WM5 smartphone (Dopod 577W) and Windows XP ad-hoc wireless network - Networking

I posted this thread on the Windows Mobile Owners Circle forum but it seems that my thread does not haver enough attention (4 views after 2 day), so I posted it here again, hopefully some experts may help me figure out.
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I managed to set up an ad-hoc wireless network on my Windows XP laptop (open authentication, no data encryption) with Internet connection sharing. This wireless network is used by my 2 WM devices: a Dopod 838Pro PocketPC and a Dopod 577W Smartphone. Both are WM5. At a first glance, both the pocketPC and the smartphone can connect to the ad-hoc wireless network and surf the Internet smotthly and without any extra configurations. However, some problems are identified after several observations, listed below:
1. The PocketPC can always connect to the ad-hoc wireless network, even if there's no other devices/computers using the network. As soon as the PocketPC is connected, the connection status on Windows XP will change to Connected. This is expected.
2. If the PocketPC is on, the Smartphone can detect the wireless network and connect and surf the Internet. While the smartphone is using the network, e.g. watch streaming videos, if the PocketPC is disconnected from the network, the smartphone also loses its Internet connection. This behaviour is expected as this is a de-centralized ad-hoc network.
3. If the PocketPC is off, the Smartphone won't be able to detect the presence of my wireless network, e.g. the network name does not show up in the list. It, however, does detect other network (both access points and ad-hoc). Although it can connect to access points successfully, I don't have opportunity to see if it can really connect to other ad-hoc networks (and not just show their names in the list).
My conclusion is, for the smartphone to use my ad-hoc network, a necessary condition is that there must be at least one device using the network so the smartphone can establish connection to that device (since it can't connect directly to the laptop). I cannot verify the sufficient condition as I don't have any more devices to try.
This is very strange. Why does the smartphone refuse to be the first device on the network? As I am by no means a network expert, the only reason I can think of is the incompatibility between wireless standards supported by my device. The laptop has 802.11a/b/g, smartphone has 802.11b while pocketPC has 802.11g. Could this have prevented the smartphone to detect the signal from the laptop? Only after the PocketPC is connected and re-broadcoasts the signal as 802.11g can the smartphone hardware (802.11b) detect it.
Another possiblity is that the implementation of ad-hoc wireless network on the smartphone does not allow a device to act as broadcaster. As such if the smartphone was the first to be connected on the network, it would prevent other devices from connecting. If my assumption is true, is this perhaps why the smartphone refuses to detect the ad-hoc network when it sees no other active connections?
If it helps, the icon for my ad-hoc wireless network also looks different from other ad-hoc wiress networks. Although they both have a computer on the top left and a device on the bottom right, the icon for my network looks has a blue circle at the back. What does this difference indicate? On Windows XP, the icons look the same.
Anyone can give me any clues how to solve this problem? Thanks a lot.

Related

WI-FI and TyTn

Hi,
I am thinking of replacing my Magician with TyTn because the WI-FI is a nice feature to have.
How easy is it ? I mean, configuration wise.
Because I travel a lot and stay in a hotel.
Usually, in the hotel, they offer WI-FI access (mostly you must pay for the service).
What kind of WI-FI connection can be made using TyTn ?
Is there any kind of connection profile that we can configure and choose for ?
Maybe this question is stupid, but I dont have experience with PDA and WI-FI access (as you know that I am using HTC Magician!).
Have you ever used your TyTn to connect to a Hotel WI-FI access?
Thanks for sharing your experience.
Configuring Wi-Fi on TyTN is very easy. With default settings you just need to turn on the wifi and wait for the phone to detect wireless networks.
TyTN supports 802.11b and g (10Mbps/54Mbps)
Dunno about the profiles. You can add accesspoints/ad-hocs and choose which to use.
However, if the wireless lan you connect to is open (no encryption) and uses DHCP you only need one access point for that and theres no need to do anything else.
I have used Wi-Fi access in a bar without any problems. Shouldn't be any different when using it in a hotel if the AP signal is strong enough.
At home, TyTN can't be further than 15-20m from my AP without the signal dropping down to zero.
Wifi configuration is the same in all windows mobile 5 devices, you can connect to a network and store the credentials, so next time you connect to the same network you don't have to reenter them.
Regarding Hotel hotspots, these are usually open networks (no encryption) with a captive portal. Support for PocketPC devices is usually ofered by most companies providing this service and should be no problem in that.
I've used PocketPC devices with wifi to connect in KubiWireless, Boingo, The Cloud and T-Mobile hotspots without problems.
Be aware that the wifi range of the TYTN is tight, and WM5 has some issue with wifi:
-No WPA2 support
-No aes cypher algorythm
-Buggy with PEAP auth + certs
What About VPN, we have VPN Service in the University.Is there VPN client for WM5, for the laptops we are using Cisco VPN Client
Jorshua, forget about Wi-Fi in TyTn, its so bad.
Read this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=276904
I don't have so much problems, in the uni the signal is very good, I am asking about VPN is there client for WM5.

