[ablock]

Anyone tried OSX86 with the mobile broadband (AT&T) option that Dell is now offering on US Mini 9s?

(Though I confess that with the Mini 10 just around the corner -- 720x1280, built-in mobile broadband, GPS, and multitouch included, natch --- buying a new Mini 9 just for the broadband seems like a dumb idea.)

Thanks

/adam

[ablock]

Since no on appears to have tried this, I did a little more research. The two broadband options AT&T offers in dongle/card form are by Sierra Wireless and Option (which uses the Icera chipset). Both appear to have OSX drivers, though there are reports of problems with the Option hardware on OSX.

So which one is Dell shipping? They don't specify a supplier on the official site. And of course the PCI-e WWAN slot in the Mini is neither USB nor ExpressCard. However, I did find this interesting tidbit on an Acer Aspire One modder's site:

Inside the Sierra Wireless/AT&T AirCard 875U or 881U USB modem there’s a mini-PCIe 3G card. Who knew? If you’re looking for a reasonably priced, unlocked 875U or 881U, go here or there.

So my guess is that's what Dell is shipping -- the innards of a 881U. Since the SW drivers are included in OSX 10.5.2+, that would mean (if I understand all this properly) that the mobile BB should just work. That would be nice. Too bad that all but the earliest US Minis are missing the WWAN connector and antenna; you could just go pick up a 881U from AT&T and roll.

/adam

[marc5]

well, mine comes with the pci-e card from dell and it does work, its a well dell 5530 also known as a generic sonyericsson f3507g. if you look at the dell drivers website for xp, they list a few pci-e options so that would be an indication of what hardware they supply.

i'm running it on osx with a modem script avail on this site.

only thing not working is that there is no strength bar indicator unless wwan kexts recognise it as a supported modem

[hugheba]

I would be nice to have the signal strength bars like my Novatel modem on my real MacBook has for the WWAN access.

Anybody know what it would take to integrate it in?

[GreyPaint]

Try "CheetahWatch" a free app that will display WWAN access

[SilverZero]

Originally Posted by marc5

well, mine comes with the pci-e card from dell and it does work, its a well dell 5530 also known as a generic sonyericsson f3507g. if you look at the dell drivers website for xp, they list a few pci-e options so that would be an indication of what hardware they supply.

i'm running it on osx with a modem script avail on this site.

only thing not working is that there is no strength bar indicator unless wwan kexts recognise it as a supported modem

Which script are you using for this? I couldn't figure it out without more clues. Thanks!

[mini9geek]

Try this link.

HOWTO: Using mobile broadband / WWAN module in OSX

I have been using the script, and it works, although I sometimes need three connect attempts to finally link up.

[SouthTxTek]

Originally Posted by marc5

well, mine comes with the pci-e card from dell and it does work, its a well dell 5530 also known as a generic sonyericsson f3507g. if you look at the dell drivers website for xp, they list a few pci-e options so that would be an indication of what hardware they supply.

i'm running it on osx with a modem script avail on this site.

only thing not working is that there is no strength bar indicator unless wwan kexts recognise it as a supported modem

I'm trying to get this to work on my 10" Lenovo. I've done everything described here but the Dell modem doesn't show up in the choices. I can however choose the Sony Ericsson 3507g. I can get it to connect and it goes to Authenticating but disconnects. Even trying several times like I sometimes would have to do under XP. I'm pretty sure it's something to do with the settings. I've tried what seems like everything in the account, phone number and password fields including leaving everything blank. It just never finishes connecting to AT&T.

[SouthTxTek]

As suspected it was just the connection info. It wanted.....
Phone number : wap.cingular
Account Name : WAP.CINGULARGPRS.COM
Password : CINGULAR1

It seems very case sensitive as well. This works for me and I get around 1Mx1M. I've tested as much as 1.8Mx1.2M on AT&T.

Wish I had something like CheetahWatch for the Sony Ericsson modem now. The one listed here is for another brand of modem and of course I tried it and it doesn't even recognize the modem.