The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Sim card slot for XPS 17?

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by firewill66, Apr 28, 2011.

  1. firewill66

    firewill66 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    23
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I have an AT&T air card that I would like to install in my new laptop. Would any of you know if there is a slot for a sim card? Also would it work if I just transferred the card into the computer? Thanks for your help!
     
    firewill66, Apr 28, 2011
    #1
  2. stonetrap

    stonetrap Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    60
    Messages:
    178
    Likes Received:
    41
    Trophy Points:
    41
    I'm UK based so not 100% sure on this but isn't the air card an external device? Or is it simply a sim card that use you use to get data from the celluar network?
    From the sounds of it though you need a WWAN card. It is a configurable option on the XPS 17 although can be tricky to fit internally after it's been build.
    Check under the battery, there should be a sim card slot.
    Also check out the Dell driver download page for communication and first off download the firmware. If you can install it then download the software and insert your sim.
    Otherwise you'll be looking at one of two options
    An external adapter
    A phone call to Dell and a visit from the engineer to fit a card which could be rather pricey.
    Do you have a full copy of your system spec I could see?
     
    stonetrap, Apr 28, 2011
    #2
  3. Scott_RC-TEK

    Scott_RC-TEK Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    970
    Messages:
    829
    Likes Received:
    13
    Trophy Points:
    56
    The SIM card slot is in the corner of the battery bay just behind where the battery mates to the system board wall. Below is a photo of the exposed board on the XPS 17 L702x showing the SIM card slot location.

    Scott

    [​IMG]
     
    Scott_RC-TEK, Apr 29, 2011
    #3
  4. ewensimpson

    ewensimpson Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    27
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    I'm in the UK, and my friend's L502x arrived with a Vodafone SIM card already in the slot. Apparently, the laptop only gives him the option to use the Vodafone mobile network, which seems like a bit of a pain if you wanted an alternative.
     
    ewensimpson, Apr 29, 2011
    #4
  5. zygotic

    zygotic Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    50
    Messages:
    160
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Has he tried other SIMs? Mine didn't come with a Voda SIM but is not operator locked. Somebody else here did get the SIM but still it wasn't operator locked and he could use other SIMs...
     
    zygotic, Apr 29, 2011
    #5
  6. ewensimpson

    ewensimpson Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    27
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    I'll have to get him to try a SIM from another network to verify.
     
    ewensimpson, Apr 29, 2011
    #6
  7. firewill66

    firewill66 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    23
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I think I'll just get an external usb one since I didn't order it when I configured my laptop. Oh well!
     
    firewill66, Apr 29, 2011
    #7
  8. stonetrap

    stonetrap Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    60
    Messages:
    178
    Likes Received:
    41
    Trophy Points:
    41
    You can fit the extra antennae yourself and purchase the WWAN card. It's not the easiest task as it involves getting behind the LCD but it is a tidier option.
    Not sure about cheaper though but you would be able to use any WWAN card and save money that way. I'm guessing they're pretty cheap on eBay, I know the antennae are about $3 for the pair
     
    stonetrap, Apr 30, 2011
    #8