Active Sync and BlueTooth Problems

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rjgregory

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#304 29-Jun-2003 18:49

Sorry for the detail, but I have tried a number of different solutions including newsgroup postings, and I am still having the same problem.

Configuration :- iPAQ 3970 / ActiveSync 3.7 / MSI P2P transceiving Key USB dongle

Although I can get perfect synching through the USB cradle, I am having major trouble establishing BlueTooth Activesync.

- I have the Ipaq 'seen' on the PC Bluetooth and I have the PC 'seen' on the Ipaq
- I have the pair bonded
- I have the PC set as an Activesync partner in the PDA Bluetooth Manager
- I can establish the serial port connection, and the PC is shown as "connected" within Bluetooth Manager
- I have confirmed Bluetooth serial port established (Comm 4) under Bluetooth Configuration / Client Applications and matched the ActiveSync serial port.

When I start Activesync from the PC MS Activesync,MS As appears to be connecting with the Green Icon showing, but then I get the message :- "Microsoft Activesync does not recognise the device that is trying to connect" and the "Disconnect Com Port / Retry" message pops up.
When I start Activesync from the Ipaq BT manager,it just seems to hang.

One thing that I have noticed is that in the M.Freitas guide "How to configure ActiveSync via Bluetooth on your Pocket Pc iPAQ H3970" I read the section about Device information under Bluetooth Manager (the screen that shows the "ActiveSync Partner" checkbox.
The only options available are "Remove bond with this device" or "remove this device". I do not get the other options "Send File / Send Business Card / Exchange Business Card / Connect to Bluetooth Serial Port / Connect to Network Access"

Also, from time to time, BlueTooth Manager will close with a fatal exception error (Program : BlueTooth Manager / Exception : 0xc0000005 / Address : 00a2eedc ).
When this happens I have to restart the PC BlueTooth serial connection to make the PC show as "connected" in the PDA BlueTooth Manager.

In addition, the PC loses its "connected" status after a while ( changes to "available") and needs the BlueTooth Serial Port on the PC to be connected again

I would be grateful for any comment - am I missing something really stupid. This has been bugging me all week !!

freitasm

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#539 29-Jun-2003 23:13

You have to match the ActiveSync port to the Bluetooth Server port. Have a look in your configuration, but n my case it defaults the server to COM3: and the client to COM4.

The Exception in your Pocket PC is because the H3970 can only recognise seven Bluetooth services, and your desktop probably has more than this number available. On your Bluetooth configuration disable services you're not using or do not plan to use.

rjgregory

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#543 30-Jun-2003 17:49

Thanks for everyone's help.

The problem has been resolved by a combination of :-
- Reduction of the number of Bluetooth devices (< 7)
- Removal of the Bluetooth serial device offered on first installation,
- The right rebooting sequence

Simple really................

stuarts

1 post

Wannabe Geek

#1319 5-Sep-2003 20:06

I have exactly the same problem as described by rjgregory posted on 29/06/2003.

However, I cannot solve it.

Can you please give more detail on the solution given: -

"The problem has been resolved by a combination of :-
- Reduction of the number of Bluetooth devices (< 7)
- Removal of the Bluetooth serial device offered on first installation,
- The right rebooting sequence"

Jukebox

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1346 8-Sep-2003 06:05

I've spent the best part of 6 hours trying to fix this - and can't.

My PC is running Windows ME, I am trying to connect my IPAQ2210 via a brand new Gigabyte Bluetooth Dongle. All the fixes above are either not applicable, or don't seem to help.

Activesync is trying to connect on COM5, the PocketPC is set to this COM port (inbound COM port in the Bluetooth: Serial Port tab in the control panel) as is the Serial Connection in My Bluetooth Places on the desktop. I've turned encryption on and off (to test if it requires this) on both the PC and the IPAQ, I've reinstalled the software, I've followed all the steps (as closely as possible) in the run-throughs.

I can get FTP to work but all I get on Activesync is those darned spinning wheels...

Jukebox

thespianchef

1 post

Wannabe Geek

#1516 23-Sep-2003 07:20

Hey Jukebox,

I was having exactly the same problem with an IPAQ h1940 and a server running Windows ME. Initially i had set up a partnership with my PC but after attempting to set up a second 'guest' partnership with a second PC the settings for the bluetooth must have altered-and it then had the problem that you describe. This took me a while to figure out but all you need to do is reduce the number of services offered by your bluetooth device and soft reset your PDA. Once your PDA restarts you can then use the old icon in your bluetooth manager to connect - this time the wheels should stop spinning and ActiveSynce should be able to read your incoming device allowing a partnership to be set up. I haven't since attempted to set up a guest partnership with another computer but i just use the bluetooth software to transfer info between the two and hence only use ActiveSync on one PC.

Hope this works

Thespianchef

jn549

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1544 25-Sep-2003 06:19

All, I have exactly the same problems described above and have so far been unable to resolve the connectivity problem. I have only file transfer, network access, and bluetooth serial port services enabled on my PC. On my iPAQ 2215 I've enabled only file transfer, serial port, and personal network server enabled.

Another wrinkle I've noticed that may or may not be related to my problem: My iPAQ synchronizes flawlessly over the USB when cradled, however, I am unable to initiate a synch from the iPAQ. Whenever I try it just sits there and acts like nothing happened.

Another possibly strange behavior I'm seeing is that when I open the bluetooth configuration screens on my PC I see that the bluetooth serial port on the "Local Services" tab is set to COM5 but is set to COM4 on the client applications tab. When I initiate connectivity from my PC it tells me to attach my applications to COM4. Of course, neither COM4 nor COM5 works.

