WWAN card options

[ryan18]

I recently ordered an x61T with the Turbo Memory instead of WWAN because I felt that was a little more important to me for how I would be using my laptop. I still feel that is the case, but I am interested in what options I have of adding WWAN on my own.

I thought I read someone say on the forums here that a second antenna would not be installed if I didn't order WWAN on my laptop, but if I bought my own PC card that wouldn't matter would it?

The main reason that I realized this might be a good idea for me is that I remembered I have an unlimited data plan with Cingular for my 8125 Pocket PC mobile phone So if I bought a Cingular WWAN card, wouldn't I be able to use this same plan and have unlimited data access for my laptop as well? I mean unlimited should mean unlimited but it would be a second device, although I know some phones can be used as a WWAN card for a laptop so it seems there would be a way to tie my account to the PC card I install. Heck, for $50 a month Cingular better let me use it all I want because I honestly don't use it that much for my phone so they are making some money off me there.

A last question I would have would be, what would be the best card to buy. I would like something that I could just pop right into the PC card slot that was not too big and was reliable and it has to be the fastest available(HSDPA for Cingular).

Thanks so much for the help!!

[bigwormie]

Your best resource for wwan information would be evdoforums.com

The fastest cards available are from Verizon and Sprint. You will want revision A.

I currently have an external verizon card in my t series and very much look forward to my new internal card on my x61t (still verizon due to superior speed). If you got turbo memory you will not be able to add an internal card.

[GomJabbar]

Your best resource for wwan information would be evdoforums.com

Not for Cingular (now at&t). Go to http://forums.wireless.att.com/cng/boar ... id=pccards for wireless data info.

I am not familiar with your particular phone model, but generally speaking, you can tether your phone to your laptop via Bluetooth, Infrared, or USB cable. The connection might not be quite as fast as with a dedicated PC card, but for intermittant use, it might be sufficient.

If you get a PC card, they are available with either a built-in antenna, such as the Sierra Wireless 875 AirCard, or with a small plug-in antenna, such as the Sierra Wireless 860 AirCard. You can get new PC Cards from at&t with a contract, or you can buy a used card off of ebay. You do want to get one that supports HSDPA and EDGE. The newest cards support a faster data rate on HSDPA than the first generation cards, but I feel that currently there are very few locations that support this higher data rate.

at&t's website http://www.wireless.att.com/

[tamasrepus]

I thought I read someone say on the forums here that a second antenna would not be installed if I didn't order WWAN on my laptop, but if I bought my own PC card that wouldn't matter would it?

Are you wanting to buy a PCMCIA/ExpressCard? No, then it would not matter. The antenna is for internal mini-PCIe only.

[ryan18]

Thanks for the replys guys!

Yeh I am just going to get an external card so I guess I dont have to worry about the antenna, because I wont have a spot for an internal card I dont think, plus it wont have the antenna.

I'll make sure to look for a card with the newer HSDPA speeds, and it is good to know that I could use my phone if I have to, but I believe my phone (8125) did not support HSDPA but the next model (8525) did, but oh well. At least that can work if I need it too.

Does anyone have any ideas about sharing that contract I already have bought on my phone with the PC card I buy? Ideally I could get a fast HSDPA card and not have to pay anymore than I already do for my phone.

[GomJabbar]

IMO, the best plan is the Laptop Unlimited data plan for $59.99 + taxes and fees. This is available if you have a Voice Plan of $39.99/mo or more. You will get a phone number associated with your card that is different than than the phone number on your 8125.

Do not be too quick to chose one of the cheaper plans. Data use adds up quite quickly, and if you go over, the bill is very steep.

If you want to go on the cheap, you can try using the SIM card from your phone inside a data card. Of course you will not be able to make or receive voice calls while doing so. Note that laptop plans use a different APN than the PDA plans. The PDA plans are not intended to be used with a laptop, and violate the TOS - yet there are many users reportedly doing this for some time now. I personally have the Laptop Unlimited plan and I recommend that.

[ryan18]

Hmm, so the 59.99 for the laptop would be on top of the amount I am paying for my phone? I'm not sure if I will use it enough to be worth me spending that much.

I guess I could just use the phone via Bluetooth or USB like you mentioned but I wish I had the newer HSDPA model, oh well. Thanks for your help.

[SFWrtr]

IMO, the best plan is the Laptop Unlimited data plan for $59.99 + taxes and fees. This is available if you have a Voice Plan of $39.99/mo or more. ...you can try using the SIM card from your phone inside a data card. ... The PDA plans are not intended to be used with a laptop, and violate the TOS

As a reference for other users, I have checked with Verizon and exactly the same thing holds true. Regardless of having unlimited PDA, the plan is not good for the laptop. The equipment has a different number and requires a different plan, also $59.99 unlimited up to 4GB/month. The Verizon rep specifically told me to tether the cell in modem-mode to the laptop and just use it that way, to save my money. Didn't listen, though, I got the Rev A card built into my X61T. It ships next week!

[ryan18]

yeh i spoke with a guy from cingular (or "the new AT&T as they are now) today to ask about my options for getting WWAN. right now I have the unlimited PDA data plan which was $35 a month i believe, and he said that I could tether the phone to the laptop, but that would cost me $20 more a month for $55 a month.

if I got a separate laptop card, it would be $60 a month just for it. so I guess I'll consider the tether option, but I will want to upgrade my phone to the new PDA with the fast HSDPA speeds which will cost me some money up front as well.

im surprised they charge $20 a more to tether the phone to the laptop. i mean unlimited data should mean unlimited data, and i should be able to use that unlimited data however i want on my phone or laptop, but i guess i shouldnt be surprised. cell phone companies are always trying to rip you off

has anyone used a PDA phone tethered to a laptop before? i am curious as to the best setup for that. and i'm guessing there must be some way the cell phone companies know that i am using it in tether mode since they are charging me more to do it. will the phone be in a special mode when i have it tethered and will i still be able to receive calls while it is this way?

[GomJabbar]

im surprised they charge $20 a more to tether the phone to the laptop. i mean unlimited data should mean unlimited data, and i should be able to use that unlimited data however i want on my phone or laptop, but i guess i shouldnt be surprised. cell phone companies are always trying to rip you off

has anyone used a PDA phone tethered to a laptop before? i am curious as to the best setup for that. and i'm guessing there must be some way the cell phone companies know that i am using it in tether mode since they are charging me more to do it. will the phone be in a special mode when i have it tethered and will i still be able to receive calls while it is this way?

AFAIK, the telco cannot tell if you whether you are tethering your phone or using the phone itself to access the internet - if you have already have internet access on your phone. I could be mistaken though.

You will need to install the 8125 drivers on your ThinkPad to be able to tether the phone. While you are using your phone as a modem you will not be able to receive any phone calls. IMO, Bluetooth is the most convenient connection, IR second, and USB cable the least convenient.

See the following:
http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/micro ... ether.html

Here is another place where you can search for information regarding Cingular in general as well as Cingular data access.
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.cell ... lar/topics

EDIT: Removed extraneous character from link above. Link should work now.

[ryan18]

thanks for the info. when my x61T gets here i will try to tether my phone to it. i believe i heard they removed the IR on the x61's so good thing i ordered Bluetooth i suppose i will try to tether without buying the extra option first and see if it is possible.