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veriton · ‎23-06-2011

I have an 18 month contract for Vodafone mobile broadband and am buying a new Lenovo laptop (preferred supplier, probably an X220). It has an integrated "Ericsson F5521gw" option and will run Windows 7 64-bit.

Does anyone know if this will work with my Vodafone SIM? It's quite a new card and I can't find any references to it on the eForum. The Lenovo has some bundled utility software called Think Vantage Access Connections which is supposed to support the card. After my experiences with VMC/VMB I'm kind of thinking it can't be much worse (famous last words!).

<fantasy>I would like to think I can plug my SIM into the laptop, it would recognise the Vodafone network and would just work</fantasy>

Anyone had any experiences of this type of set up (good, bad or ugly!)? TIA!

Simon

veriton · ‎21-07-2011

Here's an update for anyone considering an Lenovo laptop with built-in 3G (or WWAN as it's sometimes called):

I recently bought an X220 with Ericsson F5521gw and Windows 7 64 bit. Vodafone mobile broadband works well on it:

The broadband reception seems much better than when I used to use my K3805-Z (or before that E172) dongle, presumably due to having a larger antenna in the lid.
I didn't need to install VMC or VMB (hurray!) - the Lenovo Access Connections has a Setup Wizard which has an "Other" dropdown list but Vodafone isn't on it - that doens't seem to matter as Windows 7 found a "vodafone UK" connection fine.
If your account doesn't have administrator rights to the PC that's not a problem after the initial configuration (i.e. it asks you for an admin account when you first set it up but not in day to day use).
The X220 user manual shows the SIM card the wrong way up! In fact the cut-off corner has to be visible and the card doesn't push right in - it sticks out about 3mm into the battery compartment (not the greatest design but once you know it's fine).
Windows7 has integrated the mobile broadband stuff which means some software that hasn't been updated doesn't work. In particular even the latest version of Cisco VPN Client (5.0.07.0440 at the time of writing this) WON'T WORK with 3G. There are workarounds though I'm waiting for Cisco to do an update. For an excellent explanation see http://www.customsoftwareframeworks.com/blog/fix-vpn-problems-cellular-win7

Overall I'm delighted with the Lenovo X220 - as a business laptop it's pretty near perfect and having built-in 3G is very convenient. A few other X220 pointers for anyone interested: you can't have an mSATA SSD with the built-in 3G as it uses the same slot, you can only have a webcam with a 2x2 (not 3x3 wireless antenna) due to space constraints and the SATA-III disk drive has to be 7mm high which is currently hard to find as SSD (probably changing over the next 6 months - there are various posts about squeezing a 9.5mm SSD in online).

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mbloch · ‎28-08-2011

thanks Simon

If I get it sorted on the X220 I will let you know.

all the best

mark

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Will Integrated Mobile Broadband (Ericsson F5521gw) on Lenovo X220 work?