Using the Kyocera KR-1 and Macintosh

LK23 · EVDO User Joined: 12 Apr 2006 Posts: 30

I am using a MacBook Pro. I connect to the Internet wireless with the Kyocera KR-1 and a Verizon PC 5740 card.

Question: Verizon suggests that you use the Verizon software on a PC to update the card for new cell antennae locations on a regular basis. Since I am using the KR-1 and have no access to the Verizon software, I have not connected to the update for a year. Is this a problem? Would I have better reception is I made this update? If so, is there a method to update on a Mac?

Mackieman · EVDO Junkie Joined: 31 Oct 2005 Posts: 451

A new PRL will allow you to access new cell sites that are on a different home SID than your card is currently provisioned for. If you don't travel much, the chances of that occurring is pretty low. Even still, a lot has been rolled out in the past year so updating the PRL is certainly not a bad idea. There is a version of VZAccess Manager for Mac; you can get it at http://vzw.smithmicro.com/ easily.

Alex · Site Admin Joined: 19 Sep 2006 Posts: 1893

downloading vzam is easy, but getting a pcmcia card to work on a macbook pro would take some kind of shoehorn since it only has an expresscard slot.

any chance you can borrow someone's 15/17" powerbook g4?
or (please forgive me for suggesting this) maybe an XP laptop?

tz1 · Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 7:30 am Post subject:

You might want to see if you can just take it to a Verizon Store or Kiosk that might have a windows laptop that can run the software so update the PRL for you. Or if you know someone with a windows laptop (or something with a PCMCIA slot), they just need to download the software and you can update it.

I have a linux laptop that I boot into Windows XP once per month just to do that, or there was the usb to PCMCIA EVDO but it seems to be stuck in negotiation with Verizon as far as doing real updates.

(Hmmm, Parallels or VMware, and some tweakage so /dev/ttyUSBx can appear as a Mac driver over ethernet...)

LK23 · EVDO User Joined: 12 Apr 2006 Posts: 30

Thanks for the feedback.

Getting the PCMCIA card to work is no problem since I am currently using the Kyocera KR1 router.

Question: If I download the Mac version of Verizon Access Manager will that allow me to get an new PRL to access new cell site.

I also have Parallels loaded on my MacBook. However, I would much rather update with Mac software if it works.

LK23 · EVDO User Joined: 12 Apr 2006 Posts: 30

I downloaded the Mac version of Verizon Access Manager. It failed to detect the Verizon 5740 PCMCIA card in the wireless Kyocera KR-1 router. Any suggestions?

Walter · EVDO Junkie Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Posts: 307

Access Manager is not going to communicate with the card while it's in the router. Access Manager will only communicate directly with the card. That's why Alex commented on how it would be difficult to get this to work on a MacBook Pro. You have to plug the 5740 directly into the Mac.

HTH
_________________
Reach, Connect, Celebrate, Grow, Serve.

LK23 · EVDO User Joined: 12 Apr 2006 Posts: 30

Walter,

Thanks. Now I understand that even though I have the Mac version of Verizon Access Manager, it will not communicate through the KR-1 router.

Anyone know of a way to connect the 5740 card directly to a MacBook Pro? Is there an adapter?

If I upgrade to the 5750 card I am assuming I will have the same problem - No way to initialize and activate the card with the MacBook Pro.

Obviously, I can seek out a Windows PC and do the activation there. What a pain. Any suggestions.

macgirl · EVDO Newbie Joined: 09 Jul 2007 Posts: 1

[quote="LK23"]I am using a MacBook Pro. I

Hello
This is my first post and I could not find where to start a new thread. That said I have had a KPC650 since they came out here in 2005. I also have a Mac. I remember when Verizon said that the card would not work with a Mac and I had a Mac friend help and he configured the card for me. NO ONE knew in my circle about this 24/7 card.They thought I was using airport etc. Anyway because where I live (Cape Cod) the card was slowwwwwwwwwwwwww like dial up as we just had National access here, so I kept my DSL connection as well as my EVDO card.It was still such a treat to be able to use it anywhere most always. Then in Feb of 2007 Cape Cod went Broadband, and I needed to update my card. Well that was a problem as when I went to the Verizon place noone knew how to do it, and when I figured out how to do it you needed a PC/windows to upgrade. FINALLY after about 10 techies at Verizon, I got thru to a really great tech person at Verizon, who sent me an updated KPC650card. : ) I quit my DSL as now my card was so much faster than before, BUT still slower than DSL, and very slow for uploading pics to the web.
Now what I would like to know I have heard there is a *faster* card available to me,
I have a PB G4,but it looks different and not sure if it will work on my Mac, as the slot is larger. If I can use it is it worth the trade up ?
Please feel free to move this post to where it goes and or to email me.
Thanks much
Macgirl