How to share your internet connection via Bluetooth to your Pocket PC iPAQ H3970

I've noticed that a lot of the posts asking for help on Bluetooth are questions like "How do I connect my Pocket PC to my desktop...". And the majority of these questions are related to how to configure the whole thing to allow internet sharing access via Bluetooth.

The objective of this quick refererence guide is to show how to configure your desktop to accept incoming LAN Access over Bluetooth, and how to use this connection to access the internet from your Pocket PC.

In this example I'm using a computer running Windows 2000, a TDK USB Bluetooth dongle (version 1.3.2.7), and an iPAQ H3970 with builtin Bluetooth. Some screens in your Pocket PC may be different, but the idea is the same. We assume your devices are already paired. If not, do it first, then come back here!

If you're using an iPAQ H5450, please read the guide in this article, or look at this list of Geekzone Bluetooth Guides.

Also, make sure your Bluetooth adapter support the LAN Access profile. Some products (like the 3COM) will not support this.

First, let's open My Network Places by right-clicking in the icon and selecting Properties.
We want to change the properties for our connection to the internet. This is the adapter we want to share "from". Just right-click in the corresponding icon and select Properties. The Bluetooth Network adapter was automatically created during the Bluetooth installation.
There's a bug in Windows 2000 before SP3 where changing the sharing option may change IP configurations in this adapter. To make sure you're safe, we will note the current configuration. In the General tab select the Internet Protocol components and click Properties.
Write down all the information from the next dialog, and click Cancel.
Back in the Adapter properties, select the "Sharing" tab and tick "Enable Internet Connection Sharing for this connection".
Now, to configure the Bluetooth USB, right- click the Bluetooth icon in the system tray and select Advanced Configuration.
Change to the Local Services tab and double click "Network Access".
Change the type of service to "Allow other devices to acces the Internet/LAN via this computer". The alternative to this option will allow your device to connect to your computer as part of a LAN, but will not have internet access. Note the Configure Connection Sharing button: it'll open the configuration screens we've visited before. But some Bluetooth software will not have this button, hence I guided you through the other route .
Now, on your Pocket PC... Tap the Bluetooth icon the the status bar and select Bluetooth Manager.
You'll see your notebook or desktop here, and if it's out of range a question mark (like in the mobile icon in the picture). Tap the icon corresponding to your computer or notebook. If the computer does not show here, the devices are not paired! Go back and pair then.
Tap the Actions menu option.
Tap the "Connect to Network Access" option.
If all is ok, you'll see the message "Connected for Network Access" here !
Just start using your favorite programs... ICQ, Pocket Outlook, MSN Messenge, Pocket Internet Explorer .
Yes, visit the Geekzone mobile, or browse the internet from the sofa... "Hmmm, what's on the movies tonight?"
If you tap the Bluetooth icon in the status bar again...
You'll see the computer or notebook is connected .
To disconnect, simply tap the connection icon in the status bar, and tap the Disconnect button.
And this is the result of disconnecting...
To check your connection from the desktop or notebook, double-click My Bluetooth Places, and open My Device.
The icon in green show which Bluetooth profile is in use right now. Right-click My Network Access, and select Properties to see its current status.
That's it!