IPaq 4700 and AdHoc WiFi or BT networking to stand-alone PC's

[amaskell]

I have an IPaq 4700 and use it extensively on my home network using WiFi. I have had no problems configuring it to do this using WPA-PSK encryption. I can access the Internet through my router and all the devices across the network. I can also ActiveSynch via WiFi and use bidirectional control tools such as Pocket Controller and z2P2PC with no problems at all. (Unlike some, setting up my Netgear router and print-server access point was a doddle!)

However, I also need to remotely access a single stand-alone PC on another site. The PC has to run Windows ME (for hardware reasons that I won't bore you with) and has a Netgear 11mbs WiFi PCI card installed. I can set up an AdHoc connection with the IPaq ok but there is no communication possible of any type between the two. Both devices have a fixed IP address and yet both report (using various tools) that the devices can't resolve the IP addresses at either end! Both are showing the WiFi IP to be 0.0.0.0 and neither can ping the other.

The stand-alone PC has NO internet connection, DCHP server, DNS server or anything else that might help. I have also found exactly the same happens if I try connecting via BlueTooth using a Belkin USB dongle on the PC. Again, can't resolve IP addresses and the BT functionality is dead even though the pairing has worked fine.

I guess the PC needs some help here but I have no idea what to try next. I could buy a cheap WiFi switch I suppose that has a DHCP server but this seems overkill for what should work already. I do have a basic Netgear 11mbs access point I could try but to my knowledge that has no DHCP server or other routing capability either.

BTW, I used to use this PC on my home network perfectly ok before I relocated it so I know the WiFi card works and Windows ME interfaced fine to Windows XP devices. I could also access the PC using my older IPaq 3750 via the network using ActiveSynch (the IPaq 3750 had no WiFi).

I'm getting frustrated with this so any help would be welcome. I'm pretty IT savvy but my knowledge of DHCP and IP routing is probably my downfall!

Many thanks, Andy.