So last week, Mae and I were surfing the net using our respective SUN Broadband Wireless dongles on our MBPs and I got a bit annoyed cos I was only getting a GPRS signal (green light indicator) while she was enjoying her breezy HSDPA signal (cyan light indicator). I looked for the options to configure in the “SUN Broadband” Application on my Mac but didn’t find any. Apparently, for Mac users to configure the network settings of the SUN wireless Broadband, we have to plug the thing into a Windows PC first, install the software, then change the settings from there. Here are the simple steps to take on a PC after installation:
- Choose Profile Name: “Sun BROADBAND STANDARD”.
- Go to “Tools”.
- Select the “Network” folder icon.
- For “Network Type” select “WCDMA only” from the dropdown box.
- For “Band, select “All Bands” from the dropdown box.
- Click “Apply” button.
- Remove dongle from USB port and transfer it to your Mac.
And voila, an HSDPA data service is established! But don’t get your hopes too high, signal strength still depends on your location.
I kinda find it odd, though, that I have to use a PC before I can change the settings of the wireless broadband. And I’m a bit annoyed with myself that I just found out about this now, all the while thinking WHY DIDN’T THE SUN CELLULAR PEOPLE INFORM ME ABOUT THIS?? No wonder I kept complaining about the crappy signal of my Sun Broadband Wireless, while Mae is all praises for hers.
Hope this little info is useful to some of you!
I’m also a subscriber. Its really disappointing how telcos sometimes treat subscribers like a doormat.
In the case of Sun, they should give new SBW subscribers with a Welcome Kit where we can find important information. The company must also have in-house SBW experts who can competently answer questions which may have really simple answers.
Otherwise, Sun will reap what it sows.
I tried browsing their website too. No info whatsoever on how to operate SBW. Tsk.
That happened to someone I know, they weren’t able to use the Globe (prepaid) dongle because it won’t work with the Mac but it does with non-Mac :(
Ayun, they had to sell it to another friend for her use
Hi Julie! As far as I know, the Globe dongle works well with Mac. I don’t know what kind of problem your friend encountered.. Maybe Globe failed to inform her too?
ey guys. new subscriber here. it works well on my mac. didn’t have to use a pc.
i just plugged it in my mac, then a cd shows on the desktop. opened the “cd” (which is actually the usb modem) then copied the MobileConnect app to the Applications folder. Ran the program from the Applications folder, it did a small installation, then the MobileConnect app opens. A window pops up showing some options. just select “SUN Broadband Standard” from the drop down menu and click on Connect. you’ll be good to go.
Yes, installation is actually a breeze. I didn’t even have to copy it to my Applications folder.
It’s good you didn’t encounter this problem. I’m guessing your SUN agent was smart enough to configure the dongle beforehand. :)
how come nothing happens when i placed the sun broadband dongle to my mac usb port? do i missing something or do i need to install something? help!?
btw, are you experiencing slow browsing speeds? like when you enter a website address and it takes about 5-10 sec for the page to start loading?
Yes, I am. And when I try to log on to Yahoo Messenger. =|
Hi Joni! Thanks for this post — very informative, as always! :) Worth it bang magsubscribe sa SBW? I’m trying to determine kung saan sulit, kung sa Globe Tattoo ba, or sa Smart Bro, or sa Sun BW. :) Thanks for your time! God bless! <3
Mas sulit and sun cellular kasi 6.20cents per 30mins unlike globe and smart na 10pesos/30mins. mabilis naman ang sun compare to smart na 1.8mbps lang.. kasi ang sun 2mbps.. basta tama ang settings pag new user mabilis.. pero kung di kayo na-educate ng staff pagka-bili ninyo ng sun broadband I am open for questions regarding the SBW installation and proper settings for a high performance. for the 3g site signal on your location, you can text me your location to check but I highly suggest that you go to our nearest sun shop to check the location where you are in. for further question don’t hesitate to text or call me. I am mac user also.. here is my number 09229683626 – Sun Broadband Specialist.
For free trial or demonstration of our SBW you cant contact me also. Godbless!
For inquiries on how to avail of the SBW service, you can email me at sbwunlimited@gmail.com and I will get in touch with you as soon as I can.
Yes, I am selling these packages – FREE pick-up of application documents and delivery.
Hi Joni!
Musta na?
I’m considering of getting a SBW kasi sabi ng boss ko ok naman daw ang signal but still not that convinced. I am thinking of getting the 3mbps plan pero if you’ll say 2mbs is enough, maybe that’s what I’ll get.
Hi Pete! haha. musta?
Hmm, di ganon kabilis eh. pero okay naman sya. hindi naman sya napuputol, consistent ang signal pero mahina lang. pwede na sya at P799/month. pero within metro manila lang :)
hello.. i have a globe visibility dongle but globe sucks.. i am currently using smart sim on my globe dongle. does anyone know the dial number in sun? may sun sim din kasi ako, im just thinking to use it also on my globe dongle. Meron ba nakakaalam dito ng settings? thanks in advance!
meron po ba nakakaalam ng dial number and setting ng sun? meron kasi ako globe dongle, pero gamit ko ngayon smart. gusto naman gamitin yung sun sim ko sa globe dongle.. baka meron naman nakakaalam dyan.. thanks in advance!
I have been a subscriber of SBW for more than 10 months now. I had an acceptable speed connection with SBW during the first 6 months but experience slow connections during the last 4 months. I have been complaining about having slow connections at my area during peak hours. I have been trying to follow up with SBW customer service for the past 4 months now due to the slow connections. They agree that there is a problem with my area but they will never refund my payment since the reason that I have slow connections is due to congestion of users and not due to the system. This is because, if you would look at some of the literatures of SBW, there are small imprints that say that SBW could slow down during peak hours. For this reason, they are free from complaints and suit from DTI.
