ZTE EvDo Modem

The modems natively supported by Leopard are found here:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1122

Originally the ZTE AC8710 is a windows only device, you will have to ask your provider for drivers for the mac. Some service providers such as Vodafone and Nova Media provide their own custom made drivers for such devices.

According to some sources: "The ZTE AC8710 doesn't work on MAC OS 10.5"

I assume you are using a Tata Indicom Photon EVDO connection

They use a ZTE AC8710 USB modem device..The apple WWAN drivers work prefectly for this, but the default driver list does not include the vendor and device ID for this particular device, so the system is unable to recognize the ZTE device as a WWAN device

There are 2 ways to get it working, the first (which is what I used, and works like a charm) is via manually adding your hardware IDs to the WWAN support plist files

- get your hardware ID (PID/VID available via system profiler under USB as ZTE modem. e.g. Product ID: 4567 Vendor ID: 1ab2)

-edit the WWAN support plist files viz /System/Library/Extensions/IOSerialFamily.kext/Contents/PlugIns/AppleWWANSuppor t1.kext/Contents and
/System/Library/Extensions/IOSerialFamily.kext/Contents/PlugIns/AppleWWANSupport .kext/Contents

- you will see multiple devices with their respective vendor IDs and product IDs listed there, just add another similar new line (or edit an existing line) with the vendor ID as 0x1ab2 and product ID as 0x4567

(notice the leading 0x, and make sure you replace the example IDs with the actuals)

- Save, restart and voila, your device will show up under network as a WWAN device

- Use the UID/pw to connect 🙂


The second method is to try the Reliance Comm drivers for the AC8710
http://www.rcom.co.in/Communications/rcom/RNetconnect/ecare_downloads.html

I cannot vouch for the second method method, as I havent tried it myself

Hi, i too have a tata-indicom Photon HSIA USB card (AC8710) i'm struggling for the past few days to install it on Mac OS 10.5. Able to run the script and detect the card but i have no place to enter the phone number for dial up ("#777"). Selected Generic Dial up service in the advanced option. Can anyone help ?

the reliance driver works! it helps in detecting your USB device once you plug it in. Then add that connection from network preferences. Go to advanced settings and choose a non apple modem like novatel and yippie it worked for me. I used the first method for my BSNL EVDO but after the latest 10.5.7 update it stopped working.

http://www.rcom.co.in/Communications/rcom/RNetconnect/others/Mac_Drivers-ZTEAC87 10%20Bb+.zip
this drivers of reliance modem works
and i am successfully connected to the internet,
just select others from the modem list and select zte modem from drop down list
put dialing no to #777 user and password will be (internet)
there u go..................

Hi superczar,

I have a Relaiance Broadband+ modem (ZTE AC8710). I tried your method with HID/PID and upodating the kernal extentions, but the system profiler does not recognize it. It does show up as USB data device and this does not have any HID/PID. Can you please help?

The reliance drivers provided by reliance mobile work only in leopard and I am using tiger on my laptop.

Thanks,
S.

hi. I found the driver that works with Mac OS Leopard 10.5.8 for the ZTE AC8710.
you can dowload it here http://www.ztemt.com/ennewzte/service/ziliao.action

the link is for windows OS not for MAC

Hei Look out man that page has tata indicom driver for mac
Am using this driver more than 2 months with snow leopard 10.6 & 10.6.1 as well 10.6.2 it really works amazingly.

Don't hesitate to contact me via anbuchelvansci@live.com

here the link for the drivers:

http://www.rcom.co.in/Rcom/personal/internet/zip/Mac_Drivers-ZTEAC8710%20Bb+.zip

Hi. Has anyone tried superczar's way of making 8710 ZTE Modem work on Snow Leopard?

What i did was installed Windows XP using VirtualBox on Snow Leopard. Created a Bridge Network between the Guest XP and Host Mac. Since ZTE 8710 has no problems with Windows XP, i connected to the internet using Windows XP, used Internet Connection Sharing feature and what can i say, i am able to indirectly connect to the internet via XP on my Snow Leopard installation. I am very happy with this since i don't need to install 10.5 just to use this device. Also i tried it once, but the connection speed on Mac is very slow as compared to XP. So this setup which i've done on Snow leopard is giving full speed access to the internet on Mac.

Hope this information helps! If you face any problems, just contactme@majrul.com

Thanks gamba0. The installer worked beautifully. You the man! 🙂 Cheers. Love ya. )))

Just to let others know, one has to click the '+' in the Network tab in System Preferences tab and select ZTE Wireless Terminal. Say cancel when "AT channel" and "voice channel" "not installed" pops us. And you are ready to go.