Netbook Pro and ActiveSync

[mauritron]

I have recently received my Netbook Pro and first impressions are not too good. Don't like the colour, the stylus is shorter than the Series 7 ones (so if I lose it I can't put a spare 7 one in its place).

The reset button is on the top by the shift key and it's been used quite a lot already. I don't think I will be discarding my 7 just yet.

On the plus side the display is much better. It fits the series 7 desktop cradle for charging etc. Hopefully when I get the software sorted it will grow on me.

It was purchased to replace my sub-notebook and will only be used to surf the net while I am out and about. I need to access the net in 1 of 3 ways, by standard modem (it came with one but I've not tried it yet, via my vodafone connect card or via a wireless hub to a broadband connection (when at home and I don't fancy sitting in the office I can surf the net in the front room while watching TV)). The main one will be via the connect card. I am fed up with a laptop which only lasts an hour or 2 before needing to be re-fed more energy, runs hot, is noisy and bulky etc.

However help needed please as no matter what I do I cannot get it to sync with my main PC or sub-notebook laptop (which is what it's eventually going to replace). It did not have activesync with it when received so I downloaded the latest version from MSN, followed all options but to no avail. checked com ports - fine. checked IR, fine, it still does not want to know.

The Pro only has 3 options for syncing, via Com 1, IR or USB However the book says you can't use usb until you've sync'd with com or IR first.

Anybody any ideas where I am going wrong?

Help and advice in either direction would be most welcome from any member
Merry Christmas to you all
Maurice

[ceya]

What version did you downloaded. The latest on is Active Sync 3.7.1. Go here http://www.microsoft.com/mobile click on downloads then pock pc . You will see active sync download here.

Com 1 should be use for serial cable if it came with one. Down load Active sync then plug you Pro in go through the steps and the you will see that it will start to sync the two computers together.

Any Qyestions .. email or post here so others may learn also.

S/F,
Ceya

[Beakynet]

Originally posted by mauritron
However help needed please as no matter what I do I cannot get it to sync with my main PC or sub-notebook laptop (which is what it's eventually going to replace). It did not have activesync with it when received so I downloaded the latest version from MSN, followed all options but to no avail. checked com ports - fine. checked IR, fine, it still does not want to know.

The Pro only has 3 options for syncing, via Com 1, IR or USB However the book says you can't use usb until you've sync'd with com or IR first.

Anybody any ideas where I am going wrong?

When I first got the netPad WinCe.net I had fun with this too! First advice is to try and try again, however, connection needs to be established from both sides - On the PC this is easy, run active sync! On the Psion you should find an active Sync option somewhere in the Start Menu.

David

[daredevil]

You cannot use the USB on the NETBOOK PRO to do activesync as this USB is master and ActiveSync on your PC only allow slave USB device to sync. However, you can use serial or IR.
In the Control Panel, the PC Connection you have to check Allow connection with desktop computer when the device is attached.
You also need to select Start/Programs/ActiveSync/direct in your device to get it going.

[mauritron]

Thanks Ceya and David for advice.
I am running activesync version 3.7.1 build 3244.
I am now trying on my large "desktop replacement" notebook (running windows xp pro) as that has a proper com port on it.
I was looking around and found a mention that activesync does not support simulated ports. My mini notebook only has a serial link via a usb adaptor.
Anyway still the same.
With a direct connection between the two.
I have set the Pro settings in
control panel
pc connections
Ticked and connecting serial cable on com1
On start menu
programs
activsync
run the direct program
this comes up for a few seconds then dissappears.
On the PC
run activesync
says Com 1 is available but after about 10 seconds says device not detected.
Tried the above with IR link instead, still the same.
Have also tried another lead, the one from my Series 7 which I know works fine.
Tried a soft reset - no joy
Tried a total reset, removed all batteries for a while - still no joy.
The PC has a firewall (Zone Alarm) which I removed completely in case that was causing it, still no joy.
I am now at a loss as to what to try next. Suggestions would be most helpful.

[Beakynet]

Originally posted by mauritron

On start menu
programs
activsync
run the direct program
this comes up for a few seconds then dissappears.
On the PC
run activesync
says Com 1 is available but after about 10 seconds says device not detected.

Try those two actions the other way round i.e. run active sync on the PC then, within the 10 secs, run it on the netBook.

