WIFI walkthough on MDA3... my story!

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Thought Id compose this to help others that may have problems with WIFI as I do/did.. works great unless I try to connect to other networks..

please note the MDA3 has a useless interface and appears bug ridden to hell and back.. so dont fret its probably not you.. its the software!..or the phone! ;)

MY SETUP

I have a Wireless 3com Access point, works perfect with my wireless laptops and home LAN. with No proxy servers. It has WEP and MAC security Enabled.

MDA SETTINGS - HOW TO

MAC ADDRESS

get your MDA3 MAC address and add to your router/3com AP security settings

Id suggest you connect to another wireless device with no security and you can find out that way.. might be easier ways (another post on here mentions a utility).

CONNECTIONS

go into Settings/Connections on MDA3 and set Advanced/Network Mgmt to "My Work" and tick "network connects to internet" - set both private and internet access to My Work. Proxy settings left blank/unenabled

NETWORK CARD

Go into Network Card settings - set to TIACX adapter and point to "Work" as Network card - set a static IP address (which i reserved on my Scope with my N/W subnet and Gateway - also set DNS and WINS. This is specific to how you may want to set this up.. if you wish use DHCP although this didnt work on my MDA3 and works ok on other devices..)

WLAN

Go into WLAN Tools/Network Cards and set to TIACX adapter - verify settings arethe same for IP, DNS,WINS, GW(only if you changed them for your needs as above) (anyone else notice the "my network card connects to" is blank?) All other settings and LEAP as default.

TEST

* Turn on WLAN and big W appears..

MDA3 might sit there... turn Wireless on and off..

it sits there searching.. perform a Soft Reset with WLAN on and it might sit there doing nothing.. (sigh)

TEST #2

* Turn OFF WLAN and reset MDA3, then turn WLAN on and it "should" find your router/AP SSID.

CONNECTION

MDA3 should ask if you wish to connect to "Internet" or "My Work" - choose "internet". You'llget prompt for WEP Key (If enabled on your router/AP) - enter the key (If you have one!) and it might sit there..

TEST 3

go WLAN and check settings, single click on your SSID and confirm key is correct.

TEST 4

Pray to whichever deity you prefer..

WEIRD THING..

you will notice it reads connected to "Internet" although you configured card for "work".. (dont quite grasp this yet but may be a simple explanation)

SUCCESS!

Using the above I can connect my MDA3 to a 3com AP wireless, using static IP which puts me on onto a MS TCP/IP network and connection to my devices and net.

QUERY

If anyone can explain the Connections Advanced tab also - as it appears to be more for WAP/GPRS; but I suspect it has an impact on LAN/WAN settings- ergo my double checks in all 3 areas :-

SUMMARY

To enable WIFI - you need to check these 3 areas and do a little Voodoo dance to be absolutely sure itll work.. and you may need to perform the above on a intermittent basis every other week/moth as either my phone is duff or the software is unreliable.. take your pick! My settings work for a period of time and for no reason they will stop.. so its gotta b the software or phone.. (Im not blaming the tools honest!!)

Connections - Advanced

WLAN - Settings

Network Cards

Useful utilities to help are :

NTOOLC (alternative to VXIPCONFIG),

VXIPCONFIG (Help verify MDA has picked up details you entered for card), POCKETBOINGO (Useful sniffer),

POCKET HOSTS (more for LAN)

Hope this helps someone! :| (at least I have it written down now to refer to myself! heh) comments/feedback/advice appreciated!

LZ