Mac OS X Leopard 10.5 and EVDO Card Support

evdonewb · EVDO Newbie Joined: 20 Mar 2006 Posts: 6

I had previously used a USB720 but want to use the USB727 on my Macbook (both Verizon). I first did a 10.4 to 10.5 upgrade. Native support (WWAN) did not seem to be available for the USB727 though it had been for the USB720. I was able to use VZAM for Mac 3.7 but was only getting about 300kbps with the USB727 in it. In my Windows box and with the macbook booted into Windows I was getting 900kbs + every time.
I have gone ahead and done a clean 10.5 install and the USB727 is still not recognized. Is it possible to run this card without VZAM?

quantumdrift · EVDO Newbie Joined: 12 Oct 2007 Posts: 3

djala · EVDO Newbie Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 1

I have the following set-up:

- Powerbook G4 1 GB SDRAM
- MAC OS X 10.5 Leopard - just updated
- Verizon PC5750

I just upgraded to Leopard and now the 5750 card will not function after functioning flawlessly for 3 months on Tiger. In fact, it does not even power up. I suspect Leopard is not recognizing the card or the installed drivers native to Leopard are not compatible. I know the card works because it functions fine in my Windows XP laptop. I uninstalled and re-installed VZAM and even downloaded their latest update and still no success. I searched through this forum as well as the entire web, although this site has the most comprehensive and up-to-date EVDO information, and can't seem to find the solution.

Anyone have any ideas or suggestions as to how to debug Leopard's incompatibility with PC5750?

PHL · EVDO Newbie Joined: 26 Nov 2007 Posts: 2

This has been a pain in the arse.

MacBook Intel 2.16
Upgraded from 10.4.10 to 10.5.1
Verizon USB 720 card
VZAM upgraded to 3.7

I am getting unpredictable results. First I read to switch my WWAN adaptor to be Novatel (default CDMA). That gave me some better results when connecting through VZAM, but not always great. And I got dropped frequently. Other times while the connection is being made, it gets dropped on the registration step, telling me to call VZ wireless support. Forget that.

But I'm scratching my head at what else to do? This worked perfectly, and stayed logged in for 8, 10, 12 hours at a time without any problems. Now I'm lucky to see 5 minutes without a drop.

nickgold · EVDO Newbie Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 2

I was happily using my Novatel Wireless EX720 ExpressCard on Sprint under 10.4.x on my MacBook Pro -- now, since updating to 10.5, it doesn't work at all. I have tried everything, PLEASE someone help!

Under 10.4.x, I had to put #777 as the dialup number, and use Sprint PCS Vision as my modem string, or something like that. Under 10.5 the settings for a wireless card have completely changed, and when it "auto-configured" a new port for my EX720, it now inserts a user name (MYNAME01@SPRINTPCS.COM) and a password, which Keychain Access tells me is actually "vzw" which to me looks suspicious.

On my menu bar I do see the EVDO card icon, it has light-grey bars, under About Sprint Card it does show my info. -- but after I hit connect it ALWAYS gives a No Carrier Detected error, and quickly disconnects (before really establishing a connection.)

I have wiped the Novatel-related extensions, reinstalled from the installer on Sprint's site, etc. Nothing works, same issue every time. I have created a new network location several times, I have deleted and re-added the port for the EX720 many times, same problem over and over again.

Any help would be much appreciated -- my $60/month seems like a major waste right now. Sad

PHL · EVDO Newbie Joined: 26 Nov 2007 Posts: 2

My issue 2 posts up was resolved. It ended up requiring a call to Verizon support, where I spent about 30 minutes uninstalling/reinstalling the VZAM software. Then we tried removing everything and letting the Mac pick up the card when I inserted it to use the WWAN driver direct without VZAM. None of that worked.

I continually would have the modem connect, but then fail with Error 913 on the registration step. I then saw a Mac Pop Up saying that "authentication failed". But this pop-up was not a real representation of the real reason.

My issue got escalated and I got a call back in about an hour. The rep had me try to connect again while he ran a trace. When he identified the failure point, he said he had to "reset" something, but his software that he uses to reset whatever it is doesn't specifically indicate what's being changed. He just said that the registration step where the modem tries to authenticate was failing. After he reset me, all was perfect.

But my speedtest.net tests were only showing 150kb down/200kb up. So I went and got the Sprint Novatel CDMA driver and tested that. My speeds jumped to 800 down/600 up! I can use either VZAM or direct WWAN connection (through the top pull down menu).

lukfire43

I just got the Merlin EX720 and installation was flawless.
Plug in, and go!
But I am curious if the GPS functionality works on Mac OS X?

Alex

Animagix · Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2007 3:13 pm Post subject:

Ordered a santa rosa macbook last week which doesn't come with an expresscard slot like my macbook pro. So I ordered novatel's expresscard to usb adapter for my EX720 and it works right away on leopard. Didn't even have to fiddle with any settings.

1.2mbs down and 600kbps up.

nickgold · EVDO Newbie Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 2

I got my setup to work, finally, fourth call to Spring did the trick.

Had to boot into Parallels, launch the Sprint Broadband program, CANCEL it wanting to update card firmware (which always failed and still fails), have it re-establish a connection to Spring using that program which somehow updated/re-activated the card again, then back on the Mac side it worked, yay!!!

Ndna Jnz

chuckwn · Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2007 12:51 am Post subject: OS 10.5 Powerbook G4 Sprint U720

Working, but has problems on some sites....

Just upgraded to 10.5 and found the U720 was no longer working with the excellent "Macintosh" drivers. I used the solution posted by "quantumdrift" (Sprint's driver accessed within System Preferences) successfully, however......

On certain sights (Ebay Sign in, Chase Home Banking, and others), using FireFox, the the connection seems to quit working. I remain connected and can continue to browse elsewhere, but these sights quit responding. These are problems I never has using 10.4 with the fine "Macintosh" drivers.

Anyone else having these issues with the drivers from the Sprint sight and 10.5?

Even better, any ideas for a cure?

Thanks,
_________________
chuck

Usmc68 · Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2007 7:10 am Post subject: USB727 and Leopard

Thanks Quantumdrift.
I first tried upgrading to a KPC680 from a 650 with Verizon's every 2 upgrade. I used a SIIG Express to USB adapter. This did not work!!! I spent countless hours doing everything imaginable with Verizon's wireless tech support. They were awesome but no dice. I almost felt like I was using a Pc i had to reboot it so many times Confused

Verizon upgraded me to the USB727 at no cost Shocked

for my trouble.
This worked but I was getting super slow 100-200 drownloads. I followed Quantumdrifts suggestion, a few posts back and now I am getting download speeds of 800+. The interesting thing is that I can also get these speeds with the account created in VZ access manager "National Access Broadband access" but bypass VZAM and get to it through network preferences, select other and Verizon's 1x EVDO script. Hope this helps

Semper Fi

Animagix · Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 8:32 pm Post subject: roaming?

how could anyone tell if they were roaming? On tiger OS we have the triangle which lets us know if we're roaming.