bioneural.net » wifi

Air Sharing between iPhone and Mac

Bruce — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 16:14:38 +0000

From http://www.bioneural.net doi:tSglPpAB7a8nfM :

Air Sharing is a fab app for iPhone that lets you mount a file store on the device to the desktop as a wireless share. You can browse your files using any decent web browser, and even upload files to the phone—albeit one file at a time. This limitation can be overcome by mounting the iPhone as a network drive (on Mac from the Finder Go > Connect to Server... and enter the server address). Rather than have to visit this menu each time, wouldn't it be nice if there were a one-click way to mount iPhone? There's a app for that. Yep, there's an app for that if you're willing to make one. Fear not, this is very simple using Automator which brings AppleScripting to the Rest of Us. The iPhone supports Apple's Bonjour networking protocol, and can be recognised by either the assigned device name or IP address. If like me you use your iPhone on more than one WiFi network, it might be assigned a different IP address via DHCP. Because of this it makes sense to use the iPhone's Bonjour name rather than IP address, which you can identify from within Air Sharing by taping on the WiFi icon: My Air Sharing app is built with three Automator actions: Get Specified Servers, Connect to Servers, and Show Growl Notification (Growl is an essential OS X add-on). In Automator drag these actions to the right side of the window in the order shown: In the Get Specified Servers action click Add ...

Resolving router issues with Be Unlimited

Bruce — Tue, 27 May 2008 07:02:48 +0000

From http://www.bioneural.net doi:tSglPpAB7a8nfM :

Be Unlimited provide ADSL2+ services in the UK, supplying a Be-branded Thompson SpeedTouch wireless router called the BeBox. The Member Forum is full of complaints about router instability and errant behaviour. My 780WL had been doing well for around 6 months, then started resetting itself sometimes several times within a short period, but at least daily. Sometimes after a reset I was left with no Internet connectivity. Eventually Be sent me a replacement router, which came with replacement problems. So how do you turn a flaky BeBox into a rock-solid Internet router? Just take the "Be" out of your BeBox. Be deny any blame Be offered me a variety of explanations and solutions for the frequent disconnection/ resets I was experiencing: The router firmware was corrupt (this was suggested by each of the 4 support staff I contacted—perhaps a stock response. I explained I couldn't replace it using a Mac—see below); Local errors my router reported were indicative of a problem between the router and my computer; Local errors my router reported were likely due to line noise (despite very good data rates it seems, and a clear Quiet Line Test—17070 option 2); The replacement router was disconnecting because I was using the wrong DNS server IP addresses (I was; Be's instructions for configuring the replacement router for a static IP were completely wrong; I got no connection at all until I was given the correct gateway IP address over the phone); Ongoing issues with the replacement router indicated that the problem was "something on my network", ...

An exercise in wireless frustration

Bruce — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 14:17:34 +0000

From http://www.bioneural.net doi:tSglPpAB7a8nfM :

Having spent the better part of two half days trying to achieve the impossible, I wish to recount an exercise in wireless frustration. The challenge was to hook up an iMac G4 (Flat Panel) with no Airport Card, located in the attic room, to my home LAN (and thus to the Internet). One purpose of this machine was to serve as a screen for streamed video that could be watched while using the exercise cycle. A TV had provided such distraction, but that had broke. To cement the challenge, the problem should be solved using equipment already to hand i.e. at no additional cost. My "BeBox", the hub of my home LAN, is actually a SpeedTouch 780WL WiFi router/ ADSL modem. The router's wireless access point (WAP) offers 802.11b/g, which is secured with Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) encryption—the earlier Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) standard is considered insecure. A slow, insecure option that worked It's worth noting that the original Apple Aiport Card appropriate for this machine can still be had on eBay for £30–40. Although this card is WPA-aware, it is only 802.11b (11Mbps) and thus not suitable for streaming. I know this to be so because the first device I tried was the Linksys WET11, a wireless Ethernet bridge. For the record, because it took me some time to discover, this device has a factory-default IP of 192.168.1.225. However, before you can connect to it using Safari (or any other browser), you need to manually assign your Mac an IP address in ...

