Basic Dumb Questions

[Carwhisperer]

I just bought an x51v at a rummage sale. No manual, discs or case. Just the unit itself and a dock with power cord and USB cable. Only paid $35 so I don't have much invested. It charges up nicely and powers on. It seems to be doing what it needs to do but I don't know how to use it.

I have found the pdf manual on Dell.com and have found it to be useful.

However, I can't get it to connect to a WiFi network. The other day at the Doctor's office it had detected several networks but would not connect (I think because of security reasons).

At work, however, I can't get it to detect our wireless network. I work at a high school and we supposedly have a pretty strong signal in our library (I have used it with a laptop).

I'll admit, though, that I don't really know how to get the Axim to search for a network. I don't know if it has a problem or not.

What are the very basic steps needed to connect? Do I need to have info (password, IP address, proxy server name, etc.) from my WiFi administrator to get it to work? When I read through the manual it mentions that stuff.
Brian

[dahawthorne]

Brian,
It looks as if you are seeing only secured networks and unless you're a pretty smart hacker or have a key you won't be able to connect. The status page showing the networks shows whether the network is secure or not - what does your library network show? Padlocked or not? If you can't see it at all it indicates that maybe the signal isn't as strong as you think, and if you can see networks at your doctor's office it seems unlikely that your Axim doesn't work. Me, I've *never* been able to connect to any network apart from my own home one and one exorbitantly expensive hotel one.

$35 is a steal... Even if you can't use the web you have ebooks, movies, TV, all sorts of programs to entertain you. Ask away for the stuff that you're interested in and someone will give you ideas on what's available.

[Carwhisperer]

Originally Posted by dahawthorne

Brian,
It looks as if you are seeing only secured networks and unless you're a pretty smart hacker or have a key you won't be able to connect. The status page showing the networks shows whether the network is secure or not - what does your library network show? Padlocked or not? If you can't see it at all it indicates that maybe the signal isn't as strong as you think, and if you can see networks at your doctor's office it seems unlikely that your Axim doesn't work. Me, I've *never* been able to connect to any network apart from my own home one and one exorbitantly expensive hotel one.

Thank you for the advice and encouragement. The library network at my school has never shown up as an option on the axim. Perhaps I should take it to an office max or something and see if it will detect their network? If the axim is working properly should it generally let me know if it detects a wireless network, like my laptop does? Or should it do so if I double press the WLAN button on the side of the unit?

Also, how does the TV work? Is that wireless?
Brian

[dahawthorne]

The Axim should display a list of possible networks with (as I recall) a padlock beside the protected ones. Maybe try in a free wifi zone, like a coffee shop (is that what "office max" is)? I take it you don't use a wireless router at home?

There are wireless TV applications, including at least 1 free one (WebTV), but I've never found one that works. The ones I've seen play a looped video of (for example) BBC News, or adverts, not what's actually being broadcast. In all. pretty much a waste of time. Maybe other group members will tell us both of a good one.

What I do is to download TV series from the web to my PC, convert them to PPC AVI format with free app PocketDivxEncoder and watch them with free player TCPMP. With a 32GB CF and 16GB SDHC card I have an enormous amount of stuff to carry around and watch when I have time to spare.

[mannafran]

like carwhisperer i'm new to my axim x50 (bought in australia for similar bargain price on auction). i also am having problems with my wlan on the axim. i do have a wireless router at my house and the axim sees it but won't connect. i also have probs with media - i have a media converter but the player is hard to find as at june 2009 - the tmpcp is it? player is no longer available it seems?

[dahawthorne]

You can download TCPMP at TCPMP v0.72RC1 download at Freeware Pocket PC.

Also try Opera as a browser. I had trouble connectiong to my own LAN - Internet Explorer kept saying "bad address", but when I tried Opera it worked.