AT&T wireless connection

Question

AT&T wireless connection

I have a Mac laptop 10.3.9. I recently switched my internet provider to AT&T and have not been able to make an wireless connection. My previous connection was through a modem and router with a USB adapter on my laptop. Now the modem and router are gone and am not sure how to connect my laptop. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Bob holicek
rholicek@merr.com

iBook G3, Mac OS X (10.3.x)

Posted on Jul 3, 2009 9:42 AM

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Answer 1

Euchre

Level 4

1,275 points

Jul 3, 2009 11:44 PM in response to Robert Holicek

Did you buy the AT&T Aircard? If so, that's what you should be using to connect to the internet. It should be a USB device very similar to the USB wireless adapter you previously bought for connecting to your old modem and router. If you connected the device and did not receive software needed, you can find that from this page:
http://www.wireless.att.com/businesscenter/solutions/wireless-laptop/software.js p

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Answer 2

Euchre

Level 4

1,275 points

Jul 6, 2009 10:14 AM in response to Robert Holicek

Although AT&T does not officially support Mac, with the correct drivers from the aircard manufacturer you should be able to set things up to work correctly. It's not the device that's not supported, it's using AT&T's service on a Mac that's not supported. Most vendors now are selling the device, for which there are indeed Mac OS X drivers.

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Answer 3

Jul 6, 2009 4:47 PM in response to Euchre

Hi Euchre,
Thanks for your input again. This sounds like a winner. I'm in the process of ordering a C885 usb 'mercury' device. In the research I did after I received your info, it seems like this may be the answer. I'm not sure how you know this stuff but I'm glad you do. I'll let you know how it works after I give it a try. Thanks once more. Take care.
Bob

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Answer 4

Jul 27, 2009 5:50 PM in response to Euchre

Hello Euchre,
I mentioned when you last posted me that I would get back to you when I received the mercury adapter. Well, I finally received the mercury-compass adapter and am more confused than I was before. I got the usb adapter along with a pc disk for installation- no instructions per se. I'm not sure where to use the disc. I can't on my laptop which is 10.3.9 with no way to access the pc disc and I don't think I would use it on my desktop. I can't get any instructions on my laptop since I can't connect. I was excited to get the usb adapter but right now I'm clueless. Any help you can give or any site you can direct me would be greatly appreciated. I tried att.net but just got a circular response. Again, my desktop is a 10.5.7 and my laptop is g3 10.3.9. I did spend a little bit (?) of cash on the "Wireless Wede-area USB Modem-Compass" and hopefully, with your help, get it to work. Much Thanks in advance.
Bob

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Answer 5

Euchre

Level 4

1,275 points

Jul 28, 2009 3:48 AM in response to Robert Holicek

Do you mean it came with a CD? Unless it specifically says it came with Mac drivers on that disk, that disc won't be much use. You'd want to get the drivers from the site listed above on your desktop if it has any kind of access, then burn them to a CD to install on your laptop. (I'm presuming you have some kind of internet access, as you are posting here.) Once you've installed the software, it should be relatively easy to get going from there.

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Answer 6

Jul 28, 2009 4:30 PM in response to Robert Holicek

Hello again,
I'm still frustrated. My Mercury Compass will not work on my Mac laptop 10.3.9. I downloaded the appropriate software for the mercury on disk but it will not load onto my 10.3.9 because it says it needs 10.4. I downloaded att G3 software for 10.3.9 but it won't work with the Mercury. I'm between a rock and a hard place. Thanks for any additional help. I appreciate your time.
Bob

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Answer 7

Jul 29, 2009 12:40 PM in response to Euchre

Hi,
I just received a response from Sierra and they said that Mercury won't work with 10.3.9. Now I thoroughly don't know where to turn (besides trying to figure out how to return the Compass to Hong Kong - yea, they're going to send my money back)! Thanks for trying.
Bob

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Answer 8

Euchre

Level 4

1,275 points

Jul 29, 2009 6:56 PM in response to Robert Holicek

I just revisited the link and I see that they have changed the supported version number from 10.4.x to 10.5.6 - I imagine your feedback might have had an influence on that. The mention of the 'earlier versions' is still there, as vague as ever. I'm sorry that didn't work out, and I'm really disappointed.

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Answer 9

Jul 5, 2009 8:14 AM in response to Euchre

Thanks for your reply. The AT&T Aircard, according to site, is compatible only with PCs. Mac is not supported. I appreciate the suggestion.
Bob

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Answer 10

Euchre

Level 4

1,275 points

Jul 29, 2009 10:11 AM in response to Robert Holicek

Sierra Wireless Watcher that comes with the Sierra software package I linked is supposed to work. The other software would be for Tiger (10.4) or above.

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