3 Simple Steps to ActiveSync via Bluetooth

Works on Smartphone/Pocket PC's for OS 2003 SE/Windows Mobile 5.0 versions.
(This was tested on a WM 5.0 Smartphone and Pocket PC Phone Edition) This article is an expanded version detailing the set-up already found in your ActiveSync Help menu.

Ever felt like those days when you tried to configure your device to ActiveSync via Bluetooth and no matter what you do even after reading the instructions it just do not work?

Well I was like you, so what I have done here is take it a step further, still using the Help information provided by Microsoft, I extend the actions you are required to do that is not mentioned in the Help information. So take this relaxed journey with me to configure your device.

The main benefit is a wire-free workspace without even needing to connect via USB, update your Contacts list, appointments, Task, Favorites, Documents, Emails, Notes, installing of software. (Please note that Music and Video transfers requires USB connection)

Welcome to the wireless world, ActiveSync with Bluetooth is not new, so let's re-visit what are the simple steps involved to get your computer and Windows Mobile device ready for Bluetooth ActiveSync. It is actually quite surprising that few people know of or actually use this feature. It is either of the two reasons, they did not know about it or some think that it is too troublesome to set up.

Well this article aims to put to bed that myth of difficulty and open the door for all to embrace a truly wireless connectivity experience with their Windows Mobile devices.

Here are a few things that you will need to get ready before we start, make sure you have a Bluetooth enable(Turn-On) Windows Mobile device, you can do this by going to Start/Settings/Connections/Bluetooth and turn-on the Bluetooth radio.

If your computer is not Bluetooth ready, you will need to purchase an external USB plug-in Bluetooth dongle/device, if you already have a Bluetooth enabled computer, please proceed to go to Start/Control Panel/Bluetooth Devices with this two items confirmed you are ready to start.

Step#1: Bonding Set-Up
Firstly both your computer and Windows Mobile device (Pocket PC or Smartphone) will need to bond, the Bluetooth on each devices need to first create a relationship before they can start sharing data with one another.

Ensure that both devices the Bluetooth function is switched on.

On the Windows Mobile device,
1. Go to Start/Settings/Connections/Bluetooth select on 'Turn On Bluetooth'
2. Select on 'Make this device discoverable to other devices'

On the computer,

1. Go to Start/Control Panel/Bluetooth,
[attachmentid=7366]
2. Open the 'Bluetooth Devices', a window will pop up,
[attachmentid=7367]
3. On the tabs on the top of the window, select 'Options' Tab, under Discovery, select 'Turn discovery on'
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4. Go back to Devices Tab, click on 'ADD', click on 'My device is set up and ready to be found.'
5. A 'Add Bluetooth Device Wizard', will pop-up, it will do a search for any Bluetooth device, once it locates the device you want to connect to, click on the device.
[attachmentid=7369]

6. Select 'Let me choose my own passkey.' Choose something simple. Eg. 1234
[attachmentid=7370]

7. On your Windows Mobile device there will be a 'Notification' select 'Yes' and enter in the passkey and click 'OK' (On your Mobile Device you will need to type in the 'PASSKEY' that you just entered on your computer)
[attachmentid=7371] [attachmentid=7372]

Great your device is now bonded!

Step #2: COM Ports Set-Up(This is your Computer)
1. Go to the Computer's Bluetooth Devices window and click on 'COM Ports' tab, click Add, remember the COM Port number. Eg. 'COM Port 5'
2. Select 'Incoming (Device initiates the connection)' and click OK.
3. Click OK to close the Control Panel
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Step #3: Computer's ActiveSync Set-Up
1. Go to your Computer's ActiveSync program, select File menu, click Connections Settings
[attachmentid=7374]
2. Select Allow connections to one of the following, remember the COM Port # from previously.
3. Click 'OK'
[attachmentid=7375]

That's all(!) you are now ready to ActiveSync via Bluetooth

On your Windows Mobile device, turn on Bluetooh, go to the programs menu and locate ActiveSync/Menu and select 'Connect via Bluetooth'.
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Blessings to all.

