03-31-2004, 07:02 PM
|
|
Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
|
|
A Little Too Much Wireless For My Own Good?
Now that I have an SPV E200, I'm interested in using it as a Bluetooth modem for my iPAQ 4350. I'm in the process of getting that set up (and once again cursing screwy Bluetooth implementations), but I've noticed one thing: the Pocket PC operating system doesn't seem to deal very well with multiple types of connections.
For instance, when I was only using WiFi on my iPAQ 4150, everything worked perfectly. Wireless = WiFi, so I'd turn it on, it would connect, and I'd be able to use Pocket Inbox and Pocket Internet Explorer to get down to business. After I did my first attempt at configuring Bluetooth, all of a sudden I had a "broken" device. I turned on the WiFi radio, and waited for it to connect...and waited...and waited. I went into Connection Manager and it showed the access point as available, but it wouldn't automatically connect to WiFi. Under the Network Management tab, programs that require Internet access were set to use Bluetooth settings. This apparently overrides everything else.
Am I missing something here? Is there no hierarchical method of dealing with connectivity? Why isn't the Pocket PC smart enough to detect that the Bluetooth radio isn't turned on, but the WiFi one is, and it should use that instead? Better yet, why isn't it smart enough to try multiple methods of connecting based on user preference: i.e., I'd prefer to connect via WiFi when possible, but if that's not possible, use GPRS on my phone over Bluetooth. I can't say that I'm surprised this is so broken though - the Pocket PC has never seemed to be designed with future connectivity scenarios in mind. Microsoft seems to fix most things after the fact. :? If I'm wrong about how this works though, and the Pocket PC can do what I want, I'm happy to eat my words. 
With wireless devices coming this year that have GPRS, WiFi, and Bluetooth in one package, this will be a nightmare unless Microsoft has made this process easier in Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition. How do the rest of you deal with this?
|
| |
|
|
|
03-31-2004, 07:10 PM
|
|
Ponderer
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 54
|
|
Shrug. my 2210 works fine with wifi and bluetooth. When wifi is available, it uses it. when not, I can connect via bluetooth. *shrug*. I didn't configure anything special, it just worked....
|
| |
|
|
|
03-31-2004, 07:12 PM
|
|
Mystic
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,768
|
|
This is the same connection mangler problem that prohibits intelligent use of VPN connectivity. Microsoft in its attempt to make it simple, made it so it is impossible to have more than one logical connection. For example, when I am home, I need to get email via VPN, but my VPN connection does not have internet connectivity. When I am in the office, I do not need VPN, but have no proxy server. I have to manually change my network settings every single time I switch between access points and switch between in the office and out.
__________________
Jonathan (JonnoB)
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." -Edmund Burke
|
| |
|
|
|
03-31-2004, 07:27 PM
|
|
Ponderer
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 112
|
|
Wow, I have never had issues like this in my 4150. When I want to use my T610 for a BT modem, I turn the BT on. When I want to use my WiFi network at home or office, I turn the WiFi radio on. When I'm not using either, I turn them off. But I have had them both on during several occassions and have never had an issues.
|
| |
|
|
|
03-31-2004, 07:53 PM
|
|
Thinker
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 312
|
|
Not sure if it is a general Connection Manager problem or if it might be a Bluetooth implementation "problem" (NO, I'm not trying to sell you Connection Manager as the best piece of software on earth, really! ;-))?
However, I think it depends on which Bluetooth stack implementation is used. The iPAQs are using the Widcomm stack (which is a great one) but therefore it seems to require a different connection type = Bluetooth.
For instance, the Xda II aka i-mate Phone Edition is using the Microsoft stack which works great for me. In fact I have three different connection types:
* Built-in GPRS
* Plug-in Wi-Fi through the SanDisk SD card
* Bluetooth dial-up to my Nokia UMTS/3G terminal
and most of the time, the device knows what I want to use. Wi-Fi overrides GPRS and UMTS, GPRS overrides UMTS which is how I expect it.
__________________
Cheers ~ Arne, MS MVP - Mobile Devices
Editor in Chief the::unwired - where mobility meets wireless
http://www.theunwired.net |
| |
|
|
|
03-31-2004, 08:05 PM
|
|
Thinker
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 357
|
|
I usually do about 8 taps to get to the part of the Connection manager where you can manually tap & hold on the connection that you want to connect to and choose "connect".
It doesn't know which connection I want to use, and how could it?! I seriously don't see why this has to be so complicated. Just have a "new connection" button that creates shortcuts to each connection type. Then you tap on the one you want to use! What could be simpler? Maybe each connection type could have a priority value that signifies which connection to try first (by default when no connection is selected). If that one is not available, try the next. But of course, you wouldn't use that because it would be too slow for the PDA to figure out which was available.
My XDA II doesn't know if I want to connect to T-Mobile WAP (for free unlimited HTTP, WAP, POP, IMAP, SMTP)... or if I want to connect to a pay-per-download GPRS connection for other stuff.. or if I want to connect to a GSM-CSD connection... or if I want to connect to a Bluetooth Dialup modem.
Just give me a list of connection presets that I can tap and connect to!
|
| |
|
|
|
03-31-2004, 08:15 PM
|
|
Sage
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 713
|
|
I've always had problems with the way connections are handled in the PPC. I use WiFi in three different places: at work, at home, and at a local coffee shop. In each location I have to manually go in to the WiFi settings and turn on or turn off the SSID access name in order to get connected. Why can't I have multiple connection setups? Bluetooth is constantly mangled on my device because I have to reconfigure it depending on which host I'm connecting to. Throw in a modem (which I've given up on) and the whole mix is a big pain.
And don't even get me started on the whole Work/The Internet fiasco... :roll:
|
| |
|
|
|
03-31-2004, 08:19 PM
|
|
Pupil
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 41
|
|
I had a very similar (virtually identical) problem, which I posted about a few months ago here. Not that many replies, and I still haven't gotten it working completely. I've got it working to the point where it's relatively straightforward, but still requires manual effort to establish a connection with BT. Also, if you turn BT and WiFi on at the same time then try to surf, you're just asking for trouble. For some reason the BT GPRS takes precedence over the WiFi, and it always tries to dial out even if I already have a WiFi IP.
I've taken to using GPRS Monitor for activating my GPRS connections and PocketWINC for establishing WiFi. Connection Manager stinks.
|
| |
|
|
|
03-31-2004, 08:21 PM
|
|
Intellectual
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 245
|
|
I don't understand why you would want to use both BT and WiFi at the same time if I understand the question.
I've never had a problem with my 4150. If I know that I'm going to get on the internet and I'm in an area with WiFi then I use that if there isnt WiFi then I use the BT cell phone connection option. What's the point in trying to use both to access the internet :?:
|
| |
|
|
|
03-31-2004, 08:22 PM
|
|
|
|
|
Linear Mode
