AOL MAIL & YOUR PALM MODEM

How do I configure my Palm and Palm Modem to work with AOL Mail?

This is pretty simple and straight forward. 

First, install AOL Mail, which you can download from Keyword : Anywhere. Once AOL Mail is installed on your Palm, configure your Palm Modem settings.

On your Palm : 

• From the main Applications screen, tap on "Prefs" or "Preferences."
• From the Drop Down list in the upper right hand corner, tap on "Connection."
• In the "Available Configurations" box, tap on "Palm US/Canada" and then tap on "Edit."
• In the "Connection Method" should be "Serial to Modem."
• In the "Dialing" should be "Touch Tone".
• Tap on the "Details" button
• "Speed" should be "57,600"
• Flow Ctl is "Automatic"
• For "Init String," try "AT&FX4"

Depending on your connection, you may find that you have to adjust some of these settings. If you use a Calling Card, for instance, you will have to add more commands to your Modem String. If you don't live in the USA or Canada, you obviously will not choose US/Canada from the Modem Drop Down list.

But for the majority of AOL Mail users in the US and Canada, these settings should get you connected to the AOL Mail server.

TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS:

AOL Mail starts OK, but it hangs after connecting. I get a message saying something like "Starting Services" and then nothing.

This is an old problem on the AOL servers, not with your Palm or Visor. Some BuddyLists on the AOL server were corrupted when AOL upgraded to AOL 6.0. The problem was supposed to have been fixed, but it still crops up occaisionally. It can affect AOL Mail users, whether they are using AOL 6.0 or not, whether they use BuddyLists or not, whether they have Palms or Visors. I believe it even affects both Mac and Windows users.

Luckily there is a simple fix. Sign on to your desktop version of AOL under your Master Screen Name. Make a change to your BuddyList. It doesn't matter if you add or delete a name - just change something. This forces the server to flush the corrupted BuddyList from its cache. Sign off AOL.  Now sign on to AOL Mail for the Palm using your Palm or Visor. It should work. (Some users have reported that they also needed to do a soft reset on the Palm before the problem disappeared.)

AOL Mail dials, but it never connects to the server.

The biggest culprit is low batteries in the Palm modem. Although your Palm modem will give out a warning beep when the batteries are getting low, it is easy to miss the signal. The batteries may not have enough juice to complete the connection, even though they are not totally dead. Just replace them.

My modem used to work just fine, now it disconnects or never connects at all.

Try changing your batteries. You should receive a Low Battery warning beep before you experience trouble, but don't count on it. 

I have a Handspring Treo. AOL Mail is supposed to work, but I can't make a connection.

I don't have a Treo, so I can only report what I've read. The Treo's modem needs a slow connection, but it does not step down connect speeds as other modems do. That means, if you dial in to a 56K access number, you may not be able to establish a stable connection. Try changing access numbers until you find one that works.

AOL Mail cannot find my modem.

First of all, although this may seem embarrassingly obvious, you need to have a modem connected to your PDA. You can use an infra-red pocket modem, or a clip on modem, or a cell phone that works as a modem - but you have to have a modem. 

AOL Mail uses the Palm Modem in the Connections panel as the default modem. If you don't have a Palm modem, AOL Mail will not find your particular modem by itself. You need to, first, set the modem up in the Connections panel and, second, choose it as your default connection. Tap the "New..." button in the Connections panel, then follow the instructions above. Give your new modem a name that you'll recognize, like "Cell Phone" or "CF Card Modem."