PCIE broadband Mobile options

I was just wondering if anyone knows of any good options for getting a PCIE broadband card or SIM to get broadband on laptop so I can have Internet anywhere

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

 

Eg something like this where I can get on broadband via USB and my Sierra Wireless card.
https://techship.se/products/mpcie-usb-adapt-waterpr-casing/
Basically my issue is my laptop Dell E6440 only has one full size Msata port and I'm using a SSD in it so want to get broadband card to work as well. The laptop can actually take a sim.

The only other option is to find a half size broadband card for the second wwan port but there's a only one I can find on the market

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

 

Option B which is finding the half sized broadband card is your best bet for built in. If that can't be had a mobile hotspot will get you similar functionality.

 

@Rixsta you sure the half-size slot is meant for WWAN, not WLAN or something else? Because if not, chances are it isn't wired to the SIM slot. Bottom line, you should put the card where it's meant to be according to service manual, otherwise it'll be pain in the ass to make it work, and usb or phone would be a better option. The reception of notebook internal antennae is usually unbeatable, though.

 

you could have a look at what sort of express card it will take

probably something like this
http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-F5D8073-Wireless-ExpressCard-Adapter/dp/B000RMPP5G

page 13 of manual
http://topics-cdn.dell.com/pdf/latitude-e6440-laptop_owner's manual_en-us.pdf


or as the post above look at page 11 of manual parts 10 & 8

 

Thanks I need mobile broadband not Wifi Jay

By the looks of it there WWAN small and large ports.

And also 1x WLAN





Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

 

So something like this is not going to get much better signal ? https://techship.se/products/mpcie-usb-adapt-waterpr-casing/
Basically laptop will be in our campervan and this device would go on top.

It would also let me keep the msata ssd in the WWAN bay

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

 

Also this Could... work in the small WWAN. While keeping the SSD in the large one ?

Other option is like you say starlight keep broadband card where it should be and move Msata SSD somewhere else like media bay.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

 

I forgot the link before
https://techship.se/products/ericsson-h5321gw-101/

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

 

Get a mobile hotspot or some old cellphone that serves as a hotspot. Power it from the camper van's electric instead of laptop. Then you can serve all phones and tablets and computers with one connection.

No need to make this more complicated than necessary

 

Hey
A mobile hotspot is using the phone to share it's net right ?
Last time I looked many providers didn't like this form of tethering ?

Reason I wanted sim in the laptop is that the mobile company doesn't know it's a laptop hence no limiting your bandwidth ..

What kind of hotspot do you mean ?


Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

 

It would be great if we could simply attach wires to SATA lanes in the mSATA slot while the modem is in the slot - it doesn't use these lanes anyway - and connect those to some compact msata adapter, stealing power from optical bay or elsewhere. Same problem with my X220 tablet, otherwise I'd use two SSDs. On chinese forums a guy managed to take sata connection from docking bay and use it for additional SSD, but that is too hardcore for me.

 

sorry for earlier id misunderstood what you were after

if your in the UK
three offer good deals on tethering & there signal is pretty good also they are pretty god with being abroad as well
I'm with three & travel for a living and only very rarely have signal issues ( can at least get 3G most places but they do have a signal checker on their site)
you can get a 1 month contract so can just cancel it when ever if you have issues
they used to offer unlimited 4g with unlimited tethering
the new plans only have unlimited 4g (mobile) with a 30GB tethered

the phone plans have a larger tethering limit 30GB (see below) were as the dongle sims have a max of 20GB @£23 per month

£23per month 1 month rolling contract (200 minuets)
http://www.three.co.uk/_standalone/PricePlan_Details?content_aid=1400624188609

£33per month 1 month rolling contract (unlimited minuets)
http://www.three.co.uk/_standalone/PricePlan_Details?content_aid=1400624203433

 

Thanks Jay this is a good option although if you use the Sim card in the PC or Laptop like I have the option to do the provider doesn't know and you don't need to worry about tethering.

Starlight
I see what you mean yes

Looks like one of the best solutions is Msata to Sata converter.
Put the Msata drive in the CD bay. Put broadband card where it should be in Large WWAN port.


I know I might be sounding a bit insane but am just trying to get something that works well
Giffgaff works well with the broadband card and sim as I tried it the other day.

That three deal sounds good ..we plan to travel into Spain so ill have to change some time.

Thanks for the help

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

 

i had no idea, but that is interesting to know don't you still have to make calls occasionally so they don't realize you are doing that? or can you make them with the laptop?

