PCI-e adapter for non pci-e mk1 CF29: your knowledge appriciated

I had looked into this one other time, got very frustrated, and decided to just stick with my sierra card at gprs/edge speeds. But I'm frustrated again, and on a mission to get 3g in my TB. Problem is,I have tmobile US,and they use a bass tard band of 1700/2100, where the rest of the world uses 1900/2100. Let's not argue about that, point is that I need to get a Tmo US card in this dern thing.

Does anyone see anything wrong with me trying to use this with a tmo pci-e 3g card, wired into cn52 or the usb on my aftermarket gps/usb board?

I just don't understand how that whole row of pins (on the pci-e card) can be condensed down to 2 wires (usb data+/-) without some obvious microcontroller on the board handling the conversin. Is there some obvious limitation to using this board (with a modem card).
***EDIT***
I just found the compatable card list, and it ain't lookin soo good. Aparently only certain cards work, fully, and some not at all.


Has anyone ever seen a pci-e to pcmcia adapter card, where the pci-e card would plug into a pcmcia "sled" that could then be inserted into a pcmcia slot?

My only other alternative is to butcher a usb modem, and I don't want to do that because all the Tmo US/hauwei modems have wifi built in.

 

From what I remember when I went down this path.
I was trying to get a mini pci or mini pci e TV card to work in my CF29.
A mini pci /e has a pci interface and possibly(can't remember exactly) a usb interface also. But the usb only has a usb interface. The only cards that actually work in the adapter boxes are usb based not pci based. That's why they have such a limited selection.
I ended up with a usb TV adapter that I cut open and wired to the internal usb port. Glued the thing above the battery for a clean look.

Please wait while I search my parts box.

I have an att usb modem with a sierra 881 inside. It is 3g as far as I know. I unlocked it and enabled the on board gps. It is complete with battery, ready to be modded. I have another unlocked 881 pcie card here also, but I have to find it. Shoot me a PM if you are interested in the complete one.


I forgot one other thing, most of the internal ports are usb 1.0. Some usb devices won't function without usb 2. I do have a way to solve that issue though.

 

About usb and PCI-E, I thought that was the case for some devices.

I'm only not pm'ing you this because other's may know better than I.
I have an MK1. I don't think the sleds that take pci-E will work in an mk1.
Also, I have aftermarket gps on the sled connector anyway, which is why usb looks good.

Is cn18 usb2.0 (I think that's right, the one that gps gets wired into, where the sled hooks up)?
Cn52 usb2.0(by the dialup modem card)?

As it turns out, the adapter I linked, and it's compatibility list, gave me the part number of the modems I can use, and that they are indeed fully compatible for the adapter.

Is the 881 a pcmcia? I have a pcmcia sierra 860 (cingular/att, unlocked) now but because T-mobile has it's own drummer, it will only run at edge speed. GSM=Global Standard for Mobile communication....leave it up to a US cell company to make it not the standard..... backwards "sphincter holes".

 

The att unit I have is a usb not a sled. The only extra port that is 2.0 is on the docking bay and requires micro soldering. All the rest are usb 1.
The 881 actually has a mc8781 inside a usb housing. I found my bare pcie card.