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Continuous Connectivity via the Magic of Wireless
Comm Link
By Chris De Herrera
January 8, 1999
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There's a new product out that lets you remain untethered-and simultaneously connected-while moving about with your Handheld PC powered by Microsoft® Windows® CE 2.0, or Windows CE Handheld PC Professional Edition software. This new capability allows you to keep up-to-date wherever you are-in meetings, at your desk, or in the lunchroom. Proxim's RangeLAN2 offers LAN speeds (1.6 megabits per second) for a local area (usually 500 feet in offices and 1000 feet outdoors).
With this new PC card inserted in your Handheld PC (H/PC), you can sync up your H/PC with your desktop information, pick-up your e-mail or surf the Internet, all effortlessly via a wireless connection. This article explains the simple steps to configure the Windows CE software in the Handheld PC to use a RangeLAN2 card. You may need to do some additional configuring of the RangeLAN2 access point for connecting the wireless network to your network. Contact your local network administrator for configuration information or assistance.
Configuring the RangeLAN2 PC Card
The network driver for the RangeLAN2 is already installed in ROM on all Windows CE H/PC PC Pro Edition-powered devices. For the H/PCs powered by Windows CE 2.0, it's an easy matter to download the driver from Proxim and then copy the driver via Windows CE Services to your Handheld PC. If you want to update both your PC and Handheld PC, don't forget to synchronize with the desktop via the serial cable before using the RangeLAN2 card. You must also install the Client for Microsoft Networks as well. The Client for Microsoft Networks is provided on the Windows 95, 98 or NT Workstation CD. Also, you need to know the following to continue the configuration:
- A static IP address for the RangeLAN2 Card, or whether your network uses DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol)
- Subnet of the IP address if you enter it manually
- WINS (Windows Internet Naming Service) Server IP address or the IP address of the desktop PC to use ActiveSync™ technology or the network client
On the H/PC you need to click on Start - Settings - Control Panel - Network and select the Proxim driver. Then configure the card with the information you gathered above. Once this is complete you are ready to access your network.
Connecting with Wireless
It's effortless to use the RangeLAN2 Card with Windows CE. Just insert the PC Card and you are connected to the LAN. To use ActiveSync, click Start - Programs - Communications - ActiveSync. Then select network connection from the ActiveSync dialog box and click OK. The network client or e-mail and accessing the Internet all work without requiring an ActiveSync connection. On the network client aspect, you may find this article on sharing resources helpful: "Accessing Shared Resources with the Network Client for Windows CE".
Additional Resources You'll Find Useful
With a RangeLAN2 card you can keep up-to-date wherever you are around the office. For further information specific to the RangeLAN2 card visit Proxim's web site. Another good resource is the Frequently Asked Questions section under "Proxim" at Pocket PC FAQ.
If you find an error or can add to in the information provided above, feel free to e-mail me at Chris@Pocket PC FAQ.
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