mobile internet/broadband connection

Hi I've got a lenovo laptop, which should be a new model bought earlier before. There is a SIM card slot and I've already purchased a valid SIM card with cellular internet service. I'd like to use my laptop to get onto the internet with the SIM card. However, there are only LAN and WiFi option when I check on the windows 8 tool on the right-handed side. I am not sure if it supports mobile internet connection.

I DO NOT mean WiFi. I mean mobile connection e.g. 3G/4G

However, I realize that my laptop may not have the hardware required (but I am not 100%sure about that) to get onto the mobile internet. I've contacted local lenovo customer service but they are extremely bad, always unresponsive and keep me waiting forever till I hang up the call.


In a conclusion, I'd like to know

1. How to check and make sure if my laptop has or does not have the hardware required to get onto the mobile internet? What is the name of the hardware required?

2. Somebody said it needed Antenna something, How to check if there is any Antenna in my laptop?

3. If it does not have the hardware or the antenna something, can I upgrade by myself? Is it difficultto upgrade? Since I do not have any experience with upgrade.

4. Is there any external hardware available for mobile internet connection instead of internal hardware? I am worried about handling internal hardware.



Please don't ask why I do not use WiFi or wired broadband . Because my small place does not have wired boardband or WiFi. Thank you for understanding.

 

@kenny1999
1. You check in device manager, under Network Adapters.
2. If you have a SIM slot, you likely have antennae. Check your machine's service manual for location of WWAN slot - that is if you don't have a WWAN card installed.
3. Adding WWAN module should be fairly easy, refer to service manual for details. Antennae - it depends. Easiest way adding them would be replacing whole display module. Disassembling it and partially replacing parts, or DIYing antennae, is a pain in my opinion. Installing drivers is a pain sometimes, too.
4. Yes, there are USB dongles. All of them stick out, greatly increasing the chance of breaking USB port, and usually have worse reception than unless connected to strong external antenna, which aren't portable. You could also use your smartphone as hot-spot, or dedicated hotspot (MiFi) device.

Bottom line, internal WWAN is more expensive and harder to setup, but also more convenient to use. I personally use internal WWAN only, and wouldn't purchase a machine without it.

 

I have checked carefully the manual of my laptop PC - however, it does not state if there is WWAN available.

I am confused. What did you mean by breaking USB port?

If USB dongles would break USB port easily, anything else that is USB-connected should break USB port easily too isn't it?

Or Do you mean is it because of the possibly large amount of mobile data that go through the USB to make it very hot and break it??

I am not sure if it has WWAN card. How can I check under control panel ? Can you stated more detailed? Thank you!


---- Is there any external WWAN card?
---- what is dedicated Mi-Fi ? I never heard of it

 

@kenny1999
What is the model of your laptop? Any non-nano sized USB device/cable can break the USB port easily, when proper force applied. If you take your laptop everywhere, move it around all the time - that is a risk. If it's mostly stationary and has a back USB port or two, or docking station - don't bother.

Press and X keys simultaneously, then M key. Navigate to Network adapters tab and expand it, and make a screenshot and upload it, or type what you see there here. Also check Unknown devices tab, if there are any.

MiFi is a mobile router. It shares wireless broadband connection via wi-fi, and usually has a battery.

 

The actual model of the notebook in question would really help.

 

Very much it would help. Some Lenovos have WWAN, some don't have it.

 

by the way

Hi. Do I have to make sure that my SIM card service provider supports tethering before purchasing a MiFi or mobile router?

Secondly, what is difference between a USB dongles (that plugs into the USB port) and a MiFi (looks like without USB)

 

@kenny1999 some don't allow tethering indeed, or charge for it - so you should check that, indeed. MiFi is just a Wi-Fi router with integrated WWAN modem and battery.

 

And MiFi and similar are the easiest options for cellular data on laptops. And the least fiddly. And keeps up with current technology best.

 

And has the advantage that you can put it by a window if that helps get a better 3G/4G signal.

John

 

You'll see a WWAN device in your Device Manager if one is present. Or in the BIOS configuration screen. You probably don't have such a device. You'll need to add one to the machine. Sierra Wireless is a popular vendor of cards based on Qualcomm's "Gobi" chipset. On a Lenovo machine, you will need to worry about whitelisting.

I concur with the recommendation of others that if you're not proficient in laptop hardware, or can't be assured of dealing with the whitelists, then you may very well be better off with a MiFi or tethering setup instead.

But if you can get WWAN working on the laptop, its awesome, Windows 10 and Office 2016 have great features which help conserve data when such connections are detected. And the GPS functionality of most WWAN cards hooks into Windows which helps the overall experience as well.

 

Few months ago I came across a Yoga I was delivering to the customer personally. I took the sim card from the old laptop and (eventually) put it in the new one. Gee, no data connection.

Then I proceeded to look for device manager and everything, called our sales guy wth he is promising... His answer was that none of the Yogas at that time had wwan capability. Makes me wonder why he chose that laptop anyways but it isn't actually my problem...

I cracked the bottom cover open, checked that a slot for the card exists but there were NO ANTENNAS. Dang it. Apparently the antenna feature will be in the next model. All the other needed parts they managed to fit in already. Had it been mine, I would probably stripped antennas from some old laptop and did some diy work.

Boy did I have a happy CEO in my hands after that was realized.

 

Today I finally reached the Lenovo customer service hotline and realized that my laptop does not have a WWAN card pre-installed. I have already bought a pocket WiFi to avoid all the mess of upgrading the WWAN module. Thanks for all advice.