Guide to tethering your MBA

[dyerucf]

Well for what I am doing I need to figure out how to use the PAN, Called apple support, they have no clue what the issue is. Thinking of calling broadcom monday and bitching to them directly =]

 

[brianhn1]

So I broke out the old macbook and tethered it up, and what do you know. WORKS GREAT, can even stream video over bluetooth PAN. The issue is the macbook air for sure now. Opened up System Profiler and looked at some of the differences.


Macbook: Bluetooth Software 2.1.0f14
Macbook Air: Same

Macbook Air: Has broadcom chipset
Macbook: Cambridge Silicon Radio

Macbook Firmware: 3.1965
Macbook Air Firmware: 4.2000

So I guess the issue is with the macbook air's new broadcom chipset......

That is very interesting. If both you and I are getting terrible speeds with BT tethering, then it could be said it is likely a hardware difference/problem in the MBA.

I will try to pair it up again in a moment and see if there is any improvement. I paired it a few times when I had 10.5.1.

 

[brianhn1]

Just tried it again. I got this result at speedtest.net...terrible.

 

[brianhn1]

Now when I use Wifi using WMWifiRouter, it works great (below). I hope we can fix this BT tethering.

 

[elmo151]

Everyone knows you can't tether the Macbook Air, cause the stupid thing doesn't even have a security slot, let alone more than one USB port!

it's easy. I place 4 cinderblocks on top of the MBA; very hard to move

 

[serendipity0213]

connection

I think the idea of no connection at all is great, and I have searched to see if the type of device I use can be done without a connection. There does not seem to be such a thing yet. By doing it the way I do, the connection is very fast, and I am not using up my wireless minutes. Also I can use the phone at the same time. I love your idea and look forward to ideas you find.

 

[dyerucf]

Now when I use Wifi using WMWifiRouter, it works great (below). I hope we can fix this BT tethering.

It is certainly a hardware issue, what type of phone are you using?

 

[brianhn1]

It is certainly a hardware issue, what type of phone are you using?

I'm using a HTC TyTn with WM6.

 

[dyerucf]

Hardware for sure

Has any one else had any luck tethering and getting decent speeds out of it using ICS? I really need some more people to chime in on this so I can be prepared when I call apple and broadcom this . I would really like to find out how to get my treo to work as a USB modem to show that it is a bluetooth chipset issue

 

[lewisozz]

Use

i use my iphone and my MBA but it drains the battery on the iphone though !!!!

 

[RedTomato]

I use bluetooth and Windows Mobile 5 smartphone edition but not Internet Connection Sharing.

I have a Macbook with 10.5.2, and a HTC TyTn from T-Mobile, with their Web-n-walk, and Windows Mobile 5.

It doesn't seem to have Internet connection sharing either. Would you mind sharing with me how you make WM5 share its connection with OSX? For the life of me, I haven't been able to work it out.

I dont need high speed mobile internet, just enough to download and send emails.

 

[mashoutposse]

Using Installer.app on your iPhone, find "Community Resources" on the list under the Install tab. Tap on it, and then tap install. Then once that's installed, install all of the following:

* BSD Subsystem
* Term-VT100


Launch Term-VT100 on your iPhone, type srelay and hit return.

On your Mac, click the Wifi icon and click "Create Network..." Choose a name like iPhone or something.

On your iPhone, go to Preferences -> Wifi. Connect to the network you just created, and press the little blue "(>)" next to it. Change it from DHCP to Static.

* IP Address: 192.168.1.100
* Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0


Then tap The <Wi-Fi Networks] button, then press the home button just for good measure.

On your Mac, go to System Preferences -> Network and double click on Airport. Go to the TCP/IP tab and for Configure IPv4: select "Manually."

* IP address: 192.168.1.101
* Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0


Go to Proxies. Scroll down to SOCKS Proxy and check the little box next to it.

* IP address: 192.168.1.100
* Port: 1080


Hit "Apply Now" ... Open Safari and have fun.

Once you're done tethering, you need to uncheck SOCKS Proxy on your Mac.

