How to get your iPhone SIM Card working on the Gobi WWAN (plus how to fix those "No SIM Card" errors)

I got my iPhone 3G SIM card working on my m11x's Gobi WWAN modem this morning!

Now, I'm assuming that this isn't a ban-able subject matter, since no hacking/jailbreaking/unlocking is involved (I have a 3G with iPhone OS 3.1.3 and the latest baseband, so there's simply no way I can do any of these things on my phone at this point). All that's involved is setting up a new profile in the Dell Mobile Broadband (DMB) software with specific settings. Oh, and having a valid AT&T data account in good standing, of course

Also, I haven't tested this method with non-iPhone SIM cards, but I'm assuming that the new profile info is unnecessary, and that the "NO SIM CARD" work around is all you need to do to get them working.

First things first: like many of you, I would sometimes get random "No SIM Card Found" errors from the Dell software, and other times it would appear to be locked into Verizon Wireless. The fix is to switch networks in the software, then switch back. To do this, click on the Down arrow in the upper left hand corner of DMB. Go to "Settings," then "Network Selection." If your DMB is like mine, you'll see four networks: AT&T, Generic, Unknown, and Verizon Wireless. Pick any inactive network, click "Load," wait several seconds for the settings to take effect, then go back and load the AT&T network. You should be good to go!

Now, here's how I got my iPhone SIM card working after applying the above fix. From the DMB home screen, go Down Arrow > Settings > Profile Manager. Click "New" on the right hand side. Input the following information in the "General" tab (and keep in mind IT IS CASE SENSITIVE):

Profile Name: [Your choice]
Carrier Name: AT&T
Username: [email protected]
Password: CINGULAR1
Authentication Type: Automatic
APN: wap.cingular
PDP Type: IP

Leave the "VPN" tab blank. Click "OK." You'll go back to DMB home, and your new profile ought to be the one selected (if not, click on the black drop-down menu and select it). Then, click "Connect" and you're done!

Currently getting 2.3 Mbps download speed.

Please let me know if this doesn't work for anyone else, or if you need any other details.

ETA: One other thing: after switching networks to work around the "NO SIM CARD" error, sometimes my DMB would disable the radio. I was only able to switch back to AT&T after reenabling the radio first; I got an error trying to switch with the radio disabled.

 

OMG you freakin ROCK!! just tried it out and it works beautifully...so glad i still opted to get the WWAN, as i knew SOMEONE would figure out how to get the iphone sim working.

oh yea, might want to edit the username...should be Username: [email protected]

thanks again...i'd rep you 100x if i could...hehe

 

Good catch! Yours is definitely the proper username, and I've edited the original post. What's funny though is that I inputed it incorrectly in my profile... and it still worked!?

 

hmm, that's odd...wonder if it would work even without the username and password. man 2.3Mbps...what city are you in? i'm at work in downtown, los angeles, and i'm only getting like 900kbps.

 

DC. I just moved here from San Francisco, and the improvement in the AT&T network alone made the move worthwhile.

ETA: Yes, even worth the blizzard(s).

 

Thank You So Much

 

anyone been able to get the GPS working? When I check the status, all i get is "Searching"

edit: could just be a reception problem, as i'm not getting gps signal on my iphone neither. i'll try it again later when i'm outside

 

Just to clarify, there's nothing special about an iPhone's SIM card. SIM cards are an industry standard.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subscriber_Identity_Module

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GSM

 

I just wish Canada had this option

 

While I'm sure you're right about there being no physical difference, I'm fairly certain that iPhones operate with a different APN than other AT&T phones, so you need specific settings to be able to use their SIM cards on external devices.

But you're right insofar as when the first review of the m11x said that "iPhone SIM cards will not work on the WWAN," the issue was actually that the software didn't come pre-configured correctly rather than the problem being anything inherent to an iPhone SIM card.

 

Nooooooo!!!!!

I left this option out as I thought they wouldn't work at all!

Can anyone point me to what I need to buy now?
And is it impossible because the sim card slot hardware is missing too?

 

Can't get GPS working either.

On the plus side, SMS works great!

 

All the M11x have the SIM card slot. It is the small memory card lookin slot above the big memory card lot on the left side of the laptop.

You can also buy the Gobi card at the Dell website for $130. The problem is if you do not opt to get the Gobi card installed originally, the M11x will not come with an antenna installed in the system for the WWAN.

Would have to talk to Dell or Alienware reps to see what you can do at that point if you decided to add in a WWAN Gobi.

 

I read that the European models don't have the antenna installed at all since WWAN wasn't an option.
But are you sure this is true of NA models as well?

 

To be clear: they all get the SIM card slot, but the slot is useless (unless you want a fancy warmer for your SIM card) unless you specifically order the antenna.

 

guess it was probably the area I was in that caused slower speeds...ran another speed test from another one of our floors and I got the following:



having this capability of the WWAN is great for connecting remotely for work. the occasional mulitplayer mw2 or sfiv game on the go is awesome too

 

What happens if you receive a call or text while your SIM is in your laptop? Is it possible to use the laptop to make and receive calls? o.0

 

I can confirm this works on the Iphone 2G sim card!! I'm typing on my M11x with this Edge connection right now! sooo happy!

Also, even though this is only edge and not 3G, I am getting 7.2 mbps... wow. I'm from the Dallas Metro area. well, it jumps from 25 kbps to 7.2 mbps. It is extremely fast though.

thank you, thank you.

