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Wireless

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Turn off the screen during calls

Submitted Friday, August 1, 2008

A tip from WMExperts.com describes how to use a freeware program to turn off the LCD screen on your smartphone during calls to save battery power. Click here for the article.

Sending an MMS video message

Submitted Friday, August 1, 2008

Amy Mayer from pdastreet.com describes how to send a video you record using your smartphone's camera as an MMS message. Click here for the article.

MAC address of your Wi-Fi unit/card

Submitted Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Werner Ruotsalainen explains how to obtain the MAC address of your Wi-Fi unit/card using both built-in and third-party applications. Click here for the article.

How to set up a Bluetooth Personal Area Network (PAN)

Submitted Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Werner Ruotsalainen provides a full tutorial on how to create a Bluetooth PAN, which allows you to text or voice chat, share an Internet connection, or play multiplayer video games between two devices.

Click here for the article.

Hide those annoying Wi-Fi/modem connection “bubbles”

Submitted Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Werner Ruotsalainen explains how to turn these off in the Settings >Sounds & Notifications menu. Click here for the article.

Wi-Fi synching in ActiveSync

Submitted Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Werner Ruotsalainen discusses the inability of using Wi-Fi to sync using ActiveSync and other options that are available, including Bluetooth. Click here for the article.

Mixing wireless types on a network can cause slow downs

Submitted Tuesday, October 2, 2007
When devices that run different wireless types are running on the same network, slow downs can occur due to the network's attempt to maintain a consitant speed.
For example, a network running on 802.11g (54 Mbps) is designed so that it can be used in a mixed mode environment and is therefore backward compatible with 802.11b (11 Mbps) wireless products. However, this comes at the cost of wireless speed optimization.
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Bluetooth A2DP support via freeware

Submitted Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Some Windows Mobile devices do not support Bluetooth's Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP), which decodes incoming Bluetooth audio and sends it wirelessly to a Bluetooth headset, allowing a user to enjoy music wirelessly through headphones on the device.

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Avoid skyrocketing cell phone bills

Submitted Wednesday, October 17, 2007

John Frederick Moore at CNET.com gives advice on how to keep cell phone bills at a manageable level. Click here for the article.

Voice-operated IR applications

Submitted Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Werner Ruotsalainen discusses different voice-operated infrared remote controller applications, including VITO Remote and PDAWin TV remote controller 5.5. Click here for the article.

Types of infrared

Submitted Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Werner Ruotsalainen discusses the different types of infrared and what devices have the different types. Click here for the article.

“Toggling” in infrared explained

Submitted Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Werner Ruotsalainen explains the “toggling” functionality in infrared controllers, or emitting two different commands. Click here for the explanation.

Sharing an Internet connection through Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Submitted Thursday, September 6, 2007

Werner Ruotsalainen discusses how to use your device as an Internet access point through Bluetooth/Wi-Fi. Click here for the article.

RealOne streamed content on Pocket PCs

Submitted Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Werner Ruotsalainen explains how to watch and listen to RealOne streamed content on Pocket PCs, including using a Wi-Fi access point. Click here for the article.

Voice-operated infrared remote controller applications

Submitted Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Werner Ruotsalainen discusses the different options in remote controller applications. Click here for the article.

Protect yourself from text spammers

Submitted Wednesday, August 29, 2007
To avoid receiving text message spam, call 888-382-1222 to register with the National Do Not Call List, which will block your number for five years. You must call from the number you wish to block. Or, you can register at donotcall.gov.
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Different factors may affect mobile phone call quality

Submitted Friday, August 24, 2007
Here is a list of different factors that can affect calls on your mobile phone:
  • Built-in components: The receptivity of the phone’s antenna as well as the quality of the built-in microphone and speaker can affect call quality. Different phones are built with different components, and bad performance may not always be the carrier’s fault. That said, most phone-enabled Windows Mobile devices in the U.S. are sold by carriers, and they test them extensively before offering them.
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How to encrypt your Wi-Fi connection

Submitted Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Brad Isaac at PocketPCAddict.com explains a quick procedure to lock down your Wi-Fi router.

Click here for the article.

Set up a shared Internet connection

Submitted Monday, July 23, 2007

Internet Sharing enables USB or Bluetooth connectivity and connection sharing (both the PC and WM device share a connection).

  1. Go to Start >Programs >Internet Sharing (WM 6 Standard: Start >Internet Sharing).
  2. Then select the type of connection to a laptop PC (USB cable or Bluetooth PAN).

How to turn off your phone so you can use your Windows Mobile device on a plane

Submitted Wednesday, May 9, 2007
To turn off the phone function on your device, open the Wireless Manager (the name of this menu will vary on some devices) screen and turn on “Flight Mode” or turn the phone function off. The method for opening Wireless Manager or accessing Flight Mode will vary from device to device, so consult your owner’s manual.

Geekzone has free Bluetooth guides

Submitted Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Bluetooth technology is supposed to make it easier to create wireless connections between your Windows Mobile device and a peripheral. Unfortunately, that's not always the case. If you're having trouble connecting your Bluetooth-enabled device to another device, check out Geekzone's online Bluetooth guides. Each one provides step-by-step instructions on how to complete Bluetooth tasks on a variety of devices.
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Find a wireless service provider first and then buy a device they support

Submitted Wednesday, December 13, 2006
The best way to find a wireless solution that works is to choose the wireless service provider that offers the coverage and services you want, and then buy a Windows Mobile device with a built in phone (Pocket PC Phone Edition, Smartphone Professional, Smartphone Standard) that they support or sell. This is particularly important when working with Sprint and Verizon in the U.S.
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How to use a phone-enabled device as an Internet proxy

Submitted Friday, December 8, 2006
You can use some Bluetooth-enabled Pocket PC Phone Edition devices and (in theory) Smartphones as a wireless Internet proxy to connect a Bluetooth-enabled laptop or other PC to the Internet via a dial-up connection.

