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3g PCI Modems

S

SteveBz

n00b
Joined
Oct 12, 2009
Messages
8
Hi does anyone have any experience of 3g PCI modems (rather than the USB ones)? I can only find these:

http://www.sierrawireless.com/product/oemmodules.aspx.

Which look as though they are supposed to be pre-loaded into laptops, but you can find them all over ebay for a few dollars.

I'd like to put one into my desktop for testing purposes. They say they don't use SIM cards, so I assume you need a separate SIM card reader on another card.

Maybe I'm not fully understanding the architecture here :confused:. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Regards

Steve
 
Hi Dan, I don't know. I guess I was hoping PCI was PCI was PCI, do think it isn't? You think that maybe there are versions for laptops and desktops?

I've written to the supplier, but I've not yet received a reply.

Regards

Steve
 
One of these will allow you to use a common mini-PCIe 3G card (from your provider?) for notebooks in a desktop PC if you have a free PCIe slot.

And no, PCI and PCIe are completely different.
 
Hi Guys,

Thanks for the responses. I may have got confused between PCI and PCI express (PCIe), but the space on my motherboard is PCIe and these cards are PCI express mini, which as far as I can see from Wikipedia, is compatible with PCI express.

So I think they'll fit my machine, but I'd just like more than one choice to buy from. Does anyone know of another supplier, or have a preference of one model over another?

Regards.
 
As I said above, to fit a miniPCI-express card (very small, little bigger then a quarter) in a desktops full-size PCI-express slot, you will need the adapter I linked to.
 
Many miniPCIe cards are actually USB devices (including most wireless and 3g devices - and the ones you linked to). miniPCIe includes USB lines, while PCIe proper does not. So you may as well just use the USB dongle... If you really want to, miniPCIe to USB adapters are available.

Also all of these Sierra devices are designed for use with Qualcomm 'CDMA' networks. If you want one compatible with GSM you're probably better off with a different product. While one of these models claims to support GSM, you're right, I don't see any way to load a SIM card so I'm not sure how that would work.
 
criccio said:
As I said above, to fit a miniPCI-express card (very small, little bigger then a quarter) in a desktops full-size PCI-express slot, you will need the adapter I linked to.
Click to expand...
OK, I can see how to buy it. Thanks for that. The website's a bit cheap and cheerful.
 
keenan said:
While one of these models claims to support GSM, you're right, I don't see any way to load a SIM card so I'm not sure how that would work.
Click to expand...
So does anyone know of another product? Most of these products are either 'emebedded' ie designed to work with a specific machine (laptop), or chipped (designed to work for a specific carrier).

I'd like an unrestricted card that I can just insert into my desktop with the SIM card of my choice. I'd rather use a PCIe card than a USB, because I already have too many gadgets protruding from my box (Ie Memory stick, Blootooth dongle, voice-over-ip dongle, webcam, printer, Ir dongle, external backup drive, etc etc etc) but three unused PCIe slots.
 
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You're going to need an antenna sticking out the back of your machine regardless so I don't see the big deal. What's the VOIP dongle for (curious)?

I haven't seen any GSM cards available on the open market. The Sierra one that supports GSM might work if you can figure out how to add the SIM card, there must be a way, but I don't want to do the research for you.

You might find some PCI/PCIe cards, but they'll be expensive, there's not really any reason to use 3G for a desktop box for most people, so the market is small.
 
Hi Keenan, thanks for this.

You're saying I need an antenna because otherwise the steel case will shield the signal I guess. Good point.

The VOIP dongle is to to connect my cordless house phone to Skype. That way people can call my landline number or Skype and I still pickup the same device. It's called uConnect. It's a UK device, but I'm sure there must be equivalents elsewhere. I can't remember where I got it, but here's a link:

http://http://www.digital-systems.co.uk/ProductView.aspx?productId=10799

I bought it a few years ago. You can probably buy less bulky ones now.

Regards
 
SteveBz said:
I bought it a few years ago. You can probably buy less bulky ones now.
Click to expand...
Oh interesting. I thought most people used either a Skype phone or a SIP ATA for doing that, but this looks like a really cheap way to accomplish the same thing. I'm in the overkill camp myself and run a full SIP PBX at my place :p
 
Cool. We moved to Brazil a few years ago, and we needed a way to keep the weight of our carry-on baggage down, maintain our UK telephone number and reuse our UK plugged B&O phone and this was ideal.
 
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