Re: [NTLK] Apple G4 PowerBook Bluetooth to Newt?

From: DJ Vollkasko (DJ_Vollkasko_at_gmx.net)
Date: Sat Oct 09 2004 - 02:05:18 PDT


>From: Martin Joseph <martyNT_at_barknaturalpet.com>
>Subject: Re: [NTLK] Apple G4 500 MHz 15'' Titanium PowerBook Bluetooth to
>Newt?
>Date: Fri, 8 Oct 2004 12:50:31 -0700
>
>On Oct 8, 2004, at 9:03 AM, DJ Vollkasko wrote:
>
> > <snip>On Oct 7, 2004, at 6:18 AM, DJ Vollkasko wrote:
> >> <snip>
> >>> BT: I'll follow Eckart's recommendation and get myself a Sphinx Pico
> >>> BT
> >>> PC-Card for my Dr. Gruendelstein 2g00. But what should I use for BT
> >>> on
> >>> the<snip>
> >> Two thoughts.
> >> 1) I think that your PB has IR? If so you might be able to use Nitro?
> >
> > Negative, Houston. G4 Titanium no IR, AFAIK.
>Yes, there is... Check the details on this page:
>http://www.lowendmac.com/pb2/pbg4.html

I'll check as soon as I finally get it. The seller installed my new HD
yesterday and sets up the system now, I expect to pick it up today or tomorrow.

Next thing I'll have to figure out after BT is sorted: What USB audio-in
tool/external sound card would work (w/ good audio quality for a reasonable
price) for digitizing my 78s?

> > Don't have it here yet,
> > though. Wouldn't work to great with VNCing the PB from the Newt, anyway
> > (for BT-remoting DVD-/MP3-playback off the PB and other serious stuff).
>BT is too slow for VNC I think, 802.11b is much better for that.

I think it would work much the same, considering that the Newton's serial
speed is the bottleneck limiting WLAN and BT to the same max. speed.

> >> 2) There are several hacks that involve soldering a USB based
> >> Bluetooth thumb into the Tibook. Look over at XLR8yourmac.com and
> >> www.macbidouille.com.
> >
> > The Mac Bredouille is here:
> > http://www.hardmac.com/niouzcontenu.php?date=2004-09-13#2839. Neat
> > hack, BUT:
> > I'm pretty sure I won't do that: (a) I don't have the Apple BT module
> > he worked with,
>Actually I wonder if a regular old USB thumb couldn't be used as below.
> I think I will try this in my Tibook when I get the time.

Brilliant! Maybe if we Titanium Powerbookers pitched in some money for a
spare mainboard, then we could do a upgrade service - get hacked MB,
install, and it it works, send old MB to Marty for hacking... You know, a
bit like that Newton card lending service! ;=}

> > (b) I'm not too hot with dem soldering irons, and (c) I really
> > can't risk to lose that PB. If anybody donates a spare mainboard, I'll
> > shore enuff try it, Pa! ;=]
>Both the hacks involve soldering (of course!) but's it's actually
>pretty light weight.
>
>> Didn't find anything at the other site. Pls. advise.
>
>Here it is:
>http://www.macitynet.it/immagini/servizispeciali/bluetoothinsidee/

What I don't like about the Italian Job is the loss of regular USB
functionality (even if apparently only on one port).
What I like about the French hack is that it activates a internal built-in
port that's otherwise left unused (just like with Eckart's internal BT
hack). And I couldn't find anything about any collateral damage to any
other functionality, so I'd probably prefer that.

> > If I had the iBook that the module came with, I'd most likely just use
> > that
> > instead if lobotomizing that machine in order to burn and melt through
> > a perfectly decent second...
> >
>Wimp! hehe

Watch who yer call wimp or I'll blast you out of the water with the sonic
superpowers granted to me! A hundred naked elephant bulls raging ain't
nothing against the aural assault I can provide. Plus I wield a pretty mean
paddle (always good to have a backup plan!). ;=}

> >> If you do find a PCMCIA solution that is nice please share!

I found Alexander Traud's Card Blues Suite http://www.traud.de/bluetooth,
which allows *only* the 3Com Wireless Bluetooth PC Card Version 3.0
(<http://www.3com.com/products/en_US/detail.jsp?tab=features&pathtype=purchase&sku=3CRWB6096B96B)
to be used with MacOSX. I don't have this card, and it's not up at Ebay
right now, and similar cards (e.g. 3CRWB6096) cost three to six times what
the Sphinx Pico cards cost over here. Ouch!
But at least that's a way w/o soldering (though I love the idea of that
French hack - leaves the only PC Card slot free for other stuff, that's
brilliant!).

[Q] Does anybody have a 3Com Wireless Bluetooth PC Card Version 3.0
(<http://www.3com.com/products/en_US/detail.jsp?tab=features&pathtype=purchase&sku=3CRWB6096B96B)
to lend out for testing (or sell)?

[Q] Do you really have to unfold the X-Jack antenna to use that card every
time? How much of a nuisance is that?

I've contacted Alexander Traud yesterday (who BTW lives in Darmstadt,
Germany - and we do have a list member there, don't we) and asked about the
compatibility of the Pico cards and the chance of getting others to run on
OSX. Here's a rough summary of what he'd told me -

- Sphinc Pico won't work.

- Card Blues Suite actually supports Sphinx PICO Card and even contains a
PICO Patch, as Sphinx has a bug in the card. *BUT* the Apple RS-232 PC Card
Driver in Mac OS X doesn't work too great and has data losses on the way
from PC Card to the driver, upon which the driver has to refuse the card.

- As soon as Apple releases a better driver, the Sphinx card should work, too.

- Alexander has invested quite a bit of time to find the error in Apple's
BT driver - the source is public - but he couldn't find anything yet.

- He reports that he's heard that 3Com Bluetooth PC Card doesn't work on
the Newton, as the Newt's RS-232 PC Card Driver supposedly has a problem
with the 3Com card, but not the Sphinx card. He can't verify this himself
(lack of Newton, I presume).

- Sphinx PICO Card not well manufactured in his opinion, as it usually
hangs in the PC Card slot of G4
Titanium Powerbooks. Plus he things that card is ugly. ;=} (Oi, mate, it's
*green*! ;=} )

- Advantage of 3Com Bluetooth PC Card: It completely fits inside the
Powebook's case, nothing extrudes.

#################################

Hmh, I wonder if not maybe Eckart and Alexander should compare notes on
their projects... ;=}

Cheers,

Ole man 'Kasko

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