X200s & WWAN

[peanutz]

Just wondering how you can tell whether X200s that you bought comes with WWAN card or not. On the box shows:
43Y3415 FCC-ID Label for WWAN
43Y3864 WWAN Misc Parts
43Y5946 CL plate X200s WLAN&BT&WWAN
44G5194 IntegrWirelessWideAreaNetw

Is there any other way to check? Should it show as a device under Device Manager? What should happen when I inserted a SIM card in the slot? In the Access Connections, the button for Mobile Broadband is disable.

[Harryc]

FN-F5 - select enable WWAN.

[peanutz]

WWAN is not an option when I pressed Fn + F5... so no WWAN modem?

[Harryc]

PM me the machine type and model and the serial number.

[brandontonio]

Curious if you can upgrade a machine to have the WWAN ability, my machine also does now show this feature in Fn+F5 menu.

[Harryc]

What you need depends what is already in the machine, but yes it can be upgraded.

You need a WWAN Antenna -
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... 70520.html

and a card that works with your service provider -
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-70510

Check your original parts shipped list to see if the antenna is already there.

[dfumento]

X200s does not have an option for a WWAN unless they recently changed it. The X200 however does have the WWAN option.

If you have the option, get the Sprint U301 which has 3G/4G (4G in some cities such as Philly, Baltimore and more cities such as Boston, NYC in 2010). 4G has download speeds of 6 Mbit+ and faster upload speeds as well. Just get the Sprint broadband which you can get even if you don't have Sprint voice. Right now they have an offer which offers 3G+4G for the price of 3G.

[wildylion]

I need any input on installing WWAN antennas in the X200s (with WXGA+ LED screen). I've a machine with WXGA+ (which doesn't have WWAN antennas) and currently I'm using the third WLAN antenna for WWAN. This results in poor 3G performance, and I want GPS, too

As for the current solution, 2G works VERY well, the signal is strong and the reception in fact better than that of my HTC Magic. With 3G however, the performance is mediocre at best, the F3507g card tries to switch to 3G then 2G and so on...

[EOMtp]

I need any input on installing WWAN antennas in the X200s (with WXGA+ LED screen).

You need to remove the "top" of the machine, remove the LCD bezel, remove all the existing antennas, and install the 6 antennas that come in the antenna kit for the non-LED screen.

The WLAN antennas for the LED screen are have different geometry from the WLAN antennas for the non-LED screen, and the existing WLAN antennas will not cohabit with the two WWAN antennas. That is the reason you must replace all the antennas.

You also must shave 2mm from the width of two plastic standoffs on the inside of the back cover in order to accommodate the 6 new antennas. Finally, you must trim part of the hard foam that "spreads" the "tongues" of two of the new antenna emitters. When you have the new antenna parts and the back LCD cover in your hands, it will be "obvious" what you must do.

[wildylion]

Could you upload a picture or two? It definitely would take some time as I wait for the antennas to ship. Also, how do you open up those little screw covers without damaging them?
Also I've heard of a guy that had to cut the left LCD hook off because the antennas wouldn't fit. I don't want to risk my X200s's exterior that much O_o.

[EOMtp]

I do not have pictures, and I do not want to disassemble a unit just to take pictures.

The screw covers simply lift off; use a sharp stiff blade or even a razor blade; not a knife or a screwdriver.

Anyone who cut off the left LCD hook to install the antennas did not know what he was doing ..or.. he was in too much of a hurry. Either way, it sounds like he is a butcher rather than a surgeon!

All 6 antennas can be installed without any visible modifications whatsoever from the outside of the LCD cover, and without any functional changes whatsoever on the inside.

The only "tricky" part of the reassembly is putting back the LCD bezel. Start with the bezel at a 30 degree angle with the vertex at the top edge of the LCD cover, then make certain to snap in fully all hooks along the top edge of the LCD cover before you rotate the bezel down, closing the angle, to close the sides and bottom.

[wildylion]

That's great. So I'll order the antennas today.
PS. That guy who had to cut off the hook bought only WWAN antennas, not the full kit.

