PDA

View Full Version : Full guides for Wifi connection setup in PalmOS


jackho
09-25-2004, 05:54 AM
Because such questions are asked MANY MANY times, although there are already some guides here or on websites, they are not complete (i.e. only hotsync setting or part of connection), so I think better to write a FULL guide for settup wifi connections. And this guide only talking about connection & hotsync setup, others like internet sharing, file sharing are off-topic here. Because those parts are quite different in different cases.

And sorry for no screenshot here as I'm lazy . ;) If I write a hp, then screenshot will be attached...

First, before talking about configurations, some terms should be stated:
1. Ad-hoc mode
peer-to-peer connections, both PC and Palm's connection w/o using wireless access point (AP).

2. Infrastructure mode
using AP (no matter router type or not), like using hubs or switches for wired networking.

3. Router, in another word, DHCP server/ services
Router can be wireless or wire, in this guide is just talking its DHCP funtions.
DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server allows you don't need to set network configurations (IP address, default gateway, DNS) manually.

Now, you need to know which type of wireless connection you need. The most easiest way to do is using AP w/ router, all things are done automatically. But maybe you need to use ad-hoc for some cases. There are seperated 2 parts for different settings of wifi conection.

Ad-hoc
As ad-hoc hasn't any specific devices between PC and CLIE, you need to setup all things manually. Here is an example for settings (IP addresses may need to change for working in your case):

PC:
IP address: 192.168.0.1
Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
SSID: pc-clie (you can change it but remember to match it w/ Palm settings)
WEP: (you can set it if you wish)
Ad-hoc (or peer-to-peer connection)

Palm (in "Preferences" -> "Network", choose Wireless LAN or select "New" if your CLIE/Palm can search AP automatically):
(in advanced section)
IP address: 192.168.0.2
Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
Default gateway: 192.168.0.1

SSID: pc-clie
WEP: (if you set it in PC side, set it here also)
Adhoc

In ad-hoc mode, Palm side will be connected no matter PC is already or not. After you press connect in Palm, you need to check or connect same ad-hoc network in PC side.

Infrastruture
Using infrastruture mode you need to know you have router (AP w/ router function or seperate router) or not. If haven't, it is similar to ad-hoc settings, but select "Infrastruture" in both CLIE and PC and using your AP's SSID and WEP (if applied).

If you have router, then you can use it's DHCP function, that means all IP address and gateway info are automatic (Auto IP and DNS). You just need to setup a profile for AP's SSID and WEP only in both PC and CLIE. Then all things are done automatically.

Some cases need to select short or long preamble, but this settings maybe not shown in your CLIE or AP, depends on model/ driver version. You can leave this setting default unless you get problem in connection.

You should be able to connect using wifi now. Second part of this guide is talking how to setup wifi hotsync.

1. Open Hotsync Manager in PC, right-click icon in system tray and select "Network" to enable network hotsync.

2. Right-click Hotsync Manager icon again -> "Setup..." -> "Network" tap, and click check-box of your hotsync ID. Then go to TCP/IP settings. If your wifi connection is setup correctly and only 1 network interface, here should already show your PC's IP address and subnet mask (same setup above). If not, correct them.

3. Run local hotsync one time. HotSync Manager should put those network hotsync settings to your CLIE.

4. In CLIE, open "HotSync" -> "Options" menu -> "Modem Sync Prefs..." -> change to "Network".

5. "Options" menu again "LANSync Prefs..." -> "LANSync"
Actually in this option doesn't affect wifi hotsync (no matter "LANSync" or "Local HotSync", both of them are work). But as I know, if you want to "HotSync" in outside (not at home, such as through cafe's wifi service), LANSync should be selected.

6. "Options" -> "Primary PC Setup...". REMEMBER to change "Primary PC name" to "!!" (w/o quotes of course). Otehrwise you can't connect. This option is setting PC name in domain only. Not apply to normal network. And double check PC's IP address and subnet mask are ok or not.

7. Change selection from "Local" to "Modem" in HotSync main screen. And select "Wireless LAN" as service under HotSync icon. Ignore phone #.

8. You can press HotSync icon for wifi hotsync now. It should work.

Troubleshootings:

Here are some simple troubleshooting solutions.

