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Niall Mallyon Author

Level 1

136 points

Mobile Broadband (3 Three UK ZTE MF622) and 10.5.3

Hi,

I have recently updated to 10.5.3 and now find that my 3 Mobile Broadband no longer works. All was fine under 10.5.2.

I have deinstalled the drivers and reinstalled with no joy.

I used the 3 supplied drivers from the USB modem itself (it mounts as a USB drive initially) which are revision B06 initally under 10.5.2 and these work fine creating 2 entries in Network Prefs Pane and installing an app (ZTE Mobile Connection). Launching this app and hitting connect on 10.5.2 produces a usuable broadband connection.

However under 10.5.3 the 2 network entries do not get installed and although the application runs and connects, Safari (and any other internet using app) fails as there is no route out to the net presumably because of the lack of network entries.

Needless to say I am getting nowhere with 3 customer services as although the modem supports Mac, sadly the helpdesk don't and can't assist me. They say its a Mac issue and I'm on my own.

I can find no later drivers and can only put this down to 10.5.3. I have installed the drivers on a fresh 10.5.3 Mac (e.g one that hasn't had mobile broaband on it before) and get the same issues.

I can find no reference to any issues for anyone else so I can only conclude its just me doing something wrong.

Any help/experiences greatly appreciated particularly in maybe recreating the network entries from scratch if anyone is using the same/similar combination of hardware/software as me.

Regards
NIALL8-(

Macbook Mac OS X (10.5.3)

Macbook, Mac OS X (10.5.3)

Posted on Jun 16, 2008 6:14 AM

29 replies

Barcoo

Level 1

0 points

Jun 30, 2008 5:25 AM in response to Barcoo

I have finally found an answer to my problem and perhaps yours. For the first time in a long while it has not come from the forums. http://www.shasam.net/archives/82/?cp=1 This link provides the details of connecting the E220 without the optus software as well as links to required drivers. Using it I am now able to connect and transmit data while airport is turned on. Hopefully this link may provide an answer to your question or a direction to head in. Cheers

Jul 20, 2008 2:49 PM in response to Niall Mallyon

Hello :
Got some question and looks like you might be tge one to give me a hand .
I got the ZTE MF622 .. had a lot of problems configuring .. but finally did it .
using 10.5.4 on a macbookpro.
but my modem work on a pre paid system ... and I have a balance rhat can only be checked thru SMS services on the modems chip`s number .
but my application doesn'´t have SMS support .. do you know if B06 version has it ?

Niall Mallyon Author

Level 1

136 points

Jul 29, 2008 4:36 AM in response to Pulentium3

Hi,

Sorry for the delayed reply, but I've been busy welcoming my new son into this wonderful world of ours. He has obviously taken priority over things.

The B06 drivers do NOT include SMS capabilities. I was told by 3 that I had to put the SIM into a phone to do that. Pain I know but the only option, other than connecting the modem to a Windows PC.

I think you can check the balance online at the 3 website and also top-up there as well.

Regards
NIALL8-)

Niall Mallyon Author

Level 1

136 points

Jul 29, 2008 4:38 AM in response to Niall Mallyon

All,

Still not working and can't get a refund !!

I have done some more digging and have found that in networking the ZTE Modem appears as a bluetooth device - which isn't going to help!

Can't figure out how to get it all sorted though!

Anyone??

Regards

NIALL8-(

Aug 8, 2008 3:23 AM in response to Niall Mallyon

I have the ZTE modem working fine on 10.5.4 on a Powerbook. And, when you get it working it's pretty good as long as you are close to a 3G transmitter.(if not, dial up speeds can be expected!)
I had trouble when I upgraded to 10.5.4; networking was trying to use Bluetooth to connect.
When I look in Network preferences I have Internal Modem at the top and ZTEUSBModem and ZTEUSBAPort below that. ZTE appear to be using the Internal Modem internet connect to make this work.
What I did was close down the 3 connection application, unplug the modem, made all connection methods inactive except Internal modem, ZTEUSBModem and ZTEUSBATPort. Remember to click Apply.
Re-open the 3 connection software, plugged in the modem and it worked.
Now I know the Macbook pro doesnt have a modem but the software is still in Leopard - anyhow give it a go.
When working it's a good system.

Aug 8, 2008 6:49 AM in response to Niall Mallyon

This really shouldn't be costing you this amount of grief: I had one of these up and running in under 5 minutes. In actual fact you shouldn't even need the supplied software or drivers -this should just work after being configured in network.

I must ask you some questions though, based on my experience with others' setups (or lack thereof)

Have you put any money on it? (i.e. top-up)
As you've had it a while, have you topped it up since the initial 30 days? It won't work otherwise.
Have you a gTalk or iChat account? If so, I can take over your machine and configure it for you.