Connect to Ad Hoc Networks?

Can the G1 detect and connect to Ad Hoc WiFi networks? My router is fried, and there are no open networks nearby with strong signal.
I made one under Linux and another one under Vista, the device doesn't see both and entering it manually does nothing.
I suppose it can't see AdHoc networks.
MoridinBG said:
Can the G1 detect and connect to Ad Hoc WiFi networks? My router is fried, and there are no open networks nearby with strong signal.
I made one under Linux and another one under Vista, the device doesn't see both and entering it manually does nothing.
I suppose it can't see AdHoc networks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe that it CAN detect ad-hoc networks.
I setup an ad-hoc connection from my pc, and it detected it, but there was no network activity. I probably did something wrong, but, I am not sure why it didn't work.
MoridinBG said:
Can the G1 detect and connect to Ad Hoc WiFi networks? My router is fried, and there are no open networks nearby with strong signal.
I made one under Linux and another one under Vista, the device doesn't see both and entering it manually does nothing.
I suppose it can't see AdHoc networks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use USB Wi-fi adapter for wireless connection and I need to say that G1 don't allow to use adhoc connection, it need only wifi router.
Some month before I see the answer from T-Mobile support that G1 can't use adhoc connection.
It's sad, bcoz my last WM phone (Tytn) has no problems with adhoc connection...
Alas I feel your pain. I use adhoc for my iPhone frequently because at school I can only jack into an ethernet because the WiFi is protected. But my G1 can't so I am doomed to EDGE when i'm in my mom's classroom after school
MoridinBG said:
Can the G1 detect and connect to Ad Hoc WiFi networks? My router is fried, and there are no open networks nearby with strong signal.
I made one under Linux and another one under Vista, the device doesn't see both and entering it manually does nothing.
I suppose it can't see AdHoc networks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
is this a software issue that can be fixed or is it a hardware issue?
Software. In fact the phone can MAKE ad-hoc networks that other devices and computers can see and join. That's how WiFi tethering works. You can start a wifi tethering app and use the ad hoc connection it creates, without using the cellular tethering at all, or you can examine the tethering scripts and extract just the part concerning the wifi.
I experimented a bit, and was able to change almost everything needed to share Internet from the PC to the phone, except default gateway on the phone...
Noone wants to help
I guess everyone who has an unlimited data plan thinks "Haha stupid stone age idiots want adhoc HAHAHA" . Damn it. I live in a stupid country and I don't have an unlimited data plan. I want to connect to my laptop's wi fi. Please anyone help!!!
Here's the solution
http://hydtech.wordpress.com/2009/09/14/how-to-connect-to-ad-hoc-networks-using-tmobile-g1-android/
The important part is to tweak the windows part - you need to tell the broadband/adsl internet connection to share itself to the Private wireless network (the network manging your Wireless adapter). If you are having trouble with the windows part (say you connect and have full bars on the phone but no access to web) google ICS (internet connection sharing) in windows and you should get it working.

Sharing Shift's HSDPA internet connection over a wireless ad hoc network?

