Wireless Networking at Home with Bluetooth

[Ed Hardy]

Brighthand’s Editor-in-Chief shares his experiences using Bluetooth to connect various handhelds to the Internet.

Read more at http://www.brighthand.com/article/Ed...with_Bluetooth

[mc_03]

I have the Belkin USB dongle too;

I find that the best way to make it work is to attach the 5 foot extension cable, and elevate it clear out into the open, with the antannae facing outward. This way I get range throughout my whole house!

Tucked behind my computer without the extension cable, only the upstairs floor works. I find its speed to be acceptable, and it is much cheaper than wi-fi so I am willing to accept a shorter range, as well as longer battery life

[Zabbiezabbie]

{TechnoHappyMeal} has instructions and Applescripts for setting up internet sharing on OSX.

Applescripts:
http://www.technohappymeal.com/archives/000070.html

Instructions for Sharing Connection:
http://www.technohappymeal.com/archives/000069.html

Works great.

[ctitanic]

Well, what I really like is the idea of having the BlueTooth Modem.

In that way I don't have to keep a computer on to access the internet via WiFi. In another hand BlueTooth consumes 4 time less power than WiFi!

[Ed Hardy]

Thanks Zabbiezabbie, I updated the article.

[Andyvan]

I got to the end of the page and wondered where the rest of the article was. It was a nice overview of options, but a little light on "experience". Seems like you set the stage with the players, and then the article stopped.

How did the PDA browsers work? Did you have connection problems with any combinations of dongles & PDAs. Any browsing speed differences between POS 4, POS 5, PPC, etc. How much does BlueTooth affect battery life?

I don't want to sound too harsh, but I keep looking at the Sony TG50 and trying to convince myself that it's worth getting, and I had such high expectations that this article would give me the ammo I needed.

-- Andyvan

[freitasm]

Some additional information about this:

You only need MochaPPP if your dekstop/laptop Bluetooth stack does not support LAN Access. All Widcomm (TDK, Belkin) do. 3COM does not, so use MochaPPP for it.

If you're using LAN Access, you can connect up to 7 devices to the Bluetooth, increasing your network. MochaPPP/XP RAS only allows one device at a time.

We've a set of step-by-step instructions showing how to do it for Pocket PC and Widcomm (TDK, Belkin) users: Geekzone Bluetooth guides . There you'll find instructions on how to setup the H3970, H5450, Activesync and more.

The instructions work for Pocket PC and Palm. On your Palm, create a new connection using the Bluetooth. Do no enter a phone number to dial, and make sure you create a script with SEND CLIENT WAIT FOR CLIENTSERVER.

This will connect the Palm to the network. I've used this on a Palm m130 with SD BT, and with a Visor Prism with BT Springboard.

[SeanH]

That was a great review of Bluetooth. One great addition is that PPC users can benefit from its ability to map com ports over Bluetooth. There are devices like the EMTAC Bluetooth GPS that work with all the existing GPS software out there. The Bluetooth drivers map the GPS to a standard com port and the GPS software think it?s a standard wired RS-232 device.

National semiconductor makes a family of devices (LMX98XX) that includes the full Bluetooth stack and a full TCP/IP stack. This single chip solution makes it easy for developers of devices that are currently using a serial interface to convert to a wireless (Bluetooth) interface with very little software. The device has a TTL RS-232 (1Mb) interface on one side and an antenna interface on the other. This device will help Bluetooth grow a lot in the next year.

I have an 802.11b network setup for my Laptop and PPC. A 802.11b network is horrible at point to point communication. This is where Bluetooth shines. For two devices to communicate over 802.11b you need either an access point that does DHCP or you need to set up an ADHOC connection between the two devices. The disadvantage of the access point is that it needs power, it?s a third device and it has to be configured to operate. The ADHOC setup is worse, you have to make up an IP for both devices then change both devices to operate on the same channel. There is not a method with 802.11b to make two devices negotiate that info when the two devices are close. I have not seen a DHCP server for PPC yet. Bluetooth does all this so well.

I believe that the perfect PDA will have Bluetooth for point to point communication (PDA to Desktop, PDA to PDA, PDA to GPS, PDA to Printer, and PDA to cell phone), 802.11b for internet access in the house or at Starbucks, and GSM/GPRS for cell based wireless access.

Sean

[imported_Mark Rejhon]

That's funny....

I also found an unexpected side effect of wireless networking (in my case, WiFi) is that I can surf the Internet on my laptop while my loved one is watching television, and we can still be cozy. Even if my desktop computer is in the same room, WiFi has been useful that way.

[cecina]

Nice article Ed.

Maybe this could be of any use for BT users as well

BLUETOOTH ROUNDUP: Palm, PPC, Products, Reviews, Compatibility , Setups etc....
http://discussion.brighthand.com/pal...threadid=18749