Using ZTE AC8700 in Mac

[veagles]

Here is a tutorial for getting the ZTE AC8700 Modem to work on Mac. It works on OS X 10.5, i.e Leopard and OS X 10.4.

UPDATE Few users complained of slow speeds with pl2303 driver. An alternate way of using this modem is given in Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register in our forum for free by clicking here to see links..

1. Get the Prolific PL2303 driver from Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register in our forum for free by clicking here to see links.. This chip is used in various devices like usb serial dongles and as cheap embedded USB bridge in cellphones, GPS receivers and other applications with low data traffic.
Install the Driver and Reboot

2. The next step involves Kernel Extension Patching. Start Terminal. You can start it in spotlight or Open it from utilities folder.

3. Get Root Access.

Code:

~<Username>$ sudo -s

You should enter your password, that you used when you created your account.

4. Find Info.plist.

Code:

bash-3.2# cd /System/Library/Extensions/osx-pl2303.kext/Contents/

Check if Info.plist is present in this directory using ls command. You should add the device and vendor id of the modem to this file.

5. Change permission of Info.plist to get write access.

Code:

bash-3.2# chmod 644 Info.plist

6. Add the hardware id's to Info.plist
You can use any text editor. I am using vi here.

Code:

bash-3.2# vi Info.plist

Press I to enter insert mode. Copy and paste this text into your file. This text contains the id's of ZTE AC 8700.

Quote:<key>05c6_6000</key>
<dict>
<key>CFBundleIdentifier</key>
<string>nl.bjaelectronics.driver.PL2303</string>
<key>IOClass</key>
<string>nl_bjaelectronics_driver_PL2303</string>
<key>IOKitDebug</key>
<integer>0</integer>
<key>IOMatchCategory</key>
<string>ProfilicSerialUSB</string>
<key>IOProviderClass</key>
<string>IOUSBDevice</string>
<key>IOResourceMatch</key>
<string>IOKit</string>
<key>bConfigurationValue</key>
<integer>1</integer>
<key>bInterfaceNumber</key>
<integer>0</integer>
<key>idProduct</key>
<integer>24576</integer>
<key>idVendor</key>
<integer>1478</integer>
</dict>

Now where you copy this text is very important.
Copy the text here after this,

Quote:<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple Computer//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
<key>CFBundleDevelopmentRegion</key>
<string>English</string>
<key>CFBundleExecutable</key>
<string>osx-pl2303</string>
<key>CFBundleIdentifier</key>
<string>nl.bjaelectronics.driver.PL2303</string>
<key>CFBundleInfoDictionaryVersion</key>
<string>6.0</string>
<key>CFBundleName</key>
<string>Mac OS X Driver for PL2302 USB-to-serial bridge</string>
<key>CFBundlePackageType</key>
<string>KEXT</string>
<key>CFBundleSignature</key>
<string>????</string>
<key>CFBundleVersion</key>
<string>1.0.0d1</string>
<key>IOKitPersonalities</key>
<dict>

and before this

Quote:<key>19d2_fffd</key>
<dict>
<key>CFBundleIdentifier</key>
<string>nl.bjaelectronics.driver.PL2303</string>
.......
.......
.......

Save the file. In vi, press Escape followed by :wq.

7. Repair Permissions.

Code:

bash-3.2# chown -R root:wheel /System/Library/Extensions

You can repair permissions from the disk utility too.

8. Load your modified kext

Code:

bash-3.2# sudo kextload -v /System/Library/Extensions/osx-pl2303.kext

9. Now unplug your device and plug it back.

10. Open System Preferences -> Network Click on the + sign on the bottom of the list of devices, to add a new device. ZTE CDMA TECH will be available in the list, select it.

11. Go to advanced and select Generic Dial Up device. Make sure the option "Enable error correction and compression in modem" is selected.
Close the widow.

12. Enter #777 in telephone number field. Enter your bnsl number into the account name and password fields.

13. Save and Connect.

14. Open Safari and Surf..

15. Clear the Kext Cache, for the new kext to load at boot.

Code:

~<Username>$ sudo -s
bash-3.2# touch /System/Library/Extension

I have tried to be as clear as possible. If you have any doubts, you can ask me in this thread.

Please dont email me or pm me. Ask your problems here. I have given a modified Info.plist in post #3. Use it if you dont want to modify it yourself.

Two users, Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register in our forum for free by clicking here to see links. and Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register in our forum for free by clicking here to see links. have sucessfully tested this method.

[Gigacore]

Great tutorial veagles! Will sure help MAC users. Published it in the homepage!

Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register in our forum for free by clicking here to see links.

[veagles]

sajinseethi Wrote:hi i tried the mac driver settings u gave in the site..but it doesnt work for me..u said to paste the code between two para right..there i had many other things..so i deleted those codes so that it became just the way you said. but still when i try to add i dont get the zte option..
i had installed a reliance evdo driver before..but never used it...or is there a way i can send you the file and may be u can modify it for me and resend it...u r my last hope so far i have been using it in a very difficult way..what i did was , installed parallels,and xp in it. installed evdo driver in xp and configured the etherenet adapter for file sharing in it to share the internet in it with mac..so everytime i had to use internet in mac i had to run windows at the same time which consumes more system power..but now xp restarts saying bug code usb driver when i use internet..so please help...

Are you sure you have edited and saved the file properly? Are you using ZTE AC8700?
Anyways, here is the modifed Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register in our forum for free by clicking here to see links.
Just copy and overwrite. This file is only for ZTE AC87000.

[sachuneenu]

where is the location of this file. how can i browse to it.

[veagles]

veagles Wrote:4. Find Info.plist.

Code:

bash-3.2# cd /System/Library/Extensions/osx-pl2303.kext/Contents/

This is the path /System/Library/Extensions/osx-pl2303.kext/Contents

[sachuneenu]

i did that...but it didnt help..would it be comfortable if we could chat or talk over phone.

[sachuneenu]

Hi..Iam waiting for your reply..After i copied the file it still didnt show the interface of zte. Is that because i have parallels running xp in which this is installed.But i tried the modem when windows wasnt running and parallels was quitted.. !

[sachuneenu]

hi veagles..morning there..after the whole try again i miserably failed..it didnt detect or show the new interface..what will i do..any suggestions.

[veagles]

Check if it is detected in System Profiler -> USB and Network.

[sachuneenu]

its shown in usb but not in network.