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    Dell SIM card utility

    Discussion in 'Networking and Wireless' started by lutch, Apr 14, 2008.

  1. lutch

    lutch Newbie

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    Hello all and congratulations on a very comprehensive site.

    I've been looking for a site like this for quite some time. I recently bought a Dell vostro 1700. While ordering, I took quite a bit of the higher end options and I am satisfied with the system.

    I've got one small problem however. The system apparently has a built in WWAN card where you can insert a SIM card. You've got to remove the battery and the access port to the SIM card is in the corner. No problem there.

    I got the card from my mobile cellular service provider and I told them specifically that I want the card for accesing mobile internet on my laptop. The problem is that I do not know how to set up the system to use the SIM card, or to activate the port. I'm aware that there is something called Dell broadband card utility, but I don't know if I've got it on my system, where to look or how to get it if I do not have it. I believe I need this utility to set up my card??

    I would really appreciate some help here please guys.
     
    lutch, Apr 14, 2008
    #1
  2. kegobeer

    kegobeer 1 hr late but moving fast

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    Well, if you didn't purchase a broadband solution with your Dell, you might not have the utility. Have you checked all of the disks that came with your system? Have you visited the Dell site, and read the online documentation for the broadband solutions? Are you in the US?
     
    kegobeer, Apr 14, 2008
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  3. f4ding

    f4ding Laptop Owner

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    If you ordered the system with the WWAN option, then you should have everything installed for you, including the SIM card. Even the Dell Broadband Utility software (basically a dialer to dial the number) should also be installed for you. What you need to do is call Dell, who is going to activate the card for you, or if they have a problem, they will give you a number to ATT for you to call.

    Now if you did not order your system with the WWAN option, I'm not even sure that Dell will install the antenna, let alone the mini-pci card that reads the SIM card.

    Now if you give us more information, like your location, and whether or not you purchase the system with WWAN.
     
    f4ding, Apr 14, 2008
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  4. ashkan1360

    ashkan1360 Notebook Enthusiast

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    hi dear friends
    I live in Iran and have the same problem, I put my sim card that supports GPRS and internet into my DELL VOSTRO 1500
    but nothing happens
    and I have not Dell broadband card utility ,too
    can you help me?
     
    ashkan1360, May 31, 2008
    #4
  5. Nirvana

    Nirvana Notebook Prophet

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    I have the same AT&T WWAN on my sony ux230p, the connection software I used was from AT&T, not sony. they have 25MB daily limit btw.
     
    Nirvana, May 31, 2008
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  6. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    Wirelessman, May 31, 2008
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  7. ashkan1360

    ashkan1360 Notebook Enthusiast

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    ashkan1360, Jun 2, 2008
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  8. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    Did you receive any cd from the carrier?
     
    Wirelessman, Jun 2, 2008
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  9. ashkan1360

    ashkan1360 Notebook Enthusiast

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    no dear
    none of my DVD's are not related to this

    if you go to quickset then advance button , you can choose broadband, but in my notebook , this option is unavailable and I can not choose it
     
    ashkan1360, Jun 3, 2008
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  10. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    Very bad news indeed. Call the carrier and ask them for the CD, it will probably fix the menu missing as well.
     
    Wirelessman, Jun 3, 2008
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  11. ashkan1360

    ashkan1360 Notebook Enthusiast

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    unfortunaltely, I am in IRAN & can not ask anything from DELL.
     
    ashkan1360, Jun 4, 2008
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  12. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    Ok, so what you need is to download the appplication from the net. I'll check it out for you, just give me sometime.
     
    Wirelessman, Jun 4, 2008
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  13. ashkan1360

    ashkan1360 Notebook Enthusiast

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    tnx, I will be waiting . . .
     
    ashkan1360, Jun 4, 2008
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  14. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    Hi Nirvana, so you need the utility application for the sim card reader and another utility for the communication witht the wireless network?
     
    Wirelessman, Jun 4, 2008
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  15. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    Wirelessman, Jun 4, 2008
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  16. ashkan1360

    ashkan1360 Notebook Enthusiast

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    tnx, my dear friend
    the application is about :
    GSM mobile SIM card recovery software allows you to recover your lost or virus infected mobile phone SIM card information. Cell phone SIMcard information recovery program can undelete your accidently or mistakenly deleted text messages from mobile inbox, outbox, sent items or drafts.
    and it will not usefull for us, though, I used it and no result for me
    on the other hand , I used my boot application DVD that was with my notebook , and used it's diagnose tools , but I can't find any software
    also, I downloaded a software from Dell from this address
    but application did not install and the answer was : no hardware found.
    so, I think that my hardware is not attached correctly.
    why????? I do not know !!!!!
    and Dell did not answer my questions for 3 or 4 days.
     
    ashkan1360, Jun 4, 2008
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  17. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    I know that the application I suggested is not what you need, but as the application would try to read your SIM card we would learn if you have the sim card reader or not, do you get my point?