David

[mauritron]

Tried another total reset, this time removed all batteries for about half an hour.
Incidentaly it does not remove the password settings, even though all data is lost.
Anyway after this tried again your suggestion of pc first.
On the com port no joy
However eureka it works via IR link, although not 100%, sometimes ok others not.
Managed to transfer a program to check it out and all is fine.
I'm not impressed with the reliability though.
At this rate the soft reset button will be worn out within a few months!!!.
Next task to try and get it to talk via COM1
Then I'll try the dial in modem card which came with it. Plugs into the CF slot.
Will let you all know how I get on.
Thanks for your help so far.

[Steve Moore]

most PCs these days, and all macs, unfortunately, are with out 9-pin D-connector COM1 serial ports.
many new laptops have bluetooth and no IR (or have IR disabled in BIOS)

If there is no easy ActiveSync workaround what do the majority of the PC users of PocketPC devices do? It sounds like a nightmare

Will this make it impossible to use with a mac?

It sounds like I should just get the new battery and put it in my old netBook!

Steve

[mauritron]

I am beginning to wonder if the Pro is worth all the hassle.
I've another 10 days left to sort it out else it goes back.
I've found the link to the reference regarding connections
http://search.support.microsoft.com/search/default.aspx?Catalog=LCID=1033&CDID=EN-US-KB&PRODLISTSRC=ON&Product=&KeywordType=ALL&Titles=false&numDays=&maxResults=1000&withinResults=&Queryl=activesync&Query=activesync&QuerySource=gsfxSearch_Query
its someway down the list, mind you with a problem list that long it makes you wonder if activesync is any good at all.
also try this site for useful info.
www.cewindows.net
I can now get it to find com1 and although it tells me it is connected, nothing happens and after about a minute it offers the advice of a soft reset - press the damm button yet again.
Tell me Steve, about the netbook.
Is there any pcmcia cards available for it to allow me to.
1. connect to the internet via my broadband connection using wireless from the net book to the broadband hub. netgear do a cf card wireless connection but I do not know if it has support for the os of netbook.
2. Are there any compatible dial up modems I could use with it.
3. Would a phone such as the Nokia 6310i let me connect to the net while mobile.
If I can get a netbook to connect to the web either by phone, wireless to my main hub or dial up modem then I'll got that route instead. At least the masses of data I have on my Series 7 won't haveto be redone for the Netbook Pro.
Sorry cannot help on the Mac as I've never used one.

[Steve Moore]

Is there any pcmcia cards available for it to allow me to.
1. connect to the internet via my broadband connection using wireless from the net book to the broadband hub.

>> sure - loads. I use Lucent cards but check diems site for an up to date list

netgear do a cf card wireless connection but I do not know if it has support for the os of netbook.

>> got to be full-sized PCMCIA, not CF

2. Are there any compatible dial up modems I could use with it.

>> sure - the Psion one is best and Expansys were shifting them for buttons - may still be. There is one that also includes a compatible 10baseT card for ethernet

3. Would a phone such as the Nokia 6310i let me connect to the net while mobile.

>> of course

If I can get a netbook to connect to the web either by phone, wireless to my main hub or dial up modem then I'll got that route instead. At least the masses of data I have on my Series 7 won't haveto be redone for the Netbook Pro.

>> that seems to be the best plan. The screen looks great though, and proper Powerpoint ability would be good

[daredevil]

That is the problem with MS ActiveSync. I had uninstall and reinstall it before on my PC to get it to work. If using serial connection, choose speed of 57600 sometimes help. You never know when your PC decide when it will or when it will not connect. Sometimes, when the PC is making the connect sound and the green wheel on your task bar is running, pressing the Cancel button on the ActiveSync window will let you connect. Oh well, it like voodoo medicine.

[daredevil]

Oh, by the way, you should not use the serial cable of S7 or netBook to connect the NETBOOK PRO. You ought to use the serial cable provided with the new device. There are some pinout differences between the PsiWin and ActiveSync.

[Beakynet]

Originally posted by mauritron
I am beginning to wonder if the Pro is worth all the hassle.
I've another 10 days left to sort it out else it goes back.


The netBook Pro is worth it I believe. Though it is more designed to be a standalone system. Try backing up to CF/SD card and then transferring that to the PC! The SD slot is ideal for this.

For thoes of you who have had or have problems with PsiWin, doesn't this make you mad! ActiveSync is as bad if not worse! Just think of all the M$ fans who have rubbished our Psions!