[rkforum]

Hello all

I recently got my X200 laptop and love it.

I am a big WWAN guy; I've been looking for options to use SPRINT WWAN service (which I've been a subscriber of for years, such that I've got an unlimited data month to month contract grandfathered and I don't want to switch carriers.)

I do have an external dongle (Sierra Compass 597) that lets me get the SPRINT WWAN service with my X200. But I'd like to find an option without an external USB dongle hanging off the computer.

I opened up my X200 and see the empty spot for a PCI card with there are existing antenna wires.

My big question: Is there any INTERNAL option for Sprint WWAN? Does anyone know of a way to put a PCI card in so I can get my Sprint WWAN service?

I see that the X100e offers a GOBI 2000 card- will that work in the X200?

Any other ideas?

Any info helpful as I've combed the internet and still no definitive answer.

Thanks
RK

[EOMtp]

My big question: Is there any INTERNAL option for Sprint WWAN? Does anyone know of a way to put a PCI card in so I can get my Sprint WWAN service?

Yes, there are several ways. See below:

1) Take the Sierra Wireless MC5725 mini-PCIe card out of the following Sprint 595U enclosure and install it inside the X200/s:
http://cgi.ebay.com/SPRINT-Sierra-Wirel ... 1c106375d6
This is foolproof. Sprint will recognize the ESN and the drivers are available from Lenovo.

2) Here is a Sierra Wireless MC5725 "stand-alone", but you should check with Sprint if they recognize its ESN:
http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Sierra-Wireless ... 1c1003c786
The problem with this item is that you are not assured that its ESN is in the Sprint data base.

3) Use a Dell/Novatel 5720 Sprint card:
http://cgi.ebay.com/DELL-TRUEMOBILE-572 ... 4a9ea23d48
The problem with this card is that the Dell drivers will not install on a non-Dell machine without "game playing"!

I would pick option (1) above, especially as Sprint 595U devices are available on eBay for $5.00, and Lenovo provides the drivers for the Sierra Wireless MC5725 card.

You will need a modified BIOS for the X200/s to accept any of the cards above.

Note: The Lenovo GOBI 1000 and 2000 cards are for Verizon Wireless. They are not "locked" to Verizon Wireless, but Sprint will not recognize their MEIDs/ESNs.

[rkforum]

eomtp:

Thank you so much for your guidance on this; I like option (2) as well.

I asked about the GOBI 2000 option since I noticed with the Thinkpad X100e there is an option to get an embedded GOBI 2000 card with an "open SIM card for SPRINT". I found that interesting.

I think I will pursue option (2) since it seems relatively straightforward; I have read a little about the BIOS updates to accept other than whitelisted cards, I'm hoping that's not too difficult but I think I'll be able to figure it out.

I'll keep people posted on how it goes!

Thanks
RKforum

[EOMtp]

I like option (2) as well.

CORRECTION: Option 1. I edited my post above to correct the notes on items 1 and 2. I had reversed what I meant to state. It is the Sprint 595U that is "foolproof", since the ESN of the MC5725 inside is guaranteed to work on Sprint, and Lenovo provides the drivers.

[rkforum]

I have bought a SPRINT mini-PCI card (with a valid ESN that Spring recognizes) per EOMtp's suggestions above.

I now have to modify the BIOS to add this PCI card to the "whitelist".

Does anyone know of a good one-stop shop (link or web page) with the information on how to do this? I've been able to find info on the web but it's been very fragmented.

[EOMtp]

Please read the PM (Private Message) that I sent you.

[rkforum]

Well it was a long journey but I am a happy user of Sprint WWAN services with my X200- and no external dongle!

Many thanks to EOMtp for a bunch of help!

Here is the long journey I went on.