Hi,
last time I tried to share my Shift's internet connection over an ad hoc network, so that others could go online with their own laptops.
I was not able to do this. Is is even possible? What do I have to do on my Shift?
I created a new ad hoc network and enabled the "Internet Sharing" option at the end of the setup wizard (in Vista). Then the other XP laptop successfully connected to this network but I could not get any further.
Do I have to use my Shift's wireless NIC IP address as the gateway on the other hosts? Do I have to disable my Vista firewall? I wasn't even able to ping the other device within this network.
On both systems I did not specify any host IP addresses. Is this managed by the two hosts on their own? (DCHP, DNS?)
It is a bit confusing, as I never set up such a network and with two different Operating Systems this doesn't get easier. What a about a network bridge? Do I have to unite the wireless network adapter and the SnapVue network into a new network bridge? In that case my Shift loses the internet connectivity.
Solution
Ah, I get to re-live my moment of glory by posting the working solution that I devised:
This allows you to share your Shift HSDPA internet connection with, say your laptop, so that your laptop can have internet anywhere where there is a mobile signal (and your Shift windows side is on).
The setup method is similar to the ICS instructions in Vista Help and on various internet pages, but with an extra step at the end to get it to actually work.
First thing first, you need an adhoc network connection between your Shift and your laptop. I used Wifi. This is easy to achieve using the network and sharing centre on both your Shift and your laptop. (You may need to Temporarily tone down your firwall in order to set up this adhoc network connection.)
Then you need to set up ICS on your shift. Enable the options in your Network and Sharing centre. Read the ICS instuctions in Windows help if you need help with setting these options.
Ok, so it should now work according to Vista documentation, but it doesn't. Now the trick that I found to get it to work:
Each time you wish to share your Shifts HSPDA internet with your laptop/s, do the following:
1. Connect to your ad hoc network from your shift and laptop to open the connection. (you may have set this up to establish automatically).
2. On you Shift, manage network connections and get properties for Local Area Connection. Select the Sharing tab and DISABLE both options.
3. On you Shift, get properties for Local Area Connection. Select the Sharing tab and ENABLE both options.
Wait about 30 seconds, and then your shifts HSPDA internet should be happily available on your laptop. (Vista indicates this by drawing a world globe on the network icon of the taskbar of your laptop.)
Repeat steps 1-3 for every time you wish to use your Shifts HSDPA internet on your laptop.
To connect your Shift to a home Broadband internet wifi, do the following steps:
1. On you Shift, manage network connections and get properties for Local Area Connection. Select the Sharing tab and DISABLE both options.
2. Connect to the wifi home Broadband internet.
Confusion Abounds . . .
Flanimal,
I'm a bit confused, could you clarify? Here's where I'm confused. I don't have wired broadband in my house; I'm strictly cellular. So, for me, I cannot have both Wifi and HSDPA on and be able to connect to the internet. Windows 7 thinks Wifi is a better connection so it won't even try HSDPA. You said that the first step was to "connect to your network from your Shift and laptop." I assume you mean Wifi here?
From the get go I'm out of luck because I won't have internet with Wifi on.
But then I'm still curious. The next two steps have you disabling and then enabling the sharing option. Nothing is ever done on the laptop. Can you clarify?
UPDATE: I figured it out! I just filled in the blanks with some common sense and it worked! Now I have my Macbook Pro connecting to the internet through my Shift, and . . . it's kinda free. Thanks Flanimal!
Glory days!
Hi TopRowGuywithFeet,
It's great to hear that this was useful to you. In response, I've applied a few minor updates to my instructions.
It's great to get things working isn't it? By the sounds of it, this also also allows you to have a permanent wifi network between your Shift and you Macbook pro, wheras before you had to disable the Shift wifi to get internet. If so, cool!

Unknown Wi-Fi problem

Hello,
I am having the following issue while using Wi-Fi: in the list of available networks is a type of connection I have not seen before. It seems to be a modification of sorts of my own wi-fi connection, but if the device connects to it, I cannot connect to either websites or to the other PCs on the LAN.
This connection is represented by a different type of icon as you can see on the screenshots. I have not created it, but it may be a remnant from my previous connection - look at the names, one has a space in between, the other hasn't. I created the new one (without the space) after I changed my router to D-Link's DIR-600.
An interesting thing about this connection is that the device does connect to it even when not anywhere within range of the router (say 2-3 km.)
Any ideas?
This the symbol for an Ad-Hoc network (Computer to Computer). You can probably remove that connection and still be o.k.
Thanks!
I tried removing it, but it then creates it again.
Of course, I can always disconnect and connect to the other network.
I have never dealt with Ad-Hoc connections. Isn't this connection supposed to enable access to the other computer then? Like LAN? And why does the device connect to this network when far outside the router's broadcast signal?

WIFI & Mobile Data Simultaneously?

