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I am thinking about buying an Aurdino ethernet shield, but I am not sure what it connects to. On the back of my iMac there is a blue plug which goes into the computer, which I think is the ethernet plug. Would I just plug that into the ethernet shield?

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What would you do with an Arduino ethernet shield when you don't even know what an ethernet port looks like? – AndreKR Jun 8 '11 at 11:29
The other end of the wire is connected to an Airport. – None Jun 8 '11 at 14:34
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Then all you need to do is get a cross over cable plug it into a free slot in the airport and into the arduino Ethernet shield. But the Ethernet shield wont work without an Arduino.. What are you trying to do anyway? – ppumkin Jun 8 '11 at 15:04
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3 Answers

up vote 6 down vote accepted

Number 2 is the ethernet port.

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On the left is an Ethernet port and the right a Modem/Telephone port.

enter image description here

In order to connect with one wire you need to use a Cross-Over cables and set IP addresses in the same range for both devices! 192.168.x.x; 10.0.0.x .. etc. (or set your mac as a DHCP server)

enter image description here

If you don't want to use the cross over system then you will need a router that has a DHCP server and assigns IP's to each device automatically. And then check the Router on its ARP table what the IP of your Arduino Ether shield is for communication.

If you have a newer airport then you can plug the Arduino Ethersield into any one of the free ports on the Right Side

enter image description here

If you have an old airport then you will need to get a switch and remove the Blue cable form your Imac. and plug it into the switch. Then get 2 new cables and connect your iMac to the switch and the Arduino EtherShield to your Switch.

enter image description here

Here are some setup examples enter image description here enter image description here enter image description here enter image description here

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+1 so many nice pictures :) – Johan Jun 8 '11 at 18:42
Thanks! Very informative – None Jun 8 '11 at 20:55
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up vote 1 down vote

An ethernet port looks similar to a phone line port. What you're talking about most likely is the ethernet port, however, the shield is to allow your Arduino to send/receive internet communications. You'd be more likely to install the other end of the cable to an open slot on your router or modem.

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the only possible issue here is that not everyone has their router or modem right next to the PC / Mac. For example, mine is in a closet, and my iMac is in another room, and my iMac also connects via wireless only. – Dave Jun 8 '11 at 7:12
I solved this issue with a 15ft ethernet cable, if you use a magjack socket on the board (I assume the shield does) then so long as you don't get silly you can use some very long cables indeed. – SimonBarker Jun 8 '11 at 21:00
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up vote 1 down vote

You can do that, provided that the ethernet shield auto-switches. If not, you have to connect your Mac and Arduino to a switch or hub.

EDIT -- like ppumkin says, you can also use a crossover cable. I don't know how I forgot about that solution. :)

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