1) I have a new X200, Windows 7, Bios v3.11, I've had a sprint 3G contract for a long time and want to stick with Sprint
2) Off of Ebay, I bought a Sierra wireless 595U external 3G USB modem
3) When I got that I tore it apart to pull out the MC5725 Sierra Wireless mini PCI WWAN card
4) I had to take care of the whitelist BIOS issue. This was tricky, but I ended up having to
* Downgrade to 3.10, via bootable CD that I made
* Then install the modified 3.11 version that would take the sprint card via bootable CD that I made
* before downgrading I tried to do a flash2 /u command but it wouldn't take- it kept saying "can't find FL1 file"
5) I then took the X200 apart and installed the MC5725 card. WARNING! The antenna cables in my X200 were extremely short and plugged into the card at weird angles- I feel like if the computer gets bumped the antenna will pop off, but hopefully they are well nestled beneath the keyboard, etc. and will not move.
6) Immediately, I noticed my computer installing Sierra wireless 595U drivers and in Sprint connection manager that it could "see" the sprint network, it had 4 bars of reception
7) I called Sprint to activate my new card and associate it with my account- they gave me a really hard time, saying "you shouldn't really be able to use the 595U without the CD!" anyway, I just told them to put the new ESN on my account and I'd figure it out and I hung up.
Once they did that, it worked!

AWESOME! SPRINT 3G IN MY X200 WITH NO DONGLE!

EOMtp IS THE MAN, I AM THANKFUL FOR HIS HELP!!!!!


- RKforum

[jongordo8]

I want to do the same thing with my SL500. It has an open WWAN slot, and I want to use Sprints network. Can I order the same card and use the same drivers in this thread and it will work?

[epu]

I am confused. The card you bought off of eBay had a WWAN card (Intel 5350?), and you THEN had to DOWNGRADE your BIOS and the MODIFY the BIOS to recognize the CARD? The implications of messing this up is that your X200 would never work again? How about NEWER LENOVO software (THINKVANTAGE, etc) that may NEED the NEWER BIOS. If you could PM me that would be great. From what I am assuming, this has NOTHING to do with the INTERNAL SIMM? I have an AT&T Broadband Card installed, but I am a SPRINT user, and don't see myself moving from SPRINT any time in the future.


http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid ... ess+MC5725 - THIS one here is ADVERTISED as WORKING with LENOVO. Would I have to make ANY modifications at all?

[epu]

I think I understand this a little better after doing a little more research, but just to clarify, are we saying that no matter WHICH option is chosen, you would DEFINITELY have to MODIFY the BIOS?

[rkforum]

epu- check out the PM I just sent you- rkforum

[jongordo8]

so is this possible with an SL500 using same hardware (a 595u) and drivers?

[stego]

I have a new lenovo x200s
Model type: 7466-5YG, BIOS: 6DET63WW (3.13)

WWAN card type: Sierra MC8781

I now have to modify the BIOS to add this PCI card to the "whitelist".
How I can do it?

Thanks!

[EOMtp]

stego: Read the Private Message (PM) that I sent you.

[stego]

it works!

EOMtp, thanks!!!!!

[forests_gump]

I am a noobie at WWAN, come across this thread, seems that MC5725 (Sprint 595U ) is a cheap option to go 3G, got a few questions:
From my little understanding I presume it support both CDMA2000 & WCDMA 3G, and EDGE.
(that only leaves out TD-CDMA, TD-SCDMA) right?

a) Is MC5725 locked to any network?
b) Is it 3.5G (7.2mbps) or just 3G.
c) How does it compare with Ericsson F3507g? and also Gobi2000?
d) Does MC5725 GPS is a standalone, or Assisted GPS require Mobile Data?

I guess these could be easy questions for you guys... but it seems MC5725 is steal!
So need to know its shortcoming before i make a decision... thks!

[GrandMasterKhan]

Braddah I read this thread. Actually skim, and it reminds me of a layperson attempting to perform heart surgery on himself. BTW, why void the warranty on a high risk excercise where you have no expertise and the probability of success has a large standard deviation? Why not just use a USB dongle?

[forests_gump]

Braddah... thanks for the caution...

It is true that once we open-up the thinkpad, we could be in deep waters...
I actually did LCD panel replacement, rather an easy task.

Thus, what i need help is to understand what WWAN option is currently available and the difference among them.