Thinkpads Forum

Is it possible to add the integrated Verizon after the purchase somehow? or is the only option getting the card slot version? My t60p does have what appears to be a panel on the side of the screen where the other models what an antenna. I guess its removable?

Jason

It's probably workable, but (from what I've read) would require significant disassembly of the keyboard area and entire LCD/lid area.

You'd probably have to get a different LCD cable assembly that included EVDO antennae leads, as well as the antennae itself and shield, and the radio unit, if it's not already in the system. Possibly an entirely different LCD bezel.

Might be worth if it you're going to use Verizon as your primary connection..

Absolutely doable; not at all "messy" or "unmanageable" as described by others ... see below:

There are two EV-DO antennas:
-- the primary antenna is on the right side of the LCD cover
-- the secondary antenna mounts under the back left side of the keyboard bezel.

The LCD cable is not affected at all and does not play a role.

The FRU # for the antenna kit depends on whether you have a 14" or 15" screen. Removing the bezel of the LCD panel and installing the primary EV-DO antenna is straight forward. Same for the keyboard bezel. See the instructions in the Hardware Maintenance Manual.

The internal EV-DO card is a mini-PCI Express card which simply plugs into the socket that is already on the motherboard -- no more difficult than adding/changing a memory stick.

Only tool needed is one correct size precision Phillips screwdriver.

Thanks! So the EV-DO card comes from Lenovo, not verizon right? My notebook is a t60p widescreen. The slot it uses is currently empty, right? ...my ati 5250 or intel abg wireless card is not already using up the slot?

How do you got about ordering FRUs? Through support?

jjt3hii wrote:Thanks! So the EV-DO card comes from Lenovo, not verizon right? My notebook is a t60p widescreen. The slot it uses is currently empty, right? ...my ati 5250 or intel abg wireless card is not already using up the slot?

How do you got about ordering FRUs? Through support?

AFAIK, yes you would get the card from Lenovo. Your T60p should have an empty slot for the WWAN card. There are two Mini PCI Express Card slots inside the T60p - one for WiFi and one for WWAN.

Mini PCI Express Card - Removal movie

Mini PCI Express Card - Installation movie

Mini PCI Express Card - Removal and installation instructions

Hardware Maintenance Manual - ThinkPad T60/p (1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2613, 2623, 2637)

To purchase a FRU, start here: Purchase accessories, upgrades, and replacement parts

FYI, most Verizon phones can act as a modem to their 1x or EVDO networks tethered over usb or even better via bluetooth. Might be cheaper than having an entirely separate data plan and purchasing the parts to upgrade your machine.

zhenya wrote:FYI, most Verizon phones can act as a modem to their 1x or EVDO networks tethered over usb or even better via bluetooth. Might be cheaper than having an entirely separate data plan and purchasing the parts to upgrade your machine.

That's what I do. You can enable almost any current Verizon phone to provide "teathering" (wireless modem) at 1xRTT speeds (or better). All you need is VZW's $5/mo data plan. Connection to the phone is via Bluetooth.

Whenever I get online via my cell phone people think it's some kind of magic, but it's really not hard at all.

Tethering is great and all...but i decided to use the integrated Verizon option, since you cant make a phone call while you are tethering your cell to the laptop.

All you need is VZW's $5/mo data plan.

I thought it was closer to $50/month.

I live in an area where integrated WWAN is not offered, but we have a 3G (UMTS/HSDPA) provider. I bought 14" T60 and I'm trying to find about the possibility of adding the integrated WWAN support, seeing this thread and a few others I feel like it should be possible.

But, part list for the T60 shows separate mainboards for T60 with WWAN and without WWAN. Any hardware incompatibility? I have the one with Radeon X1400, which isn't listed with "with WWAN" or "without WWAN", but I'm still unsure it means I can do it, or that X1400 motherboards can't support WWAN at all. Wouldn't make any sense to me though.
In hardware maintenance manual, the SIM card slot is connected directly to the mainboard. Maybe that's the culprit?

If it was possible, I suppose I would need these parts:

42T0835: Sierra MC8755 miniPCIe card, listed as "for Vodafone", according to Sierra's websites it supports European frequencies. This thing costs €400+VAT from Lenovo.
42W2671: Matching antenna, for 14" display, listed "for Vodafone". This code is listed under 14" XGA (1024x768) model, and there's another one under 14" SXGA (1400x1050) which I have. But no Lenovo website knows about the latter, and all other antennas don't differ between 14" XGA/SXGA, so I assume it's ok. If it's not, well, it costs €5.
41W1353: SIM card slot. Costs €4, pretty self-explaining. There are no variants of this.

Also should be good to get:
41W4504: Screw kit - costs €4 and if I happen to lose any, or need any which isn't there "from factory", it's a good idea.
41V9926: 14-inch display miscellanous parts. Costs €8, same as the above.