WWAN option, Sierra MC8775

[dtscaps]

There are 3 different FRU's for the Sierra HSDPA mini PCI card in the T61. The FRU's are as follows:

Sierra Wireless MC8775 PCI Express MiniCard v 6480-CTO v 7658-CTO, X8x v 7659-CTO v 7660-CTO v 7661-CTO v 6481-CTO v 7662-CTO, 12x, 14x v 7663-CTO, 19x v 7664-CTO v 7665-CTO
42T0931
R
**
Sierra Wireless MC8775 PCI Express MiniCard v 6480-CTO v 7658-CTO v 7659-CTO v 7660-CTO v 7661-CTO v 6481-CTO v 7662-CTO, X5x v 7663-CTO v 7664-CTO v 7665-CTO
42T0933
R
**
Sierra Wireless HSDPA module (MC8775) v 6480-CTO v 7658-CTO v 7659-CTO v 7660-CTO v 7661-CTO v 6481-CTO v 7662-CTO v 7663-CTO v 7664-CTO v 7665-CTO
42T0901
R
**

Does anyone know which card is married to what provider? and second, do you actually install a SIM into these cards? (Never seen one for real)

I was hoping to order a the correct MC8775, (one not married to any provider) to do an aftermarket install on a T61.

Regards
Henning

[GomJabbar]

System service parts - ThinkPad X60, X60s, X61, X61s

42T0931 - Vodafone

42T0933 - Cingular

42T0901 - Not sure, probably/maybe unlocked

AFAIK, all HSDPA/EDGE cards use a SIM somewhere - either separately in it's own slot on the motherboard or on the WWAN card itself.

All these cards cost about $575 US from ThinkPad parts suppliers.

[dtscaps]

Thanx for the excellent info. Can anyone shed some light on the SIM installation procedure?

I was hoping that ordering the correct WWAN card with a corresponding antenna assembly would be sufficient to make this work. Any comments?

[EOMtp]

The SIM card card holder, if one exists on your machine, is soldered onto the motherboard and can be accessed by removing the panel cover on the bottom of the unit (the same "door" under which reside the memory slots). It there is no SIM card holder there, then you have a motherboard for a machine which was not designed to hold an internal WWAN card.

[gdavis]

The SIM card card holder, if one exists on your machine, is soldered onto the motherboard and can be accessed by removing the panel cover on the bottom of the unit (the same "door" under which reside the memory slots). It there is no SIM card holder there, then you have a motherboard for a machine which was not designed to hold an internal WWAN card.

I found a page from Lenovo's parts page with a part listed for the motherboard that describes a SIM as part of that component. It sounds like it could be as you described connected onto the board itself.

Here's what they list-
"System board with Intel Core 2 Duo processor L7500 (1.6 GHz) AMT with wireless WAN DIP and SIM"

42W7818

* 7762-CTO, 44U, 46x, 54x, 57x, 58x, 5Bx, 93x, 94x, 95x, B3x, B4x, B5x, B6x, B9x, D3x, D4x, D5x, D6x, D7x
* 7763-CTO, 54x, 58x, 95x, B5x, B6x
* 7764-CTO, 45x, 93x, B4x, D8x
* 7767-CTO, 59x, 5Ax, 73x, 84x, 96x, A4x, A5x, B7x, B8x, BAx, C3x, C4x
* 7768-CTO
* 7769-CTO, 55x