Integrated Broadband vs. Hotspot ?

For broadband hardware Verizon offers a USB unit or a Hotspot.

For machines like the T430x Lenovo offers an Inergrated unit, the Sierra Wireless MC7750 - Gobi 4000.

Set aside cost factors and whether I need the Hotspot's ability to feed more than one computer at a time.

Is the Sierra Wireless MC7750 - Gobi 4000 a better, faster, more reliable way of accessing the Verizon network?

Comparisons would be nice.

Thanks.

 

WWAN network technology is always being upgraded. IMO, it's better to use an external device. That is all I have ever used.

I use an AT&T Mobile Hotspot Elevate 4G (Sierra Wireless AirCard 754S). I really like it. I can place it near a window for better reception and connect to it via WiFi. It has it's own battery which lasts about 5 hours when in use. Batteries are easily changed out if you wish to carry a spare. It can also be powered via USB cable (from charger or laptop).

 

my last 3 laptops had WWAN cards but not the current one , to be frankly honest i never ever used them

maybe not being in the states is different but thats just me

 

I have a MiFi 4510L and I really don't like it. It's interface is not user friendly (I have to randomly push the power button until it comes on), the battery lasts maybe 3 hours for me (meaning I have it plugged in most of the time), and it runs hotter than my cell phone. It's also a lot slower than tethering to my cell phone over WiFi or USB.

That said, it's really not that bad because I use it mostly when I'm in not moving around (at the office or in the hotel room). I pull it out on the plane every once in awhile and it's a pain in the to get going in the limited amount of time I have before they close the door on me.

If I were going to be truly mobile with the laptop and constantly using the network, I would want an internal card. Maybe a USB modem, but definitely not the hotspot. You never have to worry about turning it on or keeping the battery charged either. So really it comes down to your use case.

The 4620L looks a lot nicer than my unit though. I have used one of the AT&T units with a similar screen and layout and it wasn't nearly as bad as mine either.

 

In the last years I have connected to the 3G network(s) through a PCMCIA card, USB modem and through my cell phone (hotspot). Now I'm using an internal WWAN card (Ericsson F5521gw) and all I can say - it is (much) better this way - it has better signal than all of the above, it's "integrated" (no need to carry anything else anymore) - and I have yet to install Access Connections because Windows 7 manage the WWAN connection flawless, WWAN connection it's simply a connection in my connections list.

 

Hello,

I have a WWAN card installed on my T420, and it works flawlessly, but using Access Connections - how can I manage WWAN connections using Windows 7? I couldn't find an option to setup a WWAN connection in Networks setup, and decided to simply install Access Connections instead.

I'd prefer not to install AC though - any pointers would be appreciated!

 

I have installed only the WWAN card software driver and I think Windows 7 automatically took care setting up the WWAN connection after I inserted the SIM card. I don't remember doing something special to make it work. I was ready to install AC and this was a pleasant surprise. This is how it looks in Network and Sharing Center:

 

Thanks so much (especially for the screenshot) - I'm going to uninstall AC and see if I can still connect with WWAN!