HOWTO: Palm Bluetooth Net Access with Windows
For many users one of the most exciting and useful new features of the Palm Tungsten T is the integrated Bluetooth technology. Bluetooth is widely seen as the eventual replacement to the older line-of-sight InfraRed (IR) technology. Bluetooth lets a wide variety of devices to connect and talk to each other and share features, wirelessly.
In this article PIC Editor in Chief, Ryan Kairer, walks through setting up and sharing an internet connection with your windows PC and the Palm Tungsten T via Bluetooth.
One of the first things I tried to do when my Tungsten T arrived was get it up and running with my Bluetooth network connected to my PC. Unfortunately, trying to share a DSL connection from my PC to the Palm did not work out so well. The Tungsten would connect with similar settings that I had used successfully with my T615 and BT memory stick, but any application that actually tried to use the connection would cause a soft reset without any sort of error message. Perplexed, I went to the PalmInfocenter forums, a more than excellent source for quick PDA help.
A few days later a few of the forum experts had come up with a solution and workaround to enable internet sharing via Bluetooth. After setting up the workaround I am now able to connect to the net and surf on my Tungsten T via Bluetooth from my PC which is connected to a DSL line from just about anywhere in my office.
To connect to the Internet via the PC or Mac by using Bluetooth on Tungsten T, the computer must be able to serve as a PPP host. For this, you must have a PPP server installed and this software is not bundled in PC or the Mac OS. Moreover, most Bluetooth accessories in the market today also do not bundle this software.
However, there is some hope. Mocha PPP is an example of third party software that can set the PC (not for Mac) up as a PPP host. For the Mac users, Palm Inc is working with Apple to identify some software that allows a similar bridge from Tungsten T to the Internet.
Here are the steps to setup BT net access with your windows PC and Tungsten T*:
This assumes that you have already configured your bluetooth adapter, and paired devices, etc.
- Confirm your Bluetooth adapter is configured properly
- Confirm your Bluetooth software is providing serial access on a COM port
- Confirm you have paired your Tungsten with your PC
- Download and install the Mocha PPP software from: Mochasoft.dk
- Go to the configuration of Mocha PPP, set device to Windows CE, Serial Port to whatever port is configured in your Bluetooth software, and Baud rate to 115200. Click OK. Note that you may need to deactivate or move Hotsync to another port before setting up Mocha if you are currently BT syncing that way.
- On your Palm, make a new connection. Connect to: PC, Via: Bluetooth, Device: your PC's bluetooth name.
- Under network, make a new service. User name/Password blank, Connection: [the connection name you created above].
- You are now ready to go! Hit connect, and start surfing wirelessly!
* please note that your particular Bluetooth adapter or access point may have different specs and configurations that may not work with this solution. In my case I used the Tecom BT3030 Bluetooth USB dongle.
A Big Thank you to: TravisHill, Mondo, cg, AleksandrK, jmpage2, TinMan, hotpaw4, Palm Inc and everyone else who helped to figure this out! We will post OS X and Linux instructions if they become available. For more information about this see this forum thread.
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RE: High COM ports
Why is there so much involved in what "should be" (or was promised to be) a relatively simple task.
And furthermore, is this going to get any easier? Can Palm release better BT software that will make this operation plug and play?
Palm Researcher at the University of Texas at Austin
http://www.edb.utexas.edu/petrosino/pda
RE: High COM ports
Purpose?
- Dan
RE: High COM ports
RE: High COM ports
I use the Tecom USB bluetooth dongle with a m505 and Bluetooth SD card. Other than getting this to work Bluetooth works great between the dongle/SD Card and my T68i.
RE: High COM ports
> Internet sharing and BlueTooth's LAN Access profile.
If you read the forum thread that is the basis of the article, it appears there is a bug on the Tungsten T that is causing resets when you use the network access profile with anything other than a PicoBlue access point. Not having a TT to play with yet, that's what I'm reading anyhow.
Still, this article is really the wrong way to set this up. Assuming there was no bug, you would, as you said, want to use the network access profile and Internet sharing in Windows. Even with the bug, any modern Windows (XP, 2000, NT) has built in PPP support, so Mocha PPP should not be necessary.
Ideally, you should just be able to pick up say a D-Link DBT-120 for $40, and follow the instructions in the manual for "Network Access Server-side Setup." Has anyone tried that???
RE: High COM ports
Anybody know how high of a priority this is for Palm/PalmSource to fix?
RE: High COM ports
Someday everything will have Bluetooth, and then the machines will mock us behind our backs....
FBN
Palm Bluetooth Compatibility Index
PicoBlue™ Internet Access Point
Red-M™ 1050AP LAN access point
EtherBlue™ Wireless LAN Access Point
Hewlett Packard 995c Printer*
3Com USB adapter
TDK USB adapter
D-Link DWB-120M Bluetooth USB Adapter
IBM Ultraport adapter
Toshiba 4010 notebook
HP ZT1000 notebook
iPaq 3870 PDA
3Com PC Card
Socket™ CompactFlash Bluetooth™ Card
Sony Clie Bluetooth™ MemStick
Widcomm Bluegate LANAcess PointP
* Printing functions are limited to the Palm Date Book, Address Book, To Do, and Memo Pad Applications.
