windows mobile 6.5 check for connectivity on background thread

I have an application written for windows mobile 6.5 using vb.net. The application uses Microsoft Merge Replication. I would like to use a timer on a background thread to check for internet connectivity and update the UI by changing the color of the control. I then want to fire the async method IF the connection is successful. See sample below Public Sub syncme() '********* 'Can I run a background thread right here to control whether the following try block runs or not '********* Try [login to view URL] = New SqlCeReplication() [login to view URL] = "Data Source=\Program Files\SEUdock\[login to view URL]" [login to view URL]() ' [login to view URL] = True Dim ar As IAsyncResult = [login to view URL](New AsyncCallback(AddressOf [login to view URL]), _ New OnStartTableUpload(AddressOf [login to view URL]), _ New OnStartTableDownload(AddressOf [login to view URL]), _ New OnSynchronization(AddressOf [login to view URL]), repl) Catch ex As SqlCeException ' Exit Sub Dim frm As mySettings = New mySettings [login to view URL]() ' [login to view URL]([login to view URL]) End Try End Sub