Pocket PC Thoughts: Pocket PC 2002 How-to: ActiveSync through dial-up Internet

Michael Sprague has put together a couple of nice articles for Pocket PC Thoughts. The first is a short but informative How-to on setting up your PC and Pocket PC to allow you to ActiveSync over the internet. This is perfect for those with broadband connections that are always connected. Click "more" for the entire article. Thanks Michael! This requires the most excellent Pocket Hosts app discussed last week, which should be in future Pocket PC ROMs, or at least in the ActiveSync Extras folder.

This How-to is based on the following configuration:

• Desktop computer with ActiveSync is on the Internet, a known IP address.
• Pocket PC device will connect to the Internet over a dial-up connection to your ISP.

Motivation: On my Pocket PC I have a Compact Flash 802.11b network card. I can sync and surf the net at work and at home with the WLAN. When I am traveling however I do not have that luxury. So I have set up my Pocket PC to connect to my ISP through my Nextel phone whenever the WLAN is not available.

Note: If your desktop is behind a firewall you will have to open ports 990, 999, 5678, and 5679 (per Microsoft KB Article).

If you have not set up your Pocket PC for a dial-up connection yet, you will want to do that first.

Step 1.
You must enable network connections to ActiveSync on your desktop computer.
In the "File" menu select "Connection Settings..."


Step 2.
Check the box "Allow network..."
Click "OK"


Step 3.
You must enable ActiveSync on your Pocket PC to synchronize remotely.
In the "Tools" menu select "Options..."


Step 4.
Check the box "Include PC when..."
Make note of the computer name listed, you will use it as the Host Name in the next step.
Click "OK"


Step 5.
You will need to set some registry entries in order for your Pocket PC to locate your desktop computer over the Internet. This is similar in functionality to a hosts file on your Windows PC.
Marc Zimmermann has developed a utility program called Pocket Hosts so that you don't have to edit the registry directly.
Download phosts.zip from http://zimac.de/software.htm
Add the Host Name that you noted in the previous step with its IP address.



Congratulations, you are done! You should be able to connect your Pocket PC to the Internet over your dial-up connection and synchronize to you desktop over the Internet!
If you have not set up you Pocket PC for a dial-up connection yet, now is the time to do it!