Hi, New poster so if I've posted in the wrong area please don't bite
I've been connecting my phone to a smart device (miracast-ing 'direct') but as of late the connection has become unstable and generally unusable. I had the brainstorm of using an old router to stabilize the connection, this seems to have done the trick but now I'm unable to access the mobile data as WIFI has assumed priority. Please bear in mind I don't have home internet so the router is being used solely as a go between for phone and smart device. Is there any possibility of WiFi connection whilst have access to mobile data or is this just a pipedream?
Thanks in advance
You can just start a wifi network from your phone, connect the smart devices to your phones wifi and use mobile data normal as internet connection (this is standard if you start a wifi network from phone). You wouldnt even need the router with this szenario, if the wifi signal of your phone isnt strong enough you can connect your router to the phone and extend the wifi with the router.
saturday_night said:
You can just start a wifi network from your phone, connect the smart devices to your phones wifi and use mobile data normal as internet connection (this is standard if you start a wifi network from phone). You wouldnt even need the router with this szenario, if the wifi signal of your phone isnt strong enough you can connect your router to the phone and extend the wifi with the router.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply
But creating a mobile hotspot won't help because it doesn't solve the faulty (actually non-existent) miracast connection, plus I don't need a hotspot because only the phone needs internet access. My earlier explanation was probably a bit vague.
My goal is to mirror my phone's screen but to also have internet access solely on my phone.
Phone➡Smart Device➡Display - Can't connect (used to work faultless).
Phone➡Router➡Smart Device➡Display - Connects but no mobile data available because the phone thinks the router has internet access covered.
Dowtish said:
Thanks for the reply
But creating a mobile hotspot won't help because it doesn't solve the faulty (actually non-existent) miracast connection, plus I don't need a hotspot because only the phone needs internet access. My earlier explanation was probably a bit vague.
My goal is to mirror my phone's screen but to also have internet access solely on my phone.
Phone➡Smart Device➡Display - Can't connect (used to work faultless).
Phone➡Router➡Smart Device➡Display - Connects but no mobile data available because the phone thinks the router has internet access covered.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Creating a hotspot is not for giving the other devices in your network internet access, this is the only way you can use the wifi on your phone with using mobile data at the same time. I dont know why but android devices never use mobile data when they are connected to a wifi network and there is no internet access available. So if you configure your router as a wifi repeater and setup the phone as base station, your wifi signal from phone to router should be good and you can connect your other devices to the router, the phone should see all devices in the same network if you stop the dhcp server in your router and only use the one from your phones hotspot. Should look like this :
Phone (with DHCP) <----Router---->Smart Device---> Display
saturday_night said:
Creating a hotspot is not for giving the other devices in your network internet access, this is the only way you can use the wifi on your phone with using mobile data at the same time. I dont know why but android devices never use mobile data when they are connected to a wifi network and there is no internet access available. So if you configure your router as a wifi repeater and setup the phone as base station, your wifi signal from phone to router should be good and you can connect your other devices to the router, the phone should see all devices in the same network if you stop the dhcp server in your router and only use the one from your phones hotspot. Should look like this :
Phone (with DHCP) <----Router---->Smart Device---> Display
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cheers will try it out.
Hopefully that sort of config is available on my router as it is loaded with a custom firmware from my old ISP provider.
Thanks
saturday_night said:
Creating a hotspot is not for giving the other devices in your network internet access, this is the only way you can use the wifi on your phone with using mobile data at the same time. I dont know why but android devices never use mobile data when they are connected to a wifi network and there is no internet access available. So if you configure your router as a wifi repeater and setup the phone as base station, your wifi signal from phone to router should be good and you can connect your other devices to the router, the phone should see all devices in the same network if you stop the dhcp server in your router and only use the one from your phones hotspot. Should look like this :
Phone (with DHCP) <----Router---->Smart Device---> Display
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Router ISP custom firmware seems restrictive (no advanced wireless settings) plus WDS is not officially supported.
Possibly achievable but beyond my technical savvy
Thanks for the advice anyways.
Dowtish said:
Hi, New poster so if I've posted in the wrong area please don't bite
I've been connecting my phone to a smart device (miracast-ing 'direct') but as of late the connection has become unstable and generally unusable. I had the brainstorm of using an old router to stabilize the connection, this seems to have done the trick but now I'm unable to access the mobile data as WIFI has assumed priority. Please bear in mind I don't have home internet so the router is being used solely as a go between for phone and smart device. Is there any possibility of WiFi connection whilst have access to mobile data or is this just a pipedream?
Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do not use WiFi 5Gz , use only 2,4Gz, and wifi 5Gz off for router and smartphone

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