[HW MOD] 3G for my Mobii Adventure

GhostOfTheNet · Feb 17, 2011

Hi all,

A few days ago i opened my POV Mobii (another version of the vega) because i wanted to see why the non 3G version has no 3G.
At this point, my journey started.

Facts:
* Advent Vega = POV Mobii Tegra = Smartbook Smartsurfer 360
* The Advent Vega lacks of the antennas and the simcardslot/PCIe slot
* A unknown subset of the POV Mobii Tegra without 3G are also missing this parts, the other subset not.
* The Smartbook Smartsurfer 360 has all this parts + HUWAI EM770W miniPCI card 3g modem
* Sadly the Simcardreader/mPCIe module has no name, but it seems to be a standard part (see picture below, backside is hidden by a antistatic black plastic), someone needs to search through the electronic sites to hopefully find that. See the link below.
* the antennas are a normal 3g main and 3g aux, definitive standard parts which maybe not fit perfectly into the case and need improvisation(there's enough space), but will work
* The Ericsson f3507g is not working because... nope the mbm driver are there... but the ril-daemon is missing

Working 3G devices
* HUAWEI EM770W 3G is working(as i know useable for EU) (thx to malamut81) http://cgi.ebay.com/New-UNLOCKED-HU...323?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a623613b3
* Ericsson F3307G 3G is working(as i know useable for US) (thx to ParanoidSPV) http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150514109325&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT#ht_3134wt_905

Links:
This Thread at Modaco: http://android.modaco.com/content/advent-vega-vega-modaco-com/332547/mpcie-3g-card-in-my-mobii-same-as-vega/#entry1605438
Simcardreader is something like this, but with another interface to the device itself(maybe it's still usb... do not know, we need an electronican): http://cgi.ebay.com/MINI-PCI-E-WWAN...153?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item230e171159
Interesting Threads concerning this topic:
http://android.modaco.com/content/advent-vega-vega-modaco-com/331534/hardware-pictures-pov-vega-and-smartbook-360-with-umts-should-be-retrofit-in-vega/
http://android.modaco.com/content/advent-vega-vega-modaco-com/324250/vega-internals/

TODO's:
* Fixing whatever does not work
* Finding out if the antenna parts and the simcardslot/mpcie slot are buyable

Expectations:
* Easy and cheap upgrade of Advent Vega and POV Mobii Tegra for a fully 3g functionality

Attchments:

Kind Regards
Ralph

windin · Feb 17, 2011

wait so the slot is a standared mini MPIe?

there was some talk in the Modaco forum that it was non standard

rvdgeer · Feb 17, 2011

On the MoDaCo forum, user BakedBeans managed to get a 3G USB Dongle working on a MoDaCo Cutom ROM. (Actuallt official Advent firmware with the MoDaCo Custom ROM Add-On r7).

He had to go through some steps to get it to work. Here's what he posted:

I have a working, surfing conection via an Huawei E220 3G dongle on my Vega.

Details:

1. Installed theMoDaCo Custom ROM for the Advent Vega r7
2. Enabled USB Host Mode (USB Mode --> USB Host (required reboot)
3. Inserted the Huawei E220 USB Dongle (mine was a t-mobile PAYG dongle)
4. If USB Host Mode is enabled, the dongle will flash green, then blue

*Interesting bit*:
5a. Go to Settings --> Accounts & Sync --> Add Account
5b. Select 'Google'
5b. Hold down the back button (the physical button) for 2-5 seconds until a 'Wireless Settings' icon appears at the bottom of the screen
5c. Select 'Wireless Settings'
5d. Select '3G Service enabled'
5e. Select 'Data enabled'
5f. Select 'Network Operators' ... You may need to wait 10-30 seconds as the Vega configures itself to read the USB dongle, makes a connection and identifies what providers are available... the light on my USB Dongle went solid blue at this point (if I recall correctly)
5g. Choose your network operator
5h. The Vega notification bar will change to show a "3G" icon, which is animated to show upload/download action; and a signal strenth icon.
6. Ensure WiFi is off and surf to a website... In my case, I got the t-mobile top-up page, which showed me my dongle's phone number and the fact that I had no further credit on my account.

When you unplug the dongle, the notification bar will change to a red triable for 'No Service: Selected network unavailable).

At this point I don't know whether this is chewing my battery or not when not connected.. as the "No Service" notification does not go away, even though I've disabled '3G Service'.

This is my first post here, so if I've posted in the wrong please, let me know and I'll happily move it.

Cheers,
BB.

EDIT:
Where did you find the SIM slot?
Is it inside, cause it's definitely not on the outside on my Point of View Mobii TEGRA Tablet 10.2" (or PoV Mobii, as I call it...

)

GhostOfTheNet · Feb 17, 2011

With the mpcie device in, the mobile network settings appears in the wireless settings, so there's no trick needed to come there.

my problem is, when it initialized the modem and effective searches for networks, it changes shortly the signal strength like it would switch from emergency call all networks mode to dialed into network mode and fall back out of the network immediate. the same simcard is working in my htc desire. so my suppose is, that there is a problem reading the data from the simcard or routing it to the modem.

Kind Regards

Harplo · Feb 17, 2011

Have you unchecked to pin thingy?
It may be it's trying to validate the pin number, so I suggest to deactivate the pin verification in SIM.
hope it helps.

ps. was it difficult to insert the 3g module into the device?

rvdgeer · Feb 17, 2011

Wow!
Didin't know that!

If you head on over to the MoDaCo forums and do a search (left bottom of the page) for smartsurfer, you'll find 2 topics about a version of this device with a 3G pre-installed...
At some point the firmware for it was posted too, but had to be taken down (before I got it)...

Maybe you can manage to find it somewhere...?

