Mac VZA for Pantech 290 released - but does it work
SSandy
Newbie

I downloaded the new 4G Pantech 290 VZAccess software for Mac tonight.  It downloads and installs just fine but, even though it shows all but one of the bars green for 4G (here in Denver), when it connects it only connects with 3G and 1x.  This is in the face of being able to connect with 4G for the last month using the native network setup on the Mac.  This would actually be fine if I could use the Mac native network for connecting on 4G and VZA for connecting on 3G when out of 4G area, but VZA hijacks everything coming from the modem and won't let me connect via system networks when its installed.  So I removed VZA and will continue as before until I learn either what I'm doing wrong or what Verizon is doing wrong.  

 

Any other early experience with the new Mac VZA out there??

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mrspeakers
Newbie

Does not work yet.  Reduced me to 3G.  Trying a few things before I give up and go back to the hack...

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mrspeakers
Newbie

For anyone who had used the hack and had problems using the VZAW, a little playing around got things running...

 

http://community.vzw.com/t5/4G-Discussion/VZAM-UPdate-For-Pantech-Just-Released/m-p/399118/highlight...

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rutiger
Newbie

i removed the network profiles that were there from the manual hack.  i then installed vzam and rebooted.  mine is currently working on 4g.  the first 5 or 6 connection attempts failed immediately, but it finally connected.  now i've found my vpn doesn't work though so i'm basically dead, but in a new way :smileysad:  btw, my vpn connects.  it just doesn't pass traffic.

 

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norfdungal
Newbie

Same situation here

 

a) in Denver

 

b) Shows 4G LTE with 3 bars

 

c) When I hit connect it fails, then only shows 3g, 1x. I can connect to that

 

d) My VPN client doesn't work either with this (in windows it does, but not vzam on mac). I can connect to anywhere else via a browser

 

e) so... basically this entire thing is turning out to be a nightmare, waste of money!

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Bullwinkle
Newbie

HELP--mrspeakers and other sophisticated Pantech 4G modem hackers:  I found the instructions you posted, even too complex and cryptic for me to follow.  I was able to install the dial in work-around because I found very detailed, step-by-step instructions without any jargon and it worked great.  Now, i cannot follow any of the instructions.  Do I need to somehow de-install or remove the hack by going back to a Windows machine or can I do it all from my Mac?  Exactly how do I get rid of the hack?  How do I get to the correct preferences or control settings?  What do I enter?  What do I remove?  Then what?  How do I get the new firmware for the Mac?  I am pretty naive in such things and do not understand the jargon so please dumb it down.  I am probably not the only one in this boar!

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enyalius
Contributor - Level 1

Bullwinkle,

 

Since VZAM still won't work on a 64bit Mac, you'll need to use a Windows machine (or a 32bit Mac) to undo the 'hack'.  If you are unsure wether or not your Mac is running a 32bit or 64bit OS, open Terminal (Applications>Utilities>Terminal) and enter the following command: "uname -a" (without quotes).  If that command returns something with "i386" in it, it's 32bit and you can download the software for your modem from vzam.net; if that command returns something with "x86_64" in it, then you have a 64bit version of OS X running and are SOL on the software (like me) until Verizon releases a version of Verizon Wireless Access Manager (VZAM) that supports OS X 64bit.  If you have access to a Windows computer, though, you don't need to worry about wether or not you are running a 64bit or 32bit version; VZAM currently supports both versions of Windows.

 

I personally have only ever undone the 'hack' using a Windows machine, but these steps should apply to either Mac or Windows (you may need to substitute the "command" key for the CTRL key in the Mac version of these steps).  Here is how you can undo the changes you made with the MacHack:

 

1. Connect your Pantech UML290 to a Windows machine.

2. Open the Verizon Wireless Access Manager (VZAM available from vzam.net) software.

3. Press "CTRL + T" (the CTRL key and the "T" key at the same time) while the VZAM window is open and in focus.

4. At the terminal window that appears after pressing the CTRL+T key combo, type "at+cgdcont?" (without quotes).  If the data that you see after typing that command and pressing enter has "vzwims" in the first line, you do not need to do anything (your modem should work find on a Windows machine or a Mac running 32bit OS X 10.5+).  If you see "vzwinternet" or anything other than "vzwims" in that first line, you need to proceed to step 5.

5. In the same command window you typed the previous command in, type the following: at+cgdcont=1,“IPV6”,”vzwims” (WITH all quotation marks included).

6. Type the "at+cgdcont?" command in again and verify that "vzwims" now shows up on that first line.

 

Here is a link to a site with images for your reference.

 

Best of luck,

Enyalius

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willzzz99
Contributor - Level 3

You need to remove the network profile hack and apply latest version of VZAccess + firmware update on Windows/Mac. Then reboot. Then run the Mac version. You need to make sure the latest version of VZAccess is also on the Mac. Sign I really regret posting that, and I wish there was a way to delete posts on this forum because it screwed up a-lot of peoples SIM cards that don't have engineering knowledge like me. 

 

The reason it isn't connecting because it isn't getting the right CID number from the APN config because you overwrote it with my hack of #1 which is a VZW IMS APN which is needed for their eHRPD LTE RAN.

 

Apply this fix:

http://www.evdoinfo.com/content/view/3486/63/

(Bottom with the CLI).

 

Reboot, make sure the firmware update is applied on the VZAccess and the card. Now you can connect with 4G in the Mac.

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rutiger
Newbie

i updated vzam and the modem firmware using windows/fusion.  i'm currently connected in osx on 3g and connected to vpn.  so for the first time everything is working.  i'll have to test 4g later today when i'm in a 4g area.

 

so, the info the vz tech gave me about vpn not working on these cards seems to be **bleep**.  unless it's somehow specific to when you're connected to 4g vs 3g?

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rutiger
Newbie

as noted in the other thread here it's not working in 4g area.  works on windows, 4g, and vpn.  in osx it never works.

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SSandy
Newbie

I want to thank all the excellent people in this community who responded to this thread.  As soon as "MRSPEAKERS" posted his explanation and instruction links, I followed them and, lo and behold, everything is working great using VZAccess in native Mac OSX 10.6.6.  I haven't yet moved out of 4G area while connected, so I don't know how well the software transitions between 4G and 3G but I doubt this will be a big issue even if I have to disconnect and reconnect.

 

Again, thanks for the detailed and successful explanations and instructions!

 

Sandy

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rutiger
Newbie

could you do a at+cgdcont? and post your output?

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SSandy
Newbie

Will do.  GIve me a second.

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SSandy
Newbie

Here's what my current at+cgdcont? displays:

 

 

at+cgdcont?
+CGDCONT: 1,"IPV6","vzwims","0:0:0:0:0:0:0:0",0,0
+CGDCONT: 3,"IPV4V6","vzwinternet","0.0.0.0",0,0
+CGDCONT: 4,"IPV4V6","vzwapp","0.0.0.0",0,0
OK

 

 

Sandy

 

 

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