 

You can make the calls with the laptop and send texts.. From the providers point of view I guess it's as if your using something similar to a mobile this is why I'd rather have a sim card solution than use some kind of pay as you go or monthly plan USB dongle for the net that would probably cost more.

I may be incorrect on my assumptions but if anyone knows more feel free to comment

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

 

A mobile phone or something like this
http://consumer.huawei.com/en/mobile-broadband/mobile-wifi/features/e5786s-32a-en.htm
Technically that's a phone too. Can't talk or sms with it though.

Service providers here are a bit different than there. Mobile hotspot like that costs 6e/month for 3 years (or 205e once) and unlimited data with up to 50mbit/s speed 18e/month.

 

Just had a look shame about the cost! Looks good though

Unlimited data nice that's what I need

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

 

I've had great luck with the MC7700, although its a bit dated and you can get better boards. You have one in your signature. What seems to be the issue? There's the MC7455 which basically is a universal card, supports LTE-DC, etc.

MC7700 works great, straight out of the box, on Windows 10. If you install the drivers from Sierra Wireless, you get "location services" (aka GPS).

Lol, you have basically an identical configuration as do I laptop-wise.

edit: if you're in Europe, you'll probably want to gravitate to the MC7710 or even the MC7355 / MC7455 boards. More $$$, but they're more likely to support the LTE bands you need.

 

By the way, does Dell really whitelist WWANs - or are Dell, Fujitsu, Toshiba WWAN cards interchangeable with each other, unlike Lenovo and HP?

 

Hey pitz
The issue is that in the port for Sierra Wireless card I'm using a Msata SSD so can't put the card in.
So was trying to find some other way to use this card. I'll check out the other boards you mentioned anyway.

Interesting note I get that location services without the card installed.

For now it looks my best bet is to put the msata SSD in the CD Media bay and use the Sierra Wireless card happy happy.
Just means I can't use the second SSD in the media bay.

Starlight your question I'd like to know too.



Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

 

There is not an other way. It is not rocket science. Get a 4G Mobile Hotspot, use your laptop's wireless to connect to that. Which is now how most such connections are made. These devices are sold with their own data plan or some carriers let them share with your phone plan's data allowance. You want the WWAN installed, you'll have to give up the SSD or get a bigger, thicker machine with 3 spindles.

 

@Rixsta it is possible to do what I described earlier - steal sata lanes from somewhere on the motherboard, though that sadly won't be the slot itself, but traces approaching it - but it is such a pain in the ass, that for the years with this idea, I never actually made it with any of my notebooks. triturbo and some others did, though. FWIW ODD slot provides enough power and space for both 2.5" HDD/SSD and an mSATA drive inside some adapter.

 

Not that I know off, I think Lenovo and HP are the most atrocious ones when it comes to this!

Sent from my LG-H850 using Tapatalk

 

@TomJGX I read that Fujitsu whitelists (or whitelisted in the past?) WWAN, but don't know whether it is the case with current m.2 ngff WWAN modules. Fujitsu do not whitelist WLAN, that's for sure. Modules listed as for Dell are better and much cheaper, I'd love to use Huawei LTE in my machine.

 

Some of the Dell software "enforces" installation of Dell-branded WWAN cards only onto certain Dell machines. But nothing that a bit of editing with Orca can't fix.

But in terms of a BIOS whitelist, no, Dell doesn't do that. HP and Lenovo do. Seems rather short-sighted given that an avid WWAN user is probably going to want to change radios at some point in the future. Either to support more/different bands, or for new technology (ie: dual-carrier LTE, for instance!).

 

The reason is that the devices are certified to work with only certain modems.

Changing from 3G modem to 4G might work just fine until next thanksgiving dinner where the interference from uncertified combination wreaks havoc with grandpas pacemaker...

Doesn't mean that we have to like it. I would have rather replaced modem in my previous Elitebook with something that works in win10, instead I ended getting a new work laptop.

 

Well in the end I just put the original Sierra Wireless device I am wondering though how I can extend the signal. Would be good if a stronger antenna could be put in or a device with strong antenna.
Anyone think those external antennas actually give a stronger signal ? Or is the antenna in the laptop good enough ?

I've read through all your posts interesting stuff.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

 

@Rixsta I believe you should consider replacing one of your SSDs with bigger one, to compensate for lost capacity, instead of further investing in WWAN. Yes, you can improve the signal somewhat, but internal laptop antennae should be already good - no point throwing money at it.