My subscription with SBW is not locked in for 2 years. I am decided to terminate my subscription from SBW even if I will waste my investment on their modem and router but you have to apply in their main office for termination which will really be a hassle. You can only also refund the 1000 pesos deposit after 6 months from service termination.
They said that SBW is continually improving their service in my area but doesn’t know when. So I asked if I could just hold my subscription with SBW while their connection is slow and would just re-subscribe when they already improved the system. They said that it could be possible but you have to pay 500 pesos for the reconnection fee.
Given the situation, I asked if I would just not pay the following months until my service is terminated. They said that after 2 months of non-payment, the SBW subscription would be disconnected but I would continually be charged every month even if the subscription is not being used until I pay and could receive a demand letter from their lawyers.
I asked where I could complain in writing and who to write to but they would never give a supervisor name. They just told me to email my complaint directed to a “To whom it may concern” to suncellular@digitel.com.ph
THIS IS A SUPER WARNING!
Think very well before subscribing to SBW.
TO ALL THOSE WHO HAVE SUBSCRIBED TO SBW AND IS NOT SATISFIED AND DOESNT HAVE THE TIME YET TO GO THROUGH THE HASSLES OF TERMINATING FROM THEIR SERVICE OR TO THOSE WHO HAVE A LOCK IN PERIOD OF 2 YEARS …
DONT PAY FOR THE NEXT 2 MONTHS JUST BEFORE DISCONNECTION!!!
LET THEM FEEL THAT THEY HAVE TO IMPROVE THEIR SYSTEM.
HOPEFULLY I WILL HAVE TIME TO REALLY GO TO THEIR MAIN OFFICE TO TERMINATE MY SUBSCRIPTION. HOPEFULLY I WILL NOT HAVE MORE HASSLES WHILE DOING THIS!
WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!
@Willie – That’s strange, I just had my other SBW account terminated in their service center in Cash & Carry (Makati). And I was told I will receive my deposit (by check) in 2 months.
@Joni
Congrats! You did the right thing! Let’s see if they will really refund your deposit in 2 months time. Actually, I am not concerned with receiving the deposit back. I just want to have my service with SBW terminated soon. I was informed by their customer care that I will receive my deposit after 6 months.
@Willie – Try going to one of their service centers in the mall. I’m sure you don’t have to go their main office to have your account terminated. Don’t believe everything their customer care is telling you. Those guys really don’t know anything. :D
I still have another SBW which I’m using now. Connection is not that fast, but as long as I can get my work done I can live with it. It really all boils down to your location, just like how it is with every ‘wireless’ service. If you have the option, always go for wired! :)
Am using SBW Prepaid on a Mac to test speed before committing to a postpaid plan. Been using it for over a week… The speed is too slow. Skype voice is choppy. The speed goes down to 0 kbps and my farmville would freeze…
SUN Broadband is a HUGE SCAM! SBW will allow a new customer to experience a good connections for a month of subscriptions, then after the connections is too slow (1.00kbps outgoing 0.00kbps incoming). Even my friends confirmed their experience with this SCAM company. SBW do a bridge of contract to there customer on what they have promised. Currently, I am on the process of discontinuing my service with this SCAM company.
i am also complaining my sbw, i cant open any of my facebook applications, i’ve been sitting in front of my pc for 4 hours trying to open any of my fb app and nothing happen, and i called the customer care center and he adviced me to go online sa madaling araw..!does any one know the process of terminating my account on sun broadband, i just brought it last feb 8,2010 and i am very disappointed with the connection.. i cannot multi-task, a simple net browsing took so long and most of the time the connection was reset, and even while writing and reading e-mail,nag ti-time out pa yung connection.. ka asar talaga.. pag magloload ng yahoo inbox 15 minutes na wala pa din, it is really a waste of time.. lalo na pag magbubukas ng farmville, nakatulog na ko wala pa din..i want a refund talaga..
Wei guys; I’m currently using SBW on a MacBook as well. All that’s needed is to plug it to your Mac and the sun Java app shows up in approximately 3-6 secs. The interface initializes and detects the device and so you can close it and even use the HUAWEI mobile connection on the menu bar. Its the phone icon before the time machine and bluetooth, etc.
I’ve got qualms about the signal as well since after 3 days the supposed “theoretical” downstream data rate of 2Mbps seems a bit dodgy lately. That was very catchy since no other network has offered 2Mbps before. Anyways try and check on the istat overviews or memory and network to see where the problem’s source/s maybe.
I honestly think its the SBW 4G signal since I dont have these lags if I’m using Airport Extreme. What annoyed me is the fact that there are times when you can ping the site continuously via terminal and get very good packet roundtrip while the rotary loading icon just keeps rolling on the browser, either on safari or firefox. I checked on dashboard>istat nano>overview while this was happening and found 0 kb/s in and out transfer.
hi all!
i browsed upon this forum cuz i have problems on how to make my sbw dongle work in my mac.
i just followed the upgrade/install instructions found in the sun cellular website-sun broadband: upgraded the modem, installed it in my mac thereafter. but when it’s the connecting part, mac tells me application does not work or “NetworkStatus quit unexpectedly.” i relaunch it, it still gives me same prompt. it’s mac os x 10.5.8
HELP!!!!
thank you!
(ysel: your number posted here does not work, i get the check the number voice)