Important: This package is not compatible with OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard. In fact - XU870 should have native support for PIN however I was not able successfully test it after upgarde 10.5 -> 10.6.

2009/05/12 - Fixed bug on Mac OS 10.5.6 (missing popup window for PIN).

In some places I've found that it's not possible to gain internet access without turning of PIN code on SIM card. I'm really glad to say - it's not true! Below instructions how to enable entering PIN before the connection. It has been tested on Mac OS 10.5 (Leopard):

1. Download and install standard drivers from vendor site (update 11/07/2008 - since a while Novatel has changed their drivers. This PIN support works only with old drivers available here).
2. Download my PIN support packages
3. Install Merlin XU870 PIN support. Enter PIN
4. Close System Preferences (if was open). Open it again on tab Network.
5. Create new localisation, e.g. Merlin XU870



6. Add new equipment: Novatel Wireless HSDPA Modem



7. Add new configuration XU870



8. Account Name = internet, Password = internet (of course it depends on your operator)



9. Click Advanced and choose Vendor = Novatel. Unfortunately, Leopard (10.5.2) has a nasty bug and the list of available models is now updated automatically. Click OK and close the window - next, open it again.
10. Now on the list of models we have XU870 (GSM/3G). Enter proper APN and CID = 1



11. Go to tab PPP and change the list to Configuration. Set Use verbose logging



12. Now OK and Apply
13. Button Connect is no longer gray...
14. .... thus now we can press it.
15. If everything went fine you should connect to the internet

In the meantime you can start Console and switch into ppp.log. On my MacBook Pro it looks more or less like that:

Tue May  6 22:24:42 2008 : Apple Base Script.ccl Version 3.3
Tue May  6 22:24:42 2008 : Test 
Tue May  6 22:24:42 2008 : Check if PIN already entered AT+CPIN?
Tue May  6 22:24:48 2008 : Entering PIN: 9216
Tue May  6 22:24:51 2008 : Initializing phone: AT&FE0Q0V1
Tue May  6 22:24:51 2008 : Initializing PDP context: AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","internet"
Tue May  6 22:24:51 2008 : Dialing: ATD*99***1#
Tue May  6 22:24:51 2008 : Waiting for connection
Tue May  6 22:24:54 2008 : Connection established
Tue May  6 22:24:57 2008 : Serial connection established.
Tue May  6 22:24:57 2008 : Using interface ppp0
Tue May  6 22:24:57 2008 : Connect: ppp0 <--> /dev/cu.wwan
Tue May  6 22:24:58 2008 : CHAP authentication succeeded
Tue May  6 22:25:06 2008 : Could not determine remote IP address: defaulting to 10.64.64.64
Tue May  6 22:25:06 2008 : local  IP address 91.94.198.243
Tue May  6 22:25:06 2008 : remote IP address 10.64.64.64
Tue May  6 22:25:06 2008 : primary   DNS address 217.116.100.66
Tue May  6 22:25:06 2008 : secondary DNS address 217.116.100.65
Tue May  6 22:25:13 2008 : Hangup (SIGHUP)
Tue May  6 22:25:13 2008 : Connection terminated.
Tue May  6 22:25:13 2008 : Connect time 0.3 minutes.
Tue May  6 22:25:13 2008 : Sent 2950 bytes, received 2347 bytes.
Tue May  6 22:25:23 2008 : Serial link disconnected.

What it's doing

If you would like to find out what's going in this package you can download content of /Library/Modem Scripts/Generic GPRS.ccl. For manual installation you should overwrite original files (and of course change PIN to valid on your SIM-card)

Very last words

1. To change the PIN - just install the package again
2. To uninstall - start Uninstall package. It will revert all changes in config files.

Warning

Downloading and installing of the software means that you're accepting following Licence.