3G (HSDPA) mod

I've made another video and taken more pictures that cover a 3G (HSDPA) mod... Enjoy!

http://tnkgrl.wordpress.com/2008/10/28/ ... one-hsdpa/

This is part 3.
Part 4 is here: http://aspireoneuser.com/forum/viewtopi ... 43&t=12212
Part 2 is here: http://aspireoneuser.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=1389
Part 1 is here: http://aspireoneuser.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=1280

 

nice work !


I'm going to have a go at this. Anyone got a source for the parts in the uk ?

mouser has a 0679109001 Mini PCIe connector but it seems to be a different height to the 0679109000 that tnkgrl reccomends

 

I checked RS-components but they have only 3.9mm and 5.9mm connectors. I did not found yet 9mm version - still looking...

I have one question only - pin 20 - what it's doing?? Why you have to cover it?? EDIT: Pin 20 switching the radio ON/OFF. In AA1 I believe is connected to Wireless switch on the front of the Netbook. Need further investigation to clarify this...

SIM card slot - can I use WWAN card with built-in slot and avoid installing separate one?? EDIT: According to every info I found in Internet modem with biuld-in SIM card slot will act as EVDO modems which do not require any SIM to operate. In that case Novatel modem will work

Can Dell 5520 be used instead of Sierra Wireless?? Is there the same request to isolate pin 20?? EDIT: AFAIK Dell is Sierra Wireless based. In that case it will work with separate SIM card slot like explained by "tnkgrl"...

Power circuit - We can make short between two pads http://www.flickr.com/photos/tnkgrl/298 ... 718788110/ but I understand there suppose to be SMD fuse. What value of fuse?? Did someone knows what is the current consumption for WWAN modems?? EDIT: If I'm not right with pin 20 and Wireless switch we can use those contact to activate and deactivate modem. All we need is extra ON/OFF switch...


I found Novatel modem with SIM card slot already build-in to WWAN card. Believe this one suppose to work w/o extra SIM card slot which can be difficult to find: http://www.mobilx.hu/index.php?target=p ... ct_id=6381 The same modem is mentioned under JKKMobile article - I missed that, sorry...

There is more info on JKK Mobile website: http://jkkmobile.blogspot.com/2008/10/h ... -m912.html - it is for different type of modem but worth trying I believe...


Here I found 5.9mm connector: http://uk.rs-online.com/web/search/sear ... 683#header - in other topic 3G related I found information 5.9mm should be enough. I'm going to test it but have to wait to purchase connector as they are out of stock ... Height of this connector possibly is OK when someone is planning to use mentioned above WWAN card with SIM card slot which is extending size of the unit...

 

Might be Mr Thinko from Thickotown,Thickoland but can't you just use the SIM socket and mini-PCIe connector from inside the original modem ? Obviously you'd unsolder it from their circuit board but if you're happy soldering 34 mini-pins then that should not be an issue !!!

Also, if you have the modem card with the built in SIM you can't easy swap them unless you have a screwdriver handy (ie if you have the Vodafone tarriff, I have 2 cards -if I use up one, I can swap to the other) - it would be far simpler to use the provided SIM slot behind the battery. But that's just me.

 

I do not see any problems with soldering. It's just a matter of parts availability. I do not have an access to original modem mentioned by tnkgrl then I have to buy one anyway. Easiest solution will be to get modem with build-in slot for SIM card. As I'm using only one provider it will be good enough for me as I do not have to swap cards...

ATM I'm waiting for miniPCIe connector stock. I have to check 5.9mm will be OK or not just to clarify what type of parts I need...

 

Been thinking about switches for this and other various internal devices hanging of an internal USB hub. Both in terms of power saving and killing wirless activity for flights etc. They need to be easily accessible but very small and unobtrusive as well as not easy to catch and switch accidentally

It seems to me the neatest way to go woul be to get 4 way (or more) DIP switch mounted in the base of the Aspire in such a way that it is flush to a rectangular cut out in the bottom of the machine.

