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Windows Mobile

Sync Your Windows Mobile Device Over Your Network

Windows Mobile
Compatibility Information

Windows Mobile
Version
Compatibility
2002 Yes
2003 Yes
5.0 No
Article Written Using 2002

If you are fortunate enough to have a Windows Mobile device with a wireless network card and this is connected to the same network as your host desktop PC, then you can synchronise over the network.

If you are on a corporate Network, the settings that you make are straightforward and don't require anything more than enabling the option. This also applies if you have a home network with internal name resolution (DNS or WINS) - not ISP servers. However if this means nothing to you, then you may have to make some other settings changes to your Pocket PC so that it can find your desktop PC.

This feature was removed in Active Sync 4.x and higher - which is required for support of Windows Mobile 5.0. If you want to do wireless sync, then you will need to use Bluetooth.

Basic Settings - Desktop Computer

To enable Network Sync:

  1. Start Microsoft Active Sync.
  2. Choose File, Connection Settings.
  3. Ensure that "Allow network (Ethernet) and Remote Access Service (RAS) server connection with this desktop computer" is enabled. 

    Screenshot - Active Sync Connection Settings with Network Access Enabled

    (Your system may have "COM1" or similar enabled - it wasn't enabled on the system the screenshot was taken on)

Basic Settings - Windows Mobile device

  1. Start Microsoft Active Sync
  2. Choose "Tools", then "Options" in the lower left corner. (If it is greyed out, try taking the machine out of the cradle.)


     
  3. Verify that "Include PC when synchronizing remotely and connect to:" is enabled. The other options should be left alone.


     
  4. In the drop down list should be your host computer's name.

Notes

The other two tabs can be ignored unless you are using a Microsoft Mobile Information Server. If this is the case, you should contact your internal IT support for further guidance.

Having made that change, try synchronising by tapping on the green "Sync" button. If it connects to your desktop PC, well done. No more changes need to be made to your system. 

If it fails, then you do not have working or available internal name resolution. After verifying that the network connection works (try surfing the Internet if possible), you should look into creating your own Hosts file. This is a file that tells your Pocket PC what IP address your desktop PC can be found on, as the Pocket PC wants to look it up by name - click here for information on how to do this.

Installing Software over Network/Wireless Sync

If you want to install software over the network Active Sync, then you need to disable "When Synchronizing remotely with my PC, disconnect when complete" which you will find on the "Schedule" tab. However if you enable this option, then your Pocket PC will stay connected to your PC over the wireless connection. This could affect battery life on your Pocket PC. You should press "Stop" on the Pocket PC to disconnect, or only use the option when you want to install software.

Option Disabled
(Software installation possible)

Option Enabled
(Software installation not possible)

Screenshot - Active Sync Software Installation Possible Screenshot - Active Sync Software Installation Not Possible

Sync Over Dial Up

If you have a dedicated incoming phone line for your PC and a modem (or mobile phone that provides a modem) for your Pocket PC, you could set it up to allow you to synchronise over a dial up connection.
Use online help within Windows to learn how to create a dial up (RAS or Remote Access) server. Make sure the server is configured to use TCP/IP. Then just leave your PC on all day and when you want to synchronise - phone home.
As long as your computers are networked, then the host PC for Active Sync doesn't have to be the one hosting RAS. Another machine can do that. They just need to see each other.

Firewall Problems

If you have a software firewall on your machine, such as the one built in to Windows XP or a third party one like Zone Alarm, then it may be blocking the connection. You will need to open the correct ports for ActiveSync to work correctly.

Microsoft have listed the ports in a Knowledge Base article which you can find here: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=259369. If the link doesn't work then it is article 259369. 

Further Troubleshooting

If you are still having problems with ActiveSync, then take a look at this long list of problems and solutions for Active Sync:

http://www.cewindows.net/faqs/t-shootactivesync.htm

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