Qualcomm Gobi 2000 in T60 - and software

[Norway Pad]

Hello all

Things have slowed down here after a busy summer, and I am now able to spend more hobby-time with my Thinkpads again. Which in turn also demands some activity on the forum.

The first project this fall was to install a 3G WAN card in one of my T60s. A couple of years ago, I installed the SIM card reader and both 3G antennas: the unit on the side of the display bezel, and the one in the upper palmrest. Earlier this year I picked up a Qualcomm Gobi 2000 card, and yesterday I installed it in the free Mini PCI-Express slot, and connected the two antenna leads. I used the "ThinkPad Wireless WAN (UNDP) Driver" from a T410, and it installed just fine and the card now shows up in the decvice manager. So far, so good. So, in hopes of being able to use the card, I installed something named Lenovo Broadband Activation. But I realized it was just software that allowed you to sign up for an account / data plan with Verizon. Not what I needed.

So the question is: What software do I use for connecting through this card? I have a couple of SIM cards with data plans lying around that I can use, so I am only after software that gives me the connection options.

Thanks in advance!

(Note: Somewhere else I read that Access Connections can be used for this. I chose to not install Access Connections on this machine, as it has caused me strange issues earlier. So if AC *does* work with this card, I would like to have it confirmed before I actually install AC)

[FryPpy]

0. First of all - did you installed whitelisted BIOS or taped pin 20 on WWAN module?

After installing all needed software did you find WWAN button in Fn+F5 screen?
What is VID&PID of your WWAN card (can be read from windows device manager)?

I have some experiments with native (to Lenovo, but not T60) and not native WWAN modules.

0. Native Ericsson F3507g - pin 20 taped out, bios not modded - driver from Lenovo, Hotkey features and access connections (AC) matched version to driver.
Only this combo makes it possible to turn on and off WWAN radio from Fn+F5 and connect to internet from AC. I can't find other utility to connect F3507g to internet other then AC. It is works in T60.

1. Huawei EM770W - pin 20 taped out, bios not modded - installed Mobile parthner 23.001.07.22.910 and it works fine. It can make voice calls from Thinkpads internal microphone and speakers. Tested on T60 and works at X61.

2. Gobi 2000 - not lenovo branded version. I have find that it is sierra version for Fujitsu notebooks. Pin 20 was taped out. Bios not modded. Drivers and software was downloaded from fujitsu website and it all worked. Works on T61 frankenpad,

3. I have tested some Sierra MC8790V with pin 20 taped out. It works well with sierra watcher software.

All WWAN modules, exept F3507g, can't be swithchet on|off from Fn+F5 utility. And as a pin 20 taped out whey can't sense radio switch. All of they (exept F3507g) eating battery even if i disable them in device manager. Gobi 2000 shows green light (WWAN icon on the screen bezel) even if i disable it throught software program.
The only way i can see to manipulate they battry hungry is to untape pin 20 and patch whitelist in bios.
When i untaped pin 20
- Ericsson disappears from devices list (bios blocks it from the booting time and i is completely off).
- other modules shows me that radio is switched off (bios switches radio off thought pin 20 from boot time).

BTW gobi 2000 can work in GSM / UMTS and CDMA / EVDO networks. "Lenovo Broadband Activation" can be used to register in CDMA networks where SIM cards is not necessary.

[Norway Pad]

Thank you for the extensive reply, I will try to answer as well as I can.

I didn't do anything to the card or the BIOS. I assumed it would work as it is from a Lenovo T410, even though it is a newer model. But maybe not. Is there a way to confirm that it is non-approved? And if it is, does that mean that the card can't be turned on unless I tape pin 20 or flash the BIOS with a modified one? I know that my T30 refused to boot with a non-approved WiFi card in, but maybe the T60 react differently on a non-approved card. Fn+F5 doesn't show any signs of the card, so the only place I can see it is in the Device Manager. The ID is: USB\VID_05C6&PID_9205&MI_00\6&70B12D3&0&0000

I think a modified BIOS is simpler than reopening the laptop and fiddling with the Pin 20. Unless there are other sideeffects to a modified BIOS on the T60. If it's ok, it would be great if anyone could point me towards such a file. Even on PM.

For the software, I would still like some hints as to what Lenovo software that people use with these cards. I take it as the Fujitsu Software might work too, as these cards are probably universal. But first I apparently need to be sure the card works.

[FryPpy]

Sorry for delay.
Bad things. Past wekends i have flashed X61 tablet with modified bios (without WL-check, with SATA2 and other stuff;)... and nothing magical happend. Huawei EM770W not working without taping pin 20. And with taping pin 20 it is ON all times. I cant switch it off neither from radio switch nor from Fn+F5.

So WL bios can or can't help with installing modems not from that Thinkpad's era. And taping pin 20 is common mean to switch radio ON on a such modems.

And yes you have lenovo branded gobi 2000. All Gobi modems have common API (qualcom API) and programms that can work with on can (if not locked) work with others.

PS
You can read this thred:
http://translate.google.ru/translate?sl ... 37119.html

This is google translated german forum.

[Norway Pad]

I haven't had the chance to look into this any more, but I guess I am down to one single thing to determine here:

• * Is the card approved or not, and how can I determine it? It does boot.

