[FunKing]

Dear all,

Short and to the point: how can I start an ad-hoc connection between two N8s?

Long version:

I wrote an app that allows two Nokia N8 phones to exchange data wirelessly between each other, via Wi-fi. It works fine no matter what kind of access point is used (infrastructure or ad-hoc), but the ad-hoc connection is preferred since you won't need a router and can use the app anywhere.

Unfortunately it seems to be really complicated to start the ad-hoc connection because it is never listed in the WLAN wizard (unless one phone is already using the ad-hoc connection).

First, here's how I create the ad-hoc connection in each phone (this operation is done only once, of course):

• Open the menu by pressing the menu key.
• Navigate through: Settings → Connectivity → Settings → Destinations → Access Point (Add new acc. pt.) → No (when asked "Automatically check for available access points?") → WLAN → (give it a name: adhoc) → Ad-hoc (public) → WEP
• When asked for a "WEP key for Wi-Fi", enter an easy to remember code with 10 or 26 hex. characters (only numbers 0 to 9 and letters A to F)
• Select destination: Internet → Back → Back
• Now I set a fixed IP for each phone: Settings → Destinations → Internet → adhoc → Options → Advanced settings → IPv4 settings → Phone IP address →
• 10.0.0.1 for one phone, 10.0.0.2 for the other
• OK → Subnet mask → 255.255.255.0 → OK → Default gateway → 10.0.0.0 → OK

Before I open the app I start the "adhoc" connection following these steps:

• Using phone "A", open the Wi-Fi wizard (here's one way: Menu key → Settings → Connectivity → WLAN wizard)
• Other (hidden netw.) → Connect → WLAN name: adhoc →
• It will search for an existing network with that mode. It should not find one, though... but we will be able to continue, anyway.
• Select Ad-hoc (public) → Security mode: WEP → WEP key for WLAN: use the same created during the first-time configuration
• The phone will appear as connected to "adhoc(01)" or something similar. If I use this access point my application will not work!
• Now open the WLAN wizard on the "B" phone and the "adhoc" is listed. Just select "adhoc" → Connect (if it doesn't appear in the list, click Options → Refresh).
• Disconnect "A" from "adhoc(01)" and connect it to "adhoc".
• Now one can start the app in both phones.

I think this is too complicated for most users, not to mention time consuming. I could write an app to automatically start the access point, but the reasons that makes this complicated are many and not related to this post.

So my question is: could someone tell me how can I start an ad-hoc connection between two N8 phones in a very simple, easy and fast way?

Thank you!

[hadimassa]

I'm not even sure if this is possible because one of the devices has to be set as accesspoint ( router).

[FunKing]

Yes, it's not only possible, but the whole point of an ad-hoc connection is that you don't need a router - it is a direct, peer-to-peer network. You can visit this Wikipedia article for more information.

I'm not questioning if it is possible - I'm affirming it is and I can assure you I've been using it for a couple of months. Since I'm new to Symbian, I thought that there could be a better, easier way for a user to start the connection than the method I described in my post.

I guess there might not be a simpler way, but I wanted to ask anyway - even though I know this is a long shot, since the feature in question is not commonly used, and I have already asked some Symbian folks and their only answer was silence...

[muzzthegreat]

R-E-S-P-E-C-T !

[petro604]

It appears that when you create a Phone Switch bluetooth shortcut, it can also automatically  create an ad-hoc connection between the devices. It actually worked between my N8 and N97mini, so I assume it would work between 2 N8s.

Afterwards, the ad-hoc shows up under Destinations -> Uncategorized on BOTH devices. Its name is an autoassigned  14 character number.  WEP is already set up as 128 bit.

It's so easy, I didn't even know what happened till after my *amazingly* fast data transfer. Even photos and videos!!

[philjsmith67]

In the United States, you will soon lose the ability to use ad-hoc WiFi mode completely on newer Nokia phones.  This mode will be blocked with the next set of firmware updates.  I received an e-mail from one Symbian app vendor about this, whose app will effectively be shut down because of this decision.

I do not have more information on why the FCC is mandating this for these Symbian-based phones, or if more phones and mobile devices will be subject to this new mandate.

http://infectech.net/2011/03/fcc-blocks-joikuspot-in-usa/

[tympla]

Is there any other application taht can use ad-hoc connection funcionality for Symbian S60v3? eg. voice calls, chat, exchanging files, streaming audio.

[sgrao91]

i tried doing the same with the help of two apps

1)joiku soft (used for making phone A a hotspot )
2)dukto ( used for data transfer over wlan )
i used the first app to make phone A a wifi hotspot . Connected phone B to A's hotspot .
I opened the second app on both the phones which showed me their lan addresses. I selected the files i wanted to send and entered the lan address of the recipient phone and the file transfer starts . I found it to be slightly faster than bluetooth ( but not the 10Mbps i'd hoped for )


i used 2 nokia c7 phones running on symbian anna .

Any other suggestions on getting faster file transfer.....?