[TWood20]

I'm a recent Mac convert and so far these forums have been very helpful. Thanks to all that have responded to my questions in the past. I would like to know what the wirelss modem of choice is for a PowerBook G4. I have suddenly realized this is possibly off topic or in the wrong forum, my apologies. However, any information on what people do when on the road and need to access the net where there is no available network to use with the aircard. Thanks again...

[gyroscope4]

"wireless modem"?
your powerbook has a modem inside it. just plug a phoneline into the phone jack. if you have a contract with a dial-up isp, you can travel and use that for internet access. many hotels and places are now providing broadband access, either in the form of ethernet ports or a wireless network. apple just announced a portable wireless router (airport express) which would allow you to create your own wireless network (but you'd need wired broadband to plug into the airport express for internet access).

[TWood20]

I need a way to get on the internet when I'm not near a phone jack or have access to a wireless network....for example in my car. I have a PCMCIA card for my PC laptop that allows me to access the internet as long as I have a cell phone signal.

[ftaok]

Which PCMCIA modem do you have for your PC? It may or may not work with the Powerbook depending on whether Mac drivers are available.
The other question is who is your Cell provider? Do they have an assortment of PCMCIA modem cards? And do they offer Mac support?
Another option would be to use your cell phone as a modem. Depending on what phone you have and how you connect it to your Mac, you may be able to access the Internet through your phone. I use my Moto v60i on Verizon's free 14.4 network. It just uses minutes.

[dcpics]

Most of the PCMCIA cards offered by cell providers are not Mac supported.
However, high-speed service is available by using a cell phone through many providers. I've used Sprint Vision and Verizon networks very effectively.
You run a cable from your laptop USB to the phone (each phone has a specific chord and sometimes vary from one model to the next from same manufacturer) and then use the dialer in OSX or Internet Connect in OS9 and voila.
One word to the wise, you do not put in a regular phone number, such as for AOL or other ISP.
You use your user and password set up for the phone's account and then a unique dial string. Verizon and Sprint both use #777
When the phone connects you are on the web. Just launch a browser, FTP etc. and go. The speeds are much faster than dial-up, at least 2-3 times faster.
I've been able to send large files FTP, surf the web and connect to my company's VPN to access e-mail etc.

[TWood20]

I have the Novetel Merlin. Unfortunately I was told by Sprint that the card is not mac compatible. I do have the cable to use my cell phone as a modem for my PC. I will try to see if I can use the same cable for my Mac. Thanks, I'll let you all know.

[dcpics]

You may need to plug the phone in then turn the phone off and on or have the phone on and plugged in and restart the computer for it to recognize it the first time. I know that wiht Samsung phones the computer recognizes it as the modem and activates the proper modem script. Hopefully it will do the same with your Novotel.

[TWood20]

I have a phone made by Sanyo. It's the SCP - 5400. I also believe it's referred to as the RL 2500. Anyway, if I plug my cable into my PowerBook G4 and then into my cell phone will the PowerBook recognize my phone as a modem? I am not familiar with how Macs use plug and play. Will I have to load software drivers for my cable in order to use my cell phone as a modem? On my PC laptop I did have to load the software disc that came with the cable. I can use my cell phone as a modem on my PC.

[dcpics]

Macs have a lot of modem scripts already loaded and it will recognize it automatically, if it has it.
You may have to connect the phone the turn the phone off and on and if that doesn't work then restart the computer with the phone on.
The first time I connected my cell I had to go through a couple of offs and ons to get it to work but the modem script was built in and ever since the computer immediately recognizes the phone.

[ftaok]

If OS X doesn't have the necessary script for your Sanyo phone, you should check out the following Yahoo! Group.
Maccellphone

You may be able to search through the messages to see if other people got their Sanyos on SPCS working.

Also check out this site.

John Chang's Page

[TWood20]

My PowerBook is recognizing my cell phone as a modem, however when I try to log on I get a message that says a modem error occurred. I suppose I am not configuring thing correctly. I'm not sure which account name and password to use, as I have two different account names and two different passwords. I am a Sprint subscriber and they have told me in the past that I have a login name for my sprint account and a login name for my sprint vision account.