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michelle
EVDO User
Joined: 26 Mar 2006
Posts: 52
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 Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 5:10 pm Post subject: |
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hi all
i'm sorry if i cannot read through all 16 pages but i'm looking for a quick answer. does this novatel u720 device work on a macbook and macbook pro? i'm in the market for a new laptop so i'd really like to know...
thank you!
m
p.s. is it possible to swap this w/my existing data card (on the $59 plan)? |
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NEdually
EVDO User
Joined: 10 Mar 2006
Posts: 28
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| Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 5:32 am Post subject: Re: WWAN Support |
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| sparcdr wrote: | | I heard that ExpressCard was faster than USB anyways for EVDO. (Better signal) |
Is this true??? I thought they were exactly the same speed with the same signal bars??? |
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Alex
Site Admin
Joined: 19 Sep 2006
Posts: 2175
Location: Dallas, TX
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| Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 6:41 am Post subject: |
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our testing has concluded that when the devices are tested under the same signal strength, same HA, same tower... there is no significant difference in speeds among any of the devices.
repeated testing of devices show that one device may test faster on one pass, and then on next pass a different device is faster. the results are consistently inconsistent. no one device is always faster.
this is the nature of testing with internet sites like speedtest.net or dslreports.com or even sprint's own speedtest site (which appears to use dslreports.com). these test sites should be used as guidelines and not considered a reliable standard. too many factors can affect your speeds from one test to another, even in consecutive tests on the same speedtest site.
the only true way to pass judgment on which device is superior to another is by using "closed loop" testing equipment which would eliminate all other potential traffic from affecting results.
the ONLY folks who can do that would be device manufacturer and/or the carrier themselves... and they would be the last people i would trust for an un-biased opinion.
update: i decided to write a blog post about device speeds:
EVDO ExpressCard, USB, or PC Card: Which is faster?
Last edited by Alex on Tue Jun 12, 2007 9:27 am; edited 1 time in total |
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jackrodgers
EVDO Addict
Joined: 23 Mar 2006
Posts: 1131
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| Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 8:08 am Post subject: |
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| michelle wrote: | hi all
i'm sorry if i cannot read through all 16 pages but i'm looking for a quick answer. does this novatel u720 device work on a macbook and macbook pro? i'm in the market for a new laptop so i'd really like to know...
thank you!
m
p.s. is it possible to swap this w/my existing data card (on the $59 plan)? |
Absolutely, positively yes.
Do not install the Sprint software, download the Apple WWAN software and install it. After you do that the U720 will work (if it has been initialized). |
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michelle
EVDO User
Joined: 26 Mar 2006
Posts: 52
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| Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 1:57 pm Post subject: |
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thank you for that resounding YES.
currently, i have the PC data card (merlin) hooked up to a 17" powerbook. but that thing is huge so i am upgrading to a 15" and have 2 EVDO choices, either use the usb or the expresscard slot. good to know that the novatel usb modem works...(how do you initialize it?)
however, i've also discovered an alternative EVDO connection...which is tethering via USBModem (treo app). it's not as convenient as having a data card but still, if i can save an extra $60/month, i'd be happy using the tether method.
what do you all think? |
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magicjimmy
EVDO Heavy User
Joined: 20 Feb 2007
Posts: 123
Location: Tucson, AZ
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| Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 4:53 pm Post subject: |
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Tethering will not give you the speeds a dedicated data card will.
_________________
Nevermind... |
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jackrodgers
EVDO Addict
Joined: 23 Mar 2006
Posts: 1131
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| Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 6:14 pm Post subject: |
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| michelle wrote: | thank you for that resounding YES.
currently, i have the PC data card (merlin) hooked up to a 17" powerbook. but that thing is huge so i am upgrading to a 15" and have 2 EVDO choices, either use the usb or the expresscard slot. good to know that the novatel usb modem works...(how do you initialize it?)
however, i've also discovered an alternative EVDO connection...which is tethering via USBModem (treo app). it's not as convenient as having a data card but still, if i can save an extra $60/month, i'd be happy using the tether method.
what do you all think? |
I've done the PAM with a treo 700 and it works.
On Sprint, you can pay monthly, less than the $60, or pay by use which gets expensive very fast.
PAM was/is limited to REV 0 while the U720 is REV A. PAM also ties up the phone so you can't get incoming phone calls. At the time I needed 3rd party software to make it work. I can provide the name should you decide to go this route. |
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Michael
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 5086
Location: Cary, IL
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| Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 7:54 pm Post subject: |
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I have been researching / testing /reviewing all these options and have been 'playing' with all the PDAs to see how well they tether. I am currently using a Treo 755P and with 3rd party software, you can indeed tether - but the speeds were 50% of what I was getting in the same location with a mobile broadband card.
