SIM card slot in dell inspiron 1525

i just found out that there is a SIM card slot inside the battery section.
can anyone brief me on the usage of this and also the procedure for the same ?


An earlier response in this regard would be highly appreciated

Regards,
Savio

 

I've actually noticed that card slot as well. I'm not sure what it's for or what type of card goes in there...any ideas?

 

This is a quote from somewhere online...

Dunno how true it is, though.

 

@mastershroom:that slot is for GSM SIM cards and mine goes perfectly inside and i dont know wat to do after that.

@Commander wolf: i have read the same post before,Am from India and we are expecting 3G connections here in a month or so.
But i have also read in another post that we can also browse thru GPRS,
i jus want to know the procedure for that and how does the laptop act as a modem,
If Inspiron 1525 does not come with a supportive modem, do u know which hardware shud be installed new for this to work.
This SIM card slot was not even mentioned in the manual and most users might have not known that this exist as they wont get a chanve to open the battery compartment

 

Wow interesting, i have the same slot on my Inspiron 1720

 

Basically a SIM card is what identifies you on a certain wireless telephone network (right now limited to GSM systems which are AT&T and T-Mobile in the US). You order the laptop with the AT&T 3G card or add your own and when you get service you will somehow be provided with a SIM card that is needed to identify your system with the network and authenticate it with your service account. Put the SIM card in this slot inside the notebook and away you go.

If you have a GSM based handset from either AT&T, T-Mobile, or an overseas provider, it'll have the same kind of SIM card in it usually buried inside the phone under the battery.

 

Can we use this ti make calls?

 

AFAIK, Dell never locks its machine to accept any 3G/WWAN (wireless wide area network) cards. The SIM slot is just only one of the necessary things in order to make your Dell internal WWAN technology enabled. Depending on the wireless/cellular provider in your area, you'll have to install a GSM/HSPA or CDMA 1x/EVDO card inside your Dell.

This could be done cause Dell has provide many of its latest notebooks with SIM (or USIM/RUIM) card slot, an internal mini PCI express slot and internal antennas for WWAN upgrade. In order to have this WWAN capability, you'll have to buy the 3G mini PCI express card that match your provider requirement (GSM/HSPA or CDMA 1x/EVDO). You can use mini PCI express WWAN modules from Dell, Sierra Wireless or Novatel Wireless.


WWAN mini PCI express card


This is the photo of the Sierra Wireless MC8781 mini PCI express card installed inside my Dell Studio 17:


Three wireless mini PCI express cards: intel WiFi Link 5300 (half-height), Sierra Wireless MC8781 and Dell Bluetooth 370

There are mini PCI epxress cards which have voice capability, such as Sierra Wireless MC5725V (CDMA 1x/EVDO) or MC8792V/MC8790V/MC8775V (GSM/HSPA), but I cannot give more comment on this one since I've never used any of them.

 

I was thinking of using this in my inspiron, 3g is weak on laptops i hear though

 

Weak or not depends on the cellular network in your area. Here in Japan, the network is 3G/HSPA only, without GSM.

 

Hi aidil,

I have tried to find any online shop who sells the Sierrawireless MC8792V but so far can't find any. I wrote to Sierrawireless and they never reply me. Could you please advise me where can I buy one for my notebook ? Thank you for your info in advance.

 

It's hard to get MC8792V mini PCI express card, cause AFAIK Sierra Wireless doesn't sell its embedded module/mini PCI express card directly to market, but instead through system manufacturers as OEM.

The ones that easier to find on ebay are MC8775 and MC8781. Or... If you could get your hands on the USB one, Sierra Wireless AirCard 881U, you can open it to take out MC8781 inside.

 

Hi aidil,

Thank you very much for your quick reply. Now I understand why Sierrawireless never replies my email. I read about MC8792V spec. and it has many attractive functions (voice, gpsOne, etc.). I will check at ebay as per your suggestion. Thanks again for your kind comments.

 

Hi aidil,

Can I ask you one more question about the embedded card such as MC8792V or the like ? Is it workable out of the box or need a custom made software to communicate with it ? I am trying to get a similar one to put in my notebook. The USB stick type or mini express card when in used will extrude a bit out of its slot. The embedded type is what I need. Thanks in advance for your comments.

