If you have Nextel dialup modem or Packetstream service, there is an easier way to configure your "modem" to work with your mac.
In previous entries, I've given you a modem configuration script tailored for the Motorola iDen series of phones for use with Nextel. It turns out that there's a much easier way to go.
Buy the Nextel USB cable and get either Packetstream service or dialup modem service. They claim that you need their software and that it's only supported under Windows, but it works just fine with OS X.
Plug in your USB phone cable at both ends and go into the network preferences. It should notice that you've added a new device. Set it up with either a dialup destination or, for Packetstream, with a phone number of "S=2". Then flip over to the "modem" tab and tell it you have a Sprint PCS Vision modem and not to wait for dialtone.
That's it.
Posted by nsayer at October 5, 2004 05:48 PMHey folks -
Quick question from a non-technical sort. Nextel has introduced a wireless service here in RTP that is fast and cheap. (Will be rolling out nationally soon). It uses a modem in the PC card slot .Windows only so they say. I have a Powerbook w/ PC slot. Is there a way to get the powerbook to recognize their modem in that slot - similar to some of these other end-arounds I've seen posted here? It's not 802.11, it's their proprietary network. If I can get this to work, I'd have cable-like speeds anywhere in the area, which is about 100 square miles, for $50/mo.
Posted by: jbaudri at December 8, 2004 10:04 PMIt's unclear what this device might be without actually getting ahold of one and sticking it in a machine.
The smart thing for them to do would have been to do what some other high speed modem makers have done - put a USB controller on the Cardbus interface, and internally connect that to a USB modem. If that's what they've done, then there's almost a complete certainty that it will work just fine on a mac.
Posted by: Nick at December 9, 2004 10:09 AMI'm testing a Nextel i605 with Bluetooth and an iBookG4. If I get the Packet Data Service, should i be able to use Bluetooth to access the internet directly (skipping dial-up)?
I can successfully use the dial-up service Bluetooth although it seems to stall after the first 96k transfer. I'm isong the 2003 IDEN modem driver from Ross Barkman's home page.
Anyone know of a more recent IDEN phone modem file?
Posted by: jvanbeekum at July 11, 2005 09:28 AMI also just picked up a i605 and have been unsuccefully trying to do the packet stream through bluetooth. I called nextel and they directed me to the Nextel Bluetooth Support @ 18003272230. Let me know if anyone else has any luck.
thanks
On the i605, you can use PacketStream service with your Mac over Bluetooth, and you don't even need any extra software - just OS X.
How, you ask? Just make your Mac discoverable (in the Bluetooth system pref pane), and use the phone's Connect Devices option to pair the two together. Open the Bluetooth Setup Assistant and enable modem usage.
Then go into System Preferences, click Network, and click the Bluetooth connection you just made. Use the settings above (phone number of "S=2" with blank user/pass, Sprint PCS Vision modem script, and unchecked "wait for dialtone"), and you'll be good to go.
Anytime you open Internet Connect and bring up the connection, the phone will ring and prompt you to allow or block the connection. Press OK on the phone, and you're off and surfing.
The phone does stay in data mode when in the holster and asleep. Placing a call will cause it to temporarily stop passing data, but won't drop the connection between the phone and the Mac. After you hang up, data traffic resumes.
Posted by: Keith at February 24, 2006 05:20 PMneed info on how to setup my blue tooth head set?
Posted by: Tammy Hendricks at October 4, 2006 03:12 PM