Please help: WWAN options for X60s

[indotoonster]

I recently bought a 2nd hand X60s which appears to have been originally purchased in the US, and has a built in Sierra Wireless MC5720 MiniPCI card.

Am I correct in assuming the following 2 points:
1) This device uses EV-DO/CDMA technology, and was originally locked to Verizon.
2) The SIM card holder next to the memory slots isn't actually used by the MC5720, it was placed there for future-proofing should someone install a HSDPA/GSM MiniPCI card.

?

I'm looking to use this here in Indonesia, where there are several options for wireless broadband. I could use EV-DO/CDMA technology (Mobi8, Smart/Jump), or I could use HSDPA/GSM technology (Telkomsel, Indosat, XL).

Which would you think is more feasible:
a) somehow getting the MC5720 unlocked so I can use it with local EV-DO services here. Again, assuming the SIM card holder isn't used, I'd need to do something called RUIM inject(??)
b) buying an unlocked MC8775 and using it with local HSDPA services here. I can buy one here unlocked for about USD40.

I'm really confused by all the different options out there...

Many thanks in advance!

[bill bolton]

b) buying an unlocked MC8775 and using it with local HSDPA services here. I can buy one here unlocked for about USD40.

That's the path I'd be looking at going down in your situation.

You would need a Zender modified BIOS (look for a long thread in the T6x forum) to get a non-Lenovo supplied MC8775 to work in your X60s.

Cheers,

Bill B.

[indotoonster]

Thanks for the suggestion, Bill.
So were my assumptions in my 1st post correct? The SIM card slot isn't being used by the EV-DO adapter (MC5720)?
I was originally confident I'd be able to make use of it somehow, but I'm thinking now that I have to switch it out for an MC8775...
I'll read up on this BIOS modification issue.

[EOMtp]

Am I correct in assuming the following 2 points:
1) (MC5720) This device uses EV-DO/CDMA technology, and was originally locked to Verizon.
2) The SIM card holder next to the memory slots isn't actually used by the MC5720, it was placed there for future-proofing should someone install a HSDPA/GSM MiniPCI card.

#1 -- The MC5720 it is not locked in any way.
#2 -- The MC5720 is CDMA, i.e., it does not use a SIM card.

You will need a modified BIOS whether you get a Lenovo-branded MC8775 or not, because the MC8775 is supported on the X61/s but is not supported by the X60/s BIOS. You will need to tape Pin-20 of the MC8775 card in addition to using the modified BIOS.

[indotoonster]

#1 -- The MC5720 it is not locked in any way.
#2 -- The MC5720 is CDMA, i.e., it does not use a SIM card.

Hmm, interesting... so is there any way to repurpose the MC5720 to connect to a different EV-DO/CDMA network? Is this what the so-called 'RUIM inject' procedure means?

You will need a modified BIOS whether you get a Lenovo-branded MC8775 or not, because the MC8775 is supported on the X61/s but is not supported by the X60/s BIOS. You will need to tape Pin-20 of the MC8775 card in addition to using the modified BIOS.

Thanks, I wasn't aware of the pin-20 issue. I've been browsing the long thread about Zender's BIOS modifications, though...

[EOMtp]

... so is there any way to repurpose the MC5720 to connect to a different EV-DO/CDMA network?

There is no need to "repurpose" the MC5720 in any way. It will connect to any CDMA EV-DO Rev.0 network as long as that network permits the ESN of the device to connect to it. When you sign up for service, give the carrier the ESN of your MC5720 card.

If the CDMA carrier does not permit "foreign" ESNs, i.e., the CDMA carrier only permits ESNs which are its own and are preloaded in its data base of "valid" ESNs, then you have three options:
(1) ask the carrier to add your ESN to its list of valid ESNs.
(2) change the ESN of your MC5720 card to match a valid ESN from the carrier you wish to use. [Note: In some countries it is illegal to change the ESN of a CDMA device.]
(3) use a data card provided by that carrier.

[bill bolton]

There is no need to "repurpose" the MC5720 in any way. It will connect to any CDMA EV-DO Rev.0 network as long as that network permits the ESN of the device to connect to it.

Maybe not.

The US EV-DO cards were never able to be used in Australia when there was an EV-DO network still in operation here, and it wasn't just an ESN issue that prevented them working.

Its too far back now for me to recall the exact details, but Sierra had different versions of their EV-DO cards at that time for operation in different parts of the world.

CDMA2000 is also deployable on a range of bands from 450MHz to 2100MHz. The MC5720 was marketed as a "dual-band PCI Express Mini Card", which as far as I can tell meant 850MHz and 1900MHz bands, so the Indonesian EV-DO services may not even be on bands supported by that card. The only band reference I have been able to find for Indonesia is this one...

"Mobile-8 uses CDMA 2000 1x and EV-DO technology in the spectrum 800MHz frequency, while Smart Telecom leverages CDMA2000 1x and EVDO-Rev A technology uses the 1900MHz frequency".

Cheers,

Bill B.

[indotoonster]

Thanks again, EOMtp and BillB! Your explanations really made things clear for me. I'll try and bring my X60s to either a Mobi8 or Smart showroom and see if they can work anything out re: adding the ESN number... (although I have *very* low expectations regarding their technical know-how!!). Yes, my understanding is that the CDMA operators use either the 800 or 1900Mhz frequency, which is what the MC5720 supports. My worry now is that the MC5720 is only EV-DO Rev.0, and I heard that the providers here are beginning to use Rev.A.

Failing all this, I'll opt to get an MC8775 and try a modified BIOS!

Will report here how I get on...

[lexicon]

If the CDMA carrier does not permit "foreign" ESNs, i.e., the CDMA carrier only permits ESNs which are its own and are preloaded in its data base of "valid" ESNs, then you have three options:
(1) ask the carrier to add your ESN to its list of valid ESNs.
(2) change the ESN of your MC5720 card to match a valid ESN from the carrier you wish to use. [Note: In some countries it is illegal to change the ESN of a CDMA device.]
(3) use a data card provided by that carrier.

EOMtp is correct.
You just need to get ESN (hexadecimal) from your MC5720, and register it to the carrier.
You will receive PRL, IMSI code, SID, NID, A-Key (20 char HEX) codes in return.
That parameters must be uploaded to MC5720 using EVDO Watcher in debug mode (by pressing Ctrl+D).

Note: Tested with Indonesia's Smart-Telecom.