vB Easy Archive - Blackjack ActiveSync sucks.....

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Blackjack ActiveSync sucks.....
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Posted by: augieman

I finally took the plunge and got a 3125 and BJ yesterday.

I have spent countless hours trying to make this work and it's just plain and simple, unreliable. I never thought ActiveSync would be an issue but somehow Samsung found a way to screw this up.

My DellPDA and Cingular 3125 can ActiveSync perfectly and reliably with the PC (Windows Media Center 2005, usb 2.0) . But, noooo, not the blackjack.

The issue appears to be that network connection that it insists on creating. If I disable my sygate personal firewall (actually turn it off as leaving it on, but allowing all traffic is still NOT enough) then it works but it's still NOT reliable. If I disconnect or LOG OFF and then try to resync or LOG ON, then I've either got to cold boot the PC or remove the blackjack battery (a pain in itself).

What a POS.... Will give this another day, otherwise will need to return within my 3 day period.

Leaving the firewall OFF is simply not an option. This is my wife's KitchenPC that everybody uses and I've got it locked down pretty good. Considering how well, easily, and troublefree the dell, 3125, etc ActiveSync'd with the way it was locked down, was wonderful. The BJ had to be the thorn in my side.

Is ANYBODY activesync'ing their BJ through a firewall?

What is the purpose of that network connection it creates? Why? Can we turn that off somehow? Never seen a new network connection with an ActiveSync device before.

Posted by: Foxbat121

Quote:

Originally Posted by augieman

What is the purpose of that network connection it creates? Why? Can we turn that off somehow? Never seen a new network connection with an ActiveSync device before.

All WM 5.0 devices are connected to PC ActiveSync as a network card (RNDIS). There are a few ports need to be open if you have a firewall. ActiveSync will open them automatically if you use built-in Microsoft Firewall. All other 3rd-party firewall needs to manually open those ports. Search microsoft web site for KB articles about how to trouble shooting this VERY common issue.

Alternatively, there is a utility floating out there that can switch USB ActiveSync connection between RNDIS and tradditional USB serial communications.

Posted by: augieman

Isn't the 3125 a WM5 device? If so, it's not creating that connection.

If I turn the firewall on after I've successfully sync'd, it will continue to sync successfully till I disconnect the phone, log off, or turn the pc off.

If I leave the firewall on, but allow all traffic, it still won't work.

Posted by: Foxbat121

Check out this MS article:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmob...nc/default.mspx

Posted by: augieman

Thanks but I already tried all that.

Posted by: thinlyveiled

I don't know about Sygate, but other firewalls I've used (including F-Secure and ZoneAlarm) allow certain network interfaces to be considered "trusted" (thus disabling the packet filter for those interfaces). I've put the RNDIS adapter into the trusted zones list on ZoneAlarm (which is free BTW), and ActiveSync works just fine.

Posted by: gruvsf

my ActiveSync works just fine, but I am doing it directly with my Exchange server and not my laptop. Why bother syncing out-of-date data?

Posted by: augieman

Not everybody has an exchange server

Posted by: gruvsf

well, I only got my BJ because it works with an Exchange server without having to install an Enterprise RIM, Goodlink, or other 3rd party software. Why else would you want one unless you need to check emails? You can do that with a Blackberry and their lovely desktop re-director software.

Posted by: augieman

Quote:

Originally Posted by gruvsf

Why else would you want one unless you need to check emails?

FullSize keyboard for entering PIM data.
WM5 for running 3rd party apps
ActiveSync

Email is the least important feature my wife is after. Still haven't even gotten to that yet because of these ActiveSync headaches.

Posted by: jsuds21

i've experienced the same issues augieman. i have sygate personal firewall running as well and had to turn it completely off to get it working right. haven't gone back in to try and open the necessary ports yet as I mainly have been using the Blackjack with my work PC (which doesn't have sygate running). Will update when I try it out.

Posted by: invader zog

I sync my BJ with my work's exchange server and with my home email account via IMAP. Both work just great. I've never tried using the synch-via-USB features so I can't speak to them...

Posted by: Foxbat121

I have no problem sync via USB on both my home laptop and work PC. Both PCs already have sync profiles with my 8125 (WM5 PPC) and SMT5600 (WM2003).

So, the issue apparently is to do with the specific firewall software, i.e. sygate.
Not BlackJack's fault.

Posted by: augieman

I ended up getting through to Samsung tech support. The guy there said it was Cingular's decision to make the phone use the network connection method for active sync. He suggested I switch to bluetooth activesync. Wife's desktop PC doesn't have bluetooth though. I'd need to buy an adapter.

So I uninstalled SyGate. Then tried Comodo firewall. Still no luck. Then I tried thinlyveiled's suggestion of ZoneAlarm and finally got it to sync. Yeah!!! What a pain....

So I just paired the BJ with her headset and a garmin nuvi 660. The range was amazing. Afterwards I had the nuvi charging in my office and the BJ was still in the kitchen, and I test called her number, and callerid came up on the Nuvi. At least 60' and two walls between them! Maybe bluetooth activesync is better and more convienent? It would sync with the phone even in her car!

Posted by: thinlyveiled

It wasn't Cingular's decision to use a TCP connection for ActiveSync; it's part of Windows Mobile 5 AKU3 (which is why you don't see it with earlier WM5 devices).

How is the interface with the Nuvi 660? I really want one myself, but before I commit to it, I want to be sure that the Nuvi can read the Blackjack's contact list over Bluetooth and make phone calls through it. (I've heard that other devices are not fully compatible with the phone's handsfree mode.)

Posted by: CA

Quote:

Originally Posted by thinlyveiled

It wasn't Cingular's decision to use a TCP connection for ActiveSync; it's part of Windows Mobile 5 AKU3 (which is why you don't see it with earlier WM5 devices).

How is the interface with the Nuvi 660? I really want one myself, but before I commit to it, I want to be sure that the Nuvi can read the Blackjack's contact list over Bluetooth and make phone calls through it. (I've heard that other devices are not fully compatible with the phone's handsfree mode.)

Check that, the new GPS's will be able to talk(BT) the address from WM5.

Posted by: augieman

The interface is awesome. Screen is big and easy to read in daylight. Calculates fast. Recalculates fast after you go offroute.

The contact list is NOT coming over but I haven't played with it much yet to see if it's a setting somewhere or not. I can make calls and receive calls from the Nuvi. When looking up POIs, I can quickly call those too.