I have always assumed that non-approved hardware made the laptop not boot, like my T30s did with non-approved WiFi cards. But that's maybe not the case. If so, a BIOS without the WL-check is my only option, as I want to avoid the fiddling with Pin 20. FryPpy says it's a Lenovo card, but the fact that it's newer then the laptop makes it logical to think that it might not be on the list. Unless the Lenovo branding alone is what the BIOS checks for, and nothing more. Any opinions on that?

When I am sure the card is accepted by the system, I have decided to try installing Access Connections and see if the card is accessible there. If not, the Fujitsu software might be the next logical option.

I will keep you guys updated and post any results here, in case this in the end can be used as a recipe for a solution that works.

[Raceboy]

Fn+F5 does not work on any WAN card that is not approved from the factory on T60/61 even with modified BIOS. Modded BIOS just allows the card to pass the POST test but it will stay on all the time unless you disable it in device manager. Also radio button does not work on them.

I used Gobi2000 but did not have to use any 3rd party software to connect, the connection appeared as "Mobile Broadband Connection" in W7 network connection manager (where you connect to wifi). Just needed to enter PIN and set APN and that's all.

As for GPS, I used Lenovo GPS utility, worked well and locked even indoors. Too bad the maps are not available offline, just the location map under GPS utility.

[ausmike]

Hi guys & gal(s);
Sorry to chime in > yip old fart retired has a few hrs free and havent visited here for mths/yr maybe so pls forgive for short....
IMHO & AFAIK... all/any thinkpad that has PCI slot; you can just about add ANY WIN APPROVED hardware - it works at boot or after boot. AFAIK , windows boot and Thinkpad bios dont really check PCI slot with that 'critical eye' as the rest of hardware list. Mostly as a lot of US Gov people use this slot for lots of their silly crazy stuff.... <if that makes sence>

In my past life - way long time ago when I was young and roamed the world with my Thinkpad; we used this PCI slot to do SECURE LOAD/INSTALL APPS via this slot (pre-SSD days!) Thus the TO Bios (from memory) dont really check or worry about PCI slot hardware - unless there is a HW conflict , driver conflict etc etc!

I have in past used the "stick" where you can insert the SIM card, and use the USB slot ( and most often PCI slot as its faster data thruput) for the WAN DATA. Those were early early days of 2G/3G data speeds days.

So in short , if it works - USE IT ! All; MOST TPs made for NA are all 'inlocked' ie open and can be used for any GSM network(s). AC is useless.....(well in my view) it cause a drag with huge resources-hog in Windows (and thats one program I DEFINATLY would Un-Install when given a new TP). I used to use the 2g/3g service providors apps - it was purely for faster 'authentation/validation' purpose. back in days - every keystroke sent or received ment $$$$....

Hope this helps
Cheers

[FryPpy]

Fn+F5 does not work on any WAN card that is not approved from the factory on T60/61

Not completely true. I have T60 with Ericsson F3507g which can be controlled from Fn+F5 and can be used from Access Connections.

I have 1 report, that Huawei EM770W can be controlled from Fn+F5 and used from Mobile Parthner.
But i can't reproduse that on my X61t.

I think we can make thread with positive stories about using different WWAN cards in Thinkpads T6x R6x (X6x). The main things to be described:
- bios version have been used,
- drivers / Hotkey Features have been installed,
- any customisation to achive working of WWAN with Fn+F5

Modded BIOS just allows the card to pass the POST test but it will stay on all the time unless you disable it in device manager. Also radio button does not work on them.

Do you taped out pin 20? What version of modded BIOS have been used?

My new findings.
(setup - X61t with 1.25 midleton's bios + Huawei EM770W. No 1804 error, but bios takes pin 20 down).

I was searching how to switch WWAN on (pin 20 up), like FnF5 does, but by my hands. I have read sources of TPfanControl (older version from SF.net - but it haven't any info about turning on wireless things). Then i have read thinkpad-acpi's sources from linux kernel. And find out that all manipulation on wireless (BT, WWAN, UWB, BUT NOT WiFi) states is made with ACPI method calls. I have tested Everest's (AIDA) "ACPI tool" to issue ACPI methods call from windows user space and discowered:
BIOS returns that i haven't WWAN in both cases: X61t middleton + EM770W AND T60 unpatched 2.21 + Ericsson F3507g + pin 20 taped. Any calling method to turn on WWAN useless and the wwan state remains unchanged. So i understand this things:
- FnF5 with right version of drivers and AC can turn off Ericsson F3507g programmatically NOT BY PIN 20.
- any WWAN that is not recognised as WWAN card by BIOS (EC) remains pin 20 down, but dont generate 1804 error.

As for GPS, I used Lenovo GPS utility, worked well and locked even indoors. Too bad the maps are not available offline, just the location map under GPS utility.

I can't catch any GPS satelites with any WWAN card i have tested with original lenovo WWAN-aux or any small film WWAN-aux antennas placed in keyboard bezel (T60). T61 antennas can be better for this.

[FryPpy]

Thus the TO Bios (from memory) dont really check or worry about PCI slot hardware - unless there is a HW conflict , driver conflict etc etc!

I have 1 WWAN card non lenovo's branded Sierra MC8775 have been banned by bios with 1804 error.
Yes many things can be used in second miniPCIe slot without conflicts (BDC Cristal HD, or micro SD cardreader - internal flash drive) because they don't sense (obey) pin 20 (wireless disable pin). WWAN cards must obey pin 20 and can be blocked even they don't undersood as WWAN card by bios.