1. Keeping "retrying" during connection
Many people get problems when trying to connection using wifi. If you found that CLIE is just keeping "retrying" when trying to connect, that means your wifi network settings (IP address) has problems. This happens in case when you haven't router (DHCP server), CLIE can't get IP address automatically. You need to enter IP address and default gateway manually.

2. CLIE is connected but can't hotsync
There maybe 2 reasons:
- You maybe forget to enter default gateway address (PC IP address) when you setup connection manually.
- Your PC may have firewall installed (like XP's ICF). You can disable it (in wireless connection ONLY) or accept hotsync's TCP ports: 14237 & 14238.

3. HotSync through Internet (using outside hotspot)
Check "Primary PC Setup..." for correct global IP address of PC side (not 192.x.x.x) and subnet mask.
If you are using router at your home, you need to set ports 14237 & 14238 forward to your PC internal IP address.

Thanks for reading such "LONG" post. I hope this can help you.
If you get problems, pls start another thread. Pls reply only if you find something not understand, mistakes, or leave comments to my post, to keep this thread easy to read.

Maybe later I will write about Internet sharing, but not now...

Wireless
10-01-2004, 05:18 AM
Thanks so much. No where did I ever see the PC Name:!! posted or mentioned in all of the threads trying to get my UX50 to Wifi Synch and my T3 to WiFi Synch with new PalmOne WiFi card. THANKS VERY MUCH your efforts are appreciated

Been working on this 2-3 days for myself and a few other folks

jackho
10-01-2004, 08:01 AM
You're welcome. But I saw many threads stated about !! issue in different forums...

Aragorn
10-01-2004, 01:53 PM
Thanks so much for putting all of this information in one place - even a glossary!! I dropped a copy of your text into a Word .doc, synched it to my TH-55, and now I can take it with me! :p

Thanks again!!

eric2002
10-05-2004, 03:44 PM
yes, this was very helpful to me as well. I just got a wi-fi card for my Clie, so this was very valuable info,

Clie Patra
10-07-2004, 11:38 AM
I have XP and a TH55. Wifi hotsync works well, if I disable the XP firewall. How can I keep it enabled and still hotsync? I tried to add a service called "Clie" to the firewall, with the Clie's IP address and 14237 for the external port, and 14238 for the internal port. It does not work. Help!!!

jackho
10-08-2004, 04:46 AM
I think those ports are should be both external and internal (same port number). That means you need 2 "port settings" in firewall.

BTW, as I stated in my post, if you have problems on configuration (not my post's mistakes and/ or comments), PLEASE post in a new thread (not reply), to make this thread easy to read.

jjesusfreak01
10-11-2004, 12:05 AM
If you have sp2, then you can set it to allow this program to bypass the firewall when it asks to. A dialogue should pop up when something tries to connect to the computer and you can select for it to always allow it to work.

Pdaman
10-11-2004, 04:32 AM
I have XP and a TH55. Wifi hotsync works well, if I disable the XP firewall. How can I keep it enabled and still hotsync? I tried to add a service called "Clie" to the firewall, with the Clie's IP address and 14237 for the external port, and 14238 for the internal port. It does not work. Help!!!

But how about security ? Is secure to hotsync over internet ?

jackho
10-12-2004, 10:27 AM
No. It hasn't any encryption.

Thelonious
10-17-2004, 08:02 AM
But how about security ? Is secure to hotsync over internet ?

CUL8er is trying to hotsync over his wireless LAN, not over the internet. WLAN is encrypted (if encryption is enabled) and rather secure.

Perknstein
10-17-2004, 01:02 PM
Jackho
Thanks for the great guide, it helped me get pretty far with my WiFi setup. However I am still having a problem with NetFront- when I connect through Preferences, it states that I have connected to my home network, however when I goto NetFront (also shows I am connected) I get an Invalid Network Settings error everytime I try to access a web page? It works fine when I goto my neighbors house and access his network. any thoughts?

jackho
10-18-2004, 02:08 AM
I said in the 1st post, for questions, better to post in new thread. And this guide is just for Wifi connection (not included Internet connection sharing part).

Pls tell us more about your network at home in NEW thread (pls don't reply)...

cktlcmd
12-05-2004, 08:12 PM
Hi jackho,

I am happy to report that I am able to perform a WiFi Adhoc Hotsync, thanks for the previous answers you gave me from other post. I read from other threads that they were able to share their dial-up internet connection using the Adhoc mode, which I was able to do by setting up a home network.