 

If you are referring to any Sierra Wireless embedded module, then the generic Sierra Wireless software/driver which you can download from its website is all you need to connect to your cellular network. It has already many world operators' APN data. FYI, I use the same software/driver for my MC8780, MC8781 and MC8775. But if you referring to the voice feature of embedded module such as MC8792V, then I have no knowledge about it.

Actually I got my MC8781 with GPS enabled and seems like it also has been flashed with voice enabled firmware. For sure it would ring the speaker in case somebody dials the inserted SIM card phone number, which has never happened with MC8780 in my other notebook. But even if I pick-up the incoming call, still it would not let me to communicate with the caller, as the caller's voice or my voice is not heard in both caller parties.

 

Hi aidil,
I very much appreciate your quick reply. I have found a web site selling sierra wireless card and hopefully I could get the MC8792V there. The gps feature is more interesting to me than the voice call. About your MC8781, did it come with complete driver and flashed firmware ? I have read a few web sites talking about the embedded module with gpsOne feature. They say the gps functions need to be activated via a custom program to get the data from the open ports. Unfortunately, I have no knowledge about such programming skill.

 

There's a firmware update which actually meant for Sierra Wireless AirCard 881U or 880U (the last U letter marks the USB version) which also works for MC8781/MC8780. This update will unlock the TRULocate or its GPS capability.

The reason why it also works for MC8781/MC8780 is because the AirCard 881U/880U is actually powered by MC8781/MC8780 respectively inside its case. You can pop-up the USB device and takes out the embedded module for your Inspiron as an alternative if you cannot find the embedded module from the market.

Their latest software/driver will show "Display GPS" as well as "Voice calls" buttons if it can detect these capabilities from any Sierra Wireless installed product in your system.

 

Hi aidil,

Thank you so much for your valuable information.

 

I was confused about this SIM thing too...so I made an Online Chat with a Dell Sales guy from UK and he (she? it?) told me that it was a provision for mobile broadband which has since, been discontinued.

In other words, I guess it was originally intended to serve as HSDPA but doesn't really work anymore.

 

No... Not that it doesn't work anymore. It will work. You just have to add the required broadband module inside. Apparently you haven't read any of the earlier posts.

All you need is a mobile broadband module to be installed inside your Inspiron. This module is in form of mini PCI-express card. I've posted the picture in the previous page. After you install its driver/software and input or select the correct preset data plan profile, you could use your SIM card with your Inspiron.

 

@aidil,

I would like to inform you how I proceed on my subject matter. Finally I got the embedded module and put in my notebook. And the most worried issue does happen - the notebook won't start up (dead start). I think the problem relates to the notebook's current bios not recognize the add-on. The nightmare is, I wrote to the tech support (notebook's), they say they have no plan when to release the new bios (even though my notebook model has been advertized as HSPDA or WWAN supported).

 

Which module did you get? I don't have Inspiron 1525, but I've used Sierra Wireless MC8775 and then I changed it to MC8781 in my Studio 17 without any problem. My other notebook is using MC8780, but this came preinstalled with the system.

There is known BIOS block in certain type of Dell notebook, but AFAIK it's only reported to happen in XPS M1330. I haven't heard any other. But even that it can be solved using specific BIOS version.

If I remember correctly, there's a suggestion to tape certain pin of the card. But I don't know whether it applies to your problem.

 

@aidil

sorry aidil, I have not mentioned my notebook model in the beginning. It is Gigabyte T1028. And the module is sierra wireless MC8792V. The notebook mainboard has wwan slot ready with sim manager software pre-installed. However, there is no where in the bios to configure for the wwan feature. I suppose there should be newer bios coming out soon. I have heard about the modified bios version but that seems too risky to try. Thanks for your reply.

 

powwow, I know that Sierra Wireless Modules are often used in Fujitsu notebooks, HP and IBM (CMIIW). Ericsson modules are often used in Dell notebooks. But I know nothing about Gigabyte. Do you know what brand of internal 3G/3.5G/HSDPA/HSUPA/HSPA module that Gigabyte used to use? I think from the pre-installed software you could identify from which module it belongs.

Btw, where did you get MC8782V? I'd like to get one also and try its voice capability.

 

I don't know about the voice unlock, but for sure that firmware update did unlock GPS capability of my MC8780.

Still, I can't say the same in case of MC8790, cause I've never owned one.

