The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    WWAN card interchangibility?

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by bac5.2, Mar 15, 2010.

  1. bac5.2

    bac5.2 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    104
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Does anyone know if all WWAN cards are created equal?

    I wanted to pick one up for my 1645, but I don't have AT&T. Other Dell models are available with Verizon Wireless cards, and I was hoping it would be a direct swap.

    Anyone know if it is or isnt?
     
    bac5.2, Mar 15, 2010
    #1
  2. BLiT

    BLiT Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    58
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    PCI ports are wonderful, wonderful things.
    (Yes, it should fit. I'm not 100% sure on software or SIM card compatibility, though.)
     
    BLiT, Mar 15, 2010
    #2
  3. jason1214

    jason1214 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    56
    Messages:
    342
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    They are mini PCIE, and for they are interchangeable. Sim cards, as BLiT stated, are not and would be carrier specific.
     
    jason1214, Mar 16, 2010
    #3
  4. bac5.2

    bac5.2 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    104
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I don't know how the SIM card thing will work. The card is keyed to verizon, so I would think it would already be arranged for that. I will, in all likelihood, not use it very frequently, but the times I will use it, it will be invaluable. MUCH easier than tethering my blackberry.

    I take it the same interchangeability extends to the wireless network card as well, right? I'm kind of interested in the WiMax card (the Intel 6250).
     
    bac5.2, Mar 16, 2010
    #4
  5. BLiT

    BLiT Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    58
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    WLAN cards are even easier, as you don't have to worry about SIM cards or specific software other than drivers.

    Simply remove the old card, install the new one in the port, and reconnect the antenna wires to their designated pins. (These are normally labeled with different colored wire, as well as labeled on the card itself. If not, simply jot a note down on a sheet of paper so you don't get the wires backwards. - There are normally only 2 wires.)
     
    BLiT, Mar 16, 2010
    #5