I have read a comment on the Colour scheme of the netBook Pro, anybody else not like it? How about Black Casing with Maroon inlay?

[ktupper]

I'm using the DCF-660W (D-Link Air) CF WLAN card. It works great. I've got a broadband connection also.

ActiveSync works fine for me both through the provided cable and through wireless connection. Wireless of course is much faster for that.

My only complaint with ActiveSync is that it seems to go to the My Documents only which is on the Psion's internal memory.

I'd like to use ActiveSync for my PCMCIA 5GB card. I may be able to, I just have not had time to figure out if and how it could work.

As far as someone else on another thread said, browsing with IE rocks on this. I haven't had any pages that I normally go to not work. And it's very fast through my WLAN and my CF2031 PCS Vision modem.

I've got all the software I truly need to work on it working. And having the browser and RDP working gives me lots of other things.

My only complaint is lots of the PPC2003 software won't work on it. Eventually though they'll catch up with us. ;)

- Kevin

[ceya]

Mauritron,

Does it have Connect using Serial @ 19200.

I will check out my friends Japanese PDA since it has WinCe NET.

I will see how it is set up.

Sometimes you have to try if it doesn't connect the first couple of times.

S/F,
Ceya

[vitualis]

It seems to me that the problems people are having with Activesync may be issues with the Netbook Pro itself / how Psion has implemented it.

Activesync is actually, IMHO, remarkably stable and I haven't had any problems with it with my other Handheld PCs.

Usually, for the "first sync" via Serial Cable, for my other devices, all that is needed is to have Activesync "search" for the device and then plug the cable into the device --> then magic (I can verify this for both an ancient Casio Cassiopeia A-11 and a HP Jornada 820). If this doesn't occur with the Netbook Pro, then it would suggest a problem/oversight with how the serial connection is implemented with the Netbook Pro.

With IR, it is (should) be simple as well. All you need is Activesync loaded (and have it set so that it will look at the IR port on your PC), and then use the PC Link/Activesync proggy on your device with it set to the Infrared port. It should automagically detect and ask if you want to set up a new partnership / or guest.

I'm still using the older version of Activesync (3.5) so I don't know if the following is still true, but I believe that you have to sync at least once with Serial/IR/USB to set up the partnership. All newer PocketPC devices usually sync via a USB slave port and I personally think that it is again, an oversight (at least consumer unfriendly) for it not to be able to sync this way.

Once you have set up a partnership, you can then sync to that PC many ways -- LAN (i.e., wired/wireless/etc.), Bluetooth, Dial-up, etc. Syncing via ethernet is FAST!

I have the sense that many people on this thread a "new" Windows CE/Activesync users. Trust me when I say that for MOST Windows CE devices (i.e., Handheld PCs/PocketPC), Activesync is great and works well! I think the Netbook Pro may have some teething problems in this regard...

Best regards.

[ktupper]

There is something different in how it works with ActiveSync.

With my hold PPC, I just plugged it in and ActiveSync would recognize it. With the NBP, there are two programs on the _StartMenu_ in a folder called _ActiveSync_. The programs are _Direct_ and _Network_. If you're cable is connected, run the _Direct_ program and it will sync up with _MSActiveSync_. If you're connected via WLAN you can use _Network_.

I've not had a single problem with either.

- Kevin

[mauritron]

Partial Success so far.
Perhaps I was asking too much of the machine.
All I wanted was to switch it on, plug in a modem or network card and surf the net.
Achieved the first part no problem -- switching it on. Well done MS
From then on it was down hill.
They probably think the people who buy this machine are either hightly technical and know what to do to configure it or else have access to a company technical department who can. For the remainder who just want to switch it on and work it looks like its tuff s!!!, or else find a great site like pdastreet for help.
Anyway today I have partial success. I obtained a netgear CF card MA701 which in their own words works fine with CE.
So far can still only sync via IR provided they are within an inch of each other. Managed to install the lan drivers and at the end it comes up and says not compatible with the pro operating system, try it at your own peril or words to that effect.
Anyway went ahead and lo and behold can now connect to the internet via my broadband hub (netgear again). all fine.
The card is only a 11Mb one. Does anyone know if a 54Mbps card exists with the proper drivers for the NBP?
1 down, 2 to go.
Next thing to try is the CF modem.