Thinkpads Forum

Running a T61, Windows XP professional, (originally shipped with a Verizon Card). Switched to a Sierra MC8775 card (its the HP OEM version of the card). I bought the sim card part from IBM and installed it. I used the Zender BIOS to get around the whitelist problem. I installed the drivers and the ATT communication manager software. On rare occasions it will detect the SIM card I put into it (from my iPhone). The ATT software detects the card, and the signal strength on the ATT network, just not the sim card. Also I don't see in Device Manager, anything that looks like it relates to the SIM card reader. I called IBM service to find out if I needed Sim Card reader drivers, and they said "no". I'm open to suggestions. The following information may help with diagnosing, IBM access connections does not see that there is mobile broadband in the system.

The card is probably being turned off by the BIOS before you ever get to Windows. Tape Pin 20 on the MC8775 and then Windows will "see" it.

That may or may not have answered my question. I don't think pin 20 affects the SIM card. (I could be wrong) I know that fix works for getting the PC to recognize the MC8775 card and the Ericsson f3705g card, but I hadn't heard about using it as a fix for the SIM card. Windows can see the MC8775 card. It just can't see the SIM card.

I have had pin 20 taped at various times during my troubleshooting and it didn't seem to make a difference. Does anyone know if drivers are needed for the SIM card reader. I would imagine so.

Pin 20 has nothing to do with the SIM card. It was not clear to me from your first post if the card was being seen in Windows, and that is why I suggested taping Pin 20.

Assuming that you have the proper drivers for the MC8775, the SIM card reader will be visible to it. Nothing special, i.e., loading drivers, needs to be done to account for the SIM card. What does the Sierra Wireless 3G Watcher discover? Here it the version for the MC8775, if you need it:
http://www.sierrawireless.com/support/s ... id=4,6,1,1

Thanks for the suggestion. I tried that earlier as well. Something just doesn't want to work here. Maybe I got a bum sim card slot from IBM/lenovo. I think I'm ready to give up at this point and switch back to the Verizon card, and post the MC8775 on ebay and try to recoup some of my loss. I'm still not sure whey it doesn't show up in Lenovo's access connections program, but I'm sure that is tied in to the root of the problem.

jlschwartz wrote:I'm still not sure whey it doesn't show up in Lenovo's access connections program

My bet is because the card doesn't have a Lenovo product ID in its firmware.

Bypassing the BIOS whitelist with Zender's BIOS mod only addresses the BIOS test for a Lenovo product ID. Access Connections is a ThinkPad specific product (that is, its not a rebranded version of a standard commercial product) and it may well be doing its own firmware version checking.

jlschwartz wrote:but I'm sure that is tied in to the root of the problem.

No, I think you have some other issue going on there.

Have you tried a few different SIM cards?

Are you certain that your installation of the SIM card part was correct?

Cheers,

Bill B.

jlschwartz: Which drivers do you have installed for the HP (hs2300) MC8775? - You will need the HP Sierra Wireless version.

I initially had this version (HP hs2300) of the MC8775 installed - Worked OK with HP drivers and the generic Sierra Wireless 3g Watcher Utility.

I feel quite certain that this is simply a sim card issue.
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The reason the computer ships with a sim card is because it must have Lenovos firmware on it. Then in addition it must be provisioned by AT&T (if that's your carrier) with your personal account info and their data. The provisioning process is what activates the sim for use. This can be done OTA (over the air) by calling them, or in the store.
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When calling be prepared to give the info on the little white sticker on the bottom of the computer. Mine was labeled "Cingular" even though its AT&T, as those two companies are not quite completely finished with AT&T's takeover, thus the label says Cingular.
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I would also highly encourage you to cover that sticker (which is easily smudged or destroyed) with some clear tape to preserve it.
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Cheers...
sent via BlackBerry

I had already tried the listed version of the HP sierra wireless software that is mentioned in an earlier reply. Interestingly that version wouldn't fully install, but the previous version would. I did try the SIM card IBM provided. Same problem, occasionally it gets detected but more often than not the computer won't see it. It's installed correctly. I've even moved the plastic flap on the SIM reader completely out of the way to make sure the SIM was making correct contact with the pins. I've tried a few other SIM cards at the ATT store. That doesn't seem to work either. Maybe I've got a bad SIM card reader and need to have IBM send a new one. The installation is pretty simple it just plugs in and then you fasten it down in the computer with a screw.

Otherwise the Sierra Wireless card itself seems to work. It can see the network and even give a signal strength reading.

Did you have AT&T "ping" the card? I've seen situations with smartphones where _proper_ provisioning or lack thereof, makes it or breaks it. What did AT&T have to say about it? Have you contacted their technical department for wireless internet access on non-phone devices? Since my last post here, a friend with a W500 had a problem which by all accounts seems to be the same as yours. He inserted the sim card that came with his computer, I gave him the number to the department that handles these things, and they provisioned it OTA and now it works just fine.

Cheers...