I'm new to pocket PC's - have some very basic questions

[NHL Fever]

Hi I'm new to any kind of pocket PC's and to this board. I have some questions that are probably extremely naive but where else to learn eh? I browsed every thread and couldn't find answers at my level.

I purchased an XdaIIi from ebay. Oddly it seems we can't buy phone/PC's like these here in NA.

How do I check those versions/numbers I keep seeing quoted. Stuff like ROM Version, Radio Version, Protocol, ExtROM? Where are those numbers and what is their significance?
What is O2 active? What is GPRS? Is that relevant to me living in Canada?
What is active sync?
I've heard 'tomtom' mentioned a number of times, what is that?
Can somebody link me to some retail stores selling the XdaIIi? I'm curious to see what they go for new.
Is there any way to stop the internet connect bubble from popping up every time I come within range of somebody's LAN?

I'm also a medical student (reason for buying) - any suggestions on where to find medical freeware?

Sorry for the crappy knowledge, just trying to learn what I can.

[NHL Fever]

As a follow up question - my phone didn't come with a manual or any software. How do I connect it to my PC - the auto-recognize doesn't do it. I'm assuming a person can browse the pocketPC from their PC? Does a person typically download pocket PC software with the PC and send over to the pocket PC, or is it easier to download upgrades/accessories/plug-in/whatever directly to your pocket PC.

Again sorry for the no-knowledge questions. Hope somebody can steer me the right direction. :oops:

[g0wfv]

How do I check those versions/numbers I keep seeing quoted. Stuff like ROM Version, Radio Version, Protocol, ExtROM? Where are those numbers and what is their significance?
Goto Start->Settings->System->Device Information It's all displayed in there.

The ROM Version, is the version of Windows Mobile Rom you have, I think! Mine's 1.11.00 WWE - which as far as I can tell is the latest World Wide English version.

Radio version is the actual cell phone radio version - 1.04 being the latest.

Protocol I have no idea (anyone else help me out here?!)

ExtRom is the software that gets loaded up extra to Windows Mobile usually in the case of XDA IIi users, O2 Active, which is a really crap bit of software for accessing the internet and stuff on your phone easier, but in actual fact does nothing other than slow the IIi down and make it crash! (well maybe I over exaggerate a little, but it is annoying!) There are some other bits of software that get put on in the O2 ExtRom that are of some use, so I generally let it all go on and manually remove the O2 Active bit!

What is GPRS? Is that relevant to me living in Canada?
GPRS is General Packet Radio Service - in layman's terms, Broadband Internet for cell phones! It will probably be relevant to you if you can find the settings for your Network Provider in Canada.

What is active sync?
The software that comes with the IIi for connecting it to you desktop PC for synchronising with Outlook and to enable installing of new programs.

Download it here if you haven't got it already. The phone won't be recognised by your PC properly without it! http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/downloads/activesync41.mspx

I've heard 'tomtom' mentioned a number of times, what is that?
Only the best ever bit of satellite navigation software available at this time! *ducks!* http://www.tomtom.com

Can somebody link me to some retail stores selling the XdaIIi? I'm curious to see what they go for new.
It varies - have a search about on google. I noticed O2 stopped advertising them on their website now as the XDA Exec is out!

Is there any way to stop the internet connect bubble from popping up every time I come within range of somebody's LAN?
Turn off the WiFi.

Hope that helps.

[NHL Fever]

Radio version is the actual cell phone radio version - 1.04 being the latest.


What's does 'cell phone radio version' mean?


There are some other bits of software that get put on in the O2 ExtRom that are of some use, so I generally let it all go on and manually remove the O2 Active bit!


I likewise can't think of a use for this, how to I manually remove it?


The software that comes with the IIi for connecting it to you desktop PC for synchronising with Outlook and to enable installing of new programs.


I have this software on my Xda, when I hit 'sync' it doesn't connect. I imagine I need to first install something on my pc. Where do I get that? Was the link you gave me the software for the pocket or the PC?

[g0wfv]

What's does 'cell phone radio version' mean?
errrm .. it's software to work to cell phone bits of the XDA.

I likewise can't think of a use for this, how to I manually remove it?
Have a look at http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=33687. It's in there toward the middle of the thread.

I have this software on my Xda, when I hit 'sync' it doesn't connect. I imagine I need to first install something on my pc. Where do I get that? Was the link you gave me the software for the pocket or the PC?

No you also need the PC software at that link for the two to talk to each other.

[NHL Fever]

I downloaded the active sync software but it's still won't sync. Any suggestions?

[g0wfv]

did it ask you to set up a partnership when you put the XDA in the cradle??

BTW, Rogers AT&T GPRS settings are at http://www.dslreports.com/faq/7428 obviously I can't tell you if they work or not!

[NHL Fever]

Nope it didn't ask to set up a partnership.
It has the standard thing when you plug USB - 'windows has detected new hardware - pocketPC smarphone'. The hardware wizard then fails to install anything because it can't find software.

In the microsoft activesync folder on my PC there is a single dll file. Is there supposed to be more?

[g0wfv]

There should be a lot more than just a single dll :? Try re-installing Activesync

[NHL Fever]

Hmm ya now it works. The GPRS isn't working but that makes sense since that kind of things would be something I'd probably have to pay for as an extra. Thanks for the help.