Mac-friendly alternatives to Apple's 1G iPhone

Bruce — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 12:04:28 +0000

From http://www.bioneural.net doi:tSglPpAB7a8nfM :

The iPhone has arrived in the US. Even if it were available in New Zealand I still wouldn't buy one. I'm happy to wait for the large beta-test program (i.e. 1 in 5 US adults) to refine the product first. That said, I've been looking for a way to converge my mobile devices (phone, PDA, iPod) for some time. Sadly the 1st generation iPhone does not look like the device to fill this need. Relative to other Mac-friendly alternatives it comes up uniquely short in a number of areas on my feature wish-list. But of course I haven't seen or held it in the "flesh", and it is only a 1G device—so I can't be overly critical. Or can I? Most of the pre-launch focus has been on iPhone's interface (not unimportant), but what about comparative features? It's clear that while the iPhone offers few unique features (iTMS DRM playback, bookmark syncing) it's also immediately apparent that, relative to comparable products, the iPhone has the most limitations. I've been a Palm user since 1999, owning a Palm V, an m505, and (currently) a Tungsten T3: I also use an ageing Sony Ericsson T610 and an iPod (1G deceased; currently an iPod Photo). It would be nice to carry around one device instead of three (ditto on the chargers); I had hoped that device might be the iPhone: So the iPhone has arrived. I posted on the perfect PDA + phone back in 2005—it still hasn't arrived. With Palm OS so obviously stagnating ...

Airport vs. Ethernet: wireless at the cost of speed?

Bruce — Wed, 21 Jun 2006 20:28:31 +0000

From http://www.bioneural.net doi:tSglPpAB7a8nfM :

When I got my Mac mini with a built-in WiFi antennae I decided not to connect it to my network hub via Ethernet. At some point I became suspicious that my 1 Mbps ADSL Internet connection just wasn't up to par; eventually I had to do something about it. With a wired connection again I experienced a noticeable 158% speed increase. I'm not sure if I should be surprised by this, however, particularly given disgruntled reports in places such as MacInTouch concerning poor or variable Airport reception. I ran some tests using the ADSLGuide Broadband Speed Test. Airport speeds Airport speed: download 547.6 Kbps; upload 15.5 Kbps Hmmm... not good. Next step: turn off airport and re-establish wired Ethernet connection. Ethernet speeds Ethernet speed: download 866.1 Kbps; upload 243.3 Kbps Well, that's about what I would expect. Most ADSL users know they don't get quite what they pay for, since a number of variables (distance from the telephone exchange, etc.) supposedly degrade the theoretical maximum speed. Accounting for the difference I wish I could. It has been my understanding that a 802.11g (54 Mbps—yeah, sure!) WiFi connection could readily cope with a measly 1 Mbps ADSL connection. In fact I have a Dell laptop with a Linksys "Wireless-G" (WPC54G) notebook adapter sitting next to the mini (thus similar conditions) and I can't say that I have ever noticed a difference in speed comparing WiFi to Ethernet. So I'm left with a few theories: The WiFi antennae in the Mac mini really is sub-standard; Interference? I rang tech support at a local ...

The utility of WiFi on a handheld

Bruce — Fri, 21 Oct 2005 07:32:01 +0000

From http://www.bioneural.net doi:tSglPpAB7a8nfM :

WiFi on a handheld? Far from being as much use as mammary glands on a bull, a wireless PDA has additional functionality over its USB-teethered brethren. Aside from wireless synching, potential roles may include downloading, controlling, accessing, communicating, informing, entertaining, printing, and updating. I was unable to establish WiFi connectivity in my first 48 hours with the X50v. It turns out that my router was configured to accept connections on 802.11g only (since I have a Wireless-G card in my laptop). The X50v supports the 802.11b standard only: Shortly after this realisation and switching the router to "Mixed" mode WiFi was up and running using the Odyssey client (which isn't mentioned in the user guide; I gave up on Dell WLAN Utility). Here, mostly for my record (maybe it'll help you too), is how to set it up: Use the Dell WLAN utility to turn on WiFi; Close the Dell WLAN utility and open Odyssey Client; In the Settings menu tap Configure; Tap Add; Tap Scan to find your WiFi network; Select your network when it is discovered and check Infrastructure mode then OK; In the following screen tap Next; Set Association mode to Shared; Set Encryption method to WEP; Uncheck 802.1X then Next; Enter your WEP hex key with hexadecimal checked, then Next; Tap Finish; Tap OK; Select your WLAN from the drop-down menu and check Connect to; Tap OK. Your WLAN connection (Odyssey client icon) and signal strength is displayed on the Today screen: Downloading You can use Internet Explorer to download software and other files. Files of the type .cab can be downloaded direct to the Pocket ...

