Does the T60 work with a 3G mobile computing network?

[hirst60]

Sorry if this is an obvious question, but I wanted to confirm if my T60 with work with a 3G mobile network while I travel in SE Asia. I saw this link that described how it works with Cingular and Verizon but wondered if those were the same wavelengths as I might find overseas. Also, would I have to reconfigure the T60? I know that I have to purchase an wireless aircard (aka a dongle) but is the T60 otherwise ready to work with 3G?

http://www.lenovo.com/news/us/en/2006/08/t60_wwan.html



TIA.

[ajkula66]

If you're using a dongle, it will work on any network that the dongle itself has access to.

Verizon and Cingular were restrictions applicable only to machines that were shipped with WWAN already installed for the U.S. Market.

[hirst60]

If you're using a dongle, it will work on any network that the dongle itself has access to.

Verizon and Cingular were restrictions applicable only to machines that were shipped with WWAN already installed for the U.S. Market.

Thanks for the info.

So if I understand you correctly the dongle takes care of any compatibility issue. The T60 is designed to work with WWAN and will work on any network.

Another question though: will my signal quality and download speed be affected by the very basic and somewhat outdated Intel 3945 wireless card? I'm wondering if it is worth my while upgrading to a better card.

The network in Thailand (where I will be travelling) isn't the best so I am trying to anticipate some potential problems.

I've never used my T60 before for mobile 3G computing so this is all new to me. "Confusion will be my epitaph..."

[ajkula66]

Your 3945 is the WLAN card that has nothing to do with the quality of WWAN reception - once again, that's what the dongle will be there for.

[hirst60]

Thanks for clearing that up. Much obliged!

[hirst60]

Just a follow up here.

I realize that the T60 should have a built-in WWAN antenna for it to work on a 3G network. But after some online searching, some owners talk about an unsightly bulge on the right hand side of screen to accommodate the antenna. My screen doesn't have any such bulge, so how do I know if I have a WWAN antenna?

[Peak2Peak]

Check this link for pic's of a 14.1" T60 with WWAN antenna: Lenovo ThinkPad T60... - Pic's 1 & 2 show the WWAN antenna bump - generally if you do not have the WWAN antenna bump, then your T60 is not fitted with a WWAN antenna

Not all T60 MB's support the built-in WWAN mPCIe modems/cards [ie: have the 2nd mPCIe slot} - The one's that generally do are either MB's with the ATI Mobility Radeon X1400 GPU's or ATI FireGL V5200/5250's GPU's - Other's may/may not, you will need to confirm either visually or by the MB FRU or by your model type/product ID etc.

If your MB does support the 2nd mPCIe slot and it is not populated with a WWAN modem, you will need to get one that is supported by your BIOS (or modify your BIOS to use alternative cards) - you will also require a sim card slot and wwan antenna(s) - [check the T60 HMM for parts ref's etc].

[hirst60]

Thanks for the info Peak2Peak! No, I have no bump there, so no WWAN antenna.

I have an integrated Intel GPU so probably that's a no-go also.

So you're suggesting that even if I buy a WWAN antenna, it may not work with my bios the way it is configured.

I am assuming this shortcoming can't be solved by buying any particular mobile broadband USB dongle. I would need a dongle + a WWAN antenna + the correct bios version/setting. Yes?

I'm a little confused here because another member previously suggested that the right USB dongle was the only thing that mattered.

[ajkula66]

It's an "either/or" situation.

If you have a USB dongle, no internal WWAN or BIOS support is required. Plug & play.

The machines that have internal WWAN do not require a dongle to operate, but can use one if a different carrier access is desired.

Hope this clears it.

[hirst60]

OK -- I get it.

Sorry if I seemed to be questioning your previous response. I guess I was, but it was borne out of genuine confusion. I know you have an excellent reputation on this board and the Lenovo board.

What made me revisit the issue was some ads I saw for new Thinkpads like the T420. They talked about it being "mobile broadband ready" because it had an antenna built in. I thought this was strange since WWAN was presumably already available way back in 2007 for the T60. So I wanted to clarify that point. And you did -- the dongle takes care of the absence of an antenna and proper bios settings.

Thanks again for putting up with my noob questions.

[ajkula66]

No problem whatsoever. Some of the networking stuff is confusing if one is not used to it...

As long as we can help you get where you want to be, and everyone remains civil and cordial, all questions are welcome as far as I'm concerned.

[bill bolton]

I am assuming this shortcoming can't be solved by buying any particular mobile broadband USB dongle. I would need a dongle + a WWAN antenna + the correct bios version/setting. Yes?

If you are using an external USB WWAN device (dongle) then you do not need to do anything to your T60 except install the relevant device driver for the device.

External USB WWAN devices have internal antennas of their own.

In terms of external devices, there are multiple bands and configurations used for 3G service globally and there is simply no device which covers all possible 3G service implentation choices. The majority of 3G services around the globe operate in one (or more) of the 850MHz, 900MHz, 1900MHz or 2100Mhz bands, and it is possible to buy devices which cover those 4 bands,

Even with a multiband device, you may still find some plcaes where a 3G ISP does not suppot BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) service and limit access to an IMEI whitlelist of devices they have supplied directly. Also, in some places you cannot buy short term pre-paid access from ISPs, even if you could satisfy the technical connection requirements.

Nonetheless, in my experience in travelling around the Pacific Rim nations, a multiband 3G device works reasonably well in many places, most of the time.... just don't depend on it working in any specific place.

If you are visiting Australia, there are 3G services with good national coverage which operate primarily on the 850MHz and 900MHz bands, and you can readily purchase pre-paid SIMs for access from ISPs. A similar situation applies in New Zealand.

Cheers,

Bill B.

[hirst60]

Thanks for weighing in on this Bill. I appreciate your real world experience in Asia.

I've done a little research on a Thai expat forum and there seems to be a consensus around the D-link dwm-156 as the most versatile mobile adapter that covers most phone carriers frequencies and regions there. I'll be in the Bangkok area for most of my time there so the 3G network is fairly decent there.

But you make a good point about building in some redundancy. For most of the time, it will actually serve as my back up network. I will have WLAN access at the place where I'll be staying for most of the time. Connectivity is iffy there to be sure with service outages and slowdowns occurring more frequently.