Express Card

Question

Level 1

5 points

Express Card

I have the old 15 inch powerbook and live in the country in Spain. Not having a direct telephone line, I have to use the PCMCIA 3G vodafone mobile solution for getting on to the internet. I only have 2 neighbours and they too do not have telephone lines). I have just purchased the 15 inch Macbook pro... and notice that it does not have the PCMCIA slot any more.I must admit I thought I was just buying an updated version of the old system..... I have promised my daughter the old notebook. Is there anything I can do... Is there an adaptor to go from Express card to PCMCIA... otherwise I am screwed??!! Regards, Stuart

Power Mac G4 and PowerBook G4, Mac OS X (10.4.8), Airport in Tower. A Express in Book

Posted on Nov 27, 2006 12:14 PM

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Answer 1

Nov 27, 2006 12:54 PM in response to Alcanara

Yes, what you can do is to buy a new Vodafone Mobile Connect card. Vodafone Spain has a new model which actually is a Novatel Merlin XU870 ExpressCard/34. This will work fine with your Vodafone SIM card and you MBP.

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Answer 2

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Nov 27, 2006 12:55 PM in response to Alcanara

I would check out www.evdoinfo.com to find out what ExpressCard/34 options are currently available that would work in your area.

As an alternative there are a few USB based options:

http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/wireless/evdo-usb-modem-101846.php
http://www.everythingusb.com/sprint_usb720.html
http://www.fklt.com/product-usb.php
http://www.everythingusb.com/elanu111_usb_cardreader.html
http://sewelldirect.com/usb-to-pcmcia-wireless-adapter.asp
http://jkontherun.blogs.com/jkontherun/2006/07/usbto_pcmciaa.html

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Answer 3

Nov 27, 2006 1:01 PM in response to Kappy

Kappy… EVDO is not yet available in Spain.

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Answer 4

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Nov 27, 2006 1:22 PM in response to infinite vortex

Ned,

What do you use? And is this a limitation in Spain or throughout Europe?

If you can't use the USB EVDO modems, are you able to use specific PCMCIA cards that may work in one of the USB-to-PCMCIA card adapters?

This is a question that arises often given the dirth of ExpressCard/34 options for Intel Laptops.

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Answer 5

Nov 27, 2006 1:57 PM in response to Kappy

I've been using either a, now don't laugh, a GPRS connection via my mobile phone else a UTMS/3G connection via a Vodafone (acrtually a GlobeTrotter) PCMCIA card. Problem is, now that's I've just upped to an MBP I'm probably going to do likewise with my 3G connection and go to a HSDPA/3G+ connection.

Unfortunately, no EVDO in Spain. Whether it's a European-wide thing I have no idea.

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Answer 6

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Nov 27, 2006 2:12 PM in response to infinite vortex

So, then, you're basically using the cell phone as the modem and connecting to the computer via USB (I assume?)

I assume you could use a 3G PCMCIA card if you had a PCMCIA slot or USB adapter?

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Answer 7

Nov 27, 2006 2:42 PM in response to Kappy

Well… for GPRS, the quick and dirties, I use my modile phone. However, for all other high speed connections I used to use a PCMCIA card in my PowerBook. Now, I'll probably end up upgrading both my mobile and ExpressCard/34 in the new year.

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Answer 8

Alcanara Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 28, 2006 9:49 AM in response to infinite vortex

Thank you Ned.... I will look out for this new card. I must say I feel embarrassed in that I do not have a clue what this new card format is.... can you or someone else recommend where I might read up on it. I've done the obvious searches and have not found much

Thanks for all your help anyway

regards

Stuart

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Answer 9

Alcanara Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 28, 2006 10:10 AM in response to Alcanara

Great Help now looking for the card for the vodafone option.

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Answer 10

Nov 28, 2006 12:12 PM in response to Alcanara

On the Vodafone Spain web site what you're after is the "Express Card Tajeta Datos" which in reality is a Novatel Merlin XU870 and it's 167€ plus 200 points.

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Answer 11

Alcanara Author

Level 1

5 points

Dec 4, 2006 6:16 AM in response to infinite vortex

Ned, I contacted Vodafone Spain... and they did not know anything about this....my spanish is not good but I got the gist. You seem quite sure in your reponse.... do you have any links that may be helpful. regards

Stuart

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Answer 12

Dec 4, 2006 7:27 AM in response to Alcanara

Those silly stool samples! If you go to the points catalogue for business users…

http://tienda.vodafone.es/buscador_empresas.html?programapuntos=Si&dispempr=Si

… you'll find it there.

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Answer 13

Alcanara Author

Level 1

5 points

Dec 4, 2006 10:33 AM in response to infinite vortex

Hi Ned,

I looked at the card you mention in your link... It does not look like a express 34 card.... it looks like a normal PCMCIA card.....In fact the measurements it quotes is 54mm wide which is PCMCIA..... Are you sure you gave me the right link.... Sorry to be a pain. My local Vodafone office is in Mazarron and they are PHONE people.. not particularly technical...HELP???!!!

Cheers

Stuart

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Answer 14

Dec 4, 2006 12:22 PM in response to Alcanara

http://www.vodafone.es/Vodafone/EmpresasPS/EmpresasPSNew/0,,31102,00.html

If you note the model it's a Novatel Merlin XU870 which is an ExpressCard/34 card.

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Answer 15

Alcanara Author

Level 1

5 points

Dec 4, 2006 12:28 PM in response to infinite vortex

Ned... you are a star..... I must have gone to the wrong link... Now have it... just need to find one now.

Thanks for all your help.... what's your spanish like??????

cheers

Stuart

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