WM 2003 Wireless/Wired ActiveSync How-To

Windows Mobile 2003 ActiveSync Configuration
for 802.11b and Ethernet networks

This Mini-How-To was created to help users configure Windows Mobile 2003 ActiveSync for ActiveSync over a wireless 802.11b or wired Ethernet data link in a Small Office/Home Office (SOHO) environment.

The following are screen shots of an iPAQ 3835 running the Windows Mobile 2003 operating system using either a wireless D-Link DCF-650W 802.11b card or a wired Socket LP-E CF+ Ethernet card for local network access.

Important Prerequisites

The procedure requires the device Windows Mobile 2003 Connection Manager Network settings have previously been configured for...

Work and My Work Network and...
an ActiveSync partnership has previously been established using either a USB, Serial or Infrared connection to the desktop PC.

The procedure also presumes a successful wireless/wired connection has been made to the local area network. In the example illustrated the iPAQ 3835 ActiveSync's with a Windows XP Professional desktop, Ashtabula, on my home LAN.

Wireless ActiveSync and the Windows XP SP2 Windows Firewall

If your desktop Windows XP PC is running the new XP SP2 Windows Firewall you will need to configure the firewall to allow ActiveSync.

http://www.cewindows.net/faqs/activesync/windowsxpsp2firewall.htm

http://ogasawalrus.com/mobileviews/mobilefaqs/ActiveSync

Troubleshooting the Windows Firewall settings in Windows XP Service Pack 2

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;875357

PocketPC WINS naming issues

See the WINS Naming Issues section of Chris De Herrera's PocketPC Protocols FAQ for a list of invalid characters and PocketPC naming recommendations. To rename the PocketPC open Start | Settings | System | About | Device ID. Input the name in the Device name: field and tap ok to finish.

Configure the desktop TCP/IP parameters

The desktop Windows XP network interface card is configured so both Client for Microsoft Networks and NetBIOS over TCP/IP are enabled.

Configure the network interface card settings

Enable Client for Microsoft Networks Select properties

Note the local host IP address and Default gateway address illustrated in the following screen are specific to my local LAN. Modify as needed for your particular LAN addressing scheme.

Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP

Configure the desktop ActiveSync program for network synchronization

Open ActiveSync on the desktop and tap File -> Connection settings and configure as illustrated.

Select File -> Connection Settings Allow network connections

Configure the PocketPC ActiveSync client

ActiveSync on the iPAQ 3835 PocketPC is configured as follows. Open ActiveSync and select Tools -> Options. Specify the name of the PC that the PocketPC will synchronize with over the wireless/wired data link. Note that most settings are the defaults.

Open ActiveSync Select Tools -> Options

Configure the PC tab properties PC options Configure the Server tab

Server connection Server rules Mobile Schedule tab

Initiate the ActiveSync connection

The ActiveSync connection over an 802.11b wireless or wired Ethernet link is a manual process started from the PocketPC. To synchronize with the desktop PC, verify a connection has previously been made to the local area network. Open ActiveSync and tap the Sync icon at the middle left of the ActiveSync window on the PocketPC.

Initiate ActiveSync from the Today menu Tap Start to initiate ActiveSync