Gather connection information from your ISP, including the phone number to dial, and any recommenced or required special settings.

Configuring Your Pocket PC for Dial-up Connection

Tap Start, then Settings, Connections, Modem, and New Connection.

You will see the screen shown in Figure 1. Enter a descriptive name for your ISP. Select your modem type from the list presented. If you are using a CompactFlash™ modem, you must insert the modem into the Pocket PC first.

Select a connection speed from the "baud rate" list. For V.90 ("56 Kbps") modems, select 57600.

Figure 1: The first Settings screen

If your ISP requires manual entry of DNS settings (most do not), tap the Advanced button.

Figure 2: Advanced connection options

Most ISPs automatically configure the Advanced settings on the screen above. Included, however, are fields and checkboxes for IP address, using SLIP, enabling/disabling software compression, enabling/disabling IP header compression, and manually entering DNS and WINS server information.

Next, enter the area code and phone number of your ISP.

Figure 3: Enter the phone number

On the next screen (Figure 4), you can specify dialing options for this connection, including calling card and credit card numbers. Enter those numbers in the "Extra dial-string modem commands" field. Finally, tap Finish.

Figure 4: Dialing options are entered here.

Figure 5: Your connections

Although most applications (Inbox, Pocket Internet Explorer) can be configured to start the ISP connection automatically, you may occasionally need to establish a connection manually. To do so, tap Start, Programs, then Connections. The available connection types will be displayed.

Tap the ISP Connection icon. Enter your user name and password in the fields provided (Figure 6). To skip entering your password each time, check the Save Password box.

Figure 6: Enter your connection information.

Wait a few seconds for the modem to dial and negotiate a connection with the answering modem.

Troubleshooting

Check the domain name field on the ISP Connection screen. It should be blank, for most ISPs. The domain name is only used to connect to a Windows NT server.

If you're using a 33.6 Kbps or slower modem (not likely), it may be necessary to add four to six commas after the phone number.

If you're still having trouble connecting, remove the selections for the header compression and software compression (under the TCP/IP tab as shown in Figure 2).

If you're still having a problem, please contact your ISP to confirm your settings. The ISP may be using authentication protocols that are incompatible with the Pocket PC.

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