BlueSCSI Wi-Fi Desk Accessory
The open-source, open-hardware SCSI emulator BlueSCSI v2 can emulate a SCSI Ethernet device using the Wi-Fi chip on its Raspberry Pi Pico W microcontroller, with firmware functionality I wrote in mid-2023. While this becomes largely set-it-and-forget-it on desktops, portable Macintoshes can benefit from the ability to see Wi-Fi signal strength and join other networks without having to edit the BlueSCSI configuration file.
Shameless plug: If you have a PowerBook 1XX that needs a new battery, I make new ones.
In addition to the basic network packet bridging code that I added to BlueSCSI's firmware, I also added a set of vendor SCSI commands that enable scanning for nearby networks, joining a new network, and viewing current network information. For Macs running System 6 and later (tested with System 6 and 7), I've created a Desk Accessory that uses this functionality.
BlueSCSI Wi-Fi Desk Accessory is free software. licensed under the terms of the ISC license. I also have some videos about its development and C programming on System 6 in general.
Latest Update: BlueSCSI Wi-Fi Desk Accessory 1.1 Released (2024-01-29)
BlueSCSI Wi-Fi Desk Accessory 1.1 has been released:
- wifi_da-1.1.sit
(StuffIt 3 archive)
SHA256:db06d941d7322089
d8a98ebabf1f9a50 b8f75ade80edbb35 5c127acc9a7fa629
SHA1:c9d6d3d165626ce5
92a65fd9e2011f36 1a0f78e4
Changes in this version:
- Fix masked password entry on Mac OS 8+
- Truncate display of long Wi-Fi network names
Previous Updates
- BlueSCSI Wi-Fi Desk Accessory 1.0 Released (2023-10-25)
Source Code
Source code and its THINK C project file are contained in the latest release archive, or it can be viewed on AmendHub.
Installation
On System 7 and above, drag the Wi-Fi suitcase onto the System Folder and click OK when asked to put it into the Apple Menu Items folder.
On System 6, launch the included Font/DA Mover utility. Click the Desk Accessory radio button at the top, then click Open… and locate and select the Wi-Fi DA suitcase. Select Wi-Fi from the list on the right side, then click « Copy « and Quit. A restart may be required.
Usage
After installation, a Wi-Fi item will appear in the Apple menu's list of Desk Accessories.
![](/images/bluescsi-desktop-512x342.png)
Once launched, the Wi-Fi DA will scan the SCSI bus to find a compatible DaynaPORT SCSI/Link device and then check to make sure it's actually a BlueSCSI emulated device.
![](/images/bluescsi-finding-182x45.png)
![](/images/bluescsi-no_network-182x45.png)
The DA will then query the device for the current Wi-Fi network name and RSSI, and launch a background scan of nearby networks. Clicking on the network name will pop-up a list of networks which is populated once the background scan completes (usually within a couple seconds). If the selected network uses encryption and requires a password, the DA will prompt you for it.
![](/images/bluescsi-scan-248x169.png)
![](/images/bluescsi-prompt-400x132.png)
After again asking the BlueSCSI device for its status, if it is now connected, the DA will update with the network name and RSSI:
![](/images/bluescsi-connected-364x90.png)
As the Wi-Fi DA is left running, it will periodically poll the BlueSCSI device for its current network name and RSSI and update the window accordingly. At larger intervals, it will do a periodic background scan to keep its list of nearby networks up to date.
BlueSCSI is a trademark of Helgeson Technology Services, LLC and is used with permission.