Unfortunately the computer industry is rife with jargon and buzzwords. The term wireless is used for a whole range of technologies that are completely different from each other. When discussing wireless vendors may be referring to WiFi (802.11*), Bluetooth, WWAN (mobile broadband), or several other technologies. We will deal with the first two mentioned in different documents.
Many customers, when requesting wireless connectivity, are referring to 3G (third generation) wireless telephony, which in turn refers to a range of technologies including EVDO, CDMA, EDGE, GPRS, HSDPA, UMTS, and others. 3G and similar services are typically offered by the mobile phone carriers and allow access to the internet over the data portion of their mobile networks. For more information on this see the next question.
For the most part this is possible, but it depends on several factors including: connections on host computer, 3G hardware available, and connectivity options offered by specific wireless vendors. To make this easier to understand, we will break down the possibilities in the next question to specific computer setups and address both what is currently available, and what will be available in the near future.
An excellent way of providing Wireless Mobile Broadband (WWAN) for a fixed location is a wireless gateway/router. Harnessing 3G or 4G mobile data networks (AKA cellular data networks), wireless gateway/routers handle the connectivity with mobile carriers like T-Mobile, Vodaphone, Sprint, AT&T (Cingular), Verizon, and many others. Wireless gateway/routers typically accept mobile broadband connectivity devices including 3G/4G PCMCIA PC Cards and USB devices. These wireless gateway/routers are extremely versatile, offering support for mobile (cellular) broadband data network devices ranging from the older style EDGE and CDMA to the lastest EVDO Rev. A and HSDPA cards.
Wireless gateway/routers then provide an internet connection (WAN) to individual computers or local are networks (LAN) via WiFi (802.11*) or wired Ethernet just as a gateway or router plugged into DSL, T-1, or other wired WAN options do. Share a single mobile (cellular) broadband data account throughout a household, business or branch office. Connect existing wired networks to wireless gateway/router, or take advantage of built in WiFi to enable roaming connections. Perfect for rural locations, wireless gateway/routers provide a cost effective and easy to administer solution for broadband connectivity. Synchrotech has created a compatibility matrix to aid in determining wireless gateway/router compatibility with individual mobile (cellular) broadband data networking devices.
The Kyocera KR1 Broadband EVDO Mobile Router accepts a range of 3G Wireless PC Cards from various carriers and routes the connection over WiFi (802.11g) or Ethernet and has a simple web configuration. It is not tied to any specific platform and is client agnostic to systems on its LAN. It has many more capabilities not listed here. See Kyocera's product brochure or site for more information. For an excellent review of the device see the EVDO Info Site's review. The device costs under $300 dollars depending on where it is purchased from. Kyocera KR1 Now Supports More EVDO Rev A Devices, Including U720/USB720.
This is the easiest to address, nearly all the existing solutions on the market today use PC Card host adapters for 3G wireless services. In the U.S. most carriers (Cingular, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon, et al) sell 32-bit PC Cards (CardBus) for access to their 3G networks, although ExpressCards are begining to catch up in terms of availability. In Europe and other regions a mix of 32-bit PC Cards (CardBus) and 16-bit PC Cards are available. Since nearly every PC Card slot on laptops since 1996 are of the 32-bit (CardBus) variety, the fact that many 3G cards are CardBus shouldn't be an issue. In truth, laptop older than the CardBus standard probably wouldn't work with 3G anyway.
Several of the new Novatel Wireless Merlin ExpressCards (XU870, EX720, V740) have an optional PC Card adapter so they can be used with PC Card and ExpressCard based machines. This is an excellent option as it protects the card investment for people that have a PC Card equipped machine now, but will upgrade to an ExpressCard based machine in the future. The ECA16 also allows use of ExpressCard based WWAN Wireless Cards in a PC Card slot with the added benefit of supplying more power than 32-bit OEM versions.
In this case as long as your operating system supports the card, you shouldn't have to do anything but purchase the PC Card and subscribe to the carriers' service. Shop around as 3G coverage varies by region and prices vary as well. Although some of the solutions listed below for laptops without PC Card slots would work with PC Card slot equipped laptops, it is better just to use a PC Card in this case for simplicity and compatibility.
