X220 3G mobile broadband problem with F5521gw [ Edited ]

[Puppy]

The reconnection issue that needs a complete reboot to fix the 3G modem lockup has not been resolved yet. I have recent version of firmware, AC, driver and Windows Updates. There are similar reports in various forums. Sometimes it seems as the issue is bound to particular mobile providers only.

Is there any diagnostic log (of the device driver etc.) we can enable to help to resolve the issue ? A think a simple "Device reset command utility" would resolve it but it needs a cooperation with the device driver vendor.

If I understand it well there will be no longer any support for Ericsson WWAN modules ?

Ericsson to phase out PC modules for mobile broadband access

[Puppy]

Is Lenovo going to finally fix that ? It happens over and over. After the WWAN connection gets accidentally disconnected, it remains in "Connected" state in the Windows Network Center which results in situation that Windows are not able to re-connect again (because it hangs in wrong Connected state).

Access Connections detects the disconnection event correctly but the state is not propagated into Windows Mobile Broadband API layer. Any QA there ?

[mark23]

Thank you for the update and the description, same here on my HP Elitebook 8560p ...

It's simply annoying and frustrating. 

Lars 

[Puppy]

---

mark23 wrote:

Thank you for the update and the description, same here on my HP Elitebook 8560p ...

It's simply annoying and frustrating. 

---

Good to know that. It indicates the bug is somewhere in Ericsson driver & windows services.

Usually Disable/Enable of the WWAN device in Device Manager helps. I'll try to write a shell script that will do that before the connection is made from Access Connections, if the current state is that false "Connected" one. The problem is it needs Administrator privileges. In any case it is an ugly hack instead of proper fix.

The most frustrating part is there is no place you can send the bug report to Lenovo ingores it at all and Ericsson probably no longer develops these WWAN modules. I'd exchange it for Sierra Wireless but it is blacklisted in BIOS. We are stuck here..

EDIT: I reported the bug via Ericsson feedback page http://www.ericsson.com/feedback so now I hope it will be processed ...

[Puppy]

Moreover Ericsson driver provided by Lenovo version 6.5.1.5 (30 Oct 2011) http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/downloads/detail.page?LegacyDocID=MIGR-75686 seems to be outdated because HP folks have version 7.2.2.0 (19 Jun 2012) http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=de&prodTypeId=32... . Does Lenovo care about it ?

EDIT There is updated version 7.1.1.0 of the driver http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/downloads/detail.page?&DocID=DS029034 but for X230 only. Why ?

Related more generic question here http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/General-Discussion/Does-Lenovo-sell-unsupported-hardware/td-p/809619

[mark23]

Good Morning, here is what we HP folks have ...

WMCore is 7.2.2.0 (Ericsson)

mini_WMcore is 7.2.2.0 (Ericsson) 

Modem Driver is 7.1.0.1 (HP, 20.04.2012)

Network adapter is 7.2.1.0 (Ericsson, 27.04.2012)

USB Controller is 7.1.0.1 (HP, 20.04.2012)

MBM NMEA (COM6) is 7.2.0.2 (HP, 20.04.2012)

MBM Device Management (COM4) is 7.1.0.1 (HP 20.04.2012)

Now that's a mess, and I do still have the connectivity issues ... 

I have already asked HP to replace my adapter with a non-Ericsson brand adapter, if not I would return my notebook. Let's see how that turns out ... 

There are plenty of 3/3.5/