 

I've found a mini documentation on the Dell website here it is ...
http://support.ap.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/en/document?c=in&cs=indhs1&dl=false&l=en&s=dhs&docid=4D340821610BFF59E040A68F5B2840A3&doclang=en

 

Hi guys,

Just bought Sierra Wireless MC8775 HSDPA mini-card and I've been trying to install its drivers in

Windows Vista x86 and Windows 7 x64 on my Dell Inspiron 1525. The laptop boots normally with this

card installed and the card is defined as "HP hs2300 HSDPA Broadband Module" with yellow question

mark.

When I install appropriate drivers taken from HP site this label moves to usb section in device

manager with yellow exclamation mark. I see the error message on its tab "Code 10 - This device can not be started..." When I turn on the wireless device switch placed on the right side of the laptop one can see three icons popped up on the display: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and "B)))" implied as Broadband.

However 3G card is still having yellow exclamation mark and is not working at all. I've tried many times to reinstall the driver in different manners but always unsuccessfully. I've even attempted to set up 3G-watcher (with the drivers inside) retrieved directly from Sierra Wireless's site but nothing helps.

So does anybody suggest me what to do with it or is there anyone happy with this card (SW MC8775) and his/her Dell inspiron 1525?

Any help would be much appreciated!

Wellyman

 

Your MC8775 would not start due to it is specifically designed for HPs. So either you return the card and get the non-HP/Lenovo version or you have to find a way to flash its firmware so that it would become a non-HP/Lenovo version (but I don't know whether this is possible).

I still have MC8775 and it is not the HP/Lenovo version. It used to be installed in my Studio 17 before I swapped it with MC8781.

 

Thanks for your reply. The thing is I got this card on Ebay and all the pages of the propositons said that it is suitable not only for Hps but some Dell models too.

Here is one of those links:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Sierra-Wireless...ltDomain_0?hash=item45eec2603b#ht_3405wt_1165

However I have not discovered any non HP/Lenovo MC8775 cards at all over there. What a shame!

PS: Would you please advise where you managed to get your version of the MC8775 card?

 

You Need a Dell branded card as Dell in their wisdom have locked out 3rd party cards via bios.
So even with the correct drivers it will not function..
Unless you can find a bois version that supports whitelist your stuck with no WWAN.

 

Sorry it's not from eBay. I got it from a friend.

 

Well, guys, I see now... However respectable Aidil has reported that HIS version of Sierra's did work in Dell's laptop.

Initially I made a mess with 3rd branded WWAN cards in order to save much money not buying Dell 5520 HSDPA for crazy $100 (on Ebay) or $200 directly from Dell.

So I will have to get back to 5520 card with no any exit at present. (

Anyway, thanks for your comments.

 

AFAIK, only in XPS M1330 that Dell locks the laptops' BIOS to accept only Dell's mini PCIe 3G card. Even so, if it is flashed with BIOS version A02, M1330 can accept other brand cards. Also Inspiron Mini with factory preinstalled mini PCIe 3G card is said to have 3G module irreplaceable with other brand cards.

I don't know exactly, there may be others. But still AFAIK, most of Dell laptops are not locked to accept mini PCIe 3G card from other brand namely Sierra Wireless.

 

Another thought has come to me now, perhaps, my HP's SW card is looking for HP's Bios in the laptop while booting it. On the HP site I've found some firmware upgrade of this card for HP Pavilion series laptops to make them operate properly full featured.

It's a pity the Sierra Wireless themselves don't give any firmware upgrade for their MC8775.

PS: I've recently upgraded a bios to the latest A16 but alas.

 

Just found the site with unlocking warez for 3G cards and related topic in their forum:
http://www.dc-unlocker.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1031

So one can see I'm not alone with the issue for SW 3G cards.

 

I'm happy to report good news about my HP-rebranded SW MC8775 card. I downloaded and installed dc-unlocker. Then i launched it and saw that the card was not recognised. But I reinstalled hp's drivers after that and to my surprise all the parts of those drivers installed correctly. I created dial-up connection with special connection settings for my ISP (MTS) :AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","internet.mts.ru" and after that i'm just sitting and typing right now via EDGE.

So FINITA LA COMEDIA!!!

I definitly can say Sierra Wireless's 3G cards do operate in DELL's laptops and in Insiron 1525 in particular.

 

Congrats...

How about unlocking its 7.2Mbps capability? Did you do that as well?

 

Thanks! All credits to you, Aidil, for your encouraging comments

Oh Yeah! I am very curious to uprade its firmware to have 7.2 Mbit and I am currently in search of correct one for my card. But all I have seen at the monment is that those firmwares are intended for specific ISPs (e.g. Vodafone, Cingular and some others) so I'm a little bit confused if my card would work correctly with my local (3G) ISP after such upgrade. So now i'm just pondering on this issue.

