U720 USB EVDO Modem with Mac OS X and Parallels

Piggy · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 22 Oct 2006 Posts: 22

I'm happy to report (truth be told - estatic) that it appears the firmware and PRL - and presumably activation - can be done from Windows running in Parallels Desktop for Mac on an Intel MacBook Pro.

My 720 has been working great in Washington, DC. I decided to find out what would happen if I tried using it in Parallels. In short - it works!

I'm using build 3036. This isn't the current production release (1970). It may work in 1970 - I don't know. Build 3036 is available at [url]forums.parallels.com[/url]. Navigate to the Parallels Desktop for Mac group under Technical Discussions. The first message in the forum is the announcement of this build and contains the download link.

I haven't experienced any crashes in 3036 but it might have a memory link. I've noticed after extended use that Entourage and (Mac) Excel won't launch. The icons just bounce a few times. Some other applications won't launch either, and opening .DMG files doesn't seem to work either. I've been rebooting when it's important.

OK, so here's what I did:

I was using the device. I told Mac OS to hang up (clicked disconnect). I DID NOT physically disconnect the Novatel device. The green light was solid green.

I launched Parallels. I opened my Windows XP Professional virtual machine. I navigated to the shared folder where I keep all my software (read-only on the Windows side) and dragged a copy of the Sprint software (www.sprint.com/downloads) to the Windows desktop, double-clicked on it to launch and completed the installation.

After installation I rebooted the Windows virtual machine. (Hey, it's Windows. I didn't want to loose anything if the VM or Mac crashed.)

Windows restarted and, as expected, did not see the device because Mac OS had it.

Next I clicked on the USB device list icon in the bottom right hand corner of the Parallels VM window. NOT in the Windos window - in the Parallels window of the window. You won't see it if you're running Windows in full-screen mode.

In this window is a list of all the USB devices (except for keyboard and mouse which is shared) that Parallels sees. Select "Novatel Wireless CDMA" device. Parallels will disconnct it from Mac OS and connect it to Windows.

Windows sees the device and installs the drivers automatically. The process was complete and the "new hardware" was "ready" before I even realized it, taking a fraction of the time this process took on my real Windows PC!

Next I launched the Sprint Novatel Mobile Broadband application. It recongized the device properly and showed it was unlocked. (For those of you that need to activate your device, you click on the lock icon to unlock it and enter the last four digits of your social security number).

I can see the firmware version, PRL, etc! I would list the information here but I'm using the device at the moment! I'll post my version information later.

Next I clicked the GO button and got online. I don't remember typing the phone number (#777) or anything! Hover the mouse cursor over the antenna and you can see the signal strength for EV-DO and 1xRTT. Very useful until we can display this information in Mac OS.

I launched Firefox and it connected to the Internet. I switched over to Mac OS to find it didn't have an Internet connection. It wouldn't surprise me if it was possible to enable Internet sharing on the PC VM and have the Mac use it, but I see no advantage in this.

I am truly amazed at both Parallels and EV-DO. I hope this information helps everyone!

[Basic Novatel Ovation U720 USB modem with OS X compatibility thread is HERE: http://www.evdoforums.com/thread3422.html -Admin]

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

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

Piggy · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 22 Oct 2006 Posts: 22

Update:

My firmware version is 134. PRL is 20224. Anyone know what MSID is?

My network availbility in DC is 3G CDMA. My service is EV-DO Rev A. Anyone know what the Update Data Profile button does? It mentions provisioning the device, and as I'm not in my home service area I thought this is not something I should try...

If you click the menu button in the top left hand corner of the box, there is an option for running the activation wizard. Anyone call Sprint and try this?

FYI it is possible to have Mac OS use one network connection and Windows use another. My Mac OS is using my hotel Ethernet connection and Windows is using the Sprint service. I didn't make any network changes. I do have the Sprint modem listed at the top in the Mac network preferences. I don't know it works like this - but if both Mac OS and Parallels respect that, Ethernet would be the first available connection on the Mac side and the Sprint modem would be the first available connection on the Windows side.

Michael · Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2006 11:45 pm Post subject:

A few comments.

We have tried the download links provided by Mac.Intosh and they work!. I even tried a PowerBook 12 inch and it worked too! The U720 does need to be activated in a Windows PC before it will work in a Mac. http://www.evdoforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=21155#21155

I have been able to get Parallels to use the U720 connection and my Mac to use a different (Airport) - but this requires that the above drivers NOT be installed and install the Windows U720 drivers under Parallels.

It may be possible to share the Mac connection via Parallels and U720, but haven't tried it yet:

More info at:

http://www.evdoinfo.com/Tips/PC_5220/MacBook_Sharing_EVDO_with_Parallels_20061113849/

Of course, BootCamp works great for activating the U720 too.

The MSID Is used to program the U720.

U720s that we ship from our warehouse are automatically programmed, firmware updated and latest PRL downloaded (ready for Mac use). We also have access to the MSID and unlock code (in fact, if you log in to your Booster-Antenna account, you would see it too, but these are only for ones that we ship from our warehose). Adam, you ordered from us, but we shipped from Sprint. We will get your MSID and Activation code and send it to you tomorrow.
_________________
EVDO :: EVDO News :: EVDO Antennas :: Buy Verizon :: Buy Sprint :: EVDO Amplifier

Piggy · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 22 Oct 2006 Posts: 22

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

Piggy · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 22 Oct 2006 Posts: 22

opg,

Why not just configure Parallels for Shared Networking and skip the extra process of the Mac Internet sharing? It is straightforward and probably more efficent.

I previously stated I thought 3036 might have a memory leak. I am not so sure not. Mac Pro users have reported a memory problem which was solved by changing Parallels overall memory management from automatic to fixed (Parallels preferences - not the VM settings). I have changed to fixed memory allocation and I'm willing to bet this eliminates the problem.

biske · EVDO Newbie Joined: 29 Dec 2006 Posts: 1

Has anyone had any luck getting a PRL update for the U720 work with Parallels (or the Beta VMWare Fusion for that matter)? I've tried both, with no success.

-tb

dfphoto · EVDO User Joined: 11 Nov 2005 Posts: 26

Ok I've had the Merlin S620 until it broke, I have a new U720 for my G4 laptop, so I have downloaded and installed the driver you posted, now I need to get an intel and bootcamp to PRL this card? or send it back to booster for 75.00? I did that with the S620 of course it broke 3 weeks out of warranty...

anyway I can do this with an older version of that connectix windows program? I have that somewhere but I think I only have windows 98 would that be sufficient, and is there a detailed set of instructions somewhere, I'm quite ignorant with the PC... thanks David