Mobile Broadband - Using a non Vodafone SIM in a Vodafone Netbook?

[warburtd]

Hi,

I would be incredibly grateful if someone could help me with this.

I bought a Dell Inspiron mini netbook second hand that has a 'Connected by Vodafone' sticker and built-in SIM slot under the battery, but I don't have the Vodafone mobile broadband stuff myself.

I have O2 mobile broadband, but the netbook doesn't recognise the SIM. An O2 guru spent over an hour trying everything to get it to work in the store - including trying the SIM in the built-in SIM slot, uninstalling all Vodafone software, deleting the connections - and still it didn't work.

The only idea he had is that Vodafone hardwired these netbooks to *only* accept Vodafone SIMs, which would be very annoying.

If anyone can help me that'd be great, as it will be some time until I can head to my nearest Vodafone mobile broadband help desk at PC World (and even then they might not know anything).

Thank you!

[Retired-BenJ]

Hi warburtd


I've tried this in my own Dell mini 9

the netbook itself isn't tied to Vodafone however Vodafone mobile connect wont allow this to work.

you can get around this by installing the sony Ericsson Wireless Manager which came on the CD with my mini 9 it also used to be on Dells web site but I can no longer locate it, however it is on Sony Ericsson's

The settings you will need

contract :
APN: internet
username web
password web

Pay as you go normal voice SIM
APN: pp.vodafone.co.uk
username web
password web

Pay as you go old bundle
APN pp.internet
username web
password web

Pay as you go new bundle
APN ppbundle.internet
username web
password web

That should get you up and running!

BenJ
eForum Team

[warburtd]

Thanks for helping, Ben.

Unfortunately I downloaded the software but it only works with a Sony Ericsson modem, which I don't have - just an O2 dongle with SIM.

O2's own Connection Manager software also doesn't recognise it.

I'll see if PC World can sort it out tomorrow...