A
Guide to Settings for Wireless Internet Connections
with
iPaq Handheld Computers
(in two parts: Part One—settings on
the iPaq;
Part Two—settings on the wireless
router)
by
Marc Cogan
(marc.cogan@gmail.com)
Part
One: iPaq
These are the generic settings to be
made on iPaqs running WM2003SE for using Wi-Fi to connect to the Internet
through a wireless router. (NOTE: It is
assumed that no security or encryption has been enabled on either the iPaq or
the router.) These settings will work with most installations, though not
necessarily all.
Tap:
Start Menu
Choose:
Settings
Tap:
Connections (tab)
1.
Tap Connections (icon)
Screen
Title = Connections
Tap: Tasks (tab)
Add a new modem connection (leave at defaults)
Add a new VPN server connection (leave at defaults; no hostname entered)
Tap: Set up my proxy server
Screen Title = My Work
Network
This network connects to the Internet [checked]
All else unchecked and blank
Tap: OK
Tap: Advanced (tab)
Tap: Select Networks
Screen Title = Network
Management
(top: "Programs that . . . connect to Internet) Set to: "My Work Network"
Tap: Edit
Screen Title = My Work
Network
General (tab): leave name My Work Network
Modem (tab): leave blank
Proxy Settings (tab): This network connects to the Internet [checked]
All else unchecked and blank
Tap: OK
Screen Title: Network
Management
(bottom: "Programs . . . connect to private network) Set to: "My Work Network"
Tap: Edit
Screen Title: My Work
Network
General (tab): leave name My Work Network
VPN (tab): leave blank
Proxy Settings: This network connects to the Internet [checked]
All else unchecked and blank
Tap: OK
Screen Title: Network
Management
Tap: OK
Screen Title: Connections
Tap: Dialing Rules: make sure blank
Tap: Exceptions: make sure blank
Tap: OK
[back at Start Menu - Settings -
Connections (tab) screen]
2.
Tap: Network Cards (icon)
Screen
Title: Configure Network Adapters
(top: My network card connects to) Set to: "Work"
Tap: on "HP iPaq Wi-Fi Adapter"
Screen Title: HP iPaq
Wi-Fi Adapter
Tap: IP Address (tab)
"Use server-assigned IP address" [checked]
Rest of screen blank
Tap: Name Servers (tab): make sure all blank
Tap: OK
Tap: OK in Adapters alert box
Screen
Title: Configure Network Adapters
Tap OK
[back at Start Menu - Settings -
Connections (tab) screen]
Tap
iPaq Wireless (icon)
Tap: WiFi button to turn WiFi on
3. Tap: Settings
Screen Title: Configure Wireless
Networks
Tap: Wireless (tab)
[working from bottom of this page]
"Automatically connect to non-preferred networks" [checked]
(Note: if getting interference from unwanted networks, uncheck)
"Networks to access": Choose: "Only access points"
In box with network names: tap on name of preferred network
Screen Title: Configure
Wireless Network [note singular]
Tap: General (tab)
Network name: should be the one you tapped
Connects to: ("Internet" or "Work"-both seem to work)
"This is a device-to-device connection" [unchecked]
Tap: Network Key (tab)
Screen Title: Configure
Network Authentication
Authentication: Open
Data Encryption: Disabled
"The Key is provided . . . automatically" [unchecked]
Tap: 802.1x (tab)
Screen Title: Configure
Network Authentication
"Use IEEE 802.1x . . . access control" [unchecked]
Tap: OK
Screen
Title: Configure Wireless Networks
Tap: OK
Screen
Title: iPaq Wireless
Tap:
OK
Do
a soft reset
Part
Two: Router
Here are the most fundamental and
straightforward settings to check on your router. These assume that the router will distribute
IP addresses dynamically to networked devices.
Such a set-up is what is desired in most situations, and will usually
work without difficulty. (Sometimes more
complicated measures become necessary, but this is where to start.)
(Access to the router is almost
always by means of a standard internet browser running on a device that is in
communication with the router. The
router's manual will explain what URL to input and what userid/password to use
to gain access.)
Once
at the router's set-up pages, check that:
1.
All security/encryption has been turned off. (If it can be done without disrupting the
network, it is desirable to do this until a stable connection has been
established. Security/encryption should
also be turned off on the iPaq.)
Specifically, make sure:
a.
that WEP has been disabled
b.
that Authentication has been set to Open
c.
that any firewall has been disabled
d.
that MAC Address Filtering has been disabled
e.
that Broadcast SSID is enabled.
2.
DHCP or DHCP Server has been enabled.
(And the iPaq should be set to "Obtain IP address from
server.")
3.
"Wireless Mode" (or "Wireless Network
Mode") has been set to
"mixed" or to "802.11b and 802.11g." (Current iPaqs are unable to operate at the
speed of 802.11g.) If problems persist
and there is an option to set this mode to "802.11b only," try that
setting.
4.
Any accelerator features, or "Turbo" features, have been disabled. (They are likely to be too fast for the
iPaq.)
5.
If there is an option to set "Preamble Type," choose "Long Preamble"
(rather than Short).
For any changes made, be sure to
click "Apply" before moving to another page in the setup menus.
Somewhere in the menus, there will
be an opportunity to look at the router's "DHCP Client List." Look to see whether the iPaq is on the
list. (It will usually be identified by
its MAC address. You can find the iPaq's
MAC address by going on the iPaq to Start Menu > Settings > System >
HP Asset Viewer > WiFi [or WLAN].) If
the iPaq is on the client list, that confirms, at least, that a connection has
been established between the iPaq and the router.
It is also always a good idea to check the manufacturer's web site to see if
there is a firmware upgrade for the router.
If there is, download and install it.
Good luck.
Marc