Also, I'm running Norton Personal Firewall, but disabling it does not fix the problem.

Any help would be appreciated!! I also can't get internet access to work, but if I can make it sync I can get to the internet through ActiveSync.

freitasm

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#1545 25-Sep-2003 07:55

jn549 the Service COM port will be the one your programs have to open when a device connects to your computer (from a device to your comuputer). Since your Pocket PC connects to your computer then ActiveSync will listen on this port - and the same for any other incoming connection.

The Client COM port is the one your programs have to open when tying to connect to a device (from your computer to a device).

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jn549

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1547 25-Sep-2003 09:16

freitasm, thank you for your help.

Are you saying that ActiveSync must be configured to communicate over COM5 if I am initiating the connection from the iPAQ but over COM4 if I am initiating the communication from the PC?

freitasm

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#1548 25-Sep-2003 09:59

Yes, use COM5 if this is the Service COM. Follow one of our Bluetooth Guides for more on this.

BTW, ActiveSync is always initiated from the Pocket PC, so don't worry about the Client COM for Activesync at all.

jn549

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1553 25-Sep-2003 14:02

Mauricio,

Thank you - I reset ActiveSync to COM5, did a soft reset, rebooted the PC, launched my ActiveSync shortcut on the 2210, and and I'm synchronizing now! I will no longer establish the COM port connection from the PC; that was probably my big mistake.

As I mentioned before, I can now surf the internet using the Activesync passthrough feature, even though I have been unable to establish a BT network connection with the iPAQ. I'm interested to know if there is any advantage to getting my BT network connection to work, or if the ActiveSync passthrough works identically.

On a related topic - I would like to retain my existing home network of several PC's and printers for file and print sharing. My knowledge of XP's networking capability is limited, but it appears that I would be unable to maintain my existing home network and also share my PC's internet connection with the iPAQ. Is this correct? If so, that's another reason to stick with ActiveSync for surfing the web.

Regards, John

freitasm

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#1554 25-Sep-2003 15:01

Well done John.

The advantage of using BT network is that performance will receive a boost. ActiveSync uses part of the bandwidth to keep the devices in sync - big waste of bandwidth.

Since you already have a home network you might be using an IP address required to this end. 192.168.0.1 is used by ICS and can't be used anywhere else in your network.

Ideally you'd have your current network in another range (like 192.168.2.x) and the 192.168.0.x range would be used by ICS.

jn549

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1578 27-Sep-2003 07:13

Mauricio,

While surfing the web through ActiveSync, I notice two odd behaviors:

1. I cannot log into some web sites (this one included), but others like amazon.com are fine.
2. The iPAQ sometimes does not display all of the icons on a page. Instead I get the outline of the box with a red 'x'.

Are these related to the fact that I'm surfing through ActiveSync, or is something else that is likely causing the problem?

Also, regarding Activesync: I have another, older machine running NT 4.0 that does not have a USB port. My iPAQ requires USB to synchronize. Can I use your Serial to USB converter to convert my serial port to a USB so I can sync? I only see that product advertised to allow for more serial ports, rather than USB ports - maybe since USB hubs are readily available.

(My older machine runs Activsync 3.5. Not sure if I can upgrade to 3.7 on NT 4.0, but hopefully that won't be necessary.)

If it's possible to synchronize in this manner, can you recommend any guides that I can use to sort out how to synchronize with two different PCs?

Thanks as always,
John

freitasm

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#1583 27-Sep-2003 09:18

1. I cannot log into some web sites (this one included), but others like amazon.com are fine.
2. The iPAQ sometimes does not display all of the icons on a page. Instead I get the outline of the box with a red 'x'.

Not sure about 1, but 2 is probably due to bandwidth limits - ActiveSync will use part of it, so your Pocket Internet Explorer will timeout now and then.

Also, regarding Activesync: I have another, older machine running NT 4.0 that does not have a USB port. My iPAQ requires USB to synchronize. Can I use your Serial to USB converter to convert my serial port to a USB so I can sync? I only see that product advertised to allow for more serial ports, rather than USB ports - maybe since USB hubs are readily available.

I think the iPAQ is better with a true USB port, no hubs or leads. Some devices get errors when connected in another way. The Serial to USB adapter may work - or not. Depends on the device you're using. I know Bluetooth adapter will not work, because the power used comes from the USB port and usually they are very sensitive to this.

jn549

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1587 27-Sep-2003 10:02

Yes, I've experienced firsthand that ActiveSync can be very finicky!

I have since been able to establish an internet connection to my iPAQ and both conditions 1 and 2 above still exist. If I discover a resolution to either I will post it.

If you ever get the chance to post a setup guide specific to WinXP it would be extremely helpful since many of the network configuration screens are totally different than Win2000. In particular, I had to enable services on my LAN connection: Right-click on LAN icon, select Properties, then pull down the Advanced Tab. Next, uncheck the firewall box, check both Internet Connection sharing boxes and select Settings. I enabled Web Server (HTTP) and Secure Web Server (HTTPS) and after that it started to work.

On that network connection though - it only works if I initiate the connection from the QuickConnect pull-down on my desktop. If I try to initiate it from the iPAQ, I get an error "Unable to establish a connection. Please make sure the device is enabled and in range. Also verify that the requested service is available." I get this error whether or not my Norton Personal Firewall is enabled. Any ideas here?

freitasm

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#1588 27-Sep-2003 10:05

The Guide for Internet sharing for the H5450 is based on Windows XP. David Hettel wrote that one and you can check the screenshots.

Also the H5450 was running Pocket PC 2002, but that was the first HP release of the new Bluetooth software. The screenshots are the same for Windows Mobile 2003 then!