After updating my mac to mavericks I had an issue with my Vodafone mobile connect K3565 (rev.2) usb dongle not working. It wasn’t straight forward to get it up and running either, so I thought I’d share.
I ran the uninstaller and installed the latest version of the software which *should* support the K3565 – this was v4.09.14. It seemed to install fine but I received an error about failing to reach the PPP server. I fixed an issue with incorrect APN settings, but still no joy. Some of you may have noticed that previously the installer used to ask you if you were contract or PAYG. Now, 4.09.14 asks if you are a contract or ‘PAYG 250MB’ customer. I am neither – I am on a 1GB/£15 no expiry date package.
I managed to track down the version of the software that I had been using previously (4.07.04) and after running the uninstaller and rebooting my MacBook I installed 4.07.04. Then plug in the dongle and the software should start automatically. I first had to edit the APN settings by creating a new connection profile (APN was set to ‘SMART’ – it should be ‘pp.internet’ (I’m in the UK)). Once this was fixed there was one last thing to do before I could get it working.. quit the app and unplug the dongle, then insert it again to auto-start the software. At this point I was prompted with a ‘New Sim Installed’ dialogue that asked if the sim was Contract of PAYG. I selected PAYG and this seemed to then install the USB modem profile in the mac network settings, which previously had been absent. Finally, check that your new connection profile is highlighted to be the default and then you should be good to connect.
**Update**
In November 2013 Vodafone disabled all data packs with an unlimited expiry – credit (in the form of data packs) now only lasts 30 days before it is lost forever. Really useful if like me you only used it about 3 or 4 times a year for those times when there was no free wifi available and your iPhone isn’t up to the task. I will now have to add credit each time I want to use it. Grr. But I suppose somehow life goes on…
What was really annoying was that no-one bothered to tell me about this change, so my dongle just stopped working (even though it reported that it was in credit). There was no user-friendly message for me either; the dongle would connect and then just disconnect. After uninstalling and reinstalling 3 or 4 times to try and rectify the issue, I finally got hold of someone at vodafone who could clue me in.
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