Also from other threads I read, I need to manually plug-in and use the proxy Address and Port in the Netfront Settings page 2 to be able to connect to my dial-up connection. Do you have an idea where in my computer can I find these information?

jackho
12-07-2004, 07:13 AM
Are you using your school campus network? Most schools' networks must use proxy for going outside (internet).

For proxy settings, why don't you check your network's info (like user guide or homepage)? It should be mentioned. Or you can view your browser's setting in PC (if you'd already set it up), in IE -> Tools -> Internet Options -> Connections -> Settings (if you're using DUN) or LAN Settings.

And, why don't you post a new thread? It is really off-topic with this thread...

dhowe
12-16-2004, 12:18 PM
Thank you for your post, I found it useful... but not I got a new problem. I have a UX50 and when I try to Scan for networks it locks up on Initializing, I can't even turn it off :eek: and have to do a hard reset!!! I was able to scan and locate WiFi Networks before but not now, I can't even connect to ones I've used before

Anyone Please Help :o

jazztime
12-16-2004, 05:58 PM
Thank you for your post, I found it useful... but not I got a new problem. I have a UX50 and when I try to Scan for networks it locks up on Initializing, I can't even turn it off :eek: and have to do a hard reset!!! I was able to scan and locate WiFi Networks before but not now, I can't even connect to ones I've used before

Anyone Please Help :o


Yeah, I experience the same problem too. It happens not only when I 'auto-connect' but also when I try to connect to a specific access point. The connection progress locks at 'Initializing' and I cant cancel it, had to soft reset the device.

Can anyone help?

jackho
12-17-2004, 09:04 AM
Did you install UX's system update patch? If installed, that should be problem in UX, better send it to Sony to fix...

dhowe:

I think you mean "soft" reset, not hard one...

jazztime
12-19-2004, 06:02 PM
where's the update?

anyway, after reading several threads in the ux forum, i think my problem is hardware failure like experienced by many members of the forum. unfortunately, i live in a country where there is no sony support and sony won't support clies anymore anyway....

jackho
12-19-2004, 07:18 PM
Sony doesn't stop supporting CLIE (especially if you're stll having CLIE under warranty), like Sony released IC 1.5... They just stopped to release/ sell new EN version CLIE only.

Updates? Of course go to Sony support HP...

dhowe
12-21-2004, 02:32 PM
Sorry it took soo long... :o acctually I have had to do several Soft Resets AND Hard Resets :eek: It just really locks up :(

dhowe
12-21-2004, 04:18 PM
uhm... the "system update patch" that I'm looking for is it the "Mobile Connection Wizard software"? because even looking at the archived files I can't locate anything eles that updates wireless connections. :o

FYI
the Mobile Manager that was put on my Clie will let me cancel when it freezes in connecting :D , but it locks up on the cancelling part :confused:

jackho
12-22-2004, 09:58 AM
I can't find that updates in Sony US web site.. Maybe that update patch is only for JP CLIE...

I suggest you to send your UX back to Sony to check. If this problem still exists after you hard reset your UX w/o restore ANYTHING back, it should be hardware problem.

dhowe
12-27-2004, 09:02 AM
Bummer :( Thanxs for all the help :o I've been dreading this part, send it away and I'll probably be: 1) Fired, 2) My wire will leave, 3) My son will disown me, 4) My daughter will marry some one awful like a prepie ;) , and finally 4) The Armagedon will happen.

Is it bad when you life is in your PDA? :D

A_h_s
12-30-2004, 01:42 PM
Ola galera!!!!

Unreg- jhunter
02-25-2005, 04:43 PM
Is it possible to connect my Treo 300 Palm OS 3.5, to my desktop? My desktop has a wireless eithernet card (linksys Wireless-G PCI) and I also have a wireless router, but my computer connects to the internet threw a wired eithernet card also Linksys that connects to my router. I've tried so many different ways to connect it but it still wont work. Email me at independent16h@aol.com THanks

tanker_bob
02-26-2005, 03:29 PM
Thanks Jackho! I'm brand new to the wireless world, and your directions helped me setup my T3 and Enfora Wireless Portfolio to Hotsync over the air. Keep the knowledge coming!