does both fine.

Ken S

You can also use a freeware which kills activesync, much easier to work with. I'll try to dig up the link and post back with it.

Ken S

Here it is, look for ActiveSync Toggle 1.0.2.1 a few entries down the page: http://www.answersthatwork.com/Downr...rights_a-z.htm

Here is what it says about it:

"Very useful utility for managing Microsoft's ActiveSync. As many users will have found, Microsoft's ActiveSync has a tendency to sometimes use excessive CPU resources when not in use, or will sometimes interfere with your network connections or serial or USB ports. Problem : ActiveSync is difficult to unload completely so you can get back your CPU resources, or the use of your USB or serial port. ActiveSyncToggle eliminates this problem by enabling you to start or fully unload ActiveSyncToggle at will. Free."

I've used it for quite a while and am quite happy with it. I've also found it a great tool to restart ActiveSync when problems occur without having to restart the computer.

ThreeMay

Originally Posted by beepbeep

You have a defective cable. I use a no-name cable and it does both fine.

Try setting your processor speed to "power Save" or whatever runs at 208Mhz. My no-name likes that just fine.

-3May

jajmueller

I was trying to use the info above and stumbled onto something else. Since typically I'm not using the unit when charging, it works for me.

Start --> Settings --> Power --> Power Button Tab --> Full Power Off

With this setting the unit is off and it charges in the cradle or with the extra usb cable.

Let me know what you think...

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ecejmpe

Another possibility to get the AXIM usb-charged is to turn it off 1/2 or 1 second just after plugging it into the craddle. This way ActiveSync won't wake it up and it will get charged. (You have to let the Axim autostart when you plug it into the craddle and quickly turn it off)

The problem of usb charging I guess is with the extended batteries. Take into account that standard USP ports are able to deliver up to 500 mA (at least theoretically). I do not think a 2200 mAh can be fully charged via USB.

Anyway, I'll try it with my mugen 1800 mAh .....

Please, post if any of you guys can charge it this way.

ecejmpe

Originally Posted by ecejmpe

Another possibility to get the AXIM usb-charged is to turn it off 1/2 or 1 second just after plugging it into the craddle. This way ActiveSync won't wake it up and it will get charged. (You have to let the Axim autostart when you plug it into the craddle and quickly turn it off) The problem of usb charging I guess is with the extended batteries. Take into account that standard USP ports are able to deliver up to 500 mA (at least theoretically). I do not think a 2200 mAh can be fully charged via USB. Anyway, I'll try it with my mugen 1800 mAh ..... Please, post if any of you guys can charge it this way.

Definitely it works!

I could charge my mugen 1800 mAh in the craddle only with the USB cable. Just be fast when turning it off after plugin it into the craddle.

Obviously, since the given power by USB is much less than the regular power cord, this way will take much more time to get it fully charged.
:approve: :approve: