Feasability of swaping Vzw with Sprint EVDO miniPCI card

osh

Looking at replacing the internal Mini-PCI card in a Sony Vaio and went to Sprint to purchase the U720 card just to learn that it has been replaced with an AC595U card. Just wondering if anybody has opened an AC595U card to see if it too has a Mini-PCI in it.

bfenster · EVDO Newbie Joined: 07 Sep 2007 Posts: 1 Location: Florida

Indeed it does.. I just popped open the Sierra 595U (Sprint), removed 4 screws with a small phillips, recovered a shiny new mini pci card which I am now using to get about 250 up and 500 down...

I would say this: Install software FIRST, do NOT plug in USB. Then install card into your internal slot, and power up. You are ready to connect. Good Luck!

jhford · EVDO Newbie Joined: 29 Jun 2007 Posts: 1

I have a U720. Has anyone done this on a Q1? I'm mostly concerned about installing the correct antenna. Any suggestions?

GregW · EVDO Newbie Joined: 26 Sep 2007 Posts: 1

Okay, so I have read through this entire thread...

It seems, according to our friend socksbb, that I CAN replace the embedded mini pci Verizon card in my ThinkPad x60t with a Sprint mini pci. All I need is a AC595U. I simply extract the mini pci card from the USB housing, insert it into the x60t, add the software, and run 'setup'. Is this correct?

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

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

...or you could visit this page and see if you can purchase just the card itself without destroying a U720

short101 · EVDO Newbie Joined: 23 Dec 2007 Posts: 1

Can the people with thinkpads confirm that you have inserted nonapproved cards and not get a bios error? I have a t60p and although I dont get a bios error, the kernel fails to see the hardware. It appears as though the bios is disabling the card rather than throwing an error. My bios is quite old (79ETD2WW (2.12 ))

ich · EVDO Newbie Joined: 01 May 2008 Posts: 4

I popped the case of a Novatell U720 and installed the PCI Express Mini card,
Got this:

expert007 · EVDO User Joined: 06 Nov 2006 Posts: 79

I didn't see this addressed anywhere within this thread, so I'm curious now. The first thought that popped into my head on this topic was that the antenna for VZW (800MHz) wouldn't work with Sprint EVDO (1900MHz).

Is this negligible or not a concern? And is it possible to install a Sprint mini-pci in ANY laptop or tablet that has an open slot?

coreyinoz · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 18 May 2007 Posts: 13

expert007,

It's almost certain that the antenna embedded in your notebook is dual/band (800/1900) and more likely 5 band (covering all GSM frequencies as well).

This way the laptop ODM's can have total carrier flexibility to install whichever module they want instead of maintaining 5 different laptops with different antennas.

The larger concern regarding dropping in whichever module you want is BIOS locks. Lenovo laptops are known to have a BIOS lock which prevents boot if an unauthorized module is installed. If you check out Lenovo forums, you'll find threads from users who can give instructions on how to get around this.

With other laptops, this may or may not be a concern. But antenna shouldn't be an issue.

coreyinoz

speleocaver

Okay everything was fine till I saw the picture of a mini pci express card.
I have a standard mini pci are there any sprint embed solutions besides installing a usb card in the internal pcmcia slot and installing the critter in my old 300b cdpd slot?

Panasonic Toughbook Cf-28 800mhz

thunderinacircle · EVDO Newbie Joined: 14 May 2008 Posts: 2

Would it work if I installed the mini-pci card from a U720 on a new Dell Vostro 1500 that did NOT come with an internal WWAN card? Is there still an antenna in the computer to hook up to? It would be for Sprint. I'm also curious if the Sierra Compass 597 has a mini-pci card inside of it as well.

coreyinoz · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 18 May 2007 Posts: 13

thunderinacircle:

The Dell probably has the miniPCIe expansion slot (you can verify by checking the documentation). It may or may not have the antenna, depending on if it's one of the models that Dell offers their own WWAN upgrade for. ie: There would be an antenna inside if Dell has ever used that model with a WWAN card included. Again, I'd check their documentation, or ask them flat out.

Sierra Compass597 does not contain a miniPCIe card. Compass is narrower than the miniPCIe card itself.

coreyinoz

thunderinacircle · EVDO Newbie Joined: 14 May 2008 Posts: 2

^^ One of the options for the computer when I purchased it was to have a WWAN card installed inside of it and get a deal on it with a big Sprint/Verizon rebate for doing so. I know it has an expansion slot and you make it seem as though the antenna would be there. I'll contact Dell to be sure.

Thank you for the heads up on the Compass, too.

I'm thinking of perhaps taking a refurbished U720 for free with a new plan versus a Compass for $20 after rebate.