64-bit VZAM? and using Network Prefs to control USB 720?

unwired_me · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 27 Apr 2007 Posts: 18

Me: USB720, Verizon, OSX

1) Will a 64-bit machine run a 32-bit application?
Got a new MacBook (10.5) and found that vzam.net does not seem to have a driver (VZAccess Manager) for it. Newer MacBooks are 64-bit.

2) I see other people are not using VZAM at all but use OSX's network prefs to control the modem. How is this done?

Thank you for sharing your knowledge, and sorry if this in other forums; I couldn't find anything, maybe I didn't pick the right keywords.

im_electronic · Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 5:17 pm Post subject:

10.5 and even 10.6 still do 32 bit by default on most macs.

jsut plug it in ans use OS X's WWAN manager
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PortoBatMBR1000

unwired_me · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 27 Apr 2007 Posts: 18

>10.5 and even 10.6 still do 32 bit by default on most macs.
>jsut plug it in ans use OS X's WWAN manager

Thank you for your advice, I'm sorry I didn't answer sooner.
I'll give it a try on my new laptop.
Not sure where to find WWAN Manager though. Is it in Network (System Preferences?) didn't see it.
VZAM seems to do odd things to my Network Prefs - when I open them up if I'm on the network, I keep getting the message "your settings have been changed", over and over, and I have to quit Prefs.

Meanwhile my USB720 started crapping out again every few minutes. I called Verizon and was told (by a good-natured guy) that
-they have no Mac technical support and if I ever spoke with someone at VZN who knew about Macs it was a lucky break,
-that if I try using OSX's native modem controls the network speed will slow to a crawl (which it often is now anyway)
-that I should upgrade to USB760, and that Verizon gets almost no calls like mine, because their products work so well with Macs.

The modem 'disconnected' while I was typing this.

unwired_me · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 27 Apr 2007 Posts: 18

A cautious yea!

I plugged the USB720 into my new Macbook Pro (on a cable - the modem won't fit side by side with other USB devices) - and got a message that the system was going to configure the modem - I OKed this and a menu of bars appeared on the upper right. "Turn Verizon card on" was already checked. Then I clicked 'connect' and bingo I'm connected.

No VZAM, I didn't enter anything into Network Prefs - the OS apparently pulled credentials from the modem.

speedtest.net says:
1.47Mb/s down, 0.57Mb/s up, which is faster than on my older Mac - I can't tell if the improvement is because of the better modem management, or the newer, faster Mac.

unwired_me · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 27 Apr 2007 Posts: 18

For grins (and to free up a USB port), I relocated the USB720 to an externally powered USB hub.

This time it took a bit longer to connect, and speedtest reports slightly slower speeds:
1.33Mb/s down, 0.55 up
Not statistically significant, I realize.

I'll report back when I have more experience with the new setup.
Hopefully it will be a positive report.

unwired_me · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 27 Apr 2007 Posts: 18

Short honeymoon.

USB720 suddenly disconnected.
I tried to turn card off and on in 'bars' menu but it was grayed out.
I quit Network Prefs, restarted, 'bars' menu came back, I connected - seemingly - but in fact had no connection.
I quit again, switched modem back to built-in USB port on laptop, now I am connected. For now.

Grrr.

unwired_me · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 27 Apr 2007 Posts: 18

Nope, the modem crapped out again.
I broke down and installed VZAM 4.2.2.
Speedtest now reports:
0.13 Mbps down, 0.09 up !

Pathetic.
VZN tech support guy said using OSX's WWAN manager would slow things down. !

The only thing that could make this worse is if the modem starts disconnecting again.

im_electronic · Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 4:34 pm Post subject:

run a permissions repair, i suggest the utility applejack.
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PortoBatMBR1000

unwired_me · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 27 Apr 2007 Posts: 18

I couldn't take it, too slow.
I switched back to controlling the modem through Network Prefs.
I could no longer see the Bars menu, could only interact with the modem through the Network Prefs, so couldn't see the dB level.
Quit Network Prefs, tried VZAM again, and got the same old message I got on my other, older laptops - "the modem has been unplugged," blah blah.
VZAM hung, I force quit, had to physically unplug the modem and replug it to get VZAM to recognize it.
This sucks.

[10.5.8, VZAM 4.2.2 - the latest ]

unwired_me · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 27 Apr 2007 Posts: 18

> run a permissions repair, i suggest the utility applejack.

Thank you, I will look at that, is there a specific permission which might be causing the problem?

unwired_me · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 27 Apr 2007 Posts: 18

I repaired permissions with Disk Utility just now - nothing in the log seemed related to the recent installation of VZAM.

VZAM quit midway through me trying to compose this.

thanks anyway for the advice

unwired_me · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 27 Apr 2007 Posts: 18

I think I screwed myself installing VZAM.
Now I can't connect using Network Prefs at all.
The connect button does nothing, and there is no Bars menu.

btw VZAM no longer displays whether you're connected or not.
It only tells you when it thinks you've 'disconnected' the modem.

im_electronic · Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 7:05 pm Post subject:

what mac are you on? did you set it to boot to 64 bit mode? 32 bit?

re-install VZAM then use http://www.appzapper.com/ to uninstall it, it will remove all entries of the app.

applejack has a deepclean optin, once instaled reboot holding down comman-s to boot into single user CLI mode, once there type in "applejack AUTO" caps are neccessary to run the deep clean option.

if your in snow leopard google boot modes 64 bit for more info on that.
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PortoBatMBR1000