It all depends on your needs. If you need occassional internet access and you don't need to be on the phone while surfing, tethering a PDA may work. If you need faster and constant internet connection and be on the phone too, a mobile broadband card is probably the way to go.
_________________
EVDO :: EVDO News :: EVDO Antennas :: Buy Verizon :: Buy Sprint :: EVDO Amplifier |
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michelle
EVDO User
Joined: 26 Mar 2006
Posts: 52
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| Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 8:34 pm Post subject: |
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| thanks for all the info guys. i am actually test driving a sierra wireless aircard 595U right now and it seems pretty zippy. unfortunately i am stuck in a contract with my data plan so i think it makes sense to just make the most of it? |
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Michael
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 5086
Location: Cary, IL
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jackrodgers
EVDO Addict
Joined: 23 Mar 2006
Posts: 1131
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| Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 4:43 am Post subject: |
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| michelle wrote: | | thanks for all the info guys. i am actually test driving a sierra wireless aircard 595U right now and it seems pretty zippy. unfortunately i am stuck in a contract with my data plan so i think it makes sense to just make the most of it? |
You will have to pay extra to use the PAM features of your treo so you might compare those extra fees to the fees to use the card. I would also suggest you switch to a U720 as you will have no problems (if you use a Mac). The difference in monthly cost may only be $10 - $15 or much more if you don't use the monthly plan.
As a minor point, with the U720 I only need to plug in once whereas with the PAM on a Treo I had to plug in twice. |
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dbus
EVDO Newbie
Joined: 22 Jun 2007
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2007 8:36 pm Post subject: menu bar problems |
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I have a vzw USB720 and i have a brand new macbook pro (2.2ghz c2d). Recently, I put windows vista on it and naturally plugged my usb720 in to surf the internet. Well, whenever i logged back into OS X, my wwan support doesnt recognize the usb720 anymore, i have to manually connect with vz access manager. I MUST FIX THIS, THE MENU BAR WWAN SUPPORT IS THE GREATEST EXTENSION EVER. 
can anyone help me get my menu bar function back? i hate having to use vz access manager. :cry |
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jackrodgers
EVDO Addict
Joined: 23 Mar 2006
Posts: 1131
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| Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2007 9:17 pm Post subject: Re: menu bar problems |
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| dbus wrote: | I have a vzw USB720 and i have a brand new macbook pro (2.2ghz c2d). Recently, I put windows vista on it and naturally plugged my usb720 in to surf the internet. Well, whenever i logged back into OS X, my wwan support doesnt recognize the usb720 anymore, i have to manually connect with vz access manager. I MUST FIX THIS, THE MENU BAR WWAN SUPPORT IS THE GREATEST EXTENSION EVER.
can anyone help me get my menu bar function back? i hate having to use vz access manager. :cry |
Remove all traces of the verizon manager. Update to OS X 10.4.1 which contains the WWAN in veersin 1.04, the latest or download it from the website and reinstall.
Only one access manager at a time.... |
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dbus
EVDO Newbie
Joined: 22 Jun 2007
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2007 5:39 am Post subject: Re: menu bar problems |
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| jackrodgers wrote: | | dbus wrote: | I have a vzw USB720 and i have a brand new macbook pro (2.2ghz c2d). Recently, I put windows vista on it and naturally plugged my usb720 in to surf the internet. Well, whenever i logged back into OS X, my wwan support doesnt recognize the usb720 anymore, i have to manually connect with vz access manager. I MUST FIX THIS, THE MENU BAR WWAN SUPPORT IS THE GREATEST EXTENSION EVER.
can anyone help me get my menu bar function back? i hate having to use vz access manager. :cry |
Remove all traces of the verizon manager. Update to OS X 10.4.1 which contains the WWAN in veersin 1.04, the latest or download it from the website and reinstall.
Only one access manager at a time.... |
ok i will try that, thanks for your help 
edit: it didnt work, i deleted EVERYTHING that had to do with vzw access manager and it still doesnt pop up in the menu bar. |
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dbus
EVDO Newbie
Joined: 22 Jun 2007
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2007 10:37 pm Post subject: |
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OK I GOT IT BACK!!!!
the VZ Access Manager software actually comes with an un-installer. You have to run that removing all of the components and THEN the menu bar function will come back ^-^.   |
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