Novatel Ovation U720 USB720 Rev A and Mac OS X Compatibility

sparkomatic · Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2006 4:04 am Post subject:

Wow...the power of EVDO Forums...cool!

Although, it'd be way funnier if they changed it to "Simple Installation...as long as it's not on a mac" lol

Technerd · EVDO Newbie Joined: 06 Dec 2006 Posts: 1

It seems that you need v3.1.1 to upgrade to v3.1.2 but via the Verzion download site the highest level you can get is v3.1.0
Any idea how to get Vzw Access Manager v3.1.1 ???

There is a post showing the screenshot for the upgrade and it says you need v3.1.1. Here is the thread on this forum http://www.evdoforums.com/thread3940.html

cheekodude · Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2006 11:18 am Post subject:

duh... and then the third post in that thread you link to says "Also, while the updater states an upgrade requirement of VZAccess Manager v3.1.1, we have no problem updating from v2.3 or v3.0.1. "

my buddy has a verizon card on his powerbook. he uninstalled the 2.3 and installed the 3.0.1 which i think is for that new exprescard but works with his razr and the pc card he has. he updated to 3.1.2 form 3.0.1 after he dedected the pc card and connected. myabe they are only letting you update over the vzw networks.

i just copied his smsiwirelessusb.kext file to my thumbdrive and then copied it to my extensions directory as root (or you can do a chmod). works great with my merlin s720 that i got from the booster dudes. didnt have to do the mac hack either, and now it works on my mac even tho it has the rev a firmware on it (fat chance chico will ever get rev a tho, lol).

cheekodude · Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2006 11:36 am Post subject:

jameschho · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 13 Oct 2006 Posts: 13

opg4759 · EVDO User Joined: 06 Dec 2006 Posts: 36

I haven't been able to get 3.1.2 but I was able to get my hands on 3.1 and I'm currently connected with this version on my MacBook Pro.

I was able to download 3.1.0 from the vzw.smithmicro.com/download just select a handset and choose the motorola K1m and you will get 3.1.0

It won't let me upgrade to 3.1.2 but the fact that it's working makes me very happy

Michael · Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2006 12:53 pm Post subject:

It looks like Verizon pulled 3.1.2 from their update servers, probably because of this thread (they didn't want to help Sprint customers, since the software is for Mac Verizon customers).

See:

VZAccess Manager 3.1.2 Update for OS X (Rev A Coming)
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Scott · Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2006 1:29 pm Post subject:

jameschho · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 13 Oct 2006 Posts: 13

cliffordsound · EVDO Newbie Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 4

Just to quote a conversation that I had around 2 hours ago with a Novatel employee (sales, i'm guessing). He stated that Apple, Sprint and Novatel were going to make an "official" announcement about the availability of a USB Mac driver for Sprint. Seems to me like it was a very, very big snafu for them to release the card without the Mac support off the bat.

Thanks for all the info that's been posted so far.

opg4759 · EVDO User Joined: 06 Dec 2006 Posts: 36

BTW I loaded VZaccess 3.1.0 on a G4 power book and was able to connect the U720.

So it will work on Intel based mac's as well as G4 based mac's which is a great thing for folks with iBooks or 12" powerbooks

cliffordsound · EVDO Newbie Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 4

Ok more info, just got this email from Novatel:

Hi Richard,

NVTL and Sprint have provided Apple with the required drivers to enable Sprint customers to use the U720 USB modem with their host MAC notebook.

Apple does reserves the right to test and approve prior to offering as a general release on their web site. Based on the incredible demand from MAC users, we expect the drivers to be up on the site any day.

Regards,

If you guys have any questions about this, let me know or PM me.

[Admin: Removed private information from email]

jameschho · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 13 Oct 2006 Posts: 13

Michael · Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2006 4:58 pm Post subject:

I can confirm that VZAccess 3.1.2 does indeed support the Novatel USB720 on G4/PPC based Macs. This doesn't mean that the Apple released drivers will support anything but intel based Macs. The original info at Sprint says, "Intel only".

Keep in mind, that on Verizon, there have always been 2 ways to connect (for most cards). Using VZAccess Manager or the drivers that Apple builds in to the OS.

Putting the pieces together, I would guess that the following will happen:

1) Verizon will announce (at some point) their version of the Novatel USB720 (probably with a bunch of other Rev A cards)

2) The current VZAccess 3.1.2 will support all Intel and PPC Macs for all existing and all new cards that Verizon sells.

3) Apple will also release a software update that will support the USB720 (both Sprint and Verizon), and hopefully additional cards will be supported too.

We don't know when #3 will happen, and this is required for the Sprint U720 to work with Macs. It could be a day, a week, or a month.

The one thing it does show, is that Apple & Sprint need some lessons in communications. It also clearly demonstrates that when Sprint relies on Apple for drivers - their hands are tied until Apple delivers. Verizon doesn't have this problem, since they ship a native Mac OS X application with their cards. We updated our blog on the state of Apple & Sprint at:

http://evdoinfo.blogspot.com/2006/12/sprint-evdo-and-macs-december-2006.html

If you are a Mac customer wanting to run the USB device, we recommend that you wait for drivers to be released before ordering (FYI, the U720 does work with BootCamp)
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cliffordsound · EVDO Newbie Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 4

Something funny about the VZAccess Manager...I finally got my U720 to work with it, but the speed is horribly low, averaging about 150 kbps. Is this something in the settings that I'm missing?