MyWireless guide for Mac users

henkrossouw

New Member
Joined
Mar 17, 2004
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
Location
.
It took me ages to work out how to use MyWireless on Mac OS X. This discussion group was crucial, and far better than Sentech's telephone support. But most of the nitty-gritty details are for Linux and BDSFree, so here is an easy guide for Mac users.

Purchase an Ethernet cable from fastcomm.co.za (Tel: 012-3466077) Cost R150

Make sure you first go through the entire installation process on a friend's Windows PC, using the USB port, BEFORE you even try it on a Mac. The CD is self-explanatory. Basically, you have to go through the registration process, using Sentech's software via Windows, which then "flashes" (their term) your wireless device with your username and password.

Then plug in the Ethernet cable to your Mac and link to MyWireless. In OS X, use Network, under System Preferences, to ensure that Built-In Etherneet and PPPoE is selected, and that your correct user name and password is filled in. Nothing else should be neccessary. Support documents on www.apple.com will help, if not sure.

When you connect with PPPoE now, you should have a link. Open Internet Connect, and it should show you that your modem is communicating with the tower.

Now comes the bitch part... You have internet access, but nothing works in your browser, or mail program. At the most, the first little bit of Google shows. From 11pm to 4.46 am to work out. You need to change your MTU to a number lower than 1492. Don't ask m whye, but it works. The easiest way to do this on Mac running OS X is to download a shareware program called Tinker Tools:

http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/13662

It's a brilliant little program. Free for four uses, and quick to download.

Open TinkerTools and click on Network Tuning. *Make sure you are already connected via PPPoE to Sentech, otherwise you won't get all the options.* At the bottom of the window, change BOTH Ethernet/Airport0 and Device PPP Unit0 to a number lower than 1492, the same number. The Linux/BDSFree guys suggest 1466, and this works fine. Even 1490 will get your browser working. And don't know why it needs both, but only got it working when I did so. You may as well click on Permanent, so these settings are in your setup every time you start the computer.

MyWireless should work fine now. Don't bother phoning Sentech if it doesn't though. They will take you straight away that they won't help you for Mac. (Obviously, they are cutting costs by training support staff on one system, not realizing that a great deal of the users that are first in line to sign up for wireless broadband prefer Linux or BDSFree or Mac, rather than Windows. Even if it's 10%, why **** over paying clients?)

In fact, Sentech refer you to this forum. They should give credit on their website to this forum, and at least mention it in their FAQs for other systems.
 
Yes, the flashing thing is important for PPPoE. It needs to save your account details, and ISP selection to the modem first.

The MTU thing is pretty well-known around PPoE circles. Any PPPoE device's maximum MTU is typically 1492, or lower.
Hope you don't mind, but I've dumped this information at http://rodent.za.net/MyMacintosh

<center><h5><font color="red">Oo. MyWireless <s>Hacks</s> Tweaks & Tech Info.oO </font id="red"></h5></center>
 
The simple fact is that support for *nix based operating systems requires more technically adept (read: more expensive) people. Windows is pretty standard and easy to teach monkeys whereas *nix comes in many different flavours and requires people to actually think... these people are usually not willing to do monkey support [;)]
 
Revised generic MyWireless guide for all users:

1. Do not under any circumstances sign up with MyWireless.
2. If you ignored item 1, cancel contract.

Simple.
 
Great post henk, thanks. But a few points:
- while you're entirely correct about the modem being initialised by signup on a Windows PC, ie via the official dialer- which DOES indeed flash *a* (typically this would be *your*) USER/PASS, that doesn't mean to say that it'll work with ONLY that USER/PASS once on a Mac (or *NIX box or even a router device); you can from then on out use any user/pass combo from your host environment. This means that you can use the reg.mywireless.* page at sometime later to change your PASS without having to find a Windows PC again.
- while I'm no OSX pro, I've managed to find the right places (with and without TinkerTools) to get a Mac online, but what I haven't (yet!) managed to find is the place/switch/correct sacrifice(!) to switch OFF the damned nag box that comes up every 15min(or so) that asks if you want to stay online. Which, if you don't answer, goes and disconnects you- hugely annoying! You got insight into that please?
 
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X