BTW, I installed HP WWAN Connection Manager supporting hs2300 card ( as it is stated on Hp's web page)in Windows 7 but to my surprise it could not find this card in my laptop.

MTS ( our local ISP) have already deployed 3G/HSDPA base stations in Moscow but our military forces are still slowing down the launching 3G service in our city. It hopefully will be available in next 2 months. So then I will be equipped well to face 3G in all the power and portability.

 

For MC8775 firmware, have a look at this link.

 

Just found an 7.2Mbps upgrade for MC8775 on this link
http://www.call-direct.com.au/downloads/2_Firmware/CDM-882-1.52.3-Upgrade.zip

Aidil, have you ever tried it for your former mc8775?

 

WOW! Thanks a lot. I need to learn this material thoroughly

 

I've done an upgrade to the latest firmware successfully.
According to the readings by dc-unlocker now it is:

DC - Unlocker 2 Client 1.00.0348

Detecting card :

selection :
manufacturer - SierraWireless
model - Auto detect

Found modem : MC8775
Model : MC8775/MC8775V
IMEI : 352905014235968
Firmware : H2_0_8_19MCAP
Serial NR. : d61180823781157
SIM Lock status : unlocked
Voice feature : disabled

Since then the card has connected to ISP successfully but with strange speed 115Kbps instead of 3.6Mbps ( as originally it were) if looking at the status of this broadband connection. I've also tested real speed via speedtest.net site. It has turned out that download speed has become lower now - 90Kbps vs 160Kbps.

In addition, now it takes about 15 seconds more to pass a registration in the network unfortunately. This process took about 1-2 seconds previously though.

To tell the truth, at the moment I can't test the card in HSDPA network locally so have to wait for an opportunity in near future.

I've downloaded the original firmware for 3.6 Mbit HSDPA mode as well just for reverting things back if the card won't be able to use 3G at all.

Anyway,Aidil, many thanks for your link.

 

I cannot say much about my MC8775, since I'm not using it anymore. It has been almost a year since I swapped it with MC8781. As far as I can remember, it could connect up to 7.2Mbps to local Japanese cellular operator. I wasn't the one who upgraded its f/w. It has already been like that since the day I received it from a friend.

There's another recent thread in this NBR forum where I posted my MC8775 ( here's the link). It's now inside AirCard 881U USB case.

 

Yesterday night I installed the latest 3G watcher from Sierra Wireless and so far so good. It created itself a proper profile for my ISP with all the correct settings. It's a miracle! I even can use SMS service but unfortunately not MMS.

I've noted 3G watcher picks up network connection with 237Kbps speed for EDGE. However, when I used dial-ip (modem) connection for MC8775 card only 115Kbps speed was available then.

Recently i got a Lenovo netbook. It has turned out there is a WWAN slot inside as well but with no wiring for antenna. I've dug up a bit on ebay and found a few offers of Ericsson f3705 HSDPA mini-PCIe cards. Even one is bundled with a small antenna looking like yours in the usb stick. I am keen on getting one too in near future.

 

I don't know whether there's different or not, but Sierra Wireless Watcher allows you to choose any of the 2 methods when creating connection profiles: WWAN profile and Dial-up profile. Between these two, I choose the first one. And oh yeah, I'm currently using Watcher R3.1.0.34 Build 2258.

 

I also noted in the bios of Inspiron 1525 that it is said there is no cellular device installed. However MC8775 card does work ok in despite of that fact. I guess it is because the bios recognizes only native dell cards.

 

I know this thread is a little dated but I found it helpful. I couldn't find the sim card slot.

I have a Sierra 881U that I removed from its case and installed with AT&T service on my Studio 1737 and it works great. So I don't think it is an issue with being locked to Dell cards unless its only on certain models.

As for speeds I haven't been to a 3G area yet so I don't know about that but the EDGE coverage in my area is as bad as dialup.

 

Hey guys,

This is from the manual for the Studio 1555:

It doesn't say anything about additional modules required. Does this mean it will work as long as your GSM card is authorized on the network for internet access?

I still haven't received my laptop. Have 2 weeks to go but I'd like to know if this would work.

 

If you didn't order your Studio 1555 with WWAN, then the 3G Mini PCI-E module will not be inside.