Your Tech Life Your Tech Life

This is an archived article/post from trevorlong.com - New technology thoughts and opinion can be found at www.yourtechlife.com

From trevorlong.com » Currently Reading:

30 Nov 2007 - Optus Wireless Broadband - Using the USB Modem (HUAWEI E220) with MAC OSX
The Optus Wireless Broadband USB "Dongle" or "Lozenge" modem device is plug and play for PC - because on it are the drivers and everything you need to get going.

Plug it into your MAC, and nothing. A big fat zero.

A call to Optus technical support was good, but unfortunately not helpful. They did confirm however that drivers for MAC did exist, but it would require a personal search online.

From that search, lasting around 20 minutes from me, i can confirm, Optus Wireless Broadband via the E220 USB Dongle is possible.

Here's how you do it.

Firstly, BEFORE YOU INSERT THE DONGLE, you need to download the Intel or PowerPC drivers.

http://portal.myglobe.com.ph/portal/Suboverview.do?aid=44364&id=1724

This site has both drivers.  Unzip the download and open the Huawei_DataCard_Drv_App_Intel package and install.

Then open and install the HuaweiDataCardDriver(2.6)-intel package.

Once done, go into System Preferences/Network - and Add Huawei to the Network List.

Enter *99# in the Phone Number box.

Go into Advanced

In the Vendor Box, choose OTHER, and select the HUAWEI 3G Modem.

Click OK, then APPLY.

PLUG IN THE E220 DONGLE MODEM

If you see a little phone icon on the top of your screen, Click it, and CLICK CONNECT.

Another piece of Software I downloaded when attempting this installation was direct from HUAWEI.

http://www.huawei.com/mobileweb/en/doc/list.do?type=-1&id=736

Click the THIRD link down, Download, and unzip with Stuffit.

This works the same as above, the only difference is it adds an application called MOBILE CONNECT to your APPLICATIONS folder.

This is a status monitor and usage monitor.  I have this configured to include the Optus APN ("connect") and the *99# phone number.

If you have problems with the first lot of instructions, ensure you download the MOBILE CONNECT application above.

Network Settings 
30 Nov 2007
1 of 4

Share your thoughts:

Added: Monday , 23 Jun 2008 07:51 pm

Hi Trevor,

I have bought the HUAWEI hsdpa e220 wireless mobile modem from optus. I am wandering if there is a usage meter that I can download for a MAC computer. I tried to download the page you suggested but it came up as a movie file. I tried to open it with stuffit, but didnt work. Is this for P.C. Could you let me know.

Thanks
Angelo

Angelo, adelaide

   make a comment    

Added: Tuesday , 20 May 2008 11:13 am

Dear Trevor,please can you help me?I am going to get the record player from Dick Smith which connects to the computer;but it does not com with soft ware.Where can I get thid on the internet?
Kind regards Christa

Christa, Sydney

   make a comment    

Added: Wednesday, 05 Mar 2008 01:08 pm

I can't get this to work!!!! After downloading all the software, I cannot find huawei to add to the Network List. PLEASE HELP ME!!

Tiffany, Perth

   make a comment    

Added: Tuesday , 04 Mar 2008 04:17 am

Mine works fine with just the driver download from the manufacturer and the above settings.

There are some problems with pages stalling and I have to disconnect and then connect again, but this is intermittent - if annoying.

Do Optus have a proxy server? Sometimes that can help these issues?

yazza, Melbourne

   make a comment    

Added: Friday , 15 Feb 2008 02:52 pm

Hi

What is the Telephone No: *99# number?

Where do I find the full number?

Thanks

yazza, melbourne

   make a comment    

Added: Thursday , 31 Jan 2008 05:10 pm

All i can suggest is you read this page
http://trevorlong.com/pc-to-mac-in-90-days_697.shtml

it was an updated version, which was supplied by sources at Optus - but note the wireless product is NOT YET SUPPORTED on MAC, so you are doing all this at your own risk.

Sorry!

Trevor Long, Pyrmont

   make a comment    

Added: Thursday , 31 Jan 2008 05:06 pm

Hi Trevor. Your guidance on this page has been invaluable!

I changed from Telstra to Optus 3 days ago and still neither my mobile nor my mobile broadband on laptop work..... I believe I've set it up on my Mac os x 10.4 laptop perfectly. It connects, authenticates and then disconnects, telling me to check my ppp settings. Which I've checked and they are fine. The log tells me it times out sending the config requests... I drove into the CBD (takes 2.5 hours each time) and tried it there (and at several optus stores) and got same message so it's not an issue of being in the country.

The delightfully useless Optus technical help people have at least confirmed that at their end my account looks activated and AOK. Any ideas, advice or help appreciated!

anna, outback australia

   make a comment    

Added: Tuesday , 29 Jan 2008 11:59 am

Yeah, i've checked & tried everything under the sun.

The only thing that seems to get rid of the problem is deleting the browser cache history, which would be a pain to do it all the time.

This doesn't happen if I use Vodafone's connection, so i think its something to do with Optus' APN 'Connect', i have Optus mobile data which uses the 'internet' APN and the problem doesn't occur, but I can't use the mobile data APN because its not tied to the data account..

Mark, Melbourne

   make a comment    

Added: Tuesday , 22 Jan 2008 09:16 am

Mark : Interesting, to be honest I haven't been using it THAT much. I got it going but since then have only done the odd speed test and experiment with it.

Interesting problem, you sure you don't have any proxies setup, or Google web accellerator etc?

Thanks
Trevor

Trevor Long, Pyrmont

   make a comment    

Added: Monday , 21 Jan 2008 03:51 pm

Hi,

I saw your post, I just signed upto the Optus Wireless Broadband using the E220 modem a few days ago.

I have a weird 'caching' issue where when I surf webpages, particularly forums, etc., when I mark something as 'read' and click on my subscriped topics, the thread doesn't actually dissappear off the list, and this happens vice versa.

This appears to be related to the Optus APN 'connect' because when I use the Optus APN 'internet' or Vodafone's APN 'internet' this doesnt happen.

Have you been experiencing something similiar (or maybe you haven't noticed?) Let me know if you'd like a detailed explanation.

Cheers.

Mark, Melbourne

   make a comment    

add your comment:

Name:
Email:
Location:
Comments:

Enter the code shown above:
Code is Case Sensitive - check for Capitals

(Your comments will not be posted on the site until approved)