Pantech PX-500 EVDO Rev A and Mac OS X Compatibility

Michael · Last edited by Michael on Tue Mar 13, 2007 7:25 am; edited 1 time in total

This thread will discuss if the Pantech PX-500 EVDO Rev A Card by Sprint and if it is compatible with PowerBooks with a PCMCIA Slot (PB 15 or PB 17 inch).

We will be getting one in this week and will report back.

Keep in mind, the Pantech PX-500 is a PCMCIA card, and will not work in the MacBook/MacBook Pro (need an ExpressCard or USB solution for the MacBooks).

We were able to get the Merlin S720 working with PowerBooks, it is unclear if the Pantech PX-500 will be able to work or not.

It looks like the just released 10.4.8 doesn't support additional EVDO cards

Update to first post. We have the PX-500 working with PowerBooks. When purchasing from our store, be sure to select "Mac PreActivate". This will get your card activated before sending to you AND we will include a 5 page printed document that steps you through configuring and using your PX-500 and your PowerBook
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taylor

I was told by a Sprint rep that the Sprint system, including all cell towers, will be upgraded in the coming months with the result that, at some time in 2007, all the PX 500 cards will begin operating at 3X the current speed. This upgrade will not, however, speed up the other cards that Sprint offers. I am curious, if this is true, to find out if you have been able to get the PX 500 to operate on a Mac with 10.3 or 10.4 OS.

Scott · Posted: Mon Oct 16, 2006 6:53 pm Post subject:

The Sprint reps you spoke to were referring to the coming EVDO Revision A upgrade. It will increase speeds, especially the upload speed.

3x increases should be possible for uploads, signal and service depending. Considering that currently EVDO uses 1xRTT for uploads, just getting transmits on an EVDO socket should really help things.

3x increases on downloads from today's norm may be asking a bit much though (depending on where their starting point it). Marketed download average is 400-700 kbps, peaks with good signal and enough tower bandwidth are in the 1.2 Mbps range or better (when only a handful of users are accessing data, for instance).

While I would love to see 3Mb+ real-world downoads, I'm expecting averages in the 2.1Mbps range and maybe some higher peaks, again, depending on signal and service availability.

As for the Pantech PX-500 and Mac support, nothing yet. Stay tuned to these forums or our sister site EVDOinfo.com. When support becomes available you'll see it broadcast here.

bosscharlies · EVDO Newbie Joined: 18 Oct 2006 Posts: 3

MY POWERBOOK G4 RECOGNIZES IT. IT WORKS GREAT IN MY PC LAPTOP..MAC..NO LUCK..IT WILL PROBABLY WORK ON MAC BOOK PRO BECAUSE THE CD ROM FOR INSTALLATION IS IN PC FORMAT. I CALLED SPRINT..THEY SAID INSTALL THE SOFTWARE ON A PC..ACTIVATE CARD..AND THEN IT CAN BE USED IN MAC..WRONG..I DONT HAVE THE SPRINT SOFTWARE ON MY MAC, THEREFORE IT DOES NOT WORK..PLEASE FIND A WAY SOMEBODY.VERIZON CARD WORKS BUT I HAVE SPRINT SERVICE..THANKS..LET ME KNOW IF YOU FIND A WAY..PLEASE..SPRINT AND APPLE SAY NOT THERE PROBLEM..LOL

Michael · Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 9:17 am Post subject:

No need to YELL Smile

(or no need for all uppercase)

The PX-500 will not work in the MacBook Pro, because it has an ExpressCard and the PX-500 is a PCMCIA card.

Since, Sprint doesn't support Macs directly, but instead relies on Apple (see: Mac OS X 10.4.7 and Sprint Connection Cards - EVDOinfo.com), everyone will have to wait for Apple to add support. There is no guarantee that they will add support for the Pantech PX-500, they didn't add support for the previous PC5740. They usually pick card that are available from multiple carriers.

We did try hacking the Mac to get the PX-500 to work, BUT we couldn't, so we will have to wait on Apple or some other 3rd Party to come out with drivers.

For the latest info on compatibility see:

EVDO Card Comparison - EVDOinfo.com
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bosscharlies · EVDO Newbie Joined: 18 Oct 2006 Posts: 3

1-YOU ACTIVATE CARD ON A PC LAPTOP
2-YOU THEN GO TO THE INTERNET SETUP ON MAC
3-THEN LEAVE BLANK ACCOUNT NAME/PASSWORD
4-WHERE IT SAYS PHONE NUMBER TYPE #777
5-THEN PRESS CONNECT AND ALL THE CARDS WORK..I OWN PANTECH

SPRINT-APPLE BOTH TOLD ME KNOW.

