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    m11x WWAN how to....

    Discussion in 'Alienware M11x' started by mcmood, Feb 1, 2011.

  1. mcmood

    mcmood Newbie

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    Hi everyone,

    Can anyone post or direct me to a link where there is a nice how to guide to upgrading an M11x R1 bought here in the UK ? Thats including what cards are best, how to put the antenna within the screen and so forth??

    Thanks in advance....

    Oh yes, anyone else got tips on best value memory upgrade for m11x and best value for money ssds too?
     
    mcmood, Feb 1, 2011
    #1
  2. Goethe

    Goethe Notebook Guru

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    Try the tool "Search" in the forum, there must be like 34 different but very extensive posts covering everything to card types, to WWAN Antennas installation.
     
    Goethe, Feb 1, 2011
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  3. Neil McRae

    Neil McRae Notebook Evangelist

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    My view, unless you buy one with the antenna built in (which is what I did in the end):

    Find a way to get the official GOBI card via ebay or order via the US, its the best Dell WWAN card. The other Dell cards are flakey as hell (yes I've tried them all!)

    Note that in some of the BIOS's the card is locked so you CANNOT use any other card other than Dell, however on the R2 the BIOS A02 they unlocked the port so you could use any card, not sure if this also apllies to the A03/4 Bios on the R1 but if it does then if you don't want to get the official card then pick up a Sierra Wireless MC8775 - grab the driver and app from the Clevo website. The sierra card worled better than all the Dell cards except the Official Gobi card.

    To install:

    POWER OFF
    Install the SIM in the side of the laptop. If you remove the SIM the only way to make it work again reliably is to power off.
    Open the rear of the laptop.
    Install card, unhook one of the wifi antennas and plug into WWAN card.
    Boot up and install drivers.
    Fire up dialer tool / watcher tool - config for your provider (i use tmobile) click connect and bob is your sisters brother.

    Installing other antennas in the screen is a no no in my view, very hard to open and close the screen without tons of dust getting in. Installing them under the keyboard works but not brilliantly I had all sorts of signal issues you also get the bulge in the keyboard, by using one of the WIFI antennas you lose Wireless N (So G only) but you gain WWAN - in my view its the best option other than picking up a M11x from the US (which is what I did in the end).

    Neil.
     
    Neil McRae, Feb 1, 2011
    #3