Leopard Bluetooth File Transfer Problem

[MagnusVonMagnum]

I just installed an MSI bluetooth 2.0 dongle for my PowerMac and file transfers with my phone work perfectly fine under Tiger (although headsets do not work). Headsets work fine under Leopard, but for the life of me I cannot get Leopard to transfer files from the phone or even my PC (which again worked fine under Tiger). I've searched online and the common response is to make sure Bluetooth Sharing is turned on in the Sharing Preference widget (well it IS turned on) and Bluetooth File Transfer is also turned on in the Firewall application setting. I also tried turning off the Firewall. Still no joy. The thing simply refuses to transfer files. It just sits there.

Similarly, I've had issues getting Yahoo Messenger 3.0 Beta 3 to connect unless I use the firewall setting (which hints that it IS a firewall issue). I added Yahoo Messenger to the application list and it worked the next time I launched it, but then the time after that it wouldn't start again. It seems as if Leopard is simply ignoring user Firewall settings, be they all on/off or individual app selections. This is beyond frustrating. I want to start moving over to Leopard on a semi-permanent basis, but if major functions don't work, I simply cannot do it.

If anyone has any suggestions, let me know. Thanks.

 

[MagnusVonMagnum]

I've tracked the Yahoo Messenger problem down to a problem with my NetGear router (well at least I think that's what it was since it suddenly stopped working under Tiger as well and a factory default reset to the router seemed to get it up and working thereafter). It also appears Yahoo has finally fixed the image for avatar bug with the Mac since it now appears to work (even before I reset the router in firewall mode). Since Yahoo Messenger hasn't been updated for Mac, I assume it was on the server end.

In any case, despite playing with Leopard's bluetooth settings, firewall settings, etc. for over an hour, I simply CANNOT get Leopard to transfer a file to or from my Nokia phone or even my PC running XP. Both work fine under Tiger. Leopard will browse the phone or XP machine OK, but when I tell it to get or send a file, it just sits there trying endlessly to get more information about the time of the transfer, etc. Tiger will transfer files just fine to the phone and XP machine. I've even checked my IPFW settings in the shell and they're ok (allow all on that side). The only thing I can think of is that Leopard doesn't like this MSI Bluetooth adapter, which would be amusing since Leopard does work with it to provide headset support for my Bluetooth headset by Kensington OK, but Tiger won't support headsets period with that adapter, but will work fine with file transfers.... As you can imagine, that's just plain frustrating all around.

The only thing I can still try is to buy a DLINK adapter, which supposedly has headset support under Tiger and hopefully will work better with either Tiger or Leopard.

 

[MagnusVonMagnum]

The D-LINK adapter solved all problems. It supports headsets in Tiger and file transfers work fine in Leopard now. Basically, Bluetooth seems fine now.

I'd recommend to stay away from MSI bluetooth adapters for Macs. It works fine in my PC with both WindowsXP and Linux, though. I'll be giving my extra MSI adapter to a friend with a PC now.