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View Full Version : How to activesync from a network far from home.


Jacob
02-26-2004, 10:53 PM
My cable internet provider requires me to use DHCP on my home system so whenever I reboot, I get another IP address.

There is a WiFi network at work that I have access to and I thought it would be really cool if I could sync with my system at home through it.

How would one go about this?

I'm somewhat of a networking newbie so be gentle :oops:

Jason Dunn
02-26-2004, 11:00 PM
1) Get a Dynamic DNS solution: http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=Dynamic+DNS (I use www.tzo.com - not free, but rock solid)

2) Install Pocket Hosts: http://www.zimac.de/cestuff.htm

3) Open up the following ports in your firewall and have them forward to the desktop you want to sync with: 999, 5678, 5679

Hrm...I think I just sunk my own approach - I don't know that Pocket Hosts will allow you to specify a dynamic DNS address (something.tzo.com, etc.). I haven't done this in a long time, so I'm not sure what the best way to do this is anymore... :oops:

c38b2
02-27-2004, 03:23 AM
I thought that as long as the modem was powered and connected your address would be retained - hence why WiFi works any time. Does your provider FORCE you to use DHCP? I know that some DHCP servers won't reassign an address if you specify one.

Sorry, I don't have any answeres, just more questions. :wink:

Jason Dunn
02-27-2004, 03:31 AM
I thought that as long as the modem was powered and connected your address would be retained - hence why WiFi works any time.

Nah, many broadband providers will shuffle IPs every so often - my cable modem provider changes mine ever month or so.

spacerace
02-28-2004, 12:17 PM
Additionally even a powered and connected modem can sometimes be forced into a new IP by the provider. I have seen my external IP change before over the course of a day when I have not initiated a disconnect/reconnect sequence.

If pockethosts will not allow you to specify a dynamic DNS address, then you could always try the VPN solution, of which config details are available here: http://www.oecadvantage.net/ajarvi/WM2003/WM2003PPTPVPN.html
NOTE: this suddenly seems to have gone ! perhaps the author who I think frequents this forum can post a new location ?

Some alternative setup details, although not as comprehensive are here: http://www.bol.ucla.edu/services/vpn/pda/docs/ppc2003.html

Although I have personally not managed to get this working despite numerous setting changes. in the end I settled for a remote email solution and make do with calendar/tasks sync only when I'm in the office.

freitasm
03-03-2004, 09:44 AM
I thought that as long as the modem was powered and connected your address would be retained - hence why WiFi works any time.

Nah, many broadband providers will shuffle IPs every so often - my cable modem provider changes mine ever month or so.

PocketHosts works fine with me - you see, I have had the same IP address at home for the last five years :D

I use dyndns.org and I haven't updated the IP in my DNS entry for years now.