Networking your Pocket PC

Besides using the Internet, email and being able to synchronize your PPC, WiFi can also allow you to use shared devices and files on your desktop PC from your Pocket PC.

As mentioned above, the default name “Pocket_PC” does not work with Microsoft networks because of the underline character. Change the PPC’s name at Settings, System (tab), About, Device ID (tab), and enter the new name in the Device name: box. Use any combination of letters and numbers. A hyphen will also work but avoid most other “symbols” such as #, @, *, &, and _. Once you’ve done this, you will need to re-establish the ActiveSync connection. To do this, open ActiveSync on your PC, select File, Delete partnership. Then connect the PPC with the USB or Serial cable and follow the prompts to establish a standard partnership with the new name.

To create a shared drive or folder on your PC, you have to enable network sharing. In WinXP, a special folder on your hard drive called “Shared Documents” is present (Figure Net-1) which can be used for sharing files. Additionally, right clicking on any folder will open a menu as in Figure Net-2, and selecting Sharing and Security... will open a window like Figure Net-3 which can be used for setting access.

In Win98, right click on Network Neighborhood (see Figure Net-4), select properties, select “File and Print Sharing” check the “I want to be able to give others access to my files” box and click on OK. Then, open Windows Explorer, right click on any folder or drive you want to share, click on sharing (#net-5-1), check the “Shared As:” (#net-5-2) “Full” (#net-5-3) and enter a password (#net-5-4a), then reenter it (#net-5-4b).

Accessing your network can sometimes be tricky. To use the file explorer which is supplied as part of Pocket PC02 and Windows Mobile 03 (found in your Programs list), tap on the far right icon on the toolbar (Figure Net-6, arrow). This will open a window as seen in Figure Net-7. Leave the two existing backslashes (\\) and enter the network name of the PC to which you want to connect followed by another backslash (\). This should open a list of shared folders that exist on the shared PC (Figure Net-8). The folders can be opened by double tapping and any files can be copied/moved files to or from these shared folders.

The menu bars have been changed in Windows Mobile 5.0 so the method for accessing the shares is somewhat different. Tap the Menu item (Figure Net-9), then select Open Path (Figure Net-10). This will open a window as seen in Figure Net-11. Leave the two existing backslashes (\\) and enter the network name of the PC to which you want to connect followed by another backslash (\). This should open a list of shared folders that exist on the shared PC (Figure Net-12). The folders can be opened by double tapping and any files can be copied/moved files to or from these shared folders by holding the stylus on the file name and select the appropriate item from the popup menu.

If you are prompted to set up a VPN network after entering the path to the shared folders in Figure Net-13, open your connection settings (Start, Settings, Connection (tab), Connections, Advanced (tab), Select Networks (Figure Net-14) and select "My Work Network" from both dropdown lists.

Many people have found it easier to set up a network connection on your PPC by using a program like Resco Explorer. This program provides a simple mapping process similar to what is done on the PC. After installation, Resco Explorer will show a welcome screen (Figure Net-15). Make a note of the Network icon. Use the Start, Programs, and select Resco Explorer Network icon and select “Map Drive” (Figure Net-16). This will bring up a list of computers on your network (Figure Net-17). Tap on the plus next to the computer with the share you want, then tap on the shared folder/drive and tap on the “Share” box. If you’ve entered a password for the share, you will be prompted to enter it and then you will be able to access the folder just like other memory on your PPC. The advantage of this procedure over that described with the file explorer that comes with the PPC is that the folders are actually mapped and thus can be accessed from other applications instead of just from the file explorer program.

Total Commander (freeware) also provides some of these functions, especially allowing you to open files on the PC from the PPC. Its use is somewhat similar to the native file explorer in that you need to type the network name of the PC into the folder window (arrow, Figure Net-18) which will bring up a list of shared folders (Figure Net-19).

BizzDev Net Use (freeware) and z2 PocketLAN (payware) also provide access to network shares and have the added feature of creating a mapped drive on your PPC so the files can be accessed from other programs. The Net Use site suggests it only works with Pocket PC 2002 but users have reported it does work with Windows Mobile 2003.