ZTE MF626 and 64-bit drivers for Snow Leopard?

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Sirius

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#85043 12-Jun-2011 13:37

Hi guys,

I've recently bought a new Sandy Bridge MacBook Pro, and Apple has started to use the 64-bit kernel as default. I found that my Telecom T-Stick (the ZTE MF626) doesn't work anymore on the new machine, and searched high and low for a solution. I'm rather disappointed that ZTE still hasn't released 64-bit drivers one year on, and unfortunately the various guides and solutions floating around no longer work because the URLs posted are out of date, and the download links have either expired or been removed due to legal reasons.

At the moment, when I plug in the T-Stick, Telecom's connection manager will start up, but doesn't recognise that there's a SIM card inserted, and therefore cannot connect to the 3G network. The LED on the stick lights up blue though. The T-Stick still works on another XP machine, and worked under Leopard on my old 2007 MacBook, so it's not a hardware fault.
ZTEUSBModem also doesn't show up under Network in System Preferences, so I can't even use OS X's dialer..

So I'm wondering, has anyone ever managed to get the T-Stick to work under 64-bit Snow Leopard? If so, would they be kind enough to post the kernel extensions they used? If there is no solution to be had, I guess I'll have to head back to a 32-bit kernel. But I'd rather stay with 64-bit, since it is the default from the factory...

Thanks in advance!

Edit: Forgot to post specs: Apple MBP 15" 2.0, running 10.6.7 (which is on the install disc, not updated post-install through Software Update).

ArtooDetoo

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#480442 12-Jun-2011 21:39

Sirius: Hi guys,

I've recently bought a new Sandy Bridge MacBook Pro, and Apple has started to use the 64-bit kernel as default. I found that my Telecom T-Stick (the ZTE MF626) doesn't work anymore on the new machine, and searched high and low for a solution. I'm rather disappointed that ZTE still hasn't released 64-bit drivers one year on, and unfortunately the various guides and solutions floating around no longer work because the URLs posted are out of date, and the download links have either expired or been removed due to legal reasons.

At the moment, when I plug in the T-Stick, Telecom's connection manager will start up, but doesn't recognise that there's a SIM card inserted, and therefore cannot connect to the 3G network. The LED on the stick lights up blue though. The T-Stick still works on another XP machine, and worked under Leopard on my old 2007 MacBook, so it's not a hardware fault.
ZTEUSBModem also doesn't show up under Network in System Preferences, so I can't even use OS X's dialer..

So I'm wondering, has anyone ever managed to get the T-Stick to work under 64-bit Snow Leopard? If so, would they be kind enough to post the kernel extensions they used? If there is no solution to be had, I guess I'll have to head back to a 32-bit kernel. But I'd rather stay with 64-bit, since it is the default from the factory...

Thanks in advance!

Edit: Forgot to post specs: Apple MBP 15" 2.0, running 10.6.7 (which is on the install disc, not updated post-install through Software Update).

Not familiar with the ZTE MF626 so can't help with kext updates but booting in 32bit mode in SL is a reasonable workaround until you find a proper resolution. If you're not sure how, just hold down the numeric keys '3' and '2' when booting. Or if you'd like a pref pane that lets you reboot into 32 bit, try this.

If you already knew that, my apologies.

HTH.

Cheers,
R2D2

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Sirius

15 posts

Geek

#480595 13-Jun-2011 12:38

Thanks R2, I was aware of holding down 3-2 at start up, but the PrefPane would come in handy!

If other people know how to get 64-bit working, though, please let me know!

matisyahu

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#480825 14-Jun-2011 01:04

Sirius: Thanks R2, I was aware of holding down 3-2 at start up, but the PrefPane would come in handy!

If other people know how to get 64-bit working, though, please let me know!

ZTE has to provide 64bit drivers which they don't - the only thing I can suggest is to get a Sierra Wireless card - they cost a little more but in terms of long term support you know that'll work in Mac OS X now and into the future.

"When the people are being beaten with a stick, they are not much happier if it is called 'the People's Stick'"

jonherries

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#481381 15-Jun-2011 11:08

Hi,

I believe you might have a couple of options:

Boot your mac into the 32Bit kernel (performance hit)
I believe you can still run apps in 32 Bit mode including preference pane stuff, right click get info on the app and one of the options at the bottom is run in 32 bit mode (this may be predicated on a 32bit kernel?).

http://www.zte.com.au/telstra/Product_Downloads/MF626_downloads.htm

The latest drivers I have found are here, I use the built in network preferences to dial).

This works fine on my white macbook, running 10.6.7 32bit kernel with 64bit apps.

I remember this was a big issue when SL came out (I was in the UK at the time)... none of the modem drivers would work with the apps.

Oh btw I use the mf627 (rebranded 3 mobile version).

Jon

Sirius

15 posts

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#481676 16-Jun-2011 00:50

kawaii:
Guess I'll look into it.. but I got the T-Stick essentially for free on one of their promotions.. so not sure if I can swallow the full price of a Sierra :P

jonherries:
Looks like it can still only work on 32bit (according to the system requirements on that page).. guess 32bit is the answer for now!
Actually, the MF668 and 633 seem to support 64bit.. might give those a try and see if those drivers would work with the 626..

jonherries

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#481696 16-Jun-2011 07:57

It is only gonna cost you a couple of hours so you might as well.

Sirius

15 posts

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#483213 20-Jun-2011 14:56

Tried the modem under 32-bit kernel mode, and it still wasn't working. I'm also getting a lot of repeated messages in the Console about Mac_SwapperDaemon (the daemon that unmounts the installer and launches the connection manager when you plug in the modem)... which I've solved (I think) by removing ZTE's kernel extensions, preference files, and the Mac_SwapperDaemon program, then deleting the boot/kext caches and reinstalling Telecom's connection manager from scratch. Think I messed up something while randomly installing all the drivers

.

Going to put this 'project' on hold for now, and will try again when I have sorted out my backup system and second hard drive in the next few weeks.

Thanks for everyone's help!

jonherries

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#485356 24-Jun-2011 11:07

You can just install the drivers and not the connection manager, which is where I had all my issues.

Just use the Network interface preference pane to to do the dialler, I seem to recall the swapper daemon being an issue I was facing as well. The only thing missing is a credit/data tracker which you can use a ios app or there is a connection traffic tracker for os x somewhere on the internet.

I am at work so not sure what the dialler string is but can check when I get home (I think I also saved the site that explained it).

Jon