How to create and use a Bluetooth partnership

Submitted Friday, December 8, 2006
Bluetooth is a low-power wireless communication protocol built into most Windows Mobile devices. To use it, you have to turn it on, ensure that the device is discoverable, and create a partnership with another Bluetooth-enabled device. Windows Mobile devices with Bluetooth capabilities can connect to headsets and external speakers to enhance their audio capabilities. Then can also connect to other Bluetooth-enabled PDAs to send and receive Contacts, Tasks, appointments, and files over a distance of about 10 meters (30 feet) without requiring a physical connection.

How to connect to a Wi-Fi network

Submitted Friday, December 8, 2006
To connect to a Wi-Fi network, activate Wi-Fi on your device. In most cases, it will “sniff out” the available networks in your immediate area and present a list of them. Select the one you want and it will connect in a few seconds.

Activating your phone service

Submitted Friday, December 8, 2006
If you buy a phone-enabled device from a wireless carrier’s store, they will activate the phone service for you before you leave. If you order a phone from a wireless carrier via phone or online, you may have to activate the phone service yourself when you receive the phone. The process varies and the carrier will give you instructions on how to do it. If you have problems, contact the carrier’s help line.
Most wireless carriers around the world use either CDMA or GSM technology.
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Enable Beam option to receive all incoming beams

Submitted Friday, December 8, 2006
In order to receive all infrared and Bluetooth beams on your Windows Mobile device, the Beam option must be enabled. Go to Start >Settings >Connections >Beam and check the "Receive all incoming beams" check box.

Connecting to the Internet on the go

Submitted Monday, April 2, 2007

Most recently-released Pocket PCs and Smartphones have the wireless capabilities you need to stay connected wherever you are. For example, most Pocket PCs and a few Smartphones have integrated Wi-Fi capabilities. And since Wi-Fi hotspots are becoming widely available in coffee shops, university campuses, municipal building, and malls, users of these devices will be able to browse the Web, via high-speed connections, wherever they can find a hotspot. To avoid disappointment, check out a few things before you leave on your next trip:

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How to enable Direct Push Technology

Submitted Tuesday, February 27, 2007
By configuring your device to synchronize “As items arrive” you can receive messages almost instantly while using much less battery power and bandwidth with Microsoft Exchange Direct Push Technology. E-mail is then automatically downloaded to the device from the Exchange Server over the air (OTA) through your wireless service account or other connected means.
 
Glossary:
  • Direct Push Technology: A technology that offers the instant delivery of messages to your Windows Mobile device over the air (OTA) through your wireless service account.
  • Exchange Server: A messaging and collaborative software product developed by Microsoft that is widely used by enterprises.
  • Messaging & Security and Feature Pack: An update to the Microsoft Windows Mobile 5 platform to support Direct Push Technology and enhanced security features. These features are included with all Windows Mobile 6 devices.
Background:
In the past, before Direct Push Technology, devices were required to connect with the server at specified time intervals or they were triggered by SMS messages to re-sync using ActiveSync. This required a lot of system resources, notably bandwidth (needed to remotely connect the mobile device to the server) and battery life (needed to constantly run these lengthy synching processes). Direct Push Technology saves battery life and bandwidth by maintaining an open Internet connection and only downloading items as they change, instead of executing a lengthy synching process. The open Internet connection may be achieved in a number of ways: through connection to the ActiveSync cradle, through the wireless phone service itself (the device does not even have to be in active mode) or by Wi-Fi (the Wi-Fi connection must be open).
The Direct Push Technology protocols have been included in Windows Mobile 6 and through updates to the Windows Mobile 5 operating system for each specific device. They can be installed by running Microsoft’s “Messaging and Security Feature Pack” which upgrades the mobile device’s OS to the latest version.

How to beam information between two devices using infrared

Submitted Friday, February 23, 2007
You can wirelessly transfer (a.k.a., “beam”) documents, contacts, appointments, tasks, and other files from one Windows Mobile device to another using the infrared capabilities built into most devices. The easiest way to beam one of these items from a touch screen device is to find it in the list view of the application, hold your stylus down on the file name until the edit menu pops up, and select the “Beam ...” option. On non-touch screen smartphones, highlight the item in a list and press Menu >Send >Beam.

How to connect Bluetooth serial ports

Submitted Friday, February 23, 2007
Some Pocket PC-based multiplayer games (and some other programs) require that you create Bluetooth-based serial connections between two devices. An example of one of these games/applications is TapzMania, a decent multiplayer game. In this tutorial, I elaborate on how this can be done with the Microsoft (MS) Bluetooth (BT) stack.

Use Resco Explorer to manage Bluetooth file transfers

Submitted Friday, February 23, 2007
There are a number of ways to use Bluetooth to transfer images, music, and other files from one Windows Mobile device to another. Unfortunately, using the built-in Bluetooth manager to do this is not very easy. A simpler and more straightforward way is to use Resco Explorer (resco.net). Since this is a third-party file explorer for Windows Mobile devices, you have to purchase it and install it on your device.
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Make phone calls over the Internet using VoIP

Submitted Friday, December 8, 2006
A growing number of people are using the Internet to make inexpensive or free phone calls to places all around the world. These people are taking advantage of a technology called Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).
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