My WM 5.0 does not have "Connect via Bluetooth". Is it because it is an older version? My version is 5.1.195 (Build 14914.2.1.0).

BTW, is it possible to upgrade the version?

Also, for PC side, it is very strange. It seems like I am the bluetooth software from WINCOMM. Very different from what you have here. Anybody has the similar type as me?

My WM 5.0 does not have "Connect via Bluetooth". Is it because it is an older version? My version is 5.1.195 (Build 14914.2.1.0).

BTW, is it possible to upgrade the version?

Also, for PC side, it is very strange. It seems like I am the bluetooth software from WINCOMM. Very different from what you have here. Anybody has the similar type as me?

Opps.. the software that i am using is actually WIDCOMM Bluetooth Software 3.0.1.915.

I am using a Microsoft BT stack which is different from Widcomm on my PC.

With regards to the Pocket PC, it differ from brand and model the kind of Bluetooth stack it uses.

Hope this helps.

learned lots of things , thx

Hi,

i own a ipaq 6818 and have been trying to activesync using bluetooth with my laptop. i'm using a HP Compaq nc6400. the thing is i just can't seem to succeed. my laptop's bluetooth config is diff from the one shown above. i was wondering isit because i need to set the com port on my 6818. funny thing is i can receive files using bluetooth from my laptop but can't seem to activesync. can help?

Thanks

your nc6400 laptop is using the broadcom bluetooth stack if I am not wrong, if so, do the following;

1. make sure you turn on your bluetooth service in your laptop
2. right click on your bluetooth icon in your system tray, click on 'advance configuration'
3. go to 'Local Services' tab, look for 'Bluetooth Serial Port' or similiar. Take note of the com port that's assigned to this serial port service. By default a BT serial port service is created when you enabled bluetooth, if not, 'Add Serial service' to create one manually yourself.

With the serial port information, go to Activesync and complete the setup accordingly

anyone tried it wih mac??using pocket mac with cable to sync ... would be nice if can sync via bluetooth

PocketMac provides BT Sync too.
However, the sync connectivity is a toggle, which means once you use BT, you can't use USB cable, and vice versa.

Click on PocketMac icon on your taskbar, and select "Bluetooth" under "Connect via..."
From your PocketPC's ActiveSync, and select "Connect via Bluetooth".

I still can't get my 838 Pro to syync with my notebook using BT.

I tried yesterday on my hx2750 and yes, activesync via BT is not hard at all.

I am using Dopod 818 Pro, laptop Compact Turion. My way even more simple. Launched activesyn on my Dopod.Tap menu,tap connect via bluetooth. Then fellow the screen instruction. It will start the pairing process. Output port just checked on activesyn on my PPC. It work well on both laptop at home & office. I not synchronised with outlook. I just used for transfering files and installation of software. PPC not support Lotus organiser,and MS outlook was not good for me,it appear hungry eatten my data. For PIM backup I just copy the PIM file out to my miniSD AND LAPTOP.

Hi There,


I am sync'ing Dopod 838 Pro with my Powerbook G4 using Missing Sync for WM. [www.missingsync.com]

Works quite flawlessly, no major gripes except that "Notes" in Entourage is not yet synchronized. Perhaps in a future update. (for now, it is Calendar, Address Book & Tasks).



N5

hi guys,

i've got a mio p550 with wm5 installed. i'm using the beta ver activesync 4.5.

tried this bluetooth sync but even my ppc cannot be paired with the pc, why?

recently i found that i cannot install any programs to the ppc through the pc! tried reinstalling the older ver of the activesync 4.2, also nothing. on connecting the ppc to the usb, it kept telling me that there is a problem syncing the ppc. i can still explore the ppc through the pc but any installing is futile. i'm not sure but did removal of the outlook program from the pc cause this??