Thank you -- I am submitting this post from my MacBook Air via my iPhone's EDGE connection This is awesome.

 

[drew0020]

Isnt EDGE extremely slow? I guess it is better than nothing. Maybe ill have to try this with my air.

 

[Wingnut330]

Anyone have success with a 700w? I would like to try with mine. I have 2 options...

1. Tether with BT to the Air and ride the Verizon network that way

-or-

2. Use a USB modem that I got for free from Verizon. The issue is that the USB Modem costs $60 / month.

 

[serendipity0213]

connection

I am writing from Dulles airport using my Verizon UM150 modem. It is awesome, and I can still use my Treo 700P. I did find that the Treo connection keeps dropping from here but not this modem. It is worth it to me for the ease of use and great connection.
B

 

[dahcheet]

I tethered my Blackberry 8830 (Verizon) to my MBA by blue tooth and it worked great. Took a little to find all the settings I needed but afterwards it was great. A little slow but worked to my liking. I haven't had a chance to use it again because I'm usually by a wireless network I have access to but it's good to know I can have internet anywhere I have signal.

 

[Rlkv011]

Do you guys who use the iPhone get any big bills from AT&T or is there no way for them to know?

 

[ahaxton]

Do you guys who use the iPhone get any big bills from AT&T or is there no way for them to know?

I've been tethering my iPhone for months. No issues whatsoever.

 

[mashoutposse]

I've been tethering my iPhone for months. No issues whatsoever.

I'm getting an error when I visit certain sites -- I would ignore it if one of them wasn't Google

"Safari can’t open the page “http://livepage.apple.com/”. The error was: “unknown error” (NSURLErrorDomain:-1)"

Practically all other pages work just fine. In fact, I'm making this post using the iPhone's EDGE connection (pretty decent speed, BTW). Any thoughts on how to solve this?

 

[dyerucf]

I have an open ticket

I have an open ticket with apple on this issue, I will let you guys know how that fairs. It is obviously an issue with the new broadcom chipset they are using now.

 

[brianhn1]

I have an open ticket with apple on this issue, I will let you guys know how that fairs. It is obviously an issue with the new broadcom chipset they are using now.

Thanks for doing this. I am very interested to seeing what Apple will come up with for a solution.

 

[dyerucf]

Thanks for doing this. I am very interested to seeing what Apple will come up with for a solution.

Got a call from my specialist over at apple, they have not escalated it to engineering and said that they will keep me posted as soon as they have something worked out. They said it may or may NOT be resolved in future software updates. Pretty bummed out about this. Guess if my 3g iphone comes out I can always just use that eventually. Probably the only resolution I will get any time soon on this matter.


Any one else here tether via bluetooth on a windows mobile 6 device?

 

[Sesshi]

Pairing it with the N95 is driving me nuts. What happened to 'just works'? It's a 10-second task on any Vista notebook - which my Windows ultraportables actually don't need as they have built-in 3G.

Sigh...

 

[Terwal]

I tethered my Blackberry 8830 (Verizon) to my MBA by blue tooth and it worked great. Took a little to find all the settings I needed but afterwards it was great. A little slow but worked to my liking. I haven't had a chance to use it again because I'm usually by a wireless network I have access to but it's good to know I can have internet anywhere I have signal.

dahcheet, I have a Blackberry 8700 series (Vodafone) and have no idea how to tether it to my MBA ?

Any help would be greatly appreciated...

Thanks...

W.

 

[ahaxton]

I'm getting an error when I visit certain sites -- I would ignore it if one of them wasn't Google

"Safari can’t open the page “http://livepage.apple.com/”. The error was: “unknown error” (NSURLErrorDomain:-1)"

Practically all other pages work just fine. In fact, I'm making this post using the iPhone's EDGE connection (pretty decent speed, BTW). Any thoughts on how to solve this?

It can be a bit sketchy. To guarantee a load, type in the main domain of the site on your iphone, then stop its loading and you should be able to surf the domain and all its subpages on your computer.