ExpressCard is the latest standard from the PCMCIA, which will eventually replace PC Card on laptops. Many new laptops have this new standard, especially more compact models. Since the 3G carriers predominantly employ PC Card as 3G hardware, this leaves the following options for ExpressCard equipped laptops in order of availability:
Many compact and sub-notebook designs are so small as they include no card slots or have a CompactFlash (CFII+), SD Card or other small form factor slots. While it is feasible that a 3G option for CFII+ or the like could be manufactured, chances are they wont for two reasons. First, most U.S. carriers utilize 32-bit technology while CompactFlash, SD Card, and other small form factor slots are 16-bit. Second, laptops with small form factor slots have been on the market for some time, and to date no 3G carrier makes cards for them. Therefore, the choices for slot-less or small form factor slot equipped laptops are in order of availability:
Many times end users or businesses need 3G access not so much for the portability factor, but because they are in a remote or rural area in which 3G is the only available "broadband." In these situations it is sometimes a simple matter of setting up a desktop machine with a PC Card reader or laptop with a PC Card slot to access a 3G PC Card and then sharing the internet connection over Ethernet or WiFi (802.11*). As long as the 3G equipped machine is running an operating system that can multi-home and act as a router, this option allows a household or business LAN to access a 3G network.
Desktop machines are surprisingly easier to support than slot-less laptops in may cases. As long as a machine has open PCI slots there are a range of PC Card readers available that work with 3G wireless PC Cards. To make this easier to understand, we will break down the possibilities in the next question to specific computer setups and address both what is currently available, and what will be available in the near future.
Desktops with available PCI slots can take advantage of PCI to PC Card readers, which provide identical functionality to a laptop based PC Card slot. A 32-bit cardbus capable reader is essential for devices from U.S. based 3G carriers, while others may be able to use a 16-bit reader depending on whether they have a 36 or 32-bit card. PCIe based desktop machines are also able to add a an ExpressCard slot to gain all the options of an ExpressCard based laptop as discussed above.
Synchrotech carries a range of these devices, with the following recommended for most end users:
In the rare, but occasional case of a desktop computer with no PCI, PCI Express, or ExpressCard slots, the options are the same as Laptop with no slot and Other laptop options with the understanding that purchasing a different laptop or desktop should be read where the FAQ entry mentions purchasing a different laptop.
| Platform | Option | 3G Product | Availability | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earliest | Likely | |||
| Laptop Options | PC CardBus Slot | CardBus 3G | NOW | |
| PC Card Slot | ExpressCard WWAN | NOW | ||
| ExpressCard Slot | ExpressCard to PC Card and CardBus | NOW | ||
| ExpressCard Slot | ExpressCard 3G | NOW | ||
| USB 2.0 Ports | USB to WWAN ExpressCard | NOW | ||
| USB Ports | USB to 3G Wireless | NOW | ||
| USB, Bluetooth, IrDA, RS-232 | Tethered 3G Phone | NOW | ||
| Top Global Routers | 3G PC Cards | NOW | ||
| Kyocera KR1 Router | 3G PC Cards | NOW | ||
| Elan U142 | Select CardBus 3G * | NOW | ||
| Elan U132 | Select CardBus 3G * | NOW | ||
| Elan U111-530 | Novatel Wireless Merlin 530/630 partial Select 16-bit 3G * |
NOW | ||
| Desktop Options | PCI Slot to PC CardBus Reader | CardBus 3G | NOW | |
| ExpressCard Slot | ExpressCard 3G | NOW | ||
| ExpressCard Slot | ExpressCard to PC Card and CardBus | NOW | ||
| USB 2.0 Ports | USB to WWAN ExpressCard | NOW | ||
| USB Ports | USB to 3G Wireless | NOW | ||
| USB, Bluetooth, IrDA, RS-232 | Tethered 3G Phone | NOW | ||
| PCI Express Slot | PCIe to Express Card for ExpressCard options | NOW | ||
| PCI Express Slot | PCI Express to CardBus Reader and CardBus 3G | October 2007 | December 2007 | |
| Top Global Routers | 3G PC Cards | NOW | ||
| Kyocera KR1 Router | 3G PC Cards | NOW | ||
| Elan U142 | Select CardBus 3G * | NOW | ||
| Elan U132 | Select CardBus 3G * | NOW | ||
| Elan U111-530 | Novatel Wireless Merlin 530/630 partial Select 16-bit 3G * |
NOW | ||
See Laptop with ExpressCard slot and the following:
See Desktop with PCI Express or ExpressCard slots and the following:
See Laptop with PC Card slot and the following:
See Laptop with no slot and the following:
Unfortunately, many carriers focus exclusively on the volume rather than quality market. These means if you are using robust and/or secure operating systems your options are much more limited. The Elan U132 will not be available outside of the Windows platform. Approved tethered phone options, such as those by Cingular, rely on Windows only software. There are workarounds to GPRS phone issues, the following links are suggested as a starting place.
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