5 weeks with this problem already, racking my brains out. anyone out there can help?

thanks

Disable all firewalls(or learn how to allow the connections through firewall)
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/hel...nc/default.mspx

Check if you accidentally added any exchange server settings to the phone(It takes priority)

Try removing all partnerships first from your computer(Open Activesync|Delete Mobile Device) and your mobile device(Open Activesync|menu|Option|Delete everything inside)

Try syncing again starting with nothing first thn add additional items inside if it works

Try disabling the Enhanced USB thingy if there is such a feature(Should be in the Start|Settings|Connections Tab|USB Connections)[This feature might not be available for some phones]
If it still cant work sync with another PC(to check if it is a phone or your pc's problem)

Last resort is to hard reset your phone and try again

hmm i'm using 6818 too with an external msi blue tooth device... the setup page's different... i tried set most of the settings but my phone keep showing this "Cannot find an existing Bluetooth partnership with a PC that supports ActiveSync. Would you like to set up a partnership now?"

with regards to the 1st digram of step 2. After u pair the devices. You will see much more COM ports popping out. U pair PDA to PC 2 COM port come out then when u pair PC to PDA another 2 more come out!
Then in ActiveSYn...connections setting.....the pogram will keep searching and searching and cannot connect device.
After trying abt 7 ports one of them work!
I have to manually make all the 7 ports on the PC BT settings as INCOMING!
So following the steps above....will no make your PDA work....most of the time.

Time spent 6hrs to syn by BT and end up with 7 COM ports in the BT!!! Arggh.

I also feel it make a diff weather u pair PC to PDA or vice versa. From the device u pairing u get to use the services available on the device u paring to. So for ActiveSyn. I suggest u pair from the PDA 1st then pair from the PC 2nd.

No joy with Bluetooth and ActiveSync with a HTC TyTN and a HP NC6400 which is a very common business laptop using the Broadcom Bluetooth stack.

If anyone has a solution please, please, paste it as I have spent hours trying to get this to function.

No way will it show up on the PDA > partnership settings as a service available from the PC, so Activesync from the PDA side can't recognise it. Always asks to create a new partnership that supports Activesync.

Ya. I am using a HP nc6400 laptop and have tried all sorts of methods to use activesync via bluetooth. I'm using a HP 6818. On the pda's bluetooth settings, for my laptop there's only 3 services available: handsfree, serial, and dial-up. I believe there should be a service called activesync but it's just not there.

Anyone using Belkin Bluetooth software, can do a demo for peeps with it? Already irritated 1 wk back....=/ Also the service not showing up problem.

Finally got my bluetooth activesync to work on my HP Compaq nc6400 and rw6818. Here's wat i did.

1.Delete all all partnerships on the PDA under Start/Settings/Connections/Bluetooth/Devices.
2.Go to ActiveSync on laptop and under Connection Settings/Allow connections to one of the following, set the com port number as the one that is displayed under Local Services/Bluetooth Serial Port in the Bluetooth advanced config window.
3.Start ActiveSync on PDA
4.Select “Connect via Bluetooth…”
5.A dialogue Cannot find an existing bluetooth partnership with a PC that supports ActiveSync. Do you want to create a new partnership now appears. Select yes.
6.Ensure PC is discoverable.
7.Search for devices.
8.The PC will show up.
9.Pair with device, enter PIN on both devices.
10.Select the serial port service to use.
11.From the Bluetooth screen, select the COM Ports tab.
12.Create a new Incoming Port. Any port num will do. (I used port 0)
13.Go back to ActiveSync on the PDA.
14.Select “Connect via Bluetooth…”
15.The dialogue Cannot find an existing bluetooth partnership with a PC that supports ActiveSync. Do you want to create a new partnership now appears again. Select yes.
16.Now select the PC you have paired with.
17.Serial port is shown.
18.Select refresh.
19.Watch in astonishment as serial port changes to ActiveSync
20.Go back to ActiveSync on the PDA and select Connect via Bluetooth and everything shld work.

If it doesn't work try the steps again with Outlook open.
If it still does not work pm me and i'll try to see wat i can do to help.

