PocketLan: Connecting Your iPaq to the Network

PocketLan is nice piece of software for the PocketPC 2002 that allows your iPaq to connect to a local network of PCs, basically it sets up a 'My Network Places' for the iPaq.
All Configuration takes place on the iPaq, just take note of the name of the computer you would like to connect to (by right-clicking My Computer, selecting Properties, Computer Name tab and looking at the Full Computer Name) and share any folders you would like the iPaq to have access to (in the File Explorer right-click on the folder, choose the sharing and security option, and select Share this Folder on the Network).
PocketLan is available for purchase at Handango or PocketGear for $14.99 or a free 10 day trial. Version 2.11 build 2007 is the most recent as of 7/30/02 and is the one I have purchased and am writing about here on this page.

Installation of PockeLan is standard. Have your iPaq connected to your PC through ActiveSync and run the downloaded setup file. When it is finished PocketLan will be present on your iPaq under Start > Programs (You may want to add PocketLan to the Start Menu for easier access by going to Start > Settings > Menus). Say 'yes' when if asks you to restart the iPaq to setup a Network Folder.

Run PocketLan and click the New button at the bottom of the page to create a connection. Then click the '...' button to the right of the Remote name box to find computers with shared folders on the network. A list of computers on the network will appear, if the list is empty or the computer you want to connect to is not there press the refresh button. If the computer you want to connect to still hasn't appeared, enter that computer's IP address at the top and scan again (DO NOT press ENTER on the keypad when finished entering the IP Address). When you find the name of the computer you would like to connect to double click it and a dialog will appear asking you to enter the User Name and Password of the account on that computer. Enter the required information and the shared folders under that user account will appear. Highlight the folder you want to connect to and press Select. You can give this connection a name if you wish by entering one in the Local name box, default is Share. You can now press the Connect button to have access to that folder. You can connect to multiple folders simply by pressing New and going through this process again.

Now that the iPaq is connected to the PC's shared folder, you can access the shared folder in the File Explorer by clicking the Network icon at the bottom of the page, then clicking on the Local name that you gave the folder in the setup. Now you can access all the files and subfolders in the shared folder on the PC and run/open any file that is iPaq compatible (txt, rtf, gif, jpeg, etc.). Although files run on the iPaq, the files are stored on the PC and do not take up any of the iPaq's storage space. You can save files from the iPaq to the PC by simply moving them to this folder.

Back to Research Page Back to Wireless Project Page

This portion of the site is maintained by Eric Fuller