Just psyching myself up to actually do it though. I don't mind doing internal mods where things are out of sight out of mind but i'm a little wary of taking a dremel and file to the outside of my case in case i stuff it up :?

 

I still believe 3G ON/OFF on the front of AA1 is actually switching the radio ON and OFF. Someone already reported (probably rory) that switch is fully operational if you flick it with cover open - even LED is working and system is reporting switching 3G ON/OFF. If I'm right this switch will only activate and deactivate radio part of modem (pin 20) and modem as unit will remain active in the system but radio will not work...

 

Not as far as I can tell... It's quite possible that after adding some more missing parts (including a couple of clearly missing transistors) the wireless on/off switch can be used to turn the 3G card on/off along with the WiFi card (perhaps even via pin 20 which I taped), but I was unable to get it to work!

Then again I didn't try very hard

As is, the wireless on/off switch did not do anything to the 3G card. Ultimately, this is not really a problem since the 3G card is easily switched on/off in software.

 

Interesting.
Now all we need is the missing transistors.

 

That's very good. But look - WiFi card works the same way - it's "visible" in the system even if is switched OFF. Possibly 3G card will behave the same way - will stay available in the system but will switch radio OFF. Probably that's why you taped pin 20 which in normal switch position receives "radio OFF" instruction from whatever. Taping pin 20 will cut this signal and 3G card will operate normally - that's why I'll be testing my theory just after getting HSDPA modem

 

No, the 3G card was not detected by Windows (not visible in the device manager) until I taped pin 20... This was the case regardless of the state of the wireless switch!

Besides, sometimes I want to be able to turn the WiFi card off but keep the 3G card on, or vice versa - unless the wireless switch changes between 4 states (all off, WiFi on + 3G off, WiFi off + 3G on, all on) this is not going to happen

 

As I understand things, that's what the switch does, move to right to toggle wifi on/off and move to left to toggle 3G on/off

 

Hmmm... The switch on my AA1 can only slide in one direction - to the right! This turns WiFi on/off. It can't slide to the left of its rest position (it's spring-loaded) - perhaps the 3G-equipped AA1's have a switch that slides in both direction?

 

http://www.aspireoneuser.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=3070&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=10#p31516

 

That's truth. Switch is blocked by piece of plastic as in any of AA1 models there is no 3G card - in that case sliding to left is pointless/blocked. In one of the posts user rory reported sliding/testing switch with AA1 open - it's showing on screen 3G ON and 3G OFF. That's why I'm almost sure this switch is activating and deactivating pin 20 with some sort of voltage/signal/whatever...

 

That's very interesting... I'm going to take a look and see if I can get the switch to work for 3G. I'll keep you posted!

 

Hi tnkgrl!

First very impressive work! I wish I was as electronically gifted as you are Well that said, I have taken a gamble and tried the mod, well not the whole mod, I just soldered the mini pci-e adapter to the board, the installed the bridge to power the mini pci-e port. I don't have a 3G mini pci-e card yes but I do want to try if my soldering was correct so I thought I install the wireless adapter in that slot, I turn the One on. It boots to vista but in the device manager nothing shows up! I then tried to tape of pin 20, but still no luck. Is my soldering bad or do I need to tape of another pin on the acer one wifi adapter?

Thank you for you response and keep up the good work!

 

If you live in some countries, telcos will give you a duplicate SIM for a small charge. A Spanish friend of mine just had to ask Vodafone and they sent him one. In the UK the only company that will do this is Voda and even then only on corporate tariffs that are so expensive you may as well have two separate contracts.

 

Hello, hello. Did anyone managed to get 9mm miniPCIe socket?? Can someone also confirm 5.9mm will be good enough or not??

Suggestions appreciated...

 

No the 5.9mm mini PCI express connector is not high enough. The PCI card hits the case way before the card lays flat.

Did anyone get a spare 9mm connectors?

Or does anyone know how to get Mouser to sell # 538-67910-9000 in a qty of less then 660?