Travel Technology - Which of these 4 Aircards for ATT Laptop Connect plan?

Which of these four Aircards for an ATT Wireless Laptop Connect plan? Pros and cons?


Between both their refurbs and new-with-rebates, all four of these cards (I want a PC Card, not an Express Card) can be had for $0:

Option GT Max 3.6
Option GT Ultra

Sierra Wireless AirCard 875
Sierra Wireless AirCard 881

I really like the idea of the "clamshell antenna" on the Option ones (and not having anything "sticking out"), but am very interested to know whether they are relatively fragile?

The 875 seems to be old technology, and I can't find anything on Options website about the GT Ultra.

I'm VERY intrigued by this thread (http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?t=1374779) that says the 881 natively supports GPS mapping. Very.

But I don't like the fact that it sticks out a bit from the laptop.

Otoh, my current setup is a Dell 5510 Express card inserted into a Express Card-to-PC Card adaptor, inserted into the machine. It sticks out more!

Thoughts or recommendations? Thanks!

What laptop do you have? Maybe you can get a internal WWAN modem?

Nope. While it's technically possible with a ThinkPad z61t, my son (an IBM-trained repair tech) says it's not for the faint of heart.

Adding an internal WWAN card is fine if the laptop is already fitted with the antennas, but chances are it won't be so forget it and stick with an external solution.

What about USB? All manufacturers seem to be moving that way.

Does the WWLAN integrated card use the wifi antenna that's embedded in the screen frame?

Re USB, I personally find this a step backwards for my own form-factor needs, because with a PC Card solution I don't have to carry one more thing :)

It's simple IMHO:

1) USB = USB. It'll work on any supported machine with a USB port
2) Expresscard = Expresscard AND USB with a $5 adapter

So, I'd pick expresscard. It's a much more flexible solution.

I'm a big fan of internal WWAN cards but you always run the risk of needing the card in a different machine.

Of course, as I told the OP before, a cradlepoint adapter is the best soluition out there :D

It's simple IMHO:

1) USB = USB. It'll work on any supported machine with a USB port
2) Expresscard = Expresscard AND USB with a $5 adapter

So, I'd pick expresscard. It's a much more flexible solution.

Well, two things: I really don't want to carry something else. I'd like it to be able to be in the laptop (whether PC Card/Express Card or internal), so USB doesn't float my boat. I actually have an Express Card and Express Card to PC Card adapter, but there's that sticky-out-more-than-I'd-like factor. And I'm really intrigued by the 881's mention of being GPS capable....

(Well that was three things)

(And yes, while I currently have one that works, if I end up adding a Data Connect plan/line, I'll get a freebie one anyway. Hence the questions)

Of course, as I told the OP before, a cradlepoint adapter is the best soluition out there :D

I'm hoping to be a fan. :D

Does the WWLAN integrated card use the wifi antenna that's embedded in the screen frame?

No, it'll have its own dedicated antenna. Or probably two if it's any good (RX diversity).

And I'm really intrigued by the 881's mention of being GPS capable....



Why? GPS on a laptop is pretty useless to be honest. If you really want it I'd suggest a Bluetooth GPS unit.

Does the WWLAN integrated card use the wifi antenna that's embedded in the screen frame?

Re USB, I personally find this a step backwards for my own form-factor needs, because with a PC Card solution I don't have to carry one more thing :)

Open the WWAN cover on your machine, you should see 2 very small antenna cables with even smaller gold plated connectors. Installation is a 30 second thing. If the antenna and SIM card reader are not present in the machine, then it's near impossible to do yourself.

I installed one in my Dell XPS, opened the cover, slotted the card in, plugged in the 2 cables and popped the sim card under the battery.

Why?

Use on United flights :D

Really urgent, I know ;)

Open the WWAN cover on your machine, you should see 2 very small antenna cables with even smaller gold plated connectors. Installation is a 30 second thing. If the antenna and SIM card reader are not present in the machine, then it's near impossible to do yourself.

I installed one in my Dell XPS, opened the cover, slotted the card in, plugged in the 2 cables and popped the sim card under the battery.

Doing some more digging, it looks like unlike some ThinkPads, the z61t makes this a not-very-easy job that includes removing the keyboard.

I've had the GT Ultra in my Stinkpad for a few weeks now. After having a Sierra for a few months last summer, I'm glad I got one with the smaller protruding antenna every time I drop it in my bag. I get 2MB/600KB regularly at both work and home.

I'm glad I got one with the smaller protruding antenna every time I drop it in my bag.

Do you find the clamshell antenna fragile? Does it appear that it might easily break?

I suppose it would break if you hit it from the side while it was stuck out and spread apart. But I have no problems getting a decent signal most of the time while leaving it retracted. If you don't have that luxury, and/or forget to push it back in when moving your machine, it's certainly more susceptible to damage.

I love my Sony SZ270P/C but hate Sony support. I was tired of the slow Edge connections with built in WWAN and did not want to commit to another 2 yrs contract, wanted unlocked for use in Germany with Vodafone and UK with Three prepaid data, did not like the flip up antenna on Option, did not like the concept of USB Y cable for extra power so kept bidding/sniping till I won a Novatel Merlin X950D Expresscard HSUPA card which works just fine on AT&T and others. If my employer pays for tethering or a seperate card when my Nextel voice contract ends,or the Sony dies and I get something else with built in HSUPA I will ebay it and let them pay.

One source I just checked says the Option GT Ultra Express supports the 7.2 Mbit/sec version of HSPA while the Sierra Wireless AirCard 881 just supports 3.6. (In practice you'll probably get lower speeds than either, at least on today's networks.)

There's really only one thread on GPS and the 881 Aircard at the ATT Support forums, and (as will be familiar to FlyerTalkers) folks appear to disagree :D

http://forums.wireless.att.com/cng/board/message?board.id=pccards&thread.id=9229&view=by_date_ascending&page=1