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Dell™ Wireless 5520 built-in 3G/HSDPA

  • 26-10-2007 5:01pm
    #1
    Mr. Skeffington
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 922 ✭✭✭


    Just wondering about this option on Dell's 1330 Laptop:

    Mobile Broadband

    Dell™ Wireless 5520 built-in 3G/HSDPA incl. Vodafone Mobile Broadband (£25/mth)* - UK [add € 169.40 or €6/month1

    It quotes a sterling amount for the contract by Vodafone when configuring the laptop on the eire site, does this mean that its only available to UK customers? Also if this option is selected is the card internal? And would it be better to have the card built in rather than use one of the USB type 3g modems offered by vodafone, 3 & o2?

    Thanks in advance for the advice.


Comments

  • #2
    gunsofbrixton
    Closed Accounts Posts: 162 ✭✭gunsofbrixton


    Mr. Skeffington wrote: »
    Just wondering about this option on Dell's 1330 Laptop:


    It quotes a sterling amount for the contract by Vodafone when configuring the laptop on the eire site, does this mean that its only available to UK customers?

    I have a bit of experience with this so i'll pay it forward. It is availible in Ireland. You buy the card and it is then up to you to select the operator Dell will put you in touch with vodafone but there is nothing stopping you using O2/3 etc. so basically the WWAN card is not locked to any operator. You can easily buy just the sim contract and save yourself the cost of the Heawuai USB modems which i think are around €100 whether the internal card is better than the USB option depends on use certaintly the USB is more flexible in terms of the ability to swap between PC's but you can't beat the internal for the minimum of fuss

    The card is located beside the wifi card in the communications panel on the base of the laptop. The grey/black lead is the antenna which runs up behind the screen and it therefore connects on the card when it is inserted in the laptop.

    For a more economical option and because i previously owned an M1210 i transferred the the previous WWAN card(Dell 5505 HSDPA) from that laptop to my new m1330 with no problems.

    If you go to ebay.co.uk and search for Dell 5505 you'll see you can pick one up for around €65 more than half price what Dell want. Installation is easy card clicks in and you connect the antenna, viola. Mobile broadband

    However the newer 5520 wireless card may be more future proof i really don't that one but with the slow rollout of mobile broadband i reckon the 5505 card will be good for a couple of years


  • #3
    Mr. Skeffington
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 922 ✭✭✭Mr. Skeffington


    Hi Guns of Brixton,

    Firstly thanks for the reply it is very helpful, I just have a few more questions you may be able to answer for me:

    1) When you mention: "the grey/black lead is the antenna which runs up behind the screen and it therefore connects on the card when it is inserted in the laptop" Is the lead inside the machine sandwiched between the LCD and the outer casing or is it visible

    2) How would you rate the M1330 machine, a friend of mine is thinking of buying one, anything that you would reccomend spec wise.

    Thanks again for your help.

    Skeff


  • #4
    gunsofbrixton
    Closed Accounts Posts: 162 ✭✭gunsofbrixton


    1> the lead is inside the laptop screen and is not visible. The sim card goes into a slot underneath where the battery goes. The Dell 5505/5520 WWAN card is easily installed from the base of the laptop remove the panel with a big C (for communications) in there you'll find the Wifi card and beside it the slot for a WWAN card also there will be a loose cable/antenna to connect it up.

    2> i really think the m1330 is the best laptop dell have made its the perfect compromise between power/size/portability out there. I got the LED screen and was really amazed at its thiness but also the brightness of the screen which is noticably brighter than anything i've used before.

    If your friend is not a gamer the intergrated GFX option will do most things and don't get too hung up on the proccessor power do however invest in 2gb of RAM.


  • #5
    xadacka
    Closed Accounts Posts: 35 ✭xadacka


    Only came across this now, but ill reply anyways

    The built in 3G is beside the wifi card inside the laptop, its mini pci-e, heres a guide


    The one dell are selling now appears to be locked to vodafone, but im not 100% sure....
    I bought a dell xps m1530 last week, amazing laptop, its the bigger version of the m1330, i didnt buy the 3g option but i am going to buy one on ebay, unlocked, and buy a 3 sim =]


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