    Were the application able to see your sim card?
     
    Wirelessman, Jun 4, 2008
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  18. ashkan1360

    ashkan1360 Notebook Enthusiast

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    I got the point, but the application did not find any hardware
     
    ashkan1360, Jun 4, 2008
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  19. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    Ok, it might be that you don't have the card reader.
     
    Wirelessman, Jun 4, 2008
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  20. ashkan1360

    ashkan1360 Notebook Enthusiast

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    so, what is the usage of that slot in my notebook?
    also in my manuall describes how to put the sim card in there and i can see the metal part of the reader inside the slot
    but
    I think that my card reader did not attach to nowhere
    of course I am sure that all the same notebooks in my country face the same problem and it is not only my problem
     
    ashkan1360, Jun 4, 2008
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  21. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    Did you get a manual with the laptop? If not, you could get it online, just google it and you should be able to download it, this way you can verify by yourself if you have the card reader or not. For example, for my laptop I could install a TV tuner, I have the connectors in the side of the laptop, but I must get the TV tuner card which goes inside below the network card.
     
    Wirelessman, Jun 4, 2008
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  22. ashkan1360

    ashkan1360 Notebook Enthusiast

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    I have a manual and it describe how to set the card into the slot
    but perhaps , it is like yours and I should purchase a new hardware
    perhaps !!!!
     
    ashkan1360, Jun 4, 2008
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  23. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    I'll check the manual and see what is the setup for the sim card, it might take me sometime though.
     
    Wirelessman, Jun 4, 2008
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  24. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    Ok, do me a favor, check this for me, open the cover beside the battery as shown on the drawing below and in your manual pages 184-86. Check if the WWAN card is there, if not then you need one.
     
    Wirelessman, Jun 4, 2008
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  25. ashkan1360

    ashkan1360 Notebook Enthusiast

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    ok, my dear friend, but I doubt if I can open the cover because of my guarantee
     
    ashkan1360, Jun 5, 2008
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  26. ashkan1360

    ashkan1360 Notebook Enthusiast

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    in my device manager, I have not any WWAN adapter
    so seem that I have not the neccessary hardware.
    am I right?
     
    ashkan1360, Jun 5, 2008
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  27. ashkan1360

    ashkan1360 Notebook Enthusiast

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    ashkan1360, Jun 5, 2008
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  28. ashkan1360

    ashkan1360 Notebook Enthusiast

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    see this:
    this is my original system configuration that i extract from Dell site :
     

    Attached Files:

    ashkan1360, Jun 5, 2008
    #28
  29. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    The guarantee woulnd't stop because you opened a cover, no more than when you remove the battery. Covers are made to be opened. If you start opening the whole laptop then yes, the guarantee would be voidable, but not for taking off a cover. But is your decision and risk. This is a very fast way to know if whether you have the card reader or not.
     
    Wirelessman, Jun 5, 2008
    #29
  30. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    No indication here of a WWAN card reader.
     
    Wirelessman, Jun 5, 2008
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  31. alphaFemale85

    alphaFemale85 Notebook Enthusiast

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    ashkan1360,

    i have a dell and i don't think you have a wwan reader

    and there's no need to post multiple times if no has has responded-- just edit your post........
     
    alphaFemale85, Jun 5, 2008
    #31
  32. ashkan1360

    ashkan1360 Notebook Enthusiast

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    tnx

    what ?
     
    ashkan1360, Jun 5, 2008
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  33. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    So, did you decide to open the small cover? I think is the only way you can know if whether you have the card reader or not.
     
    Wirelessman, Jun 5, 2008
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  34. beefman

    beefman Notebook Consultant

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    You won't find a SIM reader or any Wireless WAN (GPRS/EDGE/UMTS) software on the computer as there's no such hardware in the system. Your laptop only has WiFi (that's the Wireless MiniCard on the config, MiniCard meaning MiniPCI-Express) and Bluetooth. Not the end of the world. Just get 'hold of a Dell 5510 ExpressCard or a NovAtel XU870 and you're in business.
     
    beefman, Jun 6, 2008
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  35. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    I appreciate your insight, but when he opened the battery, there is indeed the sim card slot. Are you saying that Dell 5510 has that sim card slot but the mobo doesn't support it? Is like the shell is standard inlcuding that sim card slot?
     
    Wirelessman, Jun 6, 2008
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  36. ashkan1360

    ashkan1360 Notebook Enthusiast

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    yes , I have the sim card slot
     
    ashkan1360, Jun 7, 2008
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  37. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    Yes, I know you do, but do you have the sim car reader, you need to open the small laptop cover as in the picture I sent you, to see if it is there. However Beefman is insinuating that albeit your laptop has the sim car slot, it might not support it, in other words the motherboard would not have the required electronics to handle the sim card. But, if you open the laptop you could tell us if the sim card reader is there or not.

    ATM, is up to you!
     
    Wirelessman, Jun 7, 2008
    #37