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Michael
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Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 5086
Location: Cary, IL
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 Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 5:26 pm Post subject: Merlin EX720 by Sprint Mac OS X Compatibility |
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This thread will discuss the Merlin EX720 Novatel ExpressCard by Sprint and how compatible it will be with MacBook Pros.
In a press released from today, Sprint says:
| Quote: | | By late February, the EX720 will be available in Sprint sales channels including retail stores and at www.sprint.com and can be purchased for as low as $179.99 with a two-year subscriber agreement and will support both Windows and Macintosh operating systems. |
Previously, Sprint said the same thing about the Novatel U720 and supporting Macs and even after 2 months after releasing, Sprint (or Apple) doesn't have a native solution (Note: when you buy your U720 from us, we will include everything you need *and* Mac support to get it working).
So, after the EX720 is released watch this thread and we will discuss how well it works (or doesn't work), with MacBook Pros. Keep in mind, even if Sprint and Apple do not support it, there may be hacks/drivers/directions that we or others release to get it working.
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fb314
EVDO User
Joined: 31 Oct 2006
Posts: 50
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| Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007 1:21 pm Post subject: It might be too soon to ask but here goes |
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I've said this before in another post, so I thought I'd see what responses I'd get here.
I'm, slowly but surely, saving up to get my first mac (MBP) and I'm trying to find out as much info as possible before taking the leap.
When the sprint express card comes out, following the past promises from sprint and mac support, it will most likely not have mac support with it. There's no telling if leopard will have drivers for the U720 or the express card either at this point. I'm assuming that the sprint express card will be the same thing as the verison ec, but then again, maybe it won't. Anyways....
Let's say that it is, just for now. Would you, the seller of the cards, package the software/drivers for the card that work with verison's service with the sprint card, or would that be against the law or unethical for you to do so. I could see how that might get you into legal hot water, but I thought I'd ask anyways.
Judging by the past experiences on this site, I would guess that a generous user out there "could" upload the drivers and whatnot to a file share site so we, the end user, could decide what we want to do with our sprint non mac friendly card and service. I don't like verison as much as anyone else, but I do what I have to, to get my hardware working as it should from the beginning.
I'm asking this because it would help me decide if I should wait for the sprint ec or get the U720, in preparation of my mbp purchase. I can use all three in the notebook I have now (Acer Aspire 5670).
All comments and opinions appreciated. |
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Michael
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 5086
Location: Cary, IL
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| Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 8:48 am Post subject: |
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Sprint had a press release today announcing the Merlin EX720 ExpressCard, from the press release:
| Quote: | | The Merlin EX720 ExpressCard supports different operating systems and easily functions with Windows® (XP, 2000, Vista) and Mac® (10.4 or higher) |
This is good news, HOWEVER, Sprint had the same information when they released the Novatel U720, and as of today, Sprint doesn't offer any Mac support, Apple has yet to release drivers to support it, however, a fan of EVDOforums.com has released U720 Mac drivers.
We will have to wait and see. We will get one of the first EX720s when they are released and we will report to this thread about Mac compatibility.
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Michael
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Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 5086
Location: Cary, IL
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h8rain
EVDO User
Joined: 16 Jan 2007
Posts: 28
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| Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 11:11 am Post subject: |
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| I received a EX720 on Friday, and using the drivers from Sprint, it works GREAT! The only "problems" is no signal strength/network and I have had issues if the card is inserted in startup/reboot. A simple pop out and reinsertion of the card fixes that. |
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ooglek
EVDO Newbie
Joined: 27 Oct 2005
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 12:37 pm Post subject: AGPS/GPS on Mac OS X |
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| h8rain wrote: | | I received a EX720 on Friday, and using the drivers from Sprint, it works GREAT! The only "problems" is no signal strength/network and I have had issues if the card is inserted in startup/reboot. A simple pop out and reinsertion of the card fixes that. |
Were you able to access any of the GPS/AGPS features of the EX720? I know that it was only supported in Windows, but I didn't know if with the new drivers from Apple if that feature would now be supported. |
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urrl78
EVDO User
Joined: 26 Sep 2005
Posts: 81
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| Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 1:48 pm Post subject: |
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Compared to my Sprint A900 phone as modem connected by USB the EX720 is stupid fast. In my location the phone averages about 390 Kps but the EX720 is getting 720 Kps in the same location. I updated my Macbook Pro with Apple's updated drivers. Then after activating the EX in Bootcamp I shoved the card in using OSX.
I didn't wait the 4 hours they claim you must wait; in a few minutes the EX was online and running like a champ.
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h8rain
EVDO User
Joined: 16 Jan 2007
Posts: 28
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| Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 2:00 pm Post subject: Re: AGPS/GPS on Mac OS X |
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| ooglek wrote: | | Were you able to access any of the GPS/AGPS features of the EX720? I know that it was only supported in Windows, but I didn't know if with the new drivers from Apple if that feature would now be supported. |
Nope, not to my knowledge, but there is someone that I think is working on it with the drivers from Apple. |
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urrl78
EVDO User
Joined: 26 Sep 2005
Posts: 81
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| Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 2:10 pm Post subject: |
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That last speed test was using Bootcamp. I just did one using OSX
EX720 = 900 dn/231 up
A900 phone as modem = 540 dn/57 up
This was 5 readings each. I took out the slowest reading of each and averaged the remaining 4 readings of each device.
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merichard
EVDO Newbie
Joined: 21 Feb 2007
Posts: 1
Location: San Antonio, TX
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| Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 2:20 pm Post subject: |
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| So is there any known way around the Provisioning in a windows pc ??? |
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ooglek
EVDO Newbie
Joined: 27 Oct 2005
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 3:12 pm Post subject: Re: AGPS/GPS on Mac OS X |
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| h8rain wrote: | | ooglek wrote: | | Were you able to access any of the GPS/AGPS features of the EX720? I know that it was only supported in Windows, but I didn't know if with the new drivers from Apple if that feature would now be supported. |
Nope, not to my knowledge, but there is someone that I think is working on it with the drivers from Apple. |
Where might I find more information about this effort? I really don't want to spend an extra $120 on the EX versus the U if I'm getting GPS features I can't use. |
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Michael
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 5086
Location: Cary, IL
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| Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 4:08 pm Post subject: |
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We started getting in EX720s today for customers to pre-activate. We will post some of our findings up on EVDOforums over the next few days.
We are pretty impressed with the EX720.
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ooglek
EVDO Newbie
Joined: 27 Oct 2005
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 4:21 pm Post subject: |
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| Michael wrote: | We started getting in EX720s today for customers to pre-activate. We will post some of our findings up on EVDOforums over the next few days.
We are pretty impressed with the EX720. |
The EX720 is better than the U720? Can you elaborate? I'll monitor this forum thread to make sure I don't miss a thing! |
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bimhoff
EVDO Newbie
Joined: 23 Mar 2007
Posts: 1
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| Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 9:57 am Post subject: EX720 |
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| Bought mine yesterday.. Activated it in parallels (even though it said it failed, it now works. Go figure). Works great in OS X. Seeing speeds of roughly 1m/256k. The only annoying things are 1) the blinking activity light and 2) can't figure out how to access the GPS functions of the card.. |
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baggins@well.com
EVDO Newbie
Joined: 14 Aug 2006
Posts: 10
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| Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 10:19 pm Post subject: Blnky |
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| We just got two, one for my MacBook Pro and one for my wife's Sony (Vista) laptop. Sh hates the blinking light so much that she has been avoiding using the device. Is somebody hacking this silliness, I hope? |
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