Kernel Panic every 20min

Hi there,

Is this problem still occurring? I also have this issue with the TELSTRA ULTIMATE USB (Sierra Wireless AirCard 312U).

I've recently updated the Watcher (Telstra branded) and updated the boot firmware of the modem via Windows PC. The issue still occurrs.

All of this started to happen when I updated to OS X Lion (even after the subsequent lion updates) through migration assistant. There have been numerous reports of problems with migration assistant from Snow Leopard and Apple have since released an update to fix the migration issues, but I migrated before this was released. I'm starting to think there are many problems with the kexts and migrated software issues and don't know what to do about it - I loathe to re-install the OS (and not sure if it will even fix it).

The Sierra support site shows that the latest Watcher is compatible with OS X Lion so it SHOULD work; but maybe there are still bugs with it.

As with you, I get the same issues ONLY when I connect the Telstra USB modem. I don't tether the iPhone so I don't know if it panics under that, too.

Also, it get the panics only at work since I only use the modem at work. At home, it's fine under USB Ethernet or Airport. (I have a MacBook Air i7 mid 2011)

Sadly, it is a problem with the Sierra Wireless 312u device. I keep getting kernel panics and notice that the device heats up quite a lot. I have had this issue since 10.6 and now with 10.7

I don't experience this problem when I plug the device on my Windows 7 laptop.

The problem is Sierra, Apple or Telstra will probably not accept any blame because Telstra/Sierra device works fine on Windows and only crashes my Mac Book Pro.

Hi Joseph,

Yesterday I called Telstra support about this (I have the business Telstra device) and they indicated that they have not acknowledged this issue with the Mac platform. So it's very likely that the firmware or kernel extensions for the Sierra 312U are broken somehow.

They advised me that I should take the device back to the Telstra Shop to get a replacement. But now that Telstra's LTE (4G) network is up and running, the 312U has been discontinued. They said they would replace it with the Sierra 4G modem. I'll be going there this weekend to see if they will replace it and let you know if the new modem extensions for OS X work better.

Hi Howie,

Thanks for the update. I might try the Telstra shop today as well and get a replacement and try, and let you know how I go as well.

Regards,

Hi Joseph,

Ok, it has been 10 months since I posted and since then I had Telstra replace the 312U AirCard with a 320U. The little snot at the so-called 'Business Tech Bar' tried to bluff me off with the same, inane and nonsensical logic of "oh it works with PC so there's nothing wrong with it. It must be an Apple problem, tell them to fix it..."

I escalated it to their customer service with a simple point; "It is not fit for purpose" since their documentation clearly states that it works with Mac OS X. With that, they promptly changed it with the newer 320U.

The panics stopped; for about 8 months. So in the last 2 months they have started up again, sporadically stopping the system once or twice every week (5 day work-week).

The same messages are appearing in the kernel panic report so I am starting to think it has something to do with the hardware reliability; I'm guessing due to heat issues when having the MacBook Air connected to a power source.

I think there's certainly something funny going on with the drivers as well, but for the life of me I cannot even guess how it would suddenly start failing on me after running for over 6 months with no problems.