WWAN Internal Card

Ok I have been googling and looking on eBay and I think i found that it can be done but wanted to run it by you guys.

I have a CF-29HTQGZBM (mark3), well I have a couple identical to this one but I use this one, that was setup with an internal WWAN module with Verizon. It has a SB555 3g CDMA embedded modem, all the antenna wiring is there with the a pull out antenna on the lcd housing. What I am wanting to do is switch this embedded modem to one that is compatible with AT&T 3G HSPDA/UTMS. We used to use verizon with these toughbooks but we dropped them and signed a contract with AT&T a while ago.

Ive googled and have come across some stuff saying it can be done and cant be done. Ive looked thru ebay to see if I could find any older AT&T compatible embedded modems like this verizon one but I could only find verizon and sprint unless its mini pci-e and then theres at&t compatible modules.

What would it take to change this verizon module out with a at&t compatible one that can do 3g and not gprs and preferably not edge unless it had to. If i can change the sled out to one with a mini pci-e so I can get a newer module will it work in this toughbook and where might I be able to find one thats hopefully easy on what little budget im working with.

Thanks

 

I am not positive on this, but others will post if I’m wrong

I believe that the HSDPA Retrofit is for mk5 only, and cf-30
The sled on these models uses a pci-e card
The mk-1 to mk-4 had Cingular, Sprint,and Verizon


Alex

 

Is it possible to use a sled from an mk-5 or cf-30 in a mk-3 and if it is possible does anyone happen to know where I might track one of these down? Ive been scouring ebay and such with no luck.

 

The last time I tried to buy a modem kit to put together my own sled I was told I'd be the last one to be able to buy one. (Through Heartland Services - www.heartlandsi.com) You can always call them to see if this is possible and, if you are curious, the price. They charge a fair amount but they are all trained techs.

 

Don't bother with the sleds they are expensive and hard to find. since you already have the antenna, just get a Sierra Wireless PCMCIA card for the carrier of your choice. Get the one with the removable antenna and have a pigtail made that connects from the pass through to the card. Will cost about $50.00 total.

 

this is what i did.
sierra 850, made a pigtail myself that connects to the internal antenna.
works great