Any pcAnywhere experts here?

[boomerang]

I'm going insane trying to get this working across the internet with my elderly mothers computer as Host. The Remote, (my computer) can't find her computer. Doesn't seem to spend too much time looking, and if in that's the problem, I can't see where to increase the time.

 

[Bglad]

You really have to give more detail than this.

Do you have it set to use tcp/ip on both ends? Did you put in the correct ip address on the remote?

Give more details about your setup and people will be able to give better help.

 

[boomerang]

Well, I was waiting to see if I got any response before going into it in great depth.

Host - XP Home
Remote - 98SE

Both have been set up using version 10.5. She lives in Wyoming and I'm in Michigan. My woes are complicated because this is her first computer. Trying to take her through the steps needed for me to do the setup is extremely frustrating. Plus this is my first time using the software.

Both are set up to use TCP/IP. Computer names set up correctly. Both launching the session using the Network, Cable, DSL. Both of us on 56K dialup. Oh, and I have disabled the firewall built into XP.

I called her ISP, and they say she is setup using a dynamic IP. According to what I have read in the both the manual and online at the Symantec online help, in these circumstances, only the subnet address will change. So by setting this number to 255, pcAnywhere will search through 0 to 255. For example, xxx.xxx.xxx.0, through xxx.xxx.xxx.255. Her ISP feels that this will work. They offered to set her up on a static IP for $25.00.

As I said, her computer is never found. I have the software set up and working on our two computer LAN here at home just to familiarize myself with it and it works just fine.

At this point, I'm thinking her ISP has given me the wrong IP information. My next step is to call her and have her go through the steps to give me her IP address. But she will have to go online and follow some steps without me on the phone to coach her. I'm telling you, it could get ugly.

Maybe the static IP would be the way to go.

I was just wondering if there might be any easily missed setup criteria that I have overlooked.

 

[de8212]

Both launching the session using the Network, Cable, DSL. Both of us on 56K dialup.

If you are both on dial up then she needs to launch the "modem" host and you need to create a new remote and just select your modem name out of the device list.
Of course, make sure she adds you as a caller and maybe even sets it up to pick up on one or two rings.

I use pcanywhere frequently but my host is on cable modem, not dial-up.

Sorry if this doesn't help.


de

 

[boomerang]

Well we were trying it initially using modem. I misunderstood how the software works and was trying to use modem over the internet.

I haven't tried it using the phone lines, but the reason I wanted to do it over the internet is to save on long distance charges.

Or maybe I'm really clueless here.

 

[de8212]

I haven't tried it using the phone lines, but the reason I wanted to do it over the internet is to save on long distance charges.

Yeah I understand. But it might be beneficial just to connect for a minute or so via phone line and configure hers for Network/Cable/DSL.


de

 

[Bglad]

Hmmm, I've never done a direct connect. The easiest way is to forget the subnet and all that and just work over the internet. You just put her ip address into the calling properties on your machine.

Problem is she will have to dial into her internet then call you with another line or a cell phone and tell you what her ip address is as it will change every time.

The other problem I've had when calling between 2000/XP and a 98 machine is with display properties. But this is after getting a connection, it is not keeping you from your initial connection.

 

[Rakkis]

Have her install tight VNC
A LOT easier to configure

 

[boomerang]

I'm going to delve back into this next week. We both get quite frustrated on the phone and we need a break.

I think the answer is a static IP. Neither of us has a second phone we can use while online.

I have downloaded tight VNC and will play around with it here at home. I would imagine it will require a static IP also to connect over the 'net.

Thanks all.

 

[pumpkinhead76]

Originally posted by: Bglad
Hmmm, I've never done a direct connect. The easiest way is to forget the subnet and all that and just work over the internet. You just put her ip address into the calling properties on your machine.

Problem is she will have to dial into her internet then call you with another line or a cell phone and tell you what her ip address is as it will change every time.

The other problem I've had when calling between 2000/XP and a 98 machine is with display properties. But this is after getting a connection, it is not keeping you from your initial connection.

If your current solution doesn't work and you would like to try BGlads here, a suggestion to replace the "another line or cell phone" step would be to get MSN Messenger, ICQ, or AIM to communicate the IP address

 

[Rakkis]

You don't need a static IP. Just have her tell you over icq or something. hell.. just hve hr email you and read the ip from the headers.

 

[bsobel]

That or setup her computer with one of the many dynamic ip companies (for example tzo) so you can always find it when she's online...

The subnet search is designed for local network use, your probably right it's timing out over the internet. I'll ask the dev manager on pcA if there is a way to increase the timeout, I'll drop you a PM if there is.

Bill