M11x WWAN card info thread?

Hey m11x owners
Can any one of you confirm if the m11x have built in antenna for WWAN card ?
Bcoz am planning buy the 5530 WWAN module separately and install it
Thanks

 

They don't install the antenna unless you order the gobi card.

 

check this out http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=5881344&postcount=173

 

Interesting. I didn't see an extra set of wires when I opened the bottom of mine. Wonder if they're tucked into the LCD somewhere.

 

Best bet would be to ask someone who had their LCD replaced through the inhouse replacement.

 

The WWAN antenna is only included if you order the factory installed WWAN card.

This is called out as a note during the online ordering process. See the Mobile Broadband order customization screen. The default option is "No Internal WWAN Antenna Installed [Included in Price]"

 

This is often the case with Dell systems, but in this case is not the case. The WWAN antenna is only included on the M11x if you purchase the factory installed WWAN card.

 

Maybe that's a difference between US and Europe though? Here in Europe we dont get the option of a WWAN card, I've seen mention that because of this the antenna is installed by default.

I'm hoping so anyway, would save me having to use an external 3G modem.

Btw, does it have to be 5530 or is the 5520 supported too?

 

There unfortunately is not a factory installed WWAN option for Europe, thus the WWAN antenna is not factory installed.

I'm happy to gather tags of those who feel that this is a problem. Feel free to send me a PM and I'll add you to my list.

 

It's a bit silly, to be honest. I'm upgrading from an M1330 which had the antenna factory default. Now I have to use a dongle instead :/

 

yah its a crapper that Dell don't include it in my view:

so I'm planning to use this:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Antenna-for-W...opAccessories_PCMCIACards?hash=item5d282bf067

tested it with my M1330 and it works fine. Just praying the WWAN port isn't BIOS locked line on the M1330.

 

i tried installing a dell 5600 wwan card into my m11x, but my m11x could not detect any hardware.
i believe dell lock the bios for non-wwan m11x.
anyone know how to bypass this, so that i can use my wwan card?

 

I believe a lot of people configured their m11x without mobile broadband.
Anyone managed to install a non-oem wwan card and got it running?
I tried installing a Dell 5600 wwan card + gps, but no luck
The system could not detect the hardware.
I tried installing Dell Connection Manager, but still no luck.
I tried tons of method, but no luck.
It seems that AW lock their bios, thus I could not enabled wwan.
Any suggestion how to get the wwan card enabled?
Please advise.
Thanks

 

I'm not sure about there veing a limit on the WWAN card that will work, however dell does provide drivers for the Dell 5620 wwan card in the driver and downloads support for the M11x.

Anyway, as far as I know the M11x is missing the WWAN Antenna Cables if you do not choose WWAN preselected (and you cannot at all select that in Europe).

Even if you did get the WWAN card running, without the proper cables attached the reception may be rather bad.

 

seriously why not just pay the very small cost of Gobi? isn't it worth not having to take your system apart and put it back together only to find out that it doesn't work well/at all?

 

coz the only in Dell website say ATT, while i want it to be unlocked. So that I can use it on t-mobile and other gsm carrier.
I tried installing the wwan card then install the driver, but no luck.

 

Theres Verizon as well... lol how many carriers do you actually plan on using? You have to have a subscription with whomever you want to use.

 

well. I am using tmobile. I am not sure whether that ATT mobile broadband card will work for tmobile or not. That's the reason I never get it upgrade when I buy from Dell.com

 

it wont work on t-mobile, but t-mobile doesn't really work in general. the out of pocket each month is the same cost across all carriers, so you could just get Verizon and sign up with them. You'd have the best coverage that way too.

 

ATM there are no internal WWAN options to use the 3G service for Tmobile including the Dell 5600.

Now if you want to connect to Tmobile Edge then I believe the AT&T Gobi should work just fine since it has the Edge frequencies. But then again, the Dell 5600 should also work if it is not locked out.

 

its more likely that the card you installed is not supported by the M11x.

Dell doesn't write different BIOS's for different system configs.

 

As quotated from http://gear.ign.com/articles/106/1065816p2.html

"If you opt include a WWAN port on your M11x, you'll be able to connect the system to any supported wireless network by inserting a data-enabled SIM card chip from your cellphone or purchased separately. Each M11x can be pre-configured with support for AT&T or Verizon, however, network settings can be altered to accommodate other networks as well. "

I think the WWAN card is unlocked.

 

I didn't know Verizon used SIM Cards, I thought that was a GSM thing. If so how exactly would you connect to this with Verizon?

 

You sure about that? If it can be used with other wireless network, then why not Dell just call it Gobi Mobile Broadband GSM or Gobi Mobile Broandband CDMA? but they stress ATT or Verizon only?

 

Most consumers (in the US) know who they pay for cell service, but have no idea what type of radio is in their phone.

 

I just picked up a E169 Modem from O2 for 20£, month-to-month contract of 3GB per month for 15£/month. it's USB and has a microSD slot where I threw in an 8GB MicroSD card I had lying around so it doubles as a USB stick. Also, comes unlocked from O2 by default and I can share it on any computer. Prices for this service are so good in the UK was wworth it

Is black/silver just like my lunar shadow M11x and is a great compliment to the system IMHO.

