Configuring a BlackBerry device for Over-The-Air sync with ChaosHost

BB10 is/was the first version to include built-in support for Exchange ActiveSync. Please pay attention below as the instructions for BB10 devices are different than those for older BlackBerry devices which do not have Exchange ActiveSync built-in!

Please plug your phone into a power supply when doing your initial sync! It is not a requirement, but the very first transfer will be sending enough data that most users will notice considerable battery drain.

  
1. Configure Time Zone Settings and Preferences

To successfully transfer your appointment data with correct times, you need to select a default Time Zone for your database on ChaosHost.com.  You will also want to set your BlackBerry device to the same time zone to ensure that all the appointment start and end times come to your device as they should.  WARNING:  If you change the time zone on your device, it will change all of the start and end times on your appointments!  If you want the start times and end times to continue to match what you see on ChaosHost.com and in Time & Chaos/Chaos Intellect, you should NOT change the timezone on your device once you have made your initial setup!

On the ChaosHost.com website:

• Login to your account on ChaosHost.com, and go to Options.
• Select "Change Over-The-Air Mobile Sync Preferences".
• On "Enable", choose True.
• Select a Timezone for your database.  Timezones are listed by Continent, so Canada, Mexico and the United States would all be considered America, for example.
• The other preferences are optional, but useful if you have extremely large databases.
• When complete, SAVE your settings.

  
2a. Using BlackBerry 10 and newer devices with Exchange ActiveSync built-in

(Note: if you have an older BlackBerry, look below for the AstraSync version of these instructions)

Go to Settings, then Accounts, then Add Account. Click Advanced, then look for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync.

• For "Description", type "ChaosHost"
• Under "Domain" leave it blank!
• Under "User name" enter your ChaosHost login name.
• Under "Email Address" type your ChaosHost login name, followed by "@chaoshost.com" (this is not a real email address you can use, but it helps configure your settings for ChaosHost).
• Under "Password" enter your ChaosHost password.
• Under "Server" enter "www.chaoshost.com".
• Make sure you leave the "Use SSL" box checked.
• Look for the option for "Push" and turn this off.
• Set an approprate "Sync Interval" to balance battery life with background updates
• Select Next to continue
• You should be taken to a settings page where you can select the types of data to sync. Uncheck "Sync Email" make your own choice regarding "Contacts" "Calendar" and "Tasks" .
• Save your settings!

  
2b. Using AstraSync for older Blackberry devices

REQUIREMENTS: In addition to a ChaosHost.com account and a BlackBerry, you also need AstraSync, a third-party add-on for BlackBerry.

Exchange ActiveSync is the technology built into many other mobile devices that allow them to connect to our ChaosHost service. AstraSync offers ActiveSync for BlackBerry, something that BlackBerry did not offer themselves on older devices. AstraSync (http://www.astrasync.com) has a free trial available so you can prove it works with your BlackBerry and ChaosHost before purchase, but ultimately it costs $49/year.

After downloading and installing AstraSync to your Blackberry Device, select the AstraSync icon. This should direct you to the Setup Wizard

• Under "Email Address" type your ChaosHost login name, followed by "@chaoshost.com" (this is not a real email address you can use, but it helps AstraSync configure your settings for ChaosHost).
• Under "Server" enter "www.chaoshost.com".
• Under "Domain" enter "chaoshost.com". Don't leave Domain blank!
• Under "User name" enter your ChaosHost login name.
• Under "Password" enter your ChaosHost password.
• Make sure you leave the "Use SSL" box checked.
• Select Next to continue
• After a confirmation page, you will get to "Sync Settings". Uncheck "Email" and check "Contacts" and "Calendar" instead.
• If you already have data on your BlackBerry, you will be asked whether or not you wish to delete the current device items to avoid duplication. If you believe your ChaosHost.com data is complete, choose "Delete Device Items".
  
• Save your settings!

There are also "Sync Schedule" options within the AstraSync options menu. This area will allow you to select frequency of automatic syncs or a setting to sync manually.

While automatic syncs would be useful for email services, email is not part of our ChaosHost service!  So this constant connection to check in with our service will only cause you to use up battery power faster than you need to. Setting the sync to manually or to a less often time frame is usually the best choice.

This help article applies to ChaosHost, a cloud database service for users of Chaos Intellect, Time & Chaos, and Chaos Free