Bluetooth Phones
Sony-E. T68i
Nokia 6210 (requires connectivity pack)
Nokia 6310
Nokia 7650
Nokia 6310i
Nokia 8910
Motorola TP270c (with Bluetooth Battery)
Motorola TP280
Ericsson R520m
Ericsson T39m
Ericsson T68
http://www.palm.com/support/bluetooth/bluetooth_compatibility.html
Bluetooth Networking for your Palm, Pocket PC and Computer
http://www.pdabuyersguide.com/tips/pico_BT.htm
PicoBlue™ Internet Access Point
The PicoBlue Internet Access Point (AP) is a Bluetooth wireless AP that provides enterprise, small- and medium-sized organizations with a secure, reliable and cost-effective solution for providing high-speed network access to users equipped with Bluetooth handhelds based on Palm OS®, Pocket PC and Windows® CE operating systems.
Key Features and Benefits
• Extended Range. PicoBlue provides wireless access to low-power Bluetooth client devices such as handhelds from as far as 300 feet (100m) and to high-power Bluetooth client devices such as notebooks from as far as 800 feet (250m) in open areas. Indoors, typical range is between 50 (10m) and 150 feet (45m).
http://www.pico.net/products.html
Today's mobile professionals need connectivity at home, too. This probably means competing for an Internet connection with the rest of the family. You can stay connected anywhere in the house at the same time the family is connected when you have a PicoBlue Internet Access Point plugged in to a broadband cable or DSL modem. With PicoBlue, the whole family can enjoy wireless freedom throughout the home on the platform of their choice -- handheld, notebook or desktop. And with PicoBlue, that DSL speed will be available over the air!
http://www.pico.net/home_scenario.html
Pico Communications technical support page
http://www.pico.net/support.html
http://www.pico.net/support_faq.html
Easy Setup. PicoBlue connects over Ethernet to corporate LANs and cable and DSL modems. It automatically senses the type of Ethernet connection (10 or 100 baseT) and can self-configure using DHCP. PicoBlue also is compatible with a wide range of client devices.
http://www.pico.net/compatibility.html
http://www.pico.net/download/PicoBlueQuickStart_v1.3.pdf
Palm Bluetooth support
http://www.palm.com/support/tungstent/
"There are 2 kind of people my friend....those with wires and those without"
RE: High COM ports
"Network Access Server-side Setup." Has anyone tried that???"
I should get my D-link BT USB adaptor today and will try it.
RE: High COM ports
RE: High COM ports
> my Tungsten T soft resets whenever I try to use a network app
Has anyone harassed Palm about this apparent (serious, in my opinion) bug? Anyone gotten a response on it?
RE: High COM ports
RE: High COM ports
RE: High COM ports
No, we just love taking the long way around simple issues. ^_^
-Mike
I sync, therefore I am.
RE: High COM ports
yep, it works on a m505/m515 with the BT SDIO card, just not the Tungsten. I hope we hear back from them about this, even just an acknowledgement of the issue.
RE: High COM ports
RE: High COM ports
> yep, it works on a m505/m515 with the BT SDIO card,
> just not the Tungsten. I hope we hear back from
> them about this, even just an acknowledgement of
> the issue.
Xian - I've got an m505 with a BT SDIO card and a TDK USB BT dongle. Do you know of any instructions anywhere as to how to get it working using the Network Access Profile? I've tried everything I can think of, but to no avail. The Mocha solution in the article works fine (one I disabled the DUN profile on my PC's BT services), but I'd like to use the network profile if poss.
Cheers
Alan
RE: High COM ports
I've the same problem as you did. How can I set up a Lan Access from my Palm to by Laptop?
The BT connection between my Palm and my Laptop is OK, but just don't know how to share the internet using Network connection.
Andy
RE: High COM ports
Cyan
What purpose does this serve
RE: What purpose does this serve
-Ryan
RE: What purpose does this serve
RE: What purpose does this serve
RE: What purpose does this serve
HELP - HELP ME UNDERSTAND
Can any one answer this -
can I use my t68i to dial an aol access # and then use my tungsten to surf the net??..and if I do so - do I have to pay extra ( I mean anything more than the airtime) to connect to the interent?? ( some fee per month or something per KB)
Thanks in advance guys...
RE: What purpose does this serve
RE: What purpose does this serve
Thanks in advance guys... <<
The T68i has built in support for HSCSD (High Speed Circuit Switched Data), which can effectively use up to 4 (I think) standard GSM TDMS channels in parallel. This can get a connection speed of roughly 38kbs in a good area. However, this rather assumes HSCSD is offered by any US GSM operator. I used this previously on Orange in the UK before they rolled out GPRS and it was fine; although I kept losing connections on trains (and you have to go through the lengthy dial up procedure each time). Under the contract I was using then, my lo-call ISP number counted as part of my free minutes, so worked out very cheap. However, under my current contract (still with Orange), data calls to a lo-call number *do not* come under my free minutes. However, GPRS is superior in every way, so haven't actually used HSCSD in ages...
So, to answer your question... depends if your network operator offers HSCSD (do not try connection over a single channel GSM line, 9.6kbs is painful!); *and* they allow data calls under their free minutes; then yes you should be able to connect via AOL.
Hope that helps.
FBN
RE: What purpose does this serve
FBN
RE: Which plan with At&t
RE: What purpose does this serve
RE: What purpose does this serve
RE: What purpose does this serve
RE: What purpose does this serve
What a great story....
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You may be a race car driver at heart if you refer to leaving your driveway as "Turn 1"
RE: What a great story....
Bluetooth for Windows
RE: Bluetooth for Windows
Click here for the full story discussion page...
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High COM ports