Elan U132 - USB Adapter for PCMCIA 3G Cards

rickster · EVDO Junkie Joined: 27 Aug 2005 Posts: 216

This looks interesing:
http://www.teampctechnology.com/product_detail.php?id=508
Was wanting to get my desktop hooked up too but was looking for a router eventually. Didn't care for a pci/pcmicia adapter solution. But a USB solution looks intriguing if reasonable priced. Sound like it supports quite a few cards so chances are when I don't need it for evdo anymore it might be useful for other pcmcia cards on the deskop-- don't know.

Michael · Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 6:28 pm Post subject:

This does look cool. I have contacted the company to try to get an eval unit to review on EVDOinfo & EVDOforum. The web page says available QTR 1 2006, so, that could be anywhere in the next 1 to 3 1/2 months (if they hit their target - and we all know about target dates with products).

Hopefully, this could be a solution for those with a thin and light laptop without a PC Slot.
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rickster · EVDO Junkie Joined: 27 Aug 2005 Posts: 216

Michael,
Any clue (rumors) as to the price range ? I think I like this over pci/pcmcia adaptor is its more flexible where the card and thus the antenna I have can be placed (longer usb cable hub) than where my desktop is located. For the same reason it would be more convenient for switching between laptop and desktop. Also there have been already times where I've wanted another pcmcia card plugged at the same time with my evdo in the laptop ( I have two double decker slots... but get real ..I have hardly ever been able get but just one in at a time due to their bulky ends..) but this can also help with that.

Michael · Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 7:39 am Post subject:

Here is the response I got from the manufacturer:

Michael · Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2006 9:07 pm Post subject:

They are now quoting a delivery of "April or May". Looks like it will be a solution for Windows XP, initial word, is they will not support Mac OS X.

http://www.elandigitalsystems.com/usb/u132.php

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boater805 · Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2006 1:41 am Post subject: dongles bangles and beer?

brendanhoar · EVDO Heavy User Joined: 09 Jun 2005 Posts: 140

Nope. Again: all current EVDO cards are Cardbus. The CF interface is based on the much older PCMCIA standard.

PCMCIA, a 16-bit interface, is approximately an ISA interface. CF is a subset of that.

Cardbus, a 32-bit interface, is approximately a PCI interface.

Most cardbus slots accommodate older PCMCIA cards in a compatibility mode. The first couple of generations of laptops with "PCMCIA slots" cannot run EVDO cards, because there's no Cardbus support, and CF-to-PCMCIA extenders cannot either.

-brendan

Michael · Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 11:30 pm Post subject:

These are starting to become available, we ordered one to test and evaluate it.

Unfortantely, it is not the simple solution that everyone has been waiting for.

The Elan U132 device does not allow you to use VZAccess Manager on Verizon or Sprint Connection Manager for Sprint connection cards. Once you install the drivers, neither VZAccess Manager OR Sprint Connection Manager will see the EVDO card and there is NO way to get them to see the card, as they are expecting them to be plugged in to the PCMCIA slot, not via USB.

They "work" by creating a dial-up connection in Windows for the device and manually configuring the device with your username, password and phone number to dial (#777).

This "solution" has a huge downfall:

- You cannot see "signal strength"
- You cannot see if you are in 1xRTT or EVDO networks
- You cannot activate the card or do future PRL updates

In order to do these above items, you need to run VZAccess or Sprint Connection Manager and plug the EVDO Card directly in your PCMCIA slot. When you don't have the above functionality, you have these problems:

- you cannot use an off-the-shelf card, until it is activated in a supported laptop first
- you will never know if you are in a coverage area or how strong the signal is
- As Verizon and Sprint add new areas and roaming options, you will need to insert your EVDO card in a supported laptop to get the PRL update.

While the form factor is nice, and the price (estimated $192 - $225) is reasonable, by not having the above functionality, it severely limits the usefulness of this device. For this reason, we have decided not to resell this device. If they ever figure out a way to support VZAccess Manager and Sprint Connection Manager, I think they would have a killer product.

Also, there are NO Mac Drivers for this device, so it will not work with MacBook, MacBook Pro, PowerBooks or any other Mac
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w6jjk · Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2006 1:49 am Post subject:

Thanks for the update Michael on that cardbus reader.

From your tests, how comparable is the speed USB carbus as opposed to PCMCIA slot? Let's say if I were in an EVDO full coverage area, would I be getting better/slower speeds using the USB?

Thanks again for the update. Reading these reviews save me money and let me know how products work before actually buying them myself.
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5Bars · EVDO User Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 29

I searched for a couple of weeks for a product just like this, when I couldn't find one, I bought a PCMCIA to PCI cardbus adapter for less than $20 off eBay ($18.25, but $15.00 was for "shipping" - thieves!). But even at $18.25, the cost for the PCI adapter is 10% the cost of the USB adapter. To save $150 or more, I can deal with plugging the cardbus in on the back of my tower.

Michael · Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2006 6:12 am Post subject:

We just posted additional information on the Elan U132 at EVDOinfo.com (including pictures of the device with a Verizon and Sprint card inserted).
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mikec · EVDO Newbie Joined: 19 Jul 2006 Posts: 3

mikec · EVDO Newbie Joined: 19 Jul 2006 Posts: 3

Michael · Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 10:44 pm Post subject:

When we tested, it didn't work that way.

Perhaps, they have a newer driver that does indeed provide this support. Let us know what version of the driver/firmware you are running.

We really would love for this to work - since it does provide a solution for many.
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mikec · EVDO Newbie Joined: 19 Jul 2006 Posts: 3