THE IDIOTS DIDNT REALIZE THAT THE CARD MUST BE ACTIVATED ON PC LAPTOP AND THEN PUT IN POWERBOOK OR MAC BOOK PRO..GOTTA HAVE OS X..COMPUTER WILL RECOGNIZE WHEN YOU PUT IN

bosscharlies · EVDO Newbie Joined: 18 Oct 2006 Posts: 3

sprint and apple are trippin they cant believe it was this easy..they just have to be activated on pc first..actually mac recognizes right away.

also I SPELL "NO" WORNG IN PREVIOUS MESSAGE
:roll:

taylor

I'd like some clarification here. I'm hearing that the MacBook Pro 'recognizes the card' (PX-500), but the Pro doesn't have a PCMCIA slot, so how is it possible that the computer has an interface with the card at all? Secondly, addressing the response, the issue about Windows crashing with the PX-500 on the UTube site has nothing to do with Mac OS, or am I missing something here?

I'd like to think that the instructions given for using the PX-500 will work on a Mac Powerbook, but I'm not rushing out to buy one yet. Was the card used sucessfully on a Powerbook, and if used on a MacBook Pro, how was that accomplished?

dannob · Posted: Sat Nov 04, 2006 6:33 pm Post subject: PC 5740 Pantech PX500 and Mac

I picked up the PC 5740 card and activated it with a Windows laptop.
When I placed it in the PowerBook it was recognized as Curitel Communications.
I created a new internet connect entry that dialed #777. And I am on line, very stable connection, max speed so far is over 800 download by DSLReports.
My question is this: Pantech and Curitel are related, or the same company. So does anyone know if the RevA Pantech PX500 works in a Mac?
Mac Powerbook PPC, OS X 10.4.8

Alex · Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 8:19 am Post subject:

We have done all we can to get the PX-500 to work on PowerBooks and nothing has worked.

We maintain a list of cards, complete with compatibility notes on this web page:

http://www.evdoinfo.com/customer_support/EVDO_Cards/

synthum · EVDO Newbie Joined: 28 Nov 2006 Posts: 1

it is #777! , it finally started working! Very fast downloads. Way faster than on the VAIO PC I activated on! Seems to be even
faster than T-Mobile Wi-Fi at Starbuck$~!?
#777 worked in the "Alternate Number" line, with all others being
empty..

Michael · Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 1:07 pm Post subject:

Confirmed

The PX-500 works with the PowerBook 15 & 17 inch, more info at:

http://www.evdoinfo.com/The_News/Latest_News/Pantech_PX-500_Mac_PowerBook_Compatibility_20061128854/
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preachs · EVDO User Joined: 25 Nov 2006 Posts: 47

I am using the Pantach with a Powerbook G4 and I am VERY pleased! I am getting 1300kbps down in Lexingotn, KY and we don't even have Rev A yet!

wb04431 · EVDO Newbie Joined: 27 Jan 2007 Posts: 1

I have followed the following directions:

1-YOU ACTIVATE CARD ON A PC LAPTOP
2-YOU THEN GO TO THE INTERNET SETUP ON MAC
3-THEN LEAVE BLANK ACCOUNT NAME/PASSWORD
4-WHERE IT SAYS PHONE NUMBER TYPE #777
5-THEN PRESS CONNECT AND ALL THE CARDS WORK..I OWN PANTECH

SPRINT-APPLE BOTH TOLD ME KNOW.

THE IDIOTS DIDNT REALIZE THAT THE CARD MUST BE ACTIVATED ON PC LAPTOP AND THEN PUT IN POWERBOOK OR MAC BOOK PRO..GOTTA HAVE OS X..COMPUTER WILL RECOGNIZE WHEN YOU PUT IN

However, you forgot to tell me which Modem to choose from the list. It seems I must choose one, and there is nothing that looks close. I tried the only Sprint modem. Or am I missing something here?

bw21157 · EVDO Newbie Joined: 08 Feb 2007 Posts: 8

I installed the 10.4.8 update and updated the firmware on the px500 to the latest on sprint's page

my powerbook now sees the card (as PANTECH USB MODEM), however,
in internet connect, that modem does not appear as a choice to connect through

what am I missing?

thanks