Registered: Oct 2001
Location: Bellevue, WA
Posts: 5

Does Blazer work with an AOL connection

I'm trying to access the Web using my Mobilestar account and my Xircom SWE wireless module. I can connect to Mobilestar, but cannot get Blazer v1.1 to work.

As a test, I used my dial up modem to connect to my AOL account, but still cannot make a connection with Blazer.

Anyone have any thoughts on this .. thanks

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Dave

Registered: Jun 2001
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 108

Connecting with the Xircom

If I understand you, you are connecting with the Xircom 802.11b module. Is this true?
If so, the network you are connecting to must supply an IP address, default gateway, and DNS numbers before you can connect to the 'net. Post some more info on how you connect and I can steer you in the right direction.
To test the Internet connectivity (Just in case it is a blazer problem), connect to AOL and then use a program like "multimail" to check your Email. If it makes a connection, then something is flakey with Blazer. Upgrade to 2.0 and see if that corrects it.
Doug

Registered: Oct 2001
Location: Bellevue, WA
Posts: 5

Thanks for responding.

My ultimate goal is to get Blazer working with my Xircom 802.11b module, which it does not do at present. In order to connect to my wireless ISP, Mobilestar, at my local Starbucks, I set the SSID in my client settings to MobileStar, then connect to the wireless network. This part works fine. At this point I'm only connected to the Wireless Access Point, I'm not on line.

In order to log on to the 'net, I then have to launch the browser (Blazer) at which point the Mobilestar sign-on screen should pop up and ask for a username and password. If all worked properly, I'd sign on and then be on line. Currently Blazer will not connect.

In order to test whether Blazer would work over a modem connection, I connected my Visor to AOL, using my Xircom SM56GA. Connecting to AOL works fine. I can get my mail and use instant messenger. (Mail is only available using AOL's proprietary software for the Palm operating system, so I can't check mail using MultiMail)

When I try to launch Blazer while connected to AOL, I get the error message "serial port in use 0 x 0307". So .. for the time being I'm not sure if Blazer is working .. am I having a problem with MobileStar (although I get the connect signal from the WAP) or will Blazer not work over the AOL network .. I'm still in a quandry.

BTW, I have now downloaded Blazer 2.0 .. also, my Xircom SWE works just fine at my office for synchronizing my database etc.

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Dave

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 1571

AOL is Proprietary

I think you answered your own question. AOL is using a proprietary system. This is why you need a proprietary application to access your mail and IM. You would need a proprietary application to access the web as well. Blazer (or any other Palm OS browser) will not work. Rumor has it that the next version of AOL for the Palm will remedy this issue.

Registered: Oct 2001
Location: Bellevue, WA
Posts: 5

Isn't Blazer just a browser

But surely Blazer is just a generic browser. After all, I am merely using AOL to make the connection to the Web. Once I connect to AOL on my desktop, I can use Explorer to browse and Outlook to get my mail from Yahoo. I imagine Blazer should work, regardless of the ISP.

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Dave

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 1571

Nope

Blazer or any other Palm OS browser will *not* work. The connection that AOL uses for its AOL for Palm application is *not* generic but proprietary. If ti was a generic connection, then you would have been able to access your AOL mail using a generic mail client such as Multimail Pro.

Registered: Feb 2000
Location: El Segundo,CA
Posts: 374

True, AOL 2.0 will not work. Beta 3.0 will but it is not available yet. AO you have a PM.

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