Visiting the other PDA platform (first 48 hrs)

Bruce — Fri, 14 Oct 2005 14:31:03 +0000

From http://www.bioneural.net doi:tSglPpAB7a8nfM :

Palm or Windows Mobile? I've been firmly in the Palm camp to date, but have just acquired a Pocket PC together with Missing Sync for Windows Mobile. This is not a review of the Dell Axim X50v, but rather a functional comparison with my Palm T3 from the point-of-view of a Mac user. How did a Palm user making a trial transition to Pocket PC fair when pairing the device with Mac OS X? For given applications and functionality, does Palm or Pocket PC have the winning edge? Will he or won't he become a "switcher"? First impressions count, so I decided to document my experiences during the first 48 hours with a Pocket PC. There will be plenty to revisit in subsequent bloggings... The outgoing Dell Axim X50v Now superseded by the X51v, Dell were having a 20% off clear-out of the previous model, now 1 year old. The hardware is the same aside from double the ROM. Buying direct saved £77 over Expansys (shop around!) and avoided having to fight it out on eBay for a similar price. It cost me less than a Fujitsu Siemens Loox 720 "Grade B" stock which seemed like a similar spec alternative. I chose a "Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC Second Edition" device because Missing Sync (see below) doesn't yet support Windows Mobile 5.0 (free update pending); Dell has announced that there will be a WM5 upgrade for the X50v (not free), so I have options. The X50v doesn't match my recent wish-list, but then ...

The perfect PDA + phone

Bruce — Thu, 15 Sep 2005 08:22:44 +0000

From http://www.bioneural.net doi:tSglPpAB7a8nfM :

I have a Palm T3 paired with a T610 which I'm generally happy with. It's my third Palm with the selling-point of flash ROM, and the third time I've seen the OS develop (slightly) with no upgrade path for existing Palm users. For example, the T3 shipped with VersaMail 2.6 which doesn't work with Gmail; 2.7 does work on the T3 although Palm does not officially support this (I guess they want you to buy a new device). So don't buy a Palm with a view to it maturing with age! What would I want to upgrade to then? A wish list: Things I don't need Flash ROM (Palm at least never deliver on upgradability); A multitasking OS (I can only do one thing at a time on a small screen); A web browser (surfing is costly over a mobile, not to mention slow, cramped, and lacking good CSS support); An IM client (I'll use the phone); An intrared port (there's Bluetooth + WiFi, I have no legacy devices, and prefer dedicated remote controls in the living room); "Push" e-mail (checking it manually once a day when abroad is fine—assuming you can get a GPRS signal). Why have WiFI? A number of apps (Palm and PPC) can update wirelessly—important functionality when there is no Mac conduit for synchronisation; Using a VNC client on the PDA allows control of a desktop computer from another room; Use Skype for PPC to turn your PDA into a wireless VoIP phone; You can apparently stream a DVD via VLC on a desktop to a PPC media player; Software ...

Work on your desktop Mac via your PC laptop

Bruce — Thu, 29 Jul 2004 12:28:09 +0000

From http://www.bioneural.net doi:tSglPpAB7a8nfM :

Sit in the conservatory with your WiFi-equipped PC laptop, and control your desktop Mac in the upstairs office to check your e-mail, chat via your Internet messaging service, write a letter, or surf the web. As described here: VNC (Virtual Network Computing) software makes it possible to view and fully-interact with one computer from any other computer or mobile device anywhere on the Internet. VNC software is cross-platform, allowing remote control between different types of computer. For ultimate simplicity, there is even a Java viewer, so that any desktop can be controlled remotely from within a browser without having to install software. On the Mac For Mac OS X, download the OSXvnc VNC server software here and place it in your Applications folder.If you're running Mac OS X's firewall (you should be), go to System Preferences > Sharing > Firewall > New... and select VNC from the pop-up list of Port Names; click OK and make sure your firewall is running. Launch OSXvnc and configure it (e.g. add a login password), then push the Start Server button. On the PC Download VNC viewer (client) software here and install it. Use the Run VNC Viewer shortcut to open a new connection. Enter the IP address of your Mac followed by the server password you configured above, when prompted. Your Mac desktop should now appear: Update 10.12.05: If you're running OS X 10.4 (Tiger) you no longer need to download and install a VNC server as it's built right in. As described here, to access this "hidden" feature turn on Apple Remote ...