bluetooth and network

delbi · #1 August 2nd, 2004, 12:14 AM

I can connect my PC with my Ibook using bluetooth but can't sharing the internet connection on the PC, on the Ibook I can use bluetooth only for file transfer. I can do that with two PCs. Can someone help me, or tell me why apple doesn't give me that service?
I don't want to think PC is better then Mac, or that apple wont me to buy airport!!

Thenx

Zammy-Sam · #2 August 2nd, 2004, 01:36 AM

Hi Delbi and welcome to the forum.
If you need help, you should let us know, what operating system you are using.
In fact apple does allow you to use a shared connection over bluetooth. ppl mostly use this for the cell phone internet connection. However, I have never heard of someone sharing an internet connection in the home network using bluetooth. Did you try the bluetooth setup assistant? I don't know if this freeware tool is of any help, but it's worth to try: Click here

delbi · #3 August 3rd, 2004, 05:11 AM

Ok, more information.
I have an ibook 14" with OSX v10.3. I have a small home network with an hub and an adsl modem that works well. I have also a portable pc. I bougth two bluetooth doungle for the two PCs, I installed the drivers and I had some services, one of these services allow me to connect to the desktop as I am on the lan. Sharing the intenet connection I can browse the internet wireless. Cool!!!! I want this on the ibook! I insert the doungle, the os seems to have everything, but when I tried to connect to the desktop, the ibook doesn't have the service "access to tha network". I can only transfer files, syncronize addresses and things like that.
I can't belive that my mac miss this feature.
thanx

Zammy-Sam · #4 August 3rd, 2004, 05:44 AM

Well, it's not a missing feature. You want to use a not standardized windows shared connection on your mac. This is actually by default a won't_work.
The standardized internet connection is shared for the lan. Your bluetooth connection is obviously not seen as a lan connection. So, the problem doesn't lay on your mac, but on your windows box, which can't properly share the connection using the common TCP/IP protocol but just among the same adapters and system.
You will first need to make a lan connection out of your bluetooth network. Once you did this, you will need to share your internet connection to that lan. And I think this is where your windows box is failing. If you have this setup properly, you will need to join that (bluetooth)lan with your mac. And for that you might need the link I sent you. Did you check that?

delbi · #5 August 4th, 2004, 02:10 AM

On my windows box everithing works fine. My lan works fine, from my ibook I can connect to the internet directly or using the shared internet connection on the PC.
You are right, I need something that makes the ibook see the network over bluetooth. I downloaded your link, and I think it may be the right tool. I also think that windows bluetooth drivers give me more services the mac osx integrated drivers; I'd like to have third-party drivers also for mac osx. I know that it's not easy to have a total compatibility with windows network and that a lot has been done but for the end-user what it matter is: work or not?
Thank for the help, I'll let you know

Zammy-Sam · #6 August 4th, 2004, 02:44 AM

Also make sure you have the most recent firmware for your built-in bluetooth and the bluetooth software version 1.5 (Software Update will show those). I am positive you will be able to get it work.
Good luck!