HSDPA/3G WAN access on Lenovo X200

Hi
I would appreciate help: I have read everything I can find on Mybroadband on this topic, inluding all the Stiky's (particulary no 7) and virtually all Vodacom broadband related posts.

I have had months of problems getting two Lenovo X200 computers with build in 3G WAN cards to connect to Vodacom Network. Both computers had connected relatively reliable to the 3G network initially. The symptom is that it goes through the network connection routine (Using Lenovo's Access Connections, which manages different profiles for location/network switching), finds the Vodacom 3G netword (sometines EDGE, sometimes GPRS), applies the wireless WAN settings, but fails when it tries to obtain an IP address. The computer can access the network, just can not obtain an IP address. (One can send off SMS from this computer in this state.) This same symptom (failure) happens all over the country, i.e not location specifc. I/we have not changed these settings from the intial settings, although I have tried various since the problem has started -- i.e I can not relate the failure to changed access settings. Both computers have additional network/location profiles running, both had these other profiles running before the failure to connect to the Vodacom networkd started. Both computers are running on PAYG, no data bundle loaded.

Currently the built in 3G network adaptors are simply electron thiefs. They had worked well, I am not sure if hardware failure is an explanation but find it difficult to accept, given that it is two computers and both do inidcate accessing the network, just not getting IP address.

The 3G WAN settings I have are:

Location Profile Settings:

General Settings Tab:
Name of Location Profile: (Any name you choose)
Type of Network Connection: Wirelss WAN
Adapter Name: Ericsson F3507G Mobile Broadband Minicard Network Adapter; Status Enabled, 7.2Mbps
Selected: Disconnect from the network when switching to a different location profile

Wirelss WAN Settings Tab:
Chosen: Connect to HSPDA/GPRS network using Access Connections
Not Chosen/Alternative: Connect using WAN Connection Utility
Select WAN Settings: Automatic (Alternative: Custom).
Automatic settings are:
Known WAN Service Provider Settings: Vodacom SA
Custom Service Provider Name: Vodacom SA-1
APN: internet
User Name: (Blank)
Authentication option: PAP (When selecting Custom WAN Setttings, I tried CHAP here as well).
Prompt for AUthentication: Not selected (Password blank)
(When selecting Custom WAN Setttings, there is an addtional option Advanced Settings. Under
Advanced Settings: Select WAN Servcie Type: Automatic/Only use GPRS/Only use 3G network. Also
option to Find WAN Network).

Additional Settings Tab:
Selected: Network Security. Settings: Selected: Disable file & printer sharing, disable
internet connection sharing, enable Windows password.
Not selected: Start Applications automatically
Not selected: Default printer
Selected: Override TCP/IP and DNS defaults. Settings: Chosen: Obtain an IP address
automatically; Not Chosen: Use the Following IP Address. Default Gateway: Blank. Chosen: Obtain
DNS server address automatically; Not chosen: Use the following DNS server address (blank).
Option to select: Advanced DNS Settings.
Not selected: Enable VPN connection
Greyed out: Set AVAYA Softphone login configuration.
Not selected: Override home page.
Selected: Override Proxy configuration: Settings: Chosen: Autmatically detect settings (Option
not selected is Use Automatic configuration script.) Chosen: Do not use proxy. All further
options greyed out.

Any advice, including where to obtain further advice would be appreciated.

Thank you

Hi


Does the sim work in another machine ?
Welcome , have you assigned your laptop a specific ip ? there might be conflicts where we try and assign you one but the machine has one already ?

Regards
VodacomData

VodacomData said:

Hi


Does the sim work in another machine ?
Welcome , have you assigned your laptop a specific ip ? there might be conflicts where we try and assign you one but the machine has one already ?

Regards
VodacomData

Click to expand...

Hi
Thank you for the response.

The SIM cards do not work in either computer if swapped over -same sympton as described in the above post. Both cards have money/airtime in credit aplently, both work in a phone, both work 100% when put into a 3G Wireless Rooter.

Neither computer operates on an assigned IP for any of the network/location profiles, all network settings use DHCP assigned IP; see settings above.

The stiing: Changing the SIM card to MTN card and making virtually no changes (only change teh WAN operator name) makes HSPDA connection on the first try, complete with IP configuration and working connection to Internet.

I have a log file of the failure (with VOdacom SIM) success (MTN SIM). Both are rather large I I do not want to inlcude it the post.

Any thoughts?

Thank you

Hi

So what you saying is that the MTN sim works fine can connect and browse ?

pm me the sims in the built in modems

Regards
VodacomData

Hi
Yes, MTN card works (i.e finds access point, applies WAN settings, gets IP address, browsing and email fetch/send works), Vodacom cards used to work (as for MTN), but now fails to get the IP address assigned. Does find the access point and gets WAN settings applied. In this "failed" state one can send SMS using the SIM card from the computer.

PM sent.

Thanks