WWAN/GPS alternative to ControlPoint

I'm really starting to hate the bloat of controlpoint, but I have a 5530 WWAN card, so need some software to control it, while searching the Dell support site I cam across R198215.EXE which is a Sony Ericsson Wireless Manager for 5530 cards, this is actually intended for use on the Inspiron Mini 910, but it works a treat on the E6500 too.

The download is 72MB but it only seems to install 5MB of software (you could probably trim that down by removing language dlls), you only need to run the software when you actually want to use the card.

I even got the GPS functioning which is more than even the factory installed drivers could manage, the COM7: port was always silent before, now it happily spits out NMEA sentences

Now to remove as much of ControlPoint as I can get away with, hopefully without having to reinstall XP again.

 

the latitudes have gps built in?

 

Only if you choose the 3G minicard (5530 for HSDPA, 5720 for EVDO) though the GPS doesn't rely on having an active SIM.

 

bugger iv ordered mine already ! lol that would have been a cool feature but one that i probably wouldnt use much as my n95 and iphone have gps an once tomtom comes out for iphone that should be fine

im gonna have a look an see if i can find the card for sale seperately as i remember there was a empty wwan slot in my d820 so no doubt the e6500 i have ordered will have the same empty slot

 

I ordered the 5530 card for my E4200 separately since it wasn't a factory option when I ordered the system. As long as your system was prewired (I think everything other than the E4200 is always pre-wired, for the E4200 it's an option) you should be able to install it on your own.

 

Did you make any special settings? I tried to get it work on my E6400, but it wouldn't recognize the WWAN-Card

 

It's not something I have tried. I presume you put it in the right slot (front left corner when you open the base) and connect the white antenna cable to the connector labeled "main" (white triangle), and connect the black antenna cable to the connector labeled "aux" (black triangle). Did you check in the BIOS to make sure it is enabled? Do you see any device in Device Manager?

John

 

Have you got the drivers installed for the card itself?
Have you got 5530 or 5720 WWAN?

In device manager I see the following

5530 HSPA Mobile Broadband Minicard Device
5530 HSPA Mobile Broadband Minicard (COM6)
5530 HSPA Mobile Broadband Minicard GPS Port (COM7)
5530 HSPA Mobile Broadband Minicard Modem
5530 HSPA Mobile Broadband Minicard NetworkAdapter
5530 HSPA Mobile Broadband Minicard PC SC Port

Then rather than installing control point, I Installed the Dell/Sony Wireless Manager instead of ControlPoint and it recognised the WWAN card and "just worked".

 

Slightly off-topic, but the UK Dell 5530 card seems to be tied to Vodafone. is that the service you are using or is the card actually unlocked?

John

PS: Dell have just added a 5530 driver to the E6400 downloads. The info include:

 

Dell *try* to sell a Vodafone contract, but the card isn't locked at all.

I first used an orange SIM (not 3G enabled, but it would do GPRS and SMS) and then settled for T-Mobile (other networks don't offer PAYG on 3G data without expecting a minimum monthly spend - I only need occasional access, £2 per day that you use it with 3GB per month cap suits me, you have to buy their £50 Huawei dongle, but I just put the dongle on the shelf and put the SIM straight into the E6500).

Not had any blue screens, sometimes the GPS is reluctant to restart after hibernation, I'll try them, I had noticed they didn't provide 5530 drivers from the website before.

/update/

Just looked and they are the drivers I already had. I think they pushed them first for the Inspiron 910, so I snarfed them.