I’ve been using the little MTN black box (Huawei E220 USB modem) for my internet connection for a while now (Vincent Maher put up a brief posting showing just how easy it is to setup under OSX). My only major gripe with it is that I have to use the trackpad/mouse to go and click on the taskbar and then on the “Connect” or “Disconnect” option. This usually breaks my flow state and is an irritation to anyone who would prefer to use the keyboard to connect and disconnect.
Thankfully this problem is solved with a smidgen of Applescript that is launched via Quicksilver.
Open up “Script Editor” and copy the following snippet and save it as “connect”
tell application "Internet Connect"
launch
connect
quit
end tell
Then save this snippet as “disconnect”
tell application "Internet Connect"
launch
disconnect
quit
end tell
Now the next time you want to connect just launch Quicksilver and start typing “connect” and hit “Enter” to start your dialup! This tip should also work for any instance where you use “Internet Connect”.
Tags:applescript dialup osx quicksilver
This is exactly what I wanted to know, but have the following problem with it: When I connect using this script, it immediately disconnects with the error message “Authentication failed.” But connecting using a mouse click on the menu works just fine. Some sort of permissions issue?? Thanks!
I doubt it. I’ve found before that Internet Connect and the Networking Preferences configurations don’t always sync up. Open up Internet Connect with Quicksilver and make sure that your password is set there and try to connect from within Internet Connect (you can kill it once it’s connected and it won’t drop the connection). Assuming that this works, the above Applescripts should connect you without any further problems.
Just as an addendum, the above scripts would sometimes kill Quicksilver - if you encounter that, please write another reply and I’ll have another hack at the scripts.
Trying what you suggested: I use the Quicksilver hotkey and type “Intern” and it finds Internet Connect. I hit enter to launch. It has my password there (well, a line of dots) so I hit enter to connect. Same problem results: Authentication failed.
So I use the menu-bar shortcut to connect (the one that looks like a phone with 0101 coming out of it) and everything connects fine.
So the results are sort of what you suspected, but not quite. Opening IC with QS makes it look like it has my password, but it can’t seem to use it.
Thanks for the help.
Wow! Okay, I’ve been impressed with Quicksilver since I started using it, but every day I learn something new that is simply more and more impressive.
Being a relative n00b in OSX I haven’t played with Applescripts too much. In fact, never.
It does do some impressive stuff when I look at the Adium Applescript plugins… If only I had more time. You should write us a bit more about Applescripts on here.
Hi!
An old post, but hopefully you’ll see this reply
I’ve got a similar wireless broadband modem and would like to do the trick you’ve shown here. The problem is, I use a Danish OS X (Leopard, if that matters).
You wouldn’t happen to know how I can find the Danish translation of Internet Connect. That way I’d be able to use the applescript.
Thanks