Vaio TT made in USA WWAN unlock and 3G upgrade

Hello to everyone,

last month I upgrade the HSDPA board to the Vaio VGN-Z790LDX in order to use any sim card from any international cellphone company and it worked at first attempt .

now I just replaced the IFX-517 and the wwan to the Vaio VGN-TT290NBX and I have installed one IFX-517 having the sim card slot and I placed the unlocked wwan GTM382.

anyone did the same upgrade?
which driver are the best in order to make it working properly?

I am asking this because I did try to install the Option driver /Globe Trotter Connect and the Vaio Smart Network but for many times it was not succefully done .
the first times the minicard was in the device manager list but just till the laptop was on.......and after restart it was not there .

now finally after many times removing the driver and the minicard the system is working but I don't know for how long........

now I am wondering that I did mistake at the beginning because I mixed sony driver and Option drive and software.............in few words I made a Cocktail,

thank you.

 

What OS are you using?

 

Hello Rachel,

my OS is the Vista 32bit and when I'll upgrade the ram I'll need the 64bit....maybe you that time could help me......
regarding your upgrade I suggest to contact the same guy who gave me the board and GTM382, please see the below:

http://cgi.ebay.it/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...6572379&_nd1=See-All-Categories&_fvi=1&_rdc=1

or you can solder the sim slot to your board.........

best regards

 

Biingo!

now the HSDPA upgrade is fully working,

 

What did you do differently?
How do you find the GTM328W?

Thanks for the link, i didn't get the EU IFX of ebay but i do have one now that comes with a sim holder. Both parts bar the option card cost me £75 new.

 

Hello Rachel,

I bought the IFX-517 already with the GTM382 on Ebay.com
http://cgi.ebay.it/ws/eBayISAPI.dll..._nd1=See-All-Categories&_fvi=1&_rdc=1&afsrc=1


but you can find it on Ebay.com as I did for my Vaio VGN-Z790DLX upgrade,
please see the below:
http://cgi.ebay.com/UNLOCKED-Option...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item3355799c4f


remove the smartwi network locket with verizon,
remove the wwan UNDP-1 software,
open the laptop ,remove the dvd drive,
remove the IFX-517 board with the UNDP-1,
install the IFX-517 with simslot (without wwan),
place back the dvd drive just with one screw.....
place back the keyboard but not close it,
than swith on the laptop and install the driver and the software,
restart the system and switch off,
at this point reopen the laptop and install the GTM382,
reassemble the laptop,
switch it on and waith for the device installation,
switch it off and on again,
than install the Vaio Smart Network for the below Sony EU link:
http://support.vaio.sony.eu/computing/vaio/downloads/preinstalled/index.aspx?l=en_GB&m=VGN-TT21JN_B

Done!

best regards

 

Thanks thepinkpanther, so you bought a GTM328E also. If you go to the US this might not be much good for you. I did buy one of those cards not long ago but i'm kind of thinking may be i should have/should go for a different card now.

It is good to know that you had no problems with the GTM328E card using the Sony software that is meant for a GTM328W.

 

Hi Rachel,

do you now the procedure in order to unlock the UNDP-1 ????

 

You might find some of the info in this thread helpful.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=368724

Is this what was in your Z?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Foxconn-Qualc...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item5ad465acc1

I went with the GTME but i was really keen on the card above but lack of info about where i could get drivers made me reject it.

 

Hi Rachel,

yes..that is the card.....
the Z series can do it but about the TT I am not sure if it can get any other........

the UNDP-1 for me is not ready yet to have the best performance in everywhere,

my opinion is to have the GTM382W.......it is the best!

 

I also use the the GTM378E so know that Option is reliable.
Some TT models also came with Gobi WWAN i think, i just wasn't sure if it was the same card. Option also do Gobi cards now as well.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=5368094&postcount=8

I think i will stick with what i have but keep an eye out for a GTM328W also. The GTM328E is more ideal for use in the EU.

 

What do you mean by saying Option also do Gobi cards?
As I know, Gobi is made by Qualcomm. From Z 3rd generation and TT 2nd generation (P as well...), Sony switch from Option to Gobi Qualcomm (supports EvDo and HSDPA).

 

I know that Gobi was developed by Qualcomm.

