WWAN Card: Choosing Built-in or USB?

In the ThinkPad laptop customization page, there is an option to add the WWAN Card built-in " Sierra AirPrime MC8355" which will cost around 130$

While if i choose not to include, i can buy the similar AirCard WWAN that comes with USB interface for lesser price.


What i want to ask is... What is the benefit of Airprime (integrated into the system) over the Aircard (USB interface) for the money i have to pay more ?

 

Where the system has been designed to have the integrated WWAN there will be antennae in the bezel around the screen. This gives you a much larger antenna area and so better reception than the little USB antenna.

However, the USB cards can be more cheaply and easily upgraded when the technology moves on. You can sometimes do the same with the built-in but it is undeniably more tricky.

As a third (and personally I think best) option, how about the Mobile Hotspots Sierra Wireless - AirCard Mobile Hotspots. I stay in a lot of hotels where the WWAN will only work right at the window and can't connect further in the room or at the desk. With the hotspot I now have ( this one) I can put the hotspot at the window, and use the connection over WiFi at the desk / where ever.

 

Fourth option: Tether your smartphone over USB. Only one bill to pay and recharges your phone at the same time

 

+1

Can be done over Bluetooth too.

 

Or as a wireless hotspot

 

Fair enough.

In the UK I get much better data prices with a separate data SIM than with my phone contract SIM. It also allows me to have SIMs from 2 different networks to use in my unlocked hotspot - so if there's no Vodafone coverage then I use a Three SIM. It is (as they say) swings and roundabouts...

 

Except for the charging part, of course.

 

WWAN technology historically has been rapidly changing. Seems like I get a new device almost every year to take advantage of the increase in speeds. For this reason, I would not get the built-in WWAN option.

 

MiniPCIe WWAN cards are as swappable as the USB ones. Is the price the main concern, or is there some other factor I haven't been considering myself?


M.

 

You could run into the 1802 error and your system won't boot with an unauthorized card that is not in the BIOS whitelist. There are some BIOS hacks, but whether you can get one for a newer ThinkPad is a question.

forum.thinkpads.com • View topic - ThinkPad BIOS whitelist (error 1802/1804) *READ 1st MSG*

 

Also note that some cellular carriers offer a portable hot-spot for tethering. One example would be (in the States) the Verizon MiFi 2200. Connect via wifi to the hot-spot, and it handles the cellular bits.

 

Oh, I didn't know it covered WWANs as well. I was convinced these whitelists were for WiFi cards. Good to know, thanks!

 

Dell is the only one of the three largest vendors that I've seen have business laptops without whitelists. HP and Lenovo are both pretty rigid in that respect, even in their consumer lines.

I still buy Dell part-numbered WWAN cards from Ebay when I upgrade a Dell Latitude, just to ensure easy sourcing of drivers, and they've been relatively inexpensive. Lenovo-whitelisted parts cost more, and probably aren't available for the Sandy-Bridge ThinkPads yet.

 

Woww really interesting alternative choices. Thanks for the input.

For the mobile hotspot option, i assume it requires AC to operate. Even though i think it is a really good option but probably wouldn't be a good choice for me when i want to use it outdoor and away from the power source.

Do you think the signal strength of the USB WWAN is good enough or acceptable for daily use. Example places: Coffee Shop, On the 30th floor apartment.
My concern is that i don't want to suffer from losing the signal or keep finding the signal all the time.

 

The mobile hotspots like the MiFi devices have a battery in them to give you about 3.5-4hrs usage when not plugged in. It wouldn't be too "mobile" if it had to always be plugged in

USB wifi dongles give good enough signal but with anything wireless it always depends on location (and in this case, carrier chosen).

 

By the way, do anyone have a list of supported WWAN card by the X220 other than the Sierra Wireless MC8355 - Gobi 3000. ?
Search all over the internet but couldn't find anything.




Maybe it is worth to buy it seperately and hopefully the installation of the card and the antenna wont be too hard for me.

 

i second the mobile hotspot solution. my friend just brought his MiFi to the beach and it worked like a charm with multiple devices hooked up.

doesnt make sense to me to pay for data to a singular device anymore, unless its your phone, and it allows tethering/hotspotting on its own.

 

Most current ThinkPads have the antenna lead already installed; you just need to install the card and connect the lead.

It isn't a difficult task, considering Lenovo makes the Hardware Maintenance Manual available for each model. It just may be a pain to find the card for a reasonable price if your ThinkPad is of a brand new model line.

You'll also need to make sure you get the correct card for your network. In the US, that means EVDO for Verizon or Sprint, and HSPA for AT&T.

EDIT: The Sierra MC8355 is dual-band apparently (both EVDO and HSPA), so it is compatible with all major cell providers.

 

Tether, as long as your phone is decent (many options and methods to choose from) and your provider isn't a big jerk about supporting it (good luck, most suck)

 

i've never had problems tethering, i couldnt justify the additional cost of a built in card when i already have a phone that can tether.

but for example my girlfriend was staying in a rented flat and the landlord did not allow her to sign up for a broadband line so she was using WWAN. if i was in a situation like that where my primary connection was a WWAN connection then i'd consider it, instead of a bulky/clumsy USB modem