• MSI U-100 Netbook - Fedora Core 10(Gnome) Nokia Mobile phone Bluetooth PPP connection to Telstra setup and alternate WIFI setup.
  • (2GbRAM, 320GbHDD, Intel 3945ABG PCIe WIFI)
    Using an External USB 2.0 DVD-RW Drive and booting from the DVD-RW drive via the F11 Boot menu.
    
    After a fair bit of frustation with the stability of the Ralink drivers/hardware I decided to take the easy way out and purchased a 2nd hand Intel PCIe 3945ABG Network Card from ebay for $20AUD.
    This helped with a few WIFI problems.
    1. Drivers for the Intel card are included within the FC10 Install
    2. Stability from resume mode is perfect.
    3. NetworkManager works seamlessly.
    4. WPA2-PSK is fully supported.
    
    Changing out the card was as simple as swapping out the RAM or HDD with the exception that, for some reason, the terminals seem to be reversed. So the two wired connections to the antenna needed to be carefully rerouted and resecured with the tape to stop any crimping when the base cover was replaced.
    I came to the conclusion that they were reversed from a trial and error perspective. WIFI connection was not possible without reversing the wires in my tests and I did not investigate any further than that.
    
    After doing the FC10 install, running Gnome with Bluetooth packages and then adding the WIFI settings to the NetworkManager, the link popped up solid and secure.
    
    The Bluetooth manager picked up the bluetooth adapter without a hitch and after a bit of finagling with my Nokia Classic 6120 and nailing down an address/channel and port to connect through I have created a standard PPP dial-up connection to Telstra for when WIFI is not available and an internet connection is necessary.
    
    Bluetooth Setup:
    in a terminal.
    1. hcitool scan (get address of bluetooth devices)
    
    1a. (I found the channel for the 6120 was 2 using the sdptool and I also found the channel was 4 for the E51 after breaking my 6120)
    type,
    sdptool search --bdaddr ADDRESSHERE DUN
    and look for the channel for Dialup Networking.
    
    2. alter the /etc/bluetooth/rfcomm.conf file to include.
    rfcomm0
    {
    bind yes;
    device ADDRESSHERE;
    channel CHANNELHERE;
    comment "FRIENDLYNAMEHERE";
    }
    
    2a. Type
    rfcomm bind 0
    in the terminal as root to bind /dev/rfcomm0 to the bluetooth address and channel of the mobile phone.
    
    3. Add this line to /etc/rc.d/rc.local as root
    rfcomm bind 0
    to make the binding automatic when ever you start the system.
    
    4. Create a PPP connection and Modem device using the Network Configuration GUI from (System)->(Administration)->Network menu.
    
    4a.Choose the hardware tab and if there is a modem in the list use EDIT and check that the modem device is the /dev/rfcomm0 that we bound to the bluetooth address and channel earlier.
    If no modem is listed or the modem is not the /dev/rfcomm choose NEW then choose Modem from the list and use these values,
    Modem Device: /dev/rfcomm0
    Baud rate: 460800
    Flow control: none
    Modem volume: off
    Use touch tone dialing: checked
    and save the settings.
    
    4b.Then Choose the Devices tab, choose New, choose Modem connection and use these settings for Telstra.
    Prefix:
    Area Code:
    Phone Number: *99#
    Provider Name: Telstra
    Login Name: Telstra
    Password: Telstra
    then choose Forward and leave Automatically obtain DNS information from provider selected.
    then choose Forward then choose Apply if all the settings look good.
    Check, if you have more than one modem, to make sure the correct modem is in the config by using Edit after Applying.
    Now after you close and save changes you will have a new network-script called ifcfg-Telstra and at the command line you could test it using ifup Telstra and ifdown Telstra to bring it down again.
    
    5. Add a "Modem-Lights" panel icon to start the connection manually and give visual notification of connection/disconnection.
    
    5a.right click on Panel and choose Add to Panel and scroll down and select Modem-Lights and choose Add then Close.
    
    5b. Right hand click on the Modem-Lights applet and choose preferences.
    
    General Tab:
    Update every 1 seconds
    Show connect time and throughput: unchecked
    Blink connection status when connecting: unchecked
    Connection command: ifup Telstra
    Disconnection command: ifdown Telstra
    Confirm connection: checked
    
    Colors Tab:
    Receive Data
    Foreground:RED Background:Black
    Send Data
    Foreground:RED Background:Black
    Connection Status
    Connected: GREEN Disconnected:RED
    Connecting: BLUE
    TEXT
    Foreground:GREEN Background:Black
    Outline:Black
    
    Advanced Tab:
    Device: ppp0
    Lock file: /var/lock/LCK..rfcomm0
    Verify owner of lock file: checked
    Use ISDN: unchecked
    
    Now you will have a nifty little button to press to connect which will change from RED to BLUE when connecting and GREEN when connected with RED flashing lights and display for data throughput.
    
    NB:(Check that the software updater preferences->system->software updates is set to 'never' just in case it connects via the PPP Connection... Aiiieee $$$$ and remember to check manually for updates.)
    
    PS:(check out http://rpmfusion.org/Configuration to enable access/download via the package manager of some of the software that the Fedora Project and Redhat don't want to ship. eg. mp3 decoder, mpeg2 decoder etc)

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