So happy that i can ActiveSync via Bluetooth at last!!! :)

wah... finally working.... thanks a million raist85

I;m still having problems guys. Hope someone can help me out. I am using Bluesoleil program which I think is pretty popular but so far I am unable to establish a connection. Any ideas?

Also, just to check, for those of you who use Outgoing and Incoming ports, do you use a secure connection or you remove the tick from the box?

I´m having problems aswell. I have a NC6400 and a QTEK 9100
I cannot connect active sync via Bluetooth

Please help!!!

Thanks a lot Brother Raist85!!!!!!
for those brothers who still are not successful, pls do read his instructions step by step.
Step 1 is very important. Pls delete even you Bluetooth headset!!!!
Step 18....REFRESH!!!!!
it worked for me
thanks!!!
now i have usb and bluetooth syncing

Phew
Took me 4 Hours to get my bluetooth setup running
All thanks to the firewall

I've got a PPC6700 (UTStarcom) with Windows Mobile 5 for the PDA and a IVT Bluesoleil 1.4.9 USB Bluetooth dongle for the Bluetooth connector.

Every post or tutorial I found talk of a «Bluetooth» setting icon in Windows XP SP2's Control Panel that I never saw of my entire life! I'm sure it exists (somehow, somewhere) but I don't have it on any of my computers. The dongle I bought came with is own Bluetooth manager and even using the COM ports thing explained in numerous tutorial (including the very nice one of raist85), ActiveSync don't see the device or, to be precise, see it but don't recognizes it as a syncable device.

I can provide screenshots or more details if needed. I would REALLY appreciate help with this since I bought two of these dongle and would like this purchase to be used!

Thanks to anyone taking some of his time to help! Have a great day everybody

been having late nights trying to get this to work.. will try again tonight ...

Amanzing it seems but iit finally works for my Atom. I spent the past 3 nights working till 4am 5am... Thanks a million

I seem to get stuck at:

2.Go to ActiveSync on laptop and under Connection Settings/Allow connections to one of the following, set the com port number as the one that is displayed under Local Services/Bluetooth Serial Port in the Bluetooth advanced config window.

Think my BT Stack is by Toshiba (using the Sony Vaio), so I cant really identify the correct com port number I should be using. I did try changing the com port number in Activesync and doing Step 18 (clicking Refresh and hope Serial Port changes to Activesync), but no luck.

[edit]
I managed to find the com port that will change Serial to Activesync, but when I try to sync via bluetooth, I still get the message that no computer with bluetooth actvesync can be found. I monitored the BT icon during the process and notice the PDA doesnt even attempt to connect with my laptop. I can BT Activesync fine with my desktop, but the laptop continues to give me problems...any advice would be greatly appreciated.

hi guys,
i am having problem doing Activesync with my device.. (6818), my laptop is HP NC6230 using an external dongle... I followed all the instruction but when i tried to sync using bluetooth, it still shows no active partnership... please help... thanks.

i think he missed out a step...
for those with no active partnership

click yes for would you like to create a partnership
then click on the pc name in the partnership

click refresh
then check active sync

then can sync already

the above works for my HP6828

Sigh still no go for me...

Just one question though - 12.Create a new Incoming Port. Any port num will do. (I used port 0).

Is this the same port that was selected as incoming port in a previous step? Still doesn't work despite following instructions to a tee :(

For my case, everything look ok but when i want to connect.. it say that "the device maybe out of range" and when i refresh, under my computer i cannot see the tick box of activesync again...

think my bluetooth of laptop got some problem...

or anyone could help in this ?

thanks

heloman ;)

Hi,

I've followed the steps and got as far as refreshing and my decive now shows the service available from my PC is ActiveSync. However, when I click on Connect via bluetooth in ActiveSync, I still get 'cannot find an exisiting bluetooth partnership with a PC which supports ActiveSync...'

Any ideas greatly appreciated.

I too have followed all the steps and yet still cannot connect.

I'm using the i780 and on my PC XP home.

Can my motorola or benQ bluetooth headset be used on PC via BT Dongle for MS mouse?