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Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Telecom T Stick & MAC OS
woody99

165 posts

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#26711 1-Oct-2008 10:54
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Hi,

Has anyone tried a T Stick with Mac OS?  Is there any form of data usage meter?

I currently have a Vodem and am considering the T Stick for better coverage. 

Cheers

Darryn

[Moderator edit (MF): moved to Telecom forum]

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Madmax77
152 posts

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  #168272 1-Oct-2008 11:03
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I've tried the T-stick using a Macbook Pro running OSX 10.5.x and had no trouble setting it up at all. Data speeds were impressive (central Auckland and North Shore) and there is a data-usage meter as part of the dash board, I can't remember if it just kept record of the current session or whether it added them all together until you reset the counter.




Never ask what sort of computer a guy drives. If he's a Mac user, he'll tell you. If not, why embarrass him?



woody99

165 posts

Master Geek


  #168273 1-Oct-2008 11:07
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Thanks for that.  Might drop in for a demo at our local Telecom store to compare the Vodem and T Stick..  
Cheers

PhoneChick
28 posts

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  #168277 1-Oct-2008 11:13
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You can also sign up for free Telecom data alerts at www.telecom.co.nz/mobilealerts
 
You set your own preferences for how often you receive the alerts.



freitasm
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  #168282 1-Oct-2008 11:33
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What would be really good is if Telecom could present data usage on-line (even if it's an hour or so late). Even better if Telecom fixed their invoices to show how many MB were used instead of data calls.

As I wrote in a blog post some time ago, showing how many times I've used my mobile broadband is equivalent of filling up the tank and at the end of the month telling me "You've started your car 90 times this month", but not telling me how many litres were used...

Pretty useless really.




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digitaldivide
94 posts

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  #168301 1-Oct-2008 12:25
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Re: Has anyone tried a T Stick with Mac OS? Is there any form of data usage meter?

Yes works fine with Mac OS 10.5.x

The T-Stick auto-installs the Sierra Wireless watcher software onto a Mac (or PC) so no downloads or CD' needed. Just plug it in.

I think the T-Stick watcher software actually does have a usage counter built in. From the main watcher software window, select Tools > Call History and you can view data sessions and data counters.

In terms of speed, well I'm in Wellington CBD, it's near lunchtime, full EVDO network strength is showing on the watcher software and using Internet Explorer 7 and visiting www.speedtest.co.nz:

- I selected Wellington to Sydney and have a 143ms ping time and 1568 kb/s download and 438 kb/s upload.
- I selected Wellington to Christchurch and have a 121ms ping time and 1173 kb/s download and 452 kb/s upload.

I repeated this a couple of times further and not much changed.

In terms of network availability, I'm deep in CDMA EVDO coverage. For where you live, check out the Telecom network coverage maps at: http://www.telecom.co.nz/content/0,8748,204420-1066,00.html

But.... if you want to pick up a cheap second hand datacard (like off TradeMe) to use with your Mac, check out the information below.

--

Of course, before the T-Stick came other Telecom CDMA datacards and they work with a Mac too.

From January 2008 Telecom NZ extended datacard range support to include Apple Mac.

Mac owners can download "Sierra Wireless Watcher Lite 1.1.7" and then use any of the following Telecom CDMA datacards:

AC597E (Express)
AC595U (USB)
AC595 (PCMCIA)

Apple Mac owners wanting to use one of the Sierra Wireless datacards listed above should:

1/ Pop over to: http://www.sierrawireless.com/support/
2/ Select your datacard - e.g: the 597E ExpressCard
3/ Select your carrier (Telecom NZ is a good choice..), select your language (English is helpful..)
4/ Select Windows or Mac
5/ Click NEXT

The Apple Mac "Watcher Lite" software is a cut-down version of the PC software - the only features missing are the data dormancy indicator and support of Telecom NZ "Office Anywhere" VPNing.

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