IBM z50 NIC problems

[revedo]

I'm having trouble getting the z50 to recognize a Hawking CF686TX. It downloads the info to the z50, but no lights come on on the card or my router (Linksys BEFSR41). The card works flawlessly on my LG Phenom 220. Hawking says the card is not getting power f/the z50 and it must be a problem on the z50 only as their card works w/everything else. I've spent over 8 hours online trying to get info with no luck. Please help. I'd be willing to pay a consultant.
Cheers,
Jim

[Pilot]

Is the LG Phenom using a MIPS processor like the z50 does? Just curious, because it could be a software driver problem that only occurs with MIPS systems versus the other available processors.

I find it hard to believe that the z50 isn't supplying enough power to the card. The z50's PCMCIA card slot was designed to power the IBM microdrives, which take a lot more power than a NIC. Just out of curiousity, have you installed all the service packs available for CE and specifically the IBM z50? I know there are two or three out there, one of which deals with PCMCIA and CF card issues.

[revedo]

Hi Chris,

I looked thru seveal on-line post' and noticed a common statement about "NE200" compatibility. So, I returned my nic (Hawking Tech CF686T 10/100) for a Hawking CF682T 10 base T.
Still no luck. After SEVERAL hard resets, I got it to work.
Now I can get internet access but can't active-sync via the nic!!
The same thing happens with the LG. AND yes, they're both MIPS based.
I've read all the manuals for both and none go into depth about using a nic.

I was initially only using the PDA's for Symantec Act, but recently got a cable/dsl router and figured I could get rid of a few serial cables plus a switch box (my wife uses a Palm).
Too much clutter on my home office desk.
It's also nice to not have to boot up a pc to simply check e-mail.
Do you know where I can get info on using active-sync w/nic?

Thank you for your concern.

Cheers,
Jim

[radams36]

Jim,

If I'm not very mistaken, you do have to establish an ActiveSync partnership by serial port initially, before you switch over to doing it via LAN (and yes, I realize that's completely senseless, but....)

Have you tried that yet?

Ciao,

Richard

[revedo]

Richard,
Thanks for your reply.
Yes I did connect via serial cable 1st.
Apparently the only thing you can do via the nic is browse the web and receive e-mails!!
I can't for the life of me figure out how to sync w/my desktop Outlook calender or Act using the network connection.
I also downloaded the latest version of Active-Sync (3.5)
which allows for USB sync.

I've read thru every desktop/handheld Help menu with no luck in figuring it out.

Any advice?

Cheers,
Jim

[Pilot]

Okay, this may be painfully obvious (or insulting) to you, but it also could be the solution. Have you setup ActiveSync to allow network connections? From the ActiveSync program, click on File, Connection Settings, and then make sure the "Allow network (Ethernet) and Remote Access Service (RAS) server connection with this desktop computer" checkbox is checked. There should also be a line under the checkbox that says "Network is available" (if it is available). I'm not sure what it would say if the network wasn't available to ActiveSync.

I've had similar problems with connecting to my desktop at work as well, but my problems were always black and white: like NO network connectivity at all or else it worked just fine. Yours is definitely somewhere inbetween. It makes me wonder if you have something configure on your desktop to not allow it to be visible or something(?) What desktop OS are you using?

[revedo]

Hi Chris,

Let me say that I would in no way be insulted by any advice, even if it is painfully obvious.
At times people tend to look to deep instead of what is staring them in the face.
I greatly appreciate your effort!!

My desktop OS in Win 98.
Yes, I did do as you explained (dozens of times).

I was checking the PDA help menu (literally on the PDA) and I saw something that stated there was no way to "Syncronize" using activesync and an ethernet/network. Only web browsing and e-mail. I find this very hard to believe.
I mean, what would be the purpose of a nic if you still needed the serial cable to sync w/desktop Outlook (calender and contactcs) and Act.

I've tried using the nic software to remedy this.
Also the cd rom that came with the Linksys router, which allows you to set-up additional computers on the network, was tried w/no luck.

Trying to activesync (on the z50) I go: Start-Communication-Activesync:, and a message box pops up asking to choose a method to connect to the PC. I choose Network Connection- and-connect to: New PC, as thats what my desktop is named on my LAN. Its named that cuz I have an old pc on the LAN used as my backup.
Another box pops up titled: Connecting to desktop. Within it there is a line that says: PC Contacted and another that says: Locating connection agent, please wait. It sits there for 16 secs then disappears. I would think that means its connected to my desktop but when I check my calender, nothing has been transfered/syncronized!!

I'm about ready to give up!!

I don't wanna fool w/my netwok setttings on the desktop for fear of rendering that useless. I actually paid someone $125 to get both PC's to share printers and communicate.

Again, thanks greatly for your help.

Cheers,
JimStart

[Pilot]

Well, I don't know how to help you further than you've already gotten, unless you don't have your WINS or DNS server settings on your z50 configured properly (only you would know that).

I'm using Win98 and connect/synchronize my NEC MobilePro 750c (and previously an IBM z50) just fine. I don't know why the PDA help would say that you can only browse the internet and get email, because when it comes to synchronizing -- Ethernet is the only way to "fly" because it is SO fast compared to serial connection. I also used to RAS in to my WinNT desktop at work and synchronize just fine.

I do remember having exactly what you described happen to me, but for the life of me I cannot remember how I resolved it. There's obviously some sort of conflict that has to do with ActiveSync and the way the desktop OS is configured, but I can't think of what that would be. Can you ping the desktop from your z50? I keep getting the feeling it's a WINS/DNS issue.

[revedo]

Hi Chris,

Thanks again for your advise.
I too think/thought it is WINS DNS, but in Control Panel- Network-Network Configuration the Properties Dialogue box, you obtain an IP address automaticalyy.
So, I thought there was no need to mess with that?
Besides, I don't know what those settings are or where to find them. Also in the "Identification Tab" of the " Network Configuration" box both the LG and Z50 are putting in a password?? I erase it and it keeps coming back? Even after hard resets?

Also, I too have an IBM microdrive and constantly have to reset (hard) the machine to get it to recognize it.
Well, needless to say, I had to start from the beginning AGAIN.
I can rec'v e-mail but can't send. I keep getting "un-expected SMTP server" msg. I've tried to put in (Inbox Settings)
"mail.earthlink.net", earthlink.net, earthlink (no dot net), Earthlink (upper case E) all to no avail.

It's like these things have a mind of their own.

I'm about ready to call it quits on this "nic deal" but agree with you that the ability to "fly" might be worth the aggravation since it is probably something really stupid I am missing.

Here's to persistance.

Cheers,
Jim

[MartyALee]

Based on posts in past forums and on my personal experience with my Z50, you MUST have the IP address of the PC you are trying to sync to entered into the Primary WINS Name Servers entry for your Z50 ethernet card (I have not had to enter anything in the DNS fields). You can use winipcfg.exe at the Run command on your Win98 system to find out what IP address its ethernet card has been assigned. I routinely sync my Pocket Outlook with my Office XP Outlook using my ethernet connection.
I have done this with Win98, WinXP Pro and Win2000 Pro and with Office 97, Office 2000 and Office XP.

By changing the WINS Server IP, I am able to connect and/or sync with my Desktop computer at work. ActiveSync will allow you to synchronize with up to 2 computers but you can set it up to connect to any number of other computers as a guest without synchronization as long as ActiveSync is installed on each computer.

[revedo]

FINALLY!!!
You're not gonna believe it.
A little history:
Bought my 1 st PDA in '96, a Psion 3c
Was the 1 st Machine Tool salesman to have anything like it.
They were (and still) using a trunkload full of file folders for contact managment.
Loved the Psion cuz it could run Act.
2 years later got an HP320LX f/a wedding gift.
WOW, touch screen and color AND Act!!
Lost it, bought another.
Lost that.(Damn things are too small)
Bought a used LG Phenom 220.
WOW big touch-screen and big keyboard!!
Discovered e-Bay.
Found an HP820, bought it (2 years ago)
Oooo-BIGGER screen, ahhh, no Act (StrongArm processor)
Act is processor specific. So I sold it.
Settled on a z50 (looked at Aero 8000, MobilePro 880)
Great IBM construction, crappy track-point (like my IBM Thinkpad).

The message here being the # of Windows CE Services/ActiveSync software being loaded on.
I even downloaded ActiveSync 3.5 a couple of days ago.

This morning, got a wild hair and said "Delete Outlook, everything CE from my desktop". Hard reset for a few hours (like it matters)
Load the CD that ACTUALLY came with the z50 AND read the read me files (guys?)

UN-FREAKIN-BELIEVABLE.

I am not a computer.......... type.
I was walking around my house singing and laughing to myself with joy!!! I've spent well over 60 hours trying to figure this problem out. The nic was actually gonna go back to Hawking Tech today!!

My Act d-base has 1,250 contacts and normally took over 45 mins to synch. With the nic working..... LESS THAN 45secs!!!!!
One would think MS stuff would be backwards compatible.
Well, my experience w/my 1 year old desktop says otherwise.
Thats why I gunned what came with it and loaded 98 on it.

Too all whom have offered advice:

YOU ROCK
Thank God for these forums.

Thank you all and cheers,

Jim

PS: The company that owns Act was telling me, back about 1.5 years ago, I was wasting my time w/CE and I would be a dinosaur very soon as EVERYONE was moving towards the Palm OS. He was actually very demeaning. I hate the Palm (gave my 3x to my wife).

[Pilot]

Hey, that's great news! It was sad to see you giving up on the z50, because in my opinion, CE devices blow the doors off of Palms. Unfortunately, Microsoft supplies the CE OS, so that in itself can be a problem, but I do think CE is still better than Palm (despite the Microsoft logo).

In regard to your SMTP issues... a lot (read: Just about ALL!) of ISPs are protecting their SMTP servers from being used as a gateway for SPAM. In order to do this, prior to being able to send mail from your notebook, desktop computer, or PDA, you have to have successfully logged into the POP server and received email first. Unfortunately, that's not the way the CE mail program works -- it tries to send the messages first, and then the message tag is (I guess) marked as a potential SPAM message and it becomes very difficult to get it to send. The solutions to this (according to any ISP I've spoken with) is to either (a) only type/send messages when your online and connected to the mail server (uh...why did I buy a small email device if only to type emails while online?!), or (b) configure your mail program to login to the POP server first (can't do that with CE) or (c) figure out a way around it (they wouldn't tell me how for obvious reason). I think I've somewhat figured out option (c) for at least my ISP. All I do after dialing in and connecting to the POP server, I open each message in the outbox, add a space to the body of the message, and press the send button. I have to do this with each message in the outbox in order for even one of them to be successfully sent, but it does work. The interesting part is that I've also typed or responded to messages offline, went online, was unsuccessful at sending them, and then while trying to figure out a solution, they messages went out successfully all by themselves. Maybe my ISP isn't as locked down as most?

Anyway, glad your NIC works now. See, it truly is the only way to "fly"...especially when dealing with a large ACT database!

[mdamron]

I had this same problem, but once I entered the address of the sync pc into the WINS address it worked like a charm! That was a great help as I've been going crazy over not being able to sync over ethernet since I got this card a week ago. Thanks!