Dell D420 / HSDPA Question

[YorkieBen]

I've recently bought a Dell D420 secondhand and I've noticed it has a space for a sim card inside and after a bit of digging I'm guessing I can use this to connect to the internet wirelessly.

The thing is what software would i need to connect up using for example a '3' sim?

Thanks

[arthurleung]

I think you'll need to have purchased the HSDPA internal card to actually use it.
My Inspiron 1525 have it too but it doesn't have the card.

It will be something like this:
Dell : Dell NL - Internal Dell Wireless 5520 built-in 3G/HSDPA with SIM for Vodafone service KIT : Networking & Communication : HOME
Perhaps there is a different one for the D420.

You might as well just get a '3' USB dongle. The signal wouldn't be as good but is a lot cheaper.

[nichomach]

It's the same card, the 5520 is standard across all the Dx20 and Dx30 Latitudes and across most of the others (XPS range etc) that can be ordered w/HSDPA built-in. The UK version (as opposed to Dutch) is HERE , and the software supplied is preconfigured to use Voda. The card is NOT network locked, however, and we use them with O2 and T-Mobile SIMs. You just need to create an appropriate profile. There's reasonably good VPN integration as well.
edit: I have an absolute loathing for using CardBus, ExpressCard or USB adapters when I can buy an internal one instead. The number of laptops I've seen where they've just been dropped into a bag without the adapter having been unplugged (wrecking the machine) is unreal. I also like the fact that we're not tied to a specific network.