I was mainly concerned about the drivers/connection software and how well a card like this would be supported.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....Category=11175&_trkparms=algo=LVI&its=I&otn=2

http://www.option.com/en/products/products/modules/gobi1000/

 

Hello Rachel,

you're right !.........Gobi is developed by Qualcomm.....
novatel/Sierra/Ericson and others use the chipset developed by Qualcomm ,
but Option till now did the best use by producing the best minicards
see below all chipset list:
http://www.qctconnect.com/products/msm_7201.html

ciao for now

 

Hello Rachel ,

did you install the GTM382?

ciao

 

Not yet thepinkpanter, i hope things are still working well. I passed your instructions on to the person that will be doing this upgrade for me.
It should be done this weekend and i should have my laptop back early next week.
I didn't just send it in for that. If i upgrade the card in the future i will upgrade the wwan card myself.

Btw, before i pointed out the cards were different the GTM382W GTM382E did you notice any difference before then?

 

but why you didn't do it by your self ???? it is funny and once you do it the first time you can do it again .........just use one photocamera and the assembling manual.......and the right screw driver.

regarding the difference I can tell you that I have already used the GTM382E just after I replaced the HSDPA board with the one having the sim slot ....and I had the AT&T while in the US,
but I think that the GTM382W will work better ...........
unfortunately I did my TT 3G upgrade while in EU and it has the GTM382W so I don't know how it will be in US........I think like the GTM382E ,
anyway I think that I'll buy another GTM382W for my Vaio Z .

 

I'm not averse to upgrading. I’m getting other things upgraded that may be more complex. I think though that I don't want to take even a small risk yet. This laptop is still practically new and i'm really fond of it. I upgraded my SZ after about 16 months. I don't tend to open brand new laptops, i normally wait a year or so. I agree though that getting to the wwan card does not look hard.

If you could pick more than 2G speeds in the US with the GTME then i'm surprised considering what bands it covers.

 

also you save money!
but if you not sure about it better don't do it......

regarding the connection in US please see the att. link with all US mobile carrier:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_wireless_communications_service_providers

have a good day!

 

Ok, what speeds were you picking up in the US with your GTM328E?
The HSPDA bands this covers is 900/2100 MHz
These bands are used mostly in the EU.

The edge band this covers is
850/900 bands,1800/1900 bands
Band 850mhz and 1900 is used mainly in the US.
http://www.option.com/en/products/products/modules/gtm382e/

Part of the reason why i wanted to buy a 328W was for HSDPA use in the US.
850/1900/2100 MHz HSDPA/UMTS etc
http://www.option.com/en/products/products/modules/gtm382w/specifications/#start

If i can indeed get HSDPA speeds for the GTME in the US then there is no point in upgrading because i live in the EU and travel occasionally.

May be this will be useful to others to that plan to do this upgrade and cannot get hold of a GTMW card.

 

Hi Rachel,

I can say only that the company was AT&T in Miami.....and I don't know the band,
my sim carrier is TIM Italia,
but on 29 Nov. I'll flight again to US than I'll let you know which band over ther connected with my GTM382E ........
please you just remind me.....on 29 Nov.

 

did you find any GTM382W at good price ?

 

Thanks
I haven't seen any GTMW cards for sale at all.

 

http://www.novamedia.de/en/hardware.html

but price??????

 

thepinkpanther with the smart network software do you find that you have to restart your computer to turn the wwan back on if you turn it of once you boot up?
I am finding this.
It is not like this for me with my SZ.
I am using the TT2 EU smart connection software. This is a 32/64bit software and i think the one i could get from the Hong Kong website is probably exactly the same.

 

Hello Rachel ,
yes ...this is last step......dowload the software and restart the unit...
after this you are able to switch on and off the wwan from your smart con. soft.
please let me know after you try it,

the important things are the steps I told you in the beginning in order to install the GTM382E ........
if you didn't do that you will have the same problem I had at the first time and you have to reopen the laptop...............
pratically happen that once you swicht on your laptop the device start to be installed and after.... in less than one minute it disappear from the system,and your "smart con. netw." turn off the wwan.
and you are not able to turn on the device from the smart connnection network,

Ciao ciao for now

 

are you using on the SZ the same S.C.N. you used on your TT??

this:
http://support.vaio.sony.eu/computing/vaio/downloads/preinstalled/index.aspx?l=en_GB&m=VGN-TT21JN_B

 

http://support.vaio.sony.eu/computing/vaio/downloads/updates/index.aspx

this is for the 32bit..........

