Jon H.
Level 2 (155 points)

Q: can I share internet with my powerbook g3 using iphone over usb

Is it possible to connect an old powerbook G3 (running OS10.4.11) to the internet using in iPhone over USB? The USB port currently does not show up as an option in the network preferences.

Posted on Jul 29, 2014 10:18 AM

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Jon H.

Q: can I share internet with my powerbook g3 using iphone over usb

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Ralph Landry1,

    Ralph Landry1 Jul 29, 2014 10:22 AM in response to Jon H.
    Level 8 (41,782 points)
    Jul 29, 2014 10:22 AM in response to Jon H.

    No, the iOS devices are not capable of using USB or networking in that way.  You have to have a wireless card in the computer and then use the iPhone to establish a Personal Hotspot, a cell-data link to your carrier/wireless network.

  • by stevejobsfan0123,

    stevejobsfan0123 stevejobsfan0123 Jul 29, 2014 10:25 AM in response to Ralph Landry1
    Level 8 (44,014 points)
    iPhone
    Jul 29, 2014 10:25 AM in response to Ralph Landry1

    Ralph-

    Ralph Landry1 wrote:

     

    No, the iOS devices are not capable of using USB or networking in that way.

    Screen Shot 2014-07-29 at 10.24.45 AM.png

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Jul 29, 2014 10:49 AM in response to stevejobsfan0123
    Level 10 (123,905 points)
    Jul 29, 2014 10:49 AM in response to stevejobsfan0123

    But can the PB use USB as an Internet Interface???

  • by stevejobsfan0123,

    stevejobsfan0123 stevejobsfan0123 Jul 29, 2014 10:53 AM in response to BDAqua
    Level 8 (44,014 points)
    iPhone
    Jul 29, 2014 10:53 AM in response to BDAqua

    I don't have a G3 PB so I don't know - maybe - but I was only addressing the statement that iOS devices cannot share Internet over USB.

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Jul 29, 2014 11:18 AM in response to stevejobsfan0123
    Level 10 (123,905 points)
    Jul 29, 2014 11:18 AM in response to stevejobsfan0123

    Thanks, I knew that, and good to inform us, but I'm reasonably sure it won't help the PB to get it Internet.

  • by a brody,

    a brody a brody Jan 27, 2015 1:12 PM in response to Jon H.
    Level 9 (66,899 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Jan 27, 2015 1:12 PM in response to Jon H.

    A personal hotspot can be treated as a node on a wireless network with an ethernet/wireless bridge, which can be hooked up via ethernet to the Powerbook G3.  The Powerbook G3 models supported either 10-base-T or 10/100 base-T ethernet.   USB on all Powerbook G3s was limited to USB 1.1 (meaning a max of 15 Mbps) with a few PCMCIA USB 2 cards that normally did not supply any external power to the USB devices.  Finding the drivers for these cards is difficult.  No Powerbook G3 supported Airport Extreme meaning that without an 802.11g PCMCIA card, they were limited to  WEP encryption and 802.11b speeds, which is not very secure.

  • by bund,

    bund bund Jan 28, 2015 12:35 AM in response to Jon H.
    Level 3 (809 points)
    Jan 28, 2015 12:35 AM in response to Jon H.

    It seems that internet sharing via usb is impossible due to system requirements for this feature. it depends also on your iPhone ios version.

    A bluetooth connection (bluetooth usb stick) might be an option.

  • by AppleHelp101,

    AppleHelp101 AppleHelp101 Feb 10, 2015 4:55 PM in response to Jon H.
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Feb 10, 2015 4:55 PM in response to Jon H.

    I don't believe using the personal hotspot will work. Those PowerBooks (I assume a Pismo with FireWire) dont have the wifi capabilities that we see today. right now if you are on wifi you're running on an 802.11b wireless network, which I doubt the iPhone can output as a signal.