Primitive, may I ask you what program did you use on your m11x to use sms?

again, thanks a lot man!

 

Ok, since I didn't get the Gobi, and thus, have no antenna.... can anyone recommend a USB adapter?

Will any one that is AT&T compatible work and set up similar to what's posted above?

 

I have an unlocked iphone 3gs so I don't have the iphone plan. I'm surprised it costs, at the lowest, $70 a month to pay for it. Too bad I can't use the gobi in my m11x. Still waiting for a good, cheap data plan. -_-

 

Haze, my data plan for the iPhone 2g is 20 bucks a month. The data plan for the iPhone 3g is 40 bucks a month. Don't know where you get 70. Actual phone usage plans, eg not data, is a different story.

 

Are we capable of installing the antenna ourself? I didn't choose to have the WWAN installed but now I want it after reading this thread lol.

 

So you can buy a dell gobi or 5530 card of ebay, unhook one of the antennas from the wifi card (which means you get at max wifi-G rather than wifi-N) plug it into the wwan card, bang in the sim and you are all set. I'm watching F1 practise via it right now in the office works perfectly.

 

When you click on the Down Arrow on DMB, select "SMS Client" halfway down.

 

So the N wifi card has two antennae?
How easy is it to unhook the antenna from one device to the other and does it matter which one?

This seems like what I need to do.

 

@primitive

hmmmm, it doesn't seem to connect anymore and no settings have been changed since last night. I did check for the radio to be on. When I click on connect, this error message comes up:

If you are trying to establish a connection by wireless modem, the profile's APN setting may not be correctly set. For more information on correct profile settings, contact your service provider or consult the provider's documentation.

I'm going to try to play around a little and see. Are you getting the same error message?

 

Same thing happened to me this morning. I got it to work after a) running DMB, b) changing the Windows settings for the Gobi WWAN to mirror the right APN information, then c) connecting to AT&T through Windows with DMB still open (when Windows connected, suddenly DMB showed it as connected as well).

 

Thx Primitive, just worked for me again. +rep!

 

Can you guys tell me the exact Gobi WWAN card model that you guys have installed for AT&T?
I see a few on ebay, am unsure which to get.

 

DW5620 (EV-DO-HSPA) Mobile Broadband Mini-Card

 

btw, for everyone's info.

Built directly from the DMB software, with the sms client, you can send and receive sms through your laptop.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/UNLOCKED-UNDP-1...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item439dba45a0

Would this work?

 

im using the 5530 and the slot is bios locked.

 

actually not bios lock. I tried with Dell 5600 wwan card and it wont work.
Then I tried with Sierra MC8780 card and it work.
I am not sure about the 5530 card, but I am sure Sierra card will work.
Maybe they just lock all Dell card except for that Dell 5620 which they are using in the configuration..

 

I wonder if this is some sort of driver issue then.

I will try with the sierra card again tonight. I tried a sierra wireless card and it didn't work.

Neil.

 

guys, i need some help.
I followed the instructions from the OP, but it gives me an error when i try to connect through the novatel client.
If i try to connect through windows, it says the apn is wrong.
What do?

 

Guys, can I use any SIM for any operator in M11x or it will only work with Verizon and AT&T ?
I want to be able to use it in any country

 

Go to your network control panel, right-click on the WWAN adapter, and go to "properties." You ought to be able to set the APN there using the settings at the beginning of this thread.

 

There's a "generic" setting whose region is listed as "EU" but not a soul has confirmed whether it works in Europe--let alone Asia, South America, etc.--or not.

 

That's what I'd like to know too, will any (ie international) SIM cards work.

 

If I have a unlimited data plan with my iphone, will I be charged if I use the sim card to access the internet using Gobi on the m11x?

 

Can anyone tell me if I can use my normal IPhone data plan or will I need to purchase a seperate data plan to do this? By normal data plan I mean the plan required to own an Iphone. Thanks in advance fellas!

 

Check with AT&T

 

Any chance this would work with Rogers in Canada? Don't have an M11x but this would be a huge selling point.

 

Would this work with my T-mobile SIM? I have unlimited data plan and it works on my iPhone.

 

I've mentioned it before in similar threads, but if you don't have the antenna/card, and are willing to jailbreak your phone, an app called PDAnet works incredibly well to tether the iPhone to any laptop.

 

Oh cool! thanks dude

 

Everyone should really be carefull and check their terms and conditions, some mobile phone company's can disconnect you and then charge you for the reamining period for breaking the terms and conditions.

As some companys specifically state that if you use your iphone for tethering you are breaking the terms and conditions.

If you check around the various forums some people have been disconnected and been charged the remainder of their contract.

Check here:
O2 threatens to disconnect customers using iPhone tethering feature for free | Mobile news

 

I've researched this a bit for AT&T, and have yet to find a report where anyone had an issue. I wouldn't suggest gaming over 3G and making a giant difference in how much data you are using--but just common web browsing won't be noticeable.

 

latency with 3G networks makes gaming over 3G not ideal.

I've been using my UK Tmobile SIM for tethered access for over 3 years now, one month when I had a problem with my DSL line I used over 100G and never got a single question or bill for it.

Things are changing though thanks to stupid people streaming stupid things to their iphones.

Neil.