Will’s Similiblog

Am away from home, no wireless nodes nearby, & needed connectivity -
so just picked up a Sierra 881u wireless modem (AT&T service) for my MacBook. The OS X driver does not come packaged, but is available for download from http://www.sierrawireless.com/support/support_and_downloads.aspx?id=4,13,1,2.  Two driver options on that page - I used the “Driver for Apple native support”.  btw - how do you download the driver when you need the driver to connect??? - reminds me of those old Windows error messages, “If unable to connect to the internet, visit http://…” …).  Anyhow, with the help of another machine and my thumbdrive, I’m all set up.

Works great.  I’d hate to have to upgrade my Moodle installation with it, but it’s plenty fast for email & general browsing.  I’ll be giving it a good workout in the couple of weeks ahead, likely needing to do some distance work with my classes (am helping provide hospice care for my momma, but that’s another thread, perhaps a novel …)

oh - the modem hogs space over the 2 usb ports on my MacBook.  So I picked up a little Belkin gizmo,  a “flexible usb cable adapter” - a short little articulated usb port extension that cantalevers the modem over the keyboard, freeing up space over the 2nd usb port so I can still use my thumbdrive &c.  Looks cool too.