Since I’m heading out for Las Vegas in just under two hours, I decided I’d get my laptop set up to get online through my cellphone with Bluetooth. Here’s a quick how-to.

1. Install the necessary software to run Bluetooth on your machine. For Debian systems, you’ll need the bluez-util package at least.
2. Change the default PIN. This is in /etc/bluetooth/pin.
3. Make sure your phone is set to be visible. Pair the phone with your PC. I start this from the phone; you will be asked for the PIN you changed in the previous step.
4. Determine your phone’s bluetooth address:

   $ hcitool inq

5. Determine the DUN port (replace with your phone’s address):

   $ sdptool browse 11:22:33:44:55:66

6. Edit /etc/bluetooth/rfcomm.conf. Add the following entry (replace device & channel with the correct values for your phone):

   rfcomm0
   {
       device 11:22:33:44:55:66;
       channel 1;
       comment 'BT DUN';
   }
   

7. Set up rfcomm0:

   $ rfcomm bind rfcomm0
   $ rfcomm
   

   The second command should show the device, channel, and status.

8. Edit /etc/ppp/options. You need to add:

   privgroup some_group_you_are_a_member_of
   

   You may want to set it to dialout, though there are security implications if you’re on a multi-user machine.

9. Launch KPPP. Click “Configure,” then “Modems,” then “New.”
10. Enter a name. Set “Modem device” to /dev/rfcomm0. Click the “Modem” tab, then the “Modem commands” button.
11. Change the “Dial string” to ATD. Click OK until you’re back at the main config screen. Select the “Accounts” tab, and click the “New” button. Choose Manual Setup.
12. Enter a connection name. Add one phone number; it should be *99#. Select Script-based authentication. Click “Customize pppd Arguments,” and add noauth
13. That’s it for the setup. Go ahead and connect, and if all went well, you’ll be online.

This entry was posted on Thursday, August 18th, 2005 at 7:28 pm and is filed under General, Linux. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.