4G WiMax Modem for Mac?

[emike2k3]

I just got me a Macbook and I was looking to go ahead and pick up that 4G/3G modem that is on the Sprint site as my area is slated to get WiMax next month. However I've got a bit of a confusing problem.

I stopped by a Sprint (corp) store on Saturday to specifically ask if there were any issues with the 4G USB modem with Mac Snow Leopard and the guy working there said he had it working on his Macbook just fine (in 3G mode at the moment until 4G launches in Raleigh).

I get home and pull up the user manual and what do I find? No listed support for the Mac OS!

I know I could go ahead and do the Boot Camp thing and boot the Mac to Windows 7 but I'd rather not have to give up part of my hard drive just so I can use ONE modem.

Does anyone know if the company that makes that modem has come out with Mac software/drivers for it yet? Or better yet, could I activate it with my desktop PC and then just plug it in without access to the specific Sprint software (I've got my Pre for GPS) and still get on with some WiMax action?

Thanks!

[Jerz]

I don't know anything about the mac but if you have the U300 activated already you can always just get a cradlepoint from sprint and access WiMax through it via wifi and connect up to four wireless devices at the same time. I have a similar issue since there are no drivers for Windows 7 64 bit... good luck.

[hilld]

According to our Sprint corporate sales person, the U300 does NOT work with a Mac, however, a new modem is supposed to come out in August (rumor has it the 17th). As far as Snow Leopard is concerned, SmartView does not work with it, if you use the built in Apple EVDO connection utility, you will not get full speeds as SmartView does some interesting behind the scenes stuff of combining multiple serial ports together to give you full EVDO speeds.

As far as I know, Sprint is aware of those issues, but since they don't make, simply purchase the modems from companies such as Franklin (4g) or Sierra Wireless (3g), they are at their mercy as to when the drivers/software will be available.

Hope that helps.

Derek

[vagilik]

The U300 will work with mac, just not snow leopard. The only one it works with at this point is OS 10.5

http://www.clear.com/support/license/load_file/connection_mac/agreement/smithmacro is where you can find it

[le848dave]

There were drivers released on 10/7 on Clear's site for the Motorola 4g card for 10.5. It says they don't work w/ 10.6 but I've been using it fine for a day now. The Clear 3g/4g card I believe is the same as Sprint is using, you might want to try the drivers from Clear to see if they work for you.

[briansal]

Hang on a few more weeks. Mac compatibility is coming soon with the new U301 from Franklin Wireless.

[emike2k3]

Hang on a few more weeks. Mac compatibility is coming soon with the new U301 from Franklin Wireless.

Excellent!!!

[wimaxsatx]

CLEAR's 4G card now supports Snow Leopard. My wife is running her CLEAR USB Motorola modem on both Leopard 10.5 and Snow Leopard 10.6. They just uploaded the drivers the other day to Clear.com's download page. Missed their self imposed deadline of October 31st, but hey, better late than never.

I've also got the 3G Novatel Wireless Ovation U727 card, which works on both Windows and Mac, all current flavors, and the CLEAR communications software recognizes both 3G and 4G when I have both plugged in. Strange, but it works.

I'm in San Antonio, website www.wimaxsatx.com (http://www.wimaxsatx.com) where I'm talking about Clear's service in my area. I'm also an authorized retailer and actual live user of this service. Been a Sprint user since 1997.