Sierra ExpressCard 597E Announced, Avail 1st Qtr 2007

CRW030 · EVDO Newbie Joined: 20 Apr 2007 Posts: 1

Question for the forums...was just in Sprint store and the guy was telling me they didn't have a wireless broadband card that:
1. Was compatible with Sprint's EV-DO Rev.A network
2. Was certified to work with Windows Vista
(without some annoying "driver signing " error everytime I boot.
3. Was compatible with: AMD Turion™ 64 X2 mobile technology TL-52
4. Would fit in the Express slot on the newer laptops

What's killing me (and I saw apparently it took some user pressure and a wait to get EV-DO cards in the PCMCIA format in another thread), is that these specifications (especially the Windows Vista, but to a lesser degree the 64-bit-X2) are not bleeding edge equipment, but it seems wireless broadband is behind (or maybe I'm missing it).

Poking around the net I found several links targeting Aircard 597E as an EV-DO, Express, Vista compatible card but no real word on 64-bit compatibility.

Anyhow, ideas would be appreciated, otherwise I suppose its just a waiting game for wireless technology to catch up to laptop technology.

Thanks.

boycott-walmart · EVDO User Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Posts: 63

What's killing me (and I saw apparently it took some user pressure and a wait to get EV-DO cards in the PCMCIA format in another thread), is that these specifications (especially the Windows Vista, but to a lesser degree the 64-bit-X2) are not bleeding edge equipment, but it seems wireless broadband is behind (or maybe I'm missing it).

Well, Dell just announced it will continue shipping Windows XP partially because of the compatibility problems Vista is having so this is not unique to EVDO.

3Gstore · EVDO Addict Joined: 19 Sep 2006 Posts: 3171

We can help you get EX720 working on your vista laptop.
read this article we wrote about it:
3Gstore Helps Sprint EVDO Vista Users

radioactive · EVDO Newbie Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 5

So just a quick update on this card -- it could be much better. Compared to the Novatel EX720, it's significantly larger. The external antenna connector (SMA) is useful, but how many people need it.

GPS is not enabled for this device under OS X as well, you'll need to run Windows if you it.

The most troubling thing about this card is the drivers -- I have OS X, and expected it to work with the WWAN update that enabled the Novatel drivers. Instead, you can download the drivers from Sierra, but the app isn't cocoa, and doesn't feel like OS X. The device randomly disconnects from the network without printing anything in console.

The worst part is the app isn't Universal - it's complied for PPC! How many PPC Powerbooks have ExpressCard?

In short, if you have a Mac, get the Novatel:
-Native support from the OS
-GPS support under OS X
-No buggy "SierraWireless Watcher"

jackrodgers · EVDO Addict Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 1131