EDIT:
It seems like the Smartsurfer comes with a Huawei EM770W WWAN 3G HSPA mobile broadband module installed...

GhostOfTheNet · Feb 17, 2011

the pin is disabled.

no inserting the 3g card was really easy... look at the picture. the slot is easily reachable. when you compare the picture with http://android.modaco.com/content/advent-vega-vega-modaco-com/324250/vega-internals/

the marked place is what you see on my photo, you see... no problem

thanks for the hint with the other firmware... i'll search for it

edit: I'll put all relevant infos into the top

regards

GhostOfTheNet · Feb 17, 2011

update concerning the simcardreader, lok at the top

i asked a workmate of mine, wich is a really good electronican. maybe he can tell us what kind of interface the left one is. maybe it's possible to find something simmilar and with a bit soldering...

concerning my 3g modem...
D/MobileDataStateTracker( 1081): default Received state= DISCONNECTED, old= CONNECTING, reason= simLoaded, apnTypeList= default,supl
not much information, how do i get logcat to give me deeper messages?

Jenne B · Feb 21, 2011

Hi,

the one with the firmware for the smartbook surfer was me.
If anyone still needs it, i can reupload it to a filehoster.

Only last time i had uploaded it on our company server, this hadn`t been such a good idea

windin · Mar 1, 2011

Re the SIM card reader

http://www.aliexpress.com/fm-store/...ebooks-Solderless-SIM-Card-Reater-Socket.html

http://oc.ebid.net/for-sale/huawei-em770-em770w-3g-wwan-mini-pci-e-card-hsdpa-gps-36009392.htm

no soldering needed

the same wifi attenna from a laptop can be used and should be found fairly cheaply

GhostOfTheNet · Mar 2, 2011

thats only a simcardreader, but the module(above second picture) includes also the mpcie slot. the vegas are missing this whole module.

windin · Mar 2, 2011

I know it only a sim reader. Its to be used in conjunction with a HSPDA MPcie card

the vega lacks the SIM card slot as well as the antenna

My plan is to purchaes the Huwai EM770W the SIM reader and a laptop wifi antenna, I have opend my vega and there is more then enough room.

This wont be for a couple of weeks though I shall report back

dagbro · Mar 2, 2011

windin, it won't work , because you don't even have a mini-pcie-port! The port and the sim reader are BOTH located on a proprietary add-in-card(that's whats being referred to as "the sim card reader" in this particular thread) and mounted next to the microphone.

So, if your tablet doesn't have the SIM reader, it won't have mpcie either.

ParanoidDK · Mar 7, 2011

ParanoidSPV here...

Have to correct you here...

Ericsson F3307G 3G is working(as i know useable for US) (thx to ParanoidSPV) http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...#ht_3134wt_905

I am EU based and the F3307G works fine for me in Sweden...

Only thing i am tired about is it wont keep the mark in the mobile data setting but i have to put that everytime i reboot..

El_Nino9 · Apr 18, 2011

ParanoidDK said:
ParanoidSPV here...

Have to correct you here...

Ericsson F3307G icsson F3307G icsson F3307G icsson F3307G 3G is working(as i know useable for US) (thx to ParanoidSPV) http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...#ht_3134wt_905

I am EU based and the F3307G works fine for me in Sweden...

Only thing i am tired about is it wont keep the mark in the mobile data setting but i have to put that everytime i reboot..

according to the specs on ebay it should work in EU with NO problem.

for those who are adventurous and want to add GPS they might want this instead:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dell-Wireless-Mobile-Broadband-Module/dp/B002ZYZYUU
its an Ericsson board doing a quick google but don't know which version as i haven't dug around.

the thing is as mentioned the vega misses the sim card reader that connects to the "spare port" (with a cable) which is used on 3g enabled variants for that "generic" reader. it would be amazing if that could be purchased to do a cheap upgrade.

but i also found this and it looks interesting,
http://cgi.ebay.ie/HSPA-WWAN-mobile...opAccessories_PCMCIACards&hash=item3366d7318c
and wondering if someone with huge electronic experiance would be able to connect that and make a wire to do something shown below?
http://www.abload.de/image.php?img=card_sb2c07.jpg

windin · Jul 29, 2011

the Dell 5530 / Ericsson F3507g is not working on the Vega however it apparently does work on the Adam

I have reached the limit of what I know about Android, I would love to be able to utilize the F3507g in the Vega does anyone know if it would be possible to port across the files from the Adam to get it working? the F3307 I nicked to test from a friends laptop

I have managed to get the F3307g working internal after identifying the pin out of the camera as detailed in this thread

http://android.modaco.com/topic/343715-mod-usb-connection-avaliable-from-internal-camera-port/

thomskipsp · Sep 9, 2011

No further updates on this project?

BeeGee_Tokyo · Sep 10, 2011

thomskipsp said:
No further updates on this project?

Showstopper is the small electronic board with the SIM card reader on it.

This is the interface between the MPCIE 3G modems and the main board of the Vega/ Mobii / Viewsonic / ... tablet.

This electronic board cannot be purchased anywhere.

In case you got a Mobii with the SIM reader, but without the 3G modem, you can upgrade.

In case you have a device without the SIM reader you are on a dead end. Then you can only add a USB 3G stick.

mihaidsn · Oct 31, 2011

3g parts

I spoke with a chinese friend and he will send me all 3g parts form my vega directly from the factory. I will inform you when i will receive them.

redman8x8 · Nov 3, 2011

?

How about external 3G USB Dongles?
I have played and tweaked about 11 models, but never managed to get internet connection (altough the blue led "conected" did light up on on the modem).

Did any of you had any luck using an external 3G USB Modem on the VegaComb 3.2?

[HW MOD] 3G for my Mobii Adventure

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