Re: [NTLK] Help for new eMate User - Confused!

From: James Nichols (smilr_at_mac.com)
Date: Sat Feb 26 2005 - 16:25:01 PST


Hmm, this could be a bit difficult - there is a newton Package called
"Dock TCP/IP"- which adds the tcp/ip option to the list in the Dock
program. To use escale and Dock with the router/airport you will need
this package installed. (the problem is that most wireless routers
other than the graphite Airport Base stations don't understand
appletalk, and don't handle it properly on the wireless side. I can
only assume your Netgear has this limitation as well.

I think I remember seeing that other people had difficulty with
directly connecting their newton devices to their macs as well, what I
would suggest you try next is hook both the mac and the newton to the
router with ethernet cables, and try the straight Appletalk connection
(like you were trying with them connected directly to each other) and
see if it will connect then.

The first thing I would install with Escale is the Dock TCP/IP package
found on this site: http://www.kallisys.com/newton/dcl/, and then you
could configure things to dock using it, allowing the newton to talk to
the iBook when the iBook is only connected wirelessly.

If you can't get the connection working with the ethernet cables or the
wireless cards, your options fall back on serial, IrDa, or the
bootstrap loaner card system.

For serial you would want to find an older mac, a semi-old pc, or a usb
to serial adaptor for your iBook. For IrDa, your best bet would be an
older mac laptop.

The boostrap loaner card system involves asking someone near you on
this list to load up the basic networking / connection programs that
you need onto a linear-flash pc-card, then mailing the card to you. You
plug the card in, move the packages from the card onto the internal
memory of the eMate, and use them to get your connection going. Once
done, you mail the card back. I'm not certain who was doing this in the
first place - but if you end up needing it, post to the list and
someone will likely speak up about it.

Also, if you plan to purchase a linear-flash pc card of your own ( to
give you more storage space), if you buy one from a list member or
other newton owner, they will often be happy to load some connection
packages / programs on it before sending it to yo. So if you are in the
market for a card, ask the seller about it.

Hope something here helps! Again, your best bet at this point is to
hook both the iBook and the eMate to the router with ethernet cables,
and to try the plain vanilla appletalk connection again. As for the
hinge repair, I can't say how difficult it is, although it may be
possible to do it without the use of a soldering iron if you are REALLY
careful. There was an excellent response to this list with links to
plenty of information about the problem / fixes that passed the list a
few days ago, heres a link to it if you can't find it:
http://marc.theaimsgroup.com/?l=newtontalk&m=110930243723734&w=2

J Tyler Nichols
On Feb 26, 2005, at 5:31 PM, Richard McCarthy wrote:

> Hi,
>
> Thanks for the additional advice; it is really appreciated. The great
> things I'd heard about the Newton Community was one of the things that
> convinced me I'd be OK getting started with the platform.
>
> My Router is a Netgear DG834G. It has a built in ASDL Modem, which I
> use to connect to the internet. I don't know whether or not it is
> compatible with AppleTalk or not.
>
> I see the idea of loading an internet application on to the eMate to
> see if the system is working, but sadly, at the moment, I've got no way
> of linking it up to either of my computers to add any packages. I am
> just using the "normal" dock option, rather than the Classroom Dock.
> The version I had installed does not give an option to connect using
> TCP/IP.
>
> I have followed the advice given as to establishing a connection with
> the eMate plugged directly into the router, and the iBook connected
> wirelessly. AppleTalk is activated for the Airport Card, the
> configuration is set to 'Automatic".
>
> I have then launched Escale on the iBook. I have then pressed Dock on
> the eMate, selected 'Connect via AppleTalk', and then 'Connect to Other
> Computer'. At this point the eMate brings up a dialogue box saying it
> is 'Looking for Mac OS Computers..." I have then simply left it alone,
> and Escale has not responded on the iBook. After a time, the eMate
> pops up with an error, telling me the the 'Choose I have selected will
> be closed down to preserve battery life'.
>
> Having despaired a little of this, as I tried it a few times, I thought
> I would see what would happen if I were to connect the eMate to the
> ethernet port on the iBook directly. So I've done this, and made
> AppleTalk active on the built in ethernet rather than the wireless
> network, as Mac OS tells me only one adapter can use AppleTalk at a
> time.
>
> The results here are far more interest, although still far from ideal.
> Most of the time, the process runs through in exactly the same way as
> it does when plugged into the router. However, sometimes it does find
> the iBook in the list of Mac OS computers.
>
> When this happens, I select the iBook, close that dialogue, and then,
> with 'Connect to iBook' selected in the main Dock window, and with
> Escale running on the Mac, I click connect. This then attempts to make
> a connection, before coming up with the error 'The Selected Mac OS
> computer cannot be found on the network', which seems a little odd
> given that it has found out the name of the computer all by itself!
>
> Well, I guess it is a progress of sorts! What do you think I should do
> from this point?
>
> Thanks again for your help,
>
> Best Wishes,
>
> Richard McCarthy
> PS - I'm getting quite concerned about this hinge problem that people
> seem to be having. Is it easy to repair yourself? Should I avoid
> moving the screen until I can get it fixed? I'm not that experienced
> with a soldering iron!
>
> --
> This is the NewtonTalk list - http://www.newtontalk.net/ for all
> inquiries
> Official Newton FAQ: http://www.chuma.org/newton/faq/
> WikiWikiNewt for all kinds of articles:
> http://tools.unna.org/wikiwikinewt/
>

-- 
This is the NewtonTalk list - http://www.newtontalk.net/ for all inquiries
Official Newton FAQ: http://www.chuma.org/newton/faq/
WikiWikiNewt for all kinds of articles: http://tools.unna.org/wikiwikinewt/


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