WiFi (802.11b) Connectivity Help

iPAQ Users

iPAQ users might start with this document from HP that describes how to use 802.11b wireless on rx3000/4100/4300/hx4700//5400/5500 and 6300 series iPAQ PocketPCs.

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c00543152/c00543152.pdf

Users of other PocketPCs should read the User's Guide for specific help using WiFi on their device.

ROM/Driver/Firmware updates

iPAQ users should make sure they are running the latest ROM and WiFi drivers on their PocketPC. The big list of available upgrades, patches, etc from HP.

Software and Drivers - index for handheld iPAQ PocketPCs

For example on my iPAQ 5555 I have these updates installed in this order...

h5500 Series ROM Update v1.10

http://h18000.www1.hp.com/support/files/handheldiPAQ/us/download/20669.html

h5500 Series Wireless LAN Firmware Update with WPA Support

http://h18007.www1.hp.com/support/files/handheldiPAQ/us/download/20968.html

h5500 Series Wireless LAN Driver Update with WPA Support

http://h18000.www1.hp.com/support/files/handheldiPAQ/us/download/21711.html

Users of other PocketPCs should check the manufacturers technical support web pages for updates to their PocketPC.

General troubleshooting help

• Make sure the wireless access point is broadcasting the network SSID. If the SSID is being broadcast your PocketPC will automatically detect that.

• Make sure that if your using WEP/WPA that the key on the iPAQ matches the key on the wireless access point. I recommend using 128-bit WEP or better yet WPA. For example I use WPA-PSK (TKIP), with a very long random key (63 alpha, numeric and special characters) to connect my iPAQ 5555 to a Buffalo WBR-G54 wireless access point/router on my home LAN.
  
  An online WPA-PSK key generator
  
  http://www.kurtm.net/wpa-pskgen
   

• If you use WEP then use a hex key on the Windows Mobile 2003 PocketPC.
  
  http://www.warewolflabs.com/portfolio/programming/wlanskg/wlanskg.html
  
  You may need to disable WEP/WPA temporarily on the wireless access point and the PocketPC to see if you can get a connection. If you can connect without WEP/WPA recheck that the key value on both the PocketPC and the access point match exactly.

• Check to see you get a valid IP from the local DHCP server. The address should be in the 192.168.X.X range and not a 169.X.X.X address. Use either vxIPConfig or vxUtil for that, both are free.
  
  http://www.cam.com/vxipconfig.html
  http://www.cam.com/vxutil.html
   

• See if you can ping the wireless access point and other desktop PCs by name and/or IP. Use vxUtil for that.

• Check your Connection Manager settings.
  
  http://theillustratednetwork.mvps.org/WM2003/Connection_Manager/ConnectionManager.html
   

• Some users report fixing Pocket Internet Explorer Page not found errors by running the \Windows\welcome.exe file on the PocketPC.
   

Last reviewed: 4 December 2005...awj Copyright © 2006 - Alan W. Jarvi - All rights reserved The Microsoft MVP Program