[Andrej]

Normally I would go to the Networking section to post this question, but I was told in big red letters that "Bluetooth" goes here, so this is where I am going.

I am trying to get wireless internet access at my apartment through bluetooth, because I just got a Bluetooth module for my iMac, and my Powerbook already has it. so, it must be really easy to share the internet connection. But after doing some searching online, I am finding out that Bluetooth internet between two Macs requires some very hard to understand Terminal commands and all sorts of other directions that I can't figure out or understand. I've been searching this forum and the internet for days and do not see a Leopard solution.

So, how can I get my Powerbook to access my iMac's internet through Bluetooth?

[mduell]

Sharing the internet between computers using BlueTooth has always been sort of a hack. I remember guys doing it right after it came out just to prove it could be done, but it was slow and required a lot of work.

Does your iMac have wifi? That would make it a lot easier.

[Andrej]

No. There is no Airport card in my iMac. (Which annoyed me from the day that I got it, grrr!)

Do I need the card and the base station?

If just the card, then should I get the 802.11b off eBay, or do I need one of these others (g, n, a, etc.)?

Edit: Nevermind, seems like purchasing and installing sufficiently the Airport Extreme card using any listed "Airport Extreme" card from my eBay search results will complete the original objective. Luckily those things are just $20 nowadays, huh!

[mduell]

Or you could buy a USB wifi adapter if you don't want to crack open your iMac.

[Andrej]

Nah, I've cracked open my iMac before... remember those K-cap vs. X-cap overcharged capacitor days and power supply issues? I cracked open my iMac earlier this year to confirm that I had the lousy X-caps:

http://home.gwi.net/~rdf/storage/ima...o/P1050005.jpg

http://home.gwi.net/~rdf/storage/ima...cro/macro2.jpg

Plus I can look up the Airport Extreme card installation directions pretty easily. Final question: A wall-bounce distance between Airport Extreme cards in my iMac and Powerbook would be about 65 feet (I want 3.0Mbps wireless in my kitchen). Go with the card or a USB adapter?

[Big Mac]

We recommend against USB networking solutions around here. USB wasn't designed for that use.

There is one type of Airport card for your particular Mac, and Airport cards are compatible with all WIFI access points.

[cgc]

A bluetooth network would be useful only if you could connect your SAN floppy drive raid to it...

[Jesus On Cheese]

It's a G5, yeah? You can get the Airport Extreme cards pretty cheap on eBay. And real easy to fit. Plus the aerial in the G5 is going to be a lot better than the one on a USB adaptor. If you do need to extend the range then you can try (at least) three things:

1. Airport Express/extreme basestation to extend the range of network (or even act as an access point)
2. Hack the aerials in either device to add a standard wifi aerial connector, then add a mofo big external aerial
3. use a lan to wifi bridge with a really good aerial