v620 work with a Mac?

scheifer · Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2005 1:10 am Post subject: tried Mac activating to no avail

I'm one of those people who have been getting the modem error. Actually, just after restart it will get as far as "Authenticating" before disconnecting and will give the error: "Cannot negotiate PPP connection..." Then after that it will give the modem error.

I tried activating the Mac according to the instructions at

http://www.evdoinfo.com/Tips/PC_5220/Mac_OS_X_Tip_-_Updating_PRLs_2005021121/

but it did not work. Everything appeared as advertised. I got the window that said Activating Card... and the blue progress bar was animated as usual, but nothing happened for 12 minutes or so and I gave up.

Should I have waited longer? If not, I guess activating it on a Win machine is next.

I've talked to a couple of Verizon techs now who were receptive to at least trying to help even though it was a Mac. Some (but not all) no longer immediately freak oput at the very menton of the Mac name. I told them about this site and they were very happy to hear about it. I suggested that they officially communicate it to all the techs and let everyone know that these things work and that Mac users should come here.

Unless I read or hear otherwise, I'll assume I'll have to find a win box somewhere to get this thing done.

Thanks for all your great work!

Paul

Michael · Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2005 10:03 am Post subject:

This tip is obviously working for some and not working for some. To help figure out what is different, for those that it IS working, can you post the following:

- did you activate on a PC first?
- what PowerBook are you using?
- what Mac OS version
- anything else you did to get it to work (besides, name, password, Verizon modem script selected).
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Michael · Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2005 10:52 am Post subject:

I have built an installer that performs all the actions at:

http://www.EVDOinfo.com/Tips/PC_5220/PowerBook_Mac_OS_X_Directions_To_Use_Novatel_V620_20050414238/

Before releasing it, I would like to give it to a few people to try. It is a very simple/friendly installer (double click and go).

Keep in mind, that we are trying to isolate why these steps work for some powerbooks and not others.

If you are interested, please send an email to tester@evdoinfo.com and I will send you a download link to the installer (1.5mb zip)
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cyberkeith · EVDO Newbie Joined: 18 Apr 2005 Posts: 3

Any ideas why the menu bar icon is greyed out, no signal strength indication, and the 3G - 1xRTT - EVDO is also all greyed out, but I can connect and surf, and disconnect by using the greyed-out menu bar icon.

Using a new PowerBook G4, 1.67 MHz, activated card on a windoze machine first. Also, I installed the AppleVerizonSupport files before knowing that wasn't necessary.

Thanks in advance. I have really enjoyed reading the posts on this forum!
Keith

Michael · Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2005 3:37 pm Post subject:

The change that we document on our site, changes the existing Apple driver, which only supports the Sierra PC 5220 card to "see" other cards. We have received reports that this work on the Novatel V620 (some report it doesn't), we have made this work with a Sierra AirCard and a Kyocera KCP 650. We will be updating our web site for these cards shortly.

We have noticed, that when you modify the Apple Drivers, it does allow the EVDO Card to work - however, the signal indicator (in the menu bar), Activation do not work, they only work with a PC 5220 card.

We are looking at different ways to get these to work (keep in mind, the do not prevent the card from working).
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Michael · Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2005 4:13 pm Post subject:

BTW, entering *22899 as the phone number (normally #777), may be all that is needed to activate the card. The cards that I have are already activated, so it is hard to tell if this is working. Nothing meaningful is written into the log (even when in verbose mode).

I will research it a bit more.
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scheifer · Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2005 5:20 pm Post subject: It works!

Again, I am one of the people who was having the modem error.

I just activated it on a windoze machine and everything's working. (I think; the server disconnected me after a few minutes. I reconnected and everything seems fine now. Does the Verizon ISP disconnect after a fairly short time of inactivity?)

I have an early Pwerbook, too. One of the first and running at only 550Mhz. Mine is early enough that it takes the old Airport chip that doesn't work as well. I'm running 10.3.7

Anyway, if it works on mine it should work on anyone's, and my experience seems to confirm that these must be activated on a Win box first. (This does not take into account the latest post about the alternative phone #.)

Question: To update PRL's (sp?), do i always have to use a Win box or can I now do that from the Mac.

Thanks again,

Paul

sfingold · EVDO Newbie Joined: 18 Apr 2005 Posts: 6

I ran the installer Mike sent me and I can tell you that it does not work. The card is not found under network porperties and it was activated on windows. Also I lost my bluetooth port and my 5220 no longer works.

Basically all I have left is the internal modem, airport and ethernet. I would be very careful if you need to install this as you may have no evdo connection possiblities left afterwards. I spoke with apple and verizon and now have to reinstall osx.

Stay Away.

sfingold · EVDO Newbie Joined: 18 Apr 2005 Posts: 6

Well I finally got it to work (a little unstable) don't know how but it does. However I haven't noticed any difference in speed. Do we know if this will work with the new Kyocera card?

A.M. Icons · EVDO Newbie Joined: 05 Apr 2005 Posts: 4

May The Force be with you always . . . Laughing

Michael · Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2005 8:43 am Post subject:

I helped someone with a Kyocera KPC 650 get it working with his PowerBook the other day. He has been having great success (even running on Mac OS X 10.4)

I will be posting the directions on the site later today for the Kyocera KPC650.
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sfingold · EVDO Newbie Joined: 18 Apr 2005 Posts: 6

Do we know if anyother cards will be supported in 10.4?

A.M. Icons · EVDO Newbie Joined: 05 Apr 2005 Posts: 4

Hi! I have a 17" PowerBook and a virgin 620 card. Experiencing the infamous modem problem(s). The *22899 number replacement method does not work. I'm going to attempt to activate the card on a windoze machine tonight. Will keep informed as long as somebody else doesn't beat me to the punch. BTW, the text edit vs. terminal tip (for i.d. modifications) was **cking brilliant! Cheers . . . Shocked

Michael · Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2005 8:58 am Post subject:

I received this email from someone that was having dialing problems:

"It works! All I had to do was unclick the wait for dial tone in my modem settings. Sorry I'm so stupid. Thanks for all of your help."

Maybe, this will help someone else.
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Daniel · EVDO Newbie Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 1

Stupid here,

You have to go into the modem settings for the card and sellect the 5220 as your modem and uncheck wait for dial tone. Still going strong. Thanks.