Wireless ad hoc Windows XP Pro - I could cry!

[zebra]

I've been trying for days and days to get my XDA IIs connected to my PC running Windows XP PRO Sp2 with a Belkin PCI wireless card - using an adhoc or peer-to-peer connection. This so that I can get the internet which reaches the PC from a wired Draytek router.

Currently both the PC and the XDA say they are connected and operational. The SSID/ BSSID/Mac address/channel all match on the two machines and they've set them themselves so something must be working. But I can't ping the XDA, I can't see it anywhere on the PC, and from the XDA I can't reach the internet or the PC. Nothing happens and it's all open without encryption and the internet sharing is set on the PC so that shouldn't be the problem.

What am I doing wrong? I'm using settings on the "tiacxwin compatible wireless ethernet" adapter on the XDA which says it has a "server assigner IP address" but this won't ping either, and I don't even know if this is the right adapter. I really could cry, and at 61 next Monday I'm getting a bit old for it.

Any thoughts would be very welcome. I think I've read most things here before posting and not found a solution elsewhere.

Best regards to all!

[dah54]

You might want to go here, http://www.cambridgevx.com (http://www.cambridgevx.com/) and get vxUtil, and install it on your XDAIIs.

Then check the info page on vxUtil.
You should see something like IP Address 192.168.0.1xx and a subnet of 255.255.255.0, and a gateway address of 192.168.0.1. Do you?

Sounds like you may have ICS configured wrong. The Belkin wireless card should have only two values, an IP Address of 192.168.0.1 and a subnet of 255.255.255.0 every other thing should be blank, no gateway, no DNS address.

[zebra]

Thanks. I'll try that.
When I do get it working. Where do I see the other computer?
On the PC is the XDA part of Windows Network, like the other PC connected through main router? Or do I assign it a drive letter?
On the XDA is the PC viewable through File Explorer?
Thanks again.
A.

[dah54]

Thanks. I'll try that.
When I do get it working. Where do I see the other computer?
On the PC is the XDA part of Windows Network, like the other PC connected through main router? Or do I assign it a drive letter?
On the XDA is the PC viewable through File Explorer?
Thanks again.
A.

On the PC the XDA (or any Pocket PC) will NOT show up in your network neighborhood. It will not be part of the network like other PCs. If how ever you go to My Computer, you should see (at the top level, where your C drive is shown, and also control panel) a Mobile Device icon, if you have installed ActiveSync. If ActiveSync is running (you have an active connection) you will be able to click on this icon and explore your XDA. On the XDA you will want to open ActiveSync, but not sync so you can change the options. Then click on | Tools | Options... | uncheck "Use mobile schedule to sync with this PC" | Check "Sync with this PC during manual sync" | Tap Options... | and check "Maintain connection" | OK | OK | X| This will allow your XDA to maintain the ActiveSync connection when you sync so that you can explorer your XDA from your PC. Otherwise it will disconnect when it is done ActiveSyncing.

On the XDA you will be able to start Pocket File Explorer and click on the bottom right icon, (looks like a hand holding a trash can) and if you enter the name of your PC you will be shown a list of all things it is sharing. Note that with the built in file explorer you will need to tap and hold on a file, chose copy, then switch to a local drive on the XDA and paste the file into the local drive to be able to open it. Also note that if you chose to save a user name and password, you will only be able to change it by hard resetting your XDA.

[AlanJC]

Considering how cheap 802.11b access points are, may I ask why you don't just get one of these?

Much easier, and more reliable than ad-hoc, and they are dirt cheap!

[dah54]

Considering how cheap 802.11b access points are, may I ask why you don't just get one of these?

Much easier, and more reliable than ad-hoc, and they are dirt cheap!

Just my two cents, but an access point is only easier if you also happen to have broadband, or some other High speed connection. Try setting up a Wi-Fi router when you are still using dial up, or better yet using AOL, on a a dial-up connection (It's not something you want to do, for your first attempt. )

Technically a Wi-Fi router is generally very easy to setup with a broadband connection. And some Wi-Fi routers include a modem and may actually work with a simple non-AOL dial-up connection.

An access point normally does not include a DHCP server, or the ability to do NAT. As such you must configure the DHCP server and NAT, as well as DNS on some other device, and IMHO are much more difficult to setup.

[zebra]

[quote="AlanJC"]Considering how cheap 802.11b access points are, may I ask why you don't just get one of these?

I have a very good Vigor Draytek wired router adsl modem and didn't want to replace it with wireless version. The card was £20. If I were doing it again I might think otherwise. I might also look at a Symbian-based Nokia communicator instead as I find the Windows Pocket software far more ambiguous and complicated than my old Psion 5mx.

Cheers, A