Niall Mallyon Author

Level 1

136 points

Aug 10, 2008 11:41 AM in response to Éamonn Ó Catháin

Hi,

Thanks for the reply.
The modem was working successfully for some time. Then I upgraded to 10.5.3 and had connection issues. I deinstalled the software and from this point it has never worked again.
I'm getting no connection even with credit.
The installation procedure seems to be successful but closer investigation reveals it hasn't.
The kernel extensions don't get installed correctly and other bits appear just not to get copied. I'm sure there are some permissions issues or a cache that just isn't clearing. I've tried rebuilding kext caches and all manner of other things but delving too deeply into the OS is a little scary as I have no experience. Most of my trouble shooting so far has been from internet search results.
If you look in networking when you have your modem connected you'll see 2 ZTE devices displayed. I have none.
I have taken apart the installation using Pacifist and also looked in the uninstall text file that gets copied to applications during install.
The install is just not finishing correctly and I can't see whether its because a previous install is causing problems or if there are some sort of permissions issues. I have run both the disk utility and Onyx to check things but nothing improves.
I'm really at the point of clearing my entire MAcBook and starting again but with a new baby at home I haven't got the time unfortunately so I have a very nice £50 black piece of useless plastic doing nothing.
I think unless someone who knows about OSX/Unix well enough to take apart the installer and give me guidance on kernel extensions, caches etc then a rebuild is the only option.
Kind Regards
NIALL 8-(
P.S i am not a gTalk or iChat user - sorry

Aug 10, 2008 12:24 PM in response to Niall Mallyon

Well, it's your call, but you could sign up to gMail in under 5 minutes and you could have a sceen-sharing account then going in iChat and we could have a look at this. I have just configured 2 x TCs and a ZTE this afternoon remotely (2 in Ireland, 1 in Hong Kong) and successfully 🙂

Sorry you're having such woes. Aren't you going to upgrade to 10.5.4?

Niall Mallyon Author

Level 1

136 points

Aug 11, 2008 5:02 AM in response to Éamonn Ó Catháin

Hi

Thanks for the offer but I've always shied away from any remote connectivity options. I'm a little paranoid about my personal machines. No offense to you but I'd rather not open up my machine at this stage, keen as I am to get it working.

I'm already at 10.5.4 - hoped that might resolve my issues!!

The uninstall file for the drivers is as follows. It details all files etc that are installed.

sudo kextunload -v /System/Library/Extensions/ZTEUSBCDCACMData.kext
sudo kextunload -v /System/Library/Extensions/ZTEUSBCDCACMControl.kext
sudo rm -r -f /Library/Modem Scripts/ZTE USB MODEM
sudo rm -r -f /Application/MiniUI
sudo rm -r -f /System/Library/Extensions/ZTEUSBCDCACMData.kext
sudo rm -r -f /System/Library/Extensions/ZTEUSBCDCACMControl.kext
sudo rm -r -f /System/Library/Extensions.kextcache
sudo rm -r -f /System/Library/Extensions.mkext
sudo rm -r -f /System/Library/Caches/com.apple.kernelcaches/
sudo rm -r -f /Library/Receipts/ZTEDatacardDriverInstaller.pkg

The kextunload fails for both kext files which indicates that are not getting loaded correctly. I'm wondering if the install is failing for some reason because its not running as root.

I have tried manually running the commmands and whilst the 1st kext goes in OK the 2nd one fails with permission issues.

I'm sure I'm missing something or a simple command to refresh things/permissions would resolve the problem.

Maybe the unistall info will help someone???

Regards and thanks again.

NIALL 8-)

Niall Mallyon Author

Level 1

136 points

Aug 11, 2008 6:57 AM in response to Éamonn Ó Catháin

Just a little update.
The miniui does not get removed by the rm command and the ZTEDatacardDriverInstaller.pkg file isn't there.
Again, from my limited knowledge, this all seems to be permissions related.

How can I confirm that the install is running as root plus what permissions should the directories have??

You also mentioned in your original message that you don't actually need the drivers, just some network configuring - can you elaborate please??

Regards
NIALL 8-)

Aug 12, 2008 2:36 PM in response to Niall Mallyon

Niall,

There seems to be a typo in the script. It should read /Applications/MiniUI with an "s" in Applications.

I had similar problems with my ZTE MF622 from Three UK after upgrading a PowerBook G4 from OS 10.4.x to now 10.5.4. Did eventually solve them. From memory the sequence was to first execute the commands in UninstallZTEDatacardDriver.txt inside a terminal window (cut and paste). There were two or three error messages, which I ignored. Then I reinstalled the driver from the disk which appears on connecting the ZTE unit for the first time without the Mac_SwapperDemon already running.

Joachim

Niall Mallyon Author

Level 1

136 points

Aug 15, 2008 7:39 AM in response to Joachim Rose

Joachim

Thanks for the info. I've tried several things including your suggestion with, sadly, no fix.

I have finally resolved things by wiping my MacBook and reinstalling everything.

Installation of ZTE stuff went fine and everything is now wokring again.

Thanks to you, Éamonn and everyone else who took the time to try and get me thru this.

NOT looking forward to 10.5.5 upgrade later this year!!!

Kind Regards

NIALL 8-)

Niall Mallyon Author

Level 1

136 points

Aug 15, 2008 7:41 AM in response to Niall Mallyon

Solution was to wipe MacBook and restore from recovery DVDs then reinstall all apps and ZTE stuff.

Oct 15, 2008 6:27 AM in response to Tim Haigh

Tim Haigh: I haven't used my e220 modem for several months. I tried using it the other day but discovered it no longer works (there have been a few Leopard point updates since then). My thought is to reinstall the drivers as you did. My question is - is there an uninstaller, or do I just reinstall over the top?

Mobile Broadband (3 Three UK ZTE MF622) and 10.5.3