 

Thanks thepinkpanther, the drivers i am using i think were downloaded directly from the Option website -5.0.26.0 . When i restart my computer my wwan will go automatically on. I can turn it of but if i want to put it back on whilst i am booted up i will need to restart. I can live with that but i was wondering if it was the same for you but i guess not.

I am using 64bit Vista. The TT2 smart network drivers work for 32/64bit anyhow though so they should be the same.

I can connect with the Globetrotter software no problem it is just turning the wwan of and then back on of whilst in Windows.
I don't want to open this, but i will have a look and try may be another smart network driver or something.

Edited to add:

I use a different smart network driver for my SZ. I use the one that originally shipped with my laptop.
Actually, i can put the wwan on if i restart smart network from the control centre but my computer will not recognise it and i will still need to restart.

 

I don't need to do this everytime I turn off it......something is wrong!
try to uninstall the SCN only and place the below:
http://support.vaio.sony.eu/computin...m=VGN-TT21JN_B

I think it is for 32 and 64bit

 

Thank you, i think this is probably nothing to do with the smart network now and the drivers for the wwan or Globetrotter software.
The 32bit Sony WWAN drivers will not work for me as i have 64bit OS installed. I have tried it. I will look around and see if there are any Sony 64bit drivers for the wwan for the TT1-2 and the Z1-2.

If anyone wants to do this mod and cannot find an EU model for sale. You can order the mounted circuit board from sparepartswarehouse and i do believe that they ship internationally. If you're good at soldering you could solder the sim card slot yourself.

 

Hello Rachel,

I just double check the below Vaio Smart Network and it is 32bit and 64bit compatible ,
please open the below link and check it,
http://support.vaio.sony.eu/computing/vaio/downloads/preinstalled/index.aspx?l=en_GB&m=VGN-TT21JN_B

 

Thanks thepinkpanther
I have tried that and it still the same. I have also tried an updated one for my model TT36GD.
Also, i had a look at some of the drivers for the Russian models and there seems to be one update for smart network that could be helpful but it will only run in W7 64bit.
http://support.vaio.sony.eu/computi...209058.exe&m=VGN-TT4MRG_B&ip=EP0000209058.htm
Sony is still selling the TT4 in the EU config to order that do come with a 64bit OS system but Sony did not provide any drivers on the Sony website.
I would be less than pleased if i bought one but no drivers were uploaded for my model.

 

Hi Rachel,

It is strange.........I think than any 64bit will be ok for the Vaio Smart Network for your TT36GD........

did you try to chat with Sony EU ?

 

thepinkpanther, thank you for all your help in this.
I think i will leave it as it is working. I am using the Option software that you get from the Option website. I just reinstalled and restarted and it automatically updated my drivers. The drivers are correct. The WWAN software is correct.
It could possibly be related to my BIOS and i might look into that in the future.
Sony in the EU will not help as i do not have a EU model.

In regards to your Gobi module, keep on checking dc unlocker and they possibly might come out with a remedy to your problem.
Edited to add:
I just tried the UK latest BIOS and it made no difference so i will leave it and live with it.

 

I already bought some credit to DC-UNLOCKER in order to use the 2 minicards,
they are keeping to send me news about new unlocked wwan but nothing yet about the Gobi2000 ........

anyway the important thing is that you got working the wwan and regarding the Vaio Smart Network you can keep trying to do new test with different version of Vaio Smart Network compatible with the GTM382 .

 

I figured it out and can now turn the wwan on and of once i boot into Windows.
This is Vista 64bit with a Option GTM328E as opposed to the GTM328W that the TT1 came with.

So i got the wwan drivers from the Option website. The smart network that i'm using is for a TT1 model. It states it is for 32bit but it works perfectly anyway. I have no issues now at all. I think that the TT2 models may have shipped with Gobi WWAN and not the Option GTM328W. Anyway, things are working now perfectly.

 

Very Good !

 

Hello Rachel,

I placed a different simcard from same carrier to my TT and it show "please insert simcard" ,

why if the simcard is inserted .......

ciao

 

Hi ThePinkPanther, I have a similar model of Z... you have the VGN-Z790LDX and I have the VGN-Z790YAB and I replaced the Modem with a GTM 382 and solder the SIM Adapter to the IFX board. I am lost with the SmartWI. Where can I get the right Smart Connection Manager to turn On the modem... I plan to use the AT&T Communication Manager.

Hoping to hear from you soon.

Regards,

_e