MDA Vario crashes laptop wifi

[sparks61]

Hi all,

New on the forum and hoping someone can help. ...
I have an MDA Vario on T-mobile and synchronise my contacts with Outlook as I did with my old XDA II mini. However If I have the wifi on my laptop switched on and an active connection, my laptop dumps the wifi connection as soon as I hook up the MDA and active sync connects it ?? I initially thought it might be a conflict between the wifi on the MDA and the laptop so I made sure the MDA was turned off and it still happens.
This is a real pain as I like to use WorldMate for currency exchange etc but it needs an internet connection to update.

Any ideas ??

Sparks

[AnswerDude]

What version of Activesync are you using on the laptop? And are you running any security or firewall software on the laptop?

[sparks61]

ActiveSync is version 4.1.0.
I run ZoneAlarm Security Suite (combined Firewall, antivirus, spyware).

Its odd. The only other symptom is that when the MDA connects and ActiveSync fires up the MDA says it can't get an Ip address ?? Sync and file transfer all works ok though.

[AnswerDude]

Try activesync 4.2
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/downloads/activesync42.mspx
And perhaps configure Zonealarm according to MS's suggestion;
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/help/activesync/default.mspx

[sparks61]

Ok - I have installed ActiveSync 4.2 and ensured ZoneAlarm is set up as specified by Microsoft and the problem still occurs.
I have simplified the network to remove any other influences. It is now just the cable router connected to the Linksys wireless router set up with WPA TKIP. Here is more detail on the sequence of events.
1. I boot up my laptop and it connects to my home network via the wireless router (browsing etc ok) - ZoneAlarm shows the 192.168.1.0 network and in the "Support" tab on my wireles connection the wifi card has a 192.168.1.XXX address which is correct. In My "Network Connections" I have the wireless connected and the LAN and firewire disconnected as expected.
2. I connect the Vario and it is recognised and ActiveSync starts. A new netowrk connection appears in my "Network Connections" - "LAN Connection 15" which is shown as a mobile device. In ZoneAlarm I have a new network with the IP 169.254.2.2. Active Sync synchronises and all is ok.
3. If I try to access the internet my wifi connection immediately fails and shows as disconnected in "Network Connections"
4. I unplug the Vario from the laptop and the wifi connection is remade and I can access the net again.

[AnswerDude]

Try unchecking the option for File and Network Sharing in the RNDIS adapter on your Vario Device. It must be connected to a PC make this setting change.