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Upgrade the internal Mini-PCIe WLAN card to EV-DO

post #1 of 17
1/27/06 at 2:41pm
Thread Starter 


http://www-306.ibm.com/pc/support/si...cid=MIGR-61349

Since the WLAN card in the I9400 is the newer Mini-PCIe form factor, it would be a snap to change it out with a Sierra Wireless MC5720 for EV-DO networks.
EV-DO Mini-PCIe cards are found in HP and IBM(Lenovo) notebooks but Dell has chosen not to offer this optional Mini-PCIe card for whatever reason.

IBM part# for the EV-DO card is 39T5664 and can be ordered at the IBM Maintenance parts webpage for $32.50us: http://www-132.ibm.com/content/home/...arts_main.html


BTW: The IBM part# 39T0499 is for the Atheros AR5BXB6 Mini-PCIe although that part# isn't currently found at the IBM parts site right now...
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post #2 of 17
3/28/06 at 6:35pm
So you can get an Atheros?
My shopping cart at IBM says, "FRU GWINNETT US EU SKU ADAPTER", but they don't ship to Denmark, so I checked at IBM.dk, and they want a whopping 146USD for it!

Any word out on how much superior it is to the standard Intel? Shame that dell didn't opt for two mini pcie slots, would be nice with both integrated evdo and wlan.
Are there any good express card wifi cards out atm?
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post #3 of 17
3/28/06 at 8:05pm
I hope the atheros comes soon, I don't wanna get stuck with a 54mb wireless network.
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post #4 of 17
3/29/06 at 12:43am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by grkn
So you can get an Atheros?
My shopping cart at IBM says, "FRU GWINNETT US EU SKU ADAPTER", but they don't ship to Denmark, so I checked at IBM.dk, and they want a whopping 146USD for it!

Any word out on how much superior it is to the standard Intel? Shame that dell didn't opt for two mini pcie slots, would be nice with both integrated evdo and wlan.
Are there any good express card wifi cards out atm?
Yeah, that is the Atheros Mini-PCIe. Wonder why the charge so much for it in Denmark since Lenovo US is now only charging $53 for the same...

http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...ec.htm#toc_120

As far as having internal EV-DO and WLAN, the best you could do with Dell's current configuration would be to use the Sierra Mini-PCIe EV-DO card together with the Dell TrueMobile 1390 ExpressCard linked above...
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post #5 of 17
3/29/06 at 12:48am
Im getting pretty good speed with the Intel card. I downloaded an HD video sample from MS's site and was getting 800kbytes per second. Thats good enough for me! Pretty impressive for wireless.
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post #6 of 17
3/29/06 at 3:23am
Hi,

I too am waiting for an Atheros based card.

I have found this one which uses the Atheros chipset.

http://tw.giga-byte.com/Products/Com...ProductID=2215

I can't find where to buy one yet though.

SteveP
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post #7 of 17
3/30/06 at 7:06am
Quote:
Originally Posted by somms


Since the WLAN card in the I9400 is the newer Mini-PCIe form factor, it would be a snap to change it out with a Sierra Wireless MC5720 for EV-DO networks.
EV-DO Mini-PCIe cards are found in HP and IBM(Lenovo) notebooks but Dell has chosen not to offer this optional Mini-PCIe card for whatever reason.

IBM part# for the EV-DO card is 39T5664 and can be ordered at the IBM Maintenance parts webpage for $32.50us: http://www-132.ibm.com/content/home/...arts_main.html


BTW: The IBM part# 39T0499 is for the Atheros AR5BXB6 Mini-PCIe although that part# isn't currently found at the IBM parts site right now...
I knew it was too good to be true... I bought the Sierra card for $33.33 and was thrilled with that... only to get this in an email today:


The price on following part(s) has been increased by IBM. Please respond to this e-mail if you would like us to continue with the order. If we do not get a response within 5 business days your order will automatically be cancelled.


Qty Ordered Part Number Ordered Price New Price
1 39T5664 $33.33 $211.11


Looks like no deal.
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post #8 of 17
3/30/06 at 10:42am
Quote:
Originally Posted by somms
Yeah, that is the Atheros Mini-PCIe. Wonder why the charge so much for it in Denmark since Lenovo US is now only charging $53 for the same...

http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...ec.htm#toc_120

As far as having internal EV-DO and WLAN, the best you could do with Dell's current configuration would be to use the Sierra Mini-PCIe EV-DO card together with the Dell TrueMobile 1390 ExpressCard linked above...
You really should stop posting about the IBM sierra wireless card for the Dell E1705, I followed that direction based on your post, paid $32+shipping for the card, it DOES NOT work in the E1705/9400. I sent you a PM if you have actually installed and used this card and you have not responded. After extensive testing, it appears the E1705 needs to be tested with this card by dell, and it appears there is a power voltage issue or other problem that prevents this card from operating. It will install, be detected but gives low power signals and does not repsond to standard diagnostics, or initializations. Will prob need a bios upgrade from dell and that only comes when they test this item.

If you all are looking for a solution to your PC card broadband wireless CDMA 3G modems, either wait for the U132 adaptor in a month or so, or just wait for dell, they are supposed to have a solution by May of this year possibly for thier laptops. Otherwise it is the KR1 router =)
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post #9 of 17
3/30/06 at 10:59am
The problem is, there are hardly any wifi expresscards out, there are hardly any expresscards at all for that matter, so you're really trading wifi for mobility.
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post #10 of 17
3/30/06 at 1:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Echilon
The problem is, there are hardly any wifi expresscards out, there are hardly any expresscards at all for that matter, so you're really trading wifi for mobility.

Correct and if you use Verizon Bradband for mobile access you are sool, because without a usb to pcmcia, the KR1 router (has pc card slot for modems) or a working internal Mini Pci Express Card like the (Sierra wireless MC 5720) "mind you I said working =) " you will have to wait for these nuts to get on the ball and provide us a solution to be able to use the technology. I myself find it rediculous that they did not include both PC Card and Express Card slots so we can have some compatibility, especially on such a large laptop with all this real estate. I mean I would rather do without the memory card reader because there are like 1 million USB solutions for memory card readers on the market and 0 Express cards =)
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post #11 of 17
3/30/06 at 4:15pm
The gigabyte atheros card will become available on ebay in "2-3 weeks", for about 50-70 usd
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post #12 of 17
3/31/06 at 9:58am

Dell Wireless EVDO Cards

I'm currently looking into a Spare Parts number for the newly offered Dell Wireless Mini-PCI EVDO Cards from the Inspiron D820. They offer mini-cards for both Verizon and Cingular networks (awww no Sprint???).

Once the part numbers are found and the prices acquired more will be posted here - since this is the most relevant thread for this.
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post #13 of 17
3/31/06 at 10:34am
Quote:
Originally Posted by JaxChris
I'm currently looking into a Spare Parts number for the newly offered Dell Wireless Mini-PCI EVDO Cards from the Inspiron D820. They offer mini-cards for both Verizon and Cingular networks (awww no Sprint???).

Once the part numbers are found and the prices acquired more will be posted here - since this is the most relevant thread for this.

This is exactly what I was waiting for, I knew it was coming just havent seen it listed.
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post #14 of 17
5/28/06 at 2:09pm
I've got one if someone is looking for one

I purchased a Sierra Wireless PCI Express Mini Card on eBay for $160.00. It's brand new and in it's original static protection bag. I purchased it thinking I could use it in an embedded Linux box I have but I was mistaken, thinking that the card was a Mini PCI form factor, when in fact it's PCI Express Mini Card form factor. I called Verizon and gave them the ESN number, and they told me that they could transfer my current account over to that card, or they could activate it with a new account. I don't know if Sprint or Cingular could activate this card - I didn't call them. So if someone wants it for $160.00, send me a message or an email at nico[[at]]insightdesigns{{dot}}com

If no one is interested I'll just sell it on eBay.

Cheers.
Nico
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post #15 of 17
5/29/06 at 2:09pm
Another problem non of y'all are accounting for. Where are you going to put the SIM card in your E1705?. I don't know if you gotta have it for Verizon, but you'll need one for Cingular. The SIM card reader is NOT part of the Mini card. My D820 has the SIM card reader in it and I didn't get a mobile broadband card.

JaxChris, how dare you insult the Latitude D820 by calling it an Inspiron
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post #16 of 17
7/12/06 at 3:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrEvil
Another problem non of y'all are accounting for. Where are you going to put the SIM card in your E1705?. I don't know if you gotta have it for Verizon, but you'll need one for Cingular. The SIM card reader is NOT part of the Mini card. My D820 has the SIM card reader in it and I didn't get a mobile broadband card.

JaxChris, how dare you insult the Latitude D820 by calling it an Inspiron
From what I understand, verizon doesn't use sim cards.
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post #17 of 17
7/12/06 at 6:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by lasmith05
From what I understand, verizon doesn't use sim cards.
Wouldn't hurt to make sure they don't require you to have one with a Laptop's built-in card though. The price of the minicard EV-DO is quite high. Just guessing that it'd work in your Laptop is an awfully expensive risk.
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