 

does it have gps built in ?
I am currently looking at
http://www.sonyericsson.com/cws/corporate/products/mobilebroadbandportfolio/specification/md400g
but no one selling it...

 

I thought both ATT and Verizon use sim card

 

check that there isn't a option to enable it in the BIOS. I think there should be. However it could be that you have confirmed my fear that Dell have locked the BIOS to only work with the Gobi card. Which is a right pain in the rear. They have done this with other laptops also. I will be able to confirm this on Tuesday.

Neil.

 

At&T and T-Mobile use SIM cards because they are on a GSM network. Verizon and Sprint are CDMA and do not use SIM cards.

 

Shoulda stated for US customers

 

verizon has some sim cards in their world phones, Blackberry etc

 

so the conclusion is non-mobile broadband buyers cannot use wwan... coz somehow m11x could not detect the hardware..

 

I cannot see why on earth they would do this, Dell didn't do it with the M1330 I got. Locking it for US users is bad enough, but we don't even get ANY WWAN option here, so I'm forced out of having that completely?

Very very poor, IMO.

 

I am ordering another WWAN card and I will try to install it.
This time I am getting the Unlocked Sierra gsm + gps card. The previous card I got was Dell 5600 which is the same chip with Gobi 2000.
I will kepp ya'll update on this.
Wish me luck.

 

I have a dell 5530 I am going to try when my m11x arrives. Would love to have antennas installed but if not I will try and get an anenna off ebay

 

so does ur 5530 work well with m11x?

 

If you plan on staying with one carrier or at least (assuming unlock is possible) the same technology, it would make sense to get one, but:

1. A lot of people are in the middle right now, especially with AT&T and Tmo seeming to be weak in non-metro areas and Verizon and Sprint having better 3G support. This means buying a GSM based card is pointless when CDMA may be what some change to. Or for that matter, vice-versa.

2. Why get the card if your cell phone tethers? I use Tmo and my G1 tethers fine at no extra cost. I may switch to Verizon and I know for sure the Droid tethers fine as well and with MUCH better speeds than Tmo and also at no extra cost. Plus, if I settle someplace for more than a few hours, almost always there is a wifi connection to use in most public places. Only exception is when mobile, but tethering works fine and less battery drain as well, compared to the wwan card.

 

Someone got it to work, yes.
You need some special drivers and manual tweaking, but it should be doable.
Only downside is no proper antenna cables cause worse than optimal reception.

For those trying and able to read german or willing to try a translator, see here:
http://www.alien-forum.net/wbb/index.php?page=Thread&postID=7467#post7467

 

I just called Alienware to see if I can purchase the WWAN card and the antenna myself. Unfortunately, their systems are not showing the WWAN as an upgrade at the moment but it could be possibly available next week. The rep told me that in this particular upgrade both the WWAN card and antenna will be sent to me along with an on site technician to install it.

 

Thanks for the info, would the cost to install be extra?

 

The rep will be calling me sometime next week to let me know about the pricing. I'll post something as soon as I find out.

 

I don't know if its like this in your area, but my contant for germany/austria told me i would have to pay the display which would cost about a third of the whole M11x. If I would have to pay the guy installing it was not even on the table yet.

The whole thing way only theoretical anyway since he told that they cannot offer me this display at all. It's not available in europe.

It be interested to hear your version of how it went or if he "upgrade" indeed comes available some time.

 

would we be able to put a SSD card in that slot?

like this one? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227441

 

i just inserted my SIM card into the laptop and nothing happened....

what's suppose to happen?

 

It will not directly respond to it at all (it will NOT tell you: hey dude, I found your SIM card, what shall I do with it).
For it to be found at all you will need to have a WWAN card and it's drivers properly installed, and preferably also the application with which to do the dialing (though you can have windows use the modem device that will be installed with the WWAN drivers and skil the dialling program).

A german guy told at first even though his SIM card was inserted it was not recognized. He had to reboot for it (or even do more than that, i'm not sure what the problem was with it, I never tried it myself).

 

For those interested in getting the Dell 5530 card working:

- add an environment variable with the name "Devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices" and value "1" to the advanced settings (in Computer->Properties (where the windows performance index is shown): Advanced Settings->Advanced->Button Environment variables - actual names may be different I'm just translating my german ones to english).

- In the device manager there should now be some device representing the Dell 5530 WWAN card be listed, to which you can manually install the following drivers: Dell_5530_GPS.zip (they appear to be custom modified ones that you can't get from DELL).

- Restart your PC. Make sure your SIM card is inserted before you start up after having turned the M11x completely off. This is the only sure way I know to get the SIM detected, inserting it while windows is already running does not detect it (at least for me).

- Install this Dell Mobile Broadband Manager

- Finally start the Mobile Broadband Manager and hope your WWAN card and SIM card are detected so that activating the device and dialling in works

Please, everyone who tried and got it working, or had problems, please tell so here...

 

so what this thread is saying is that alienware m11x laptop does NOT come with a wwan card??.. hence you have to purchase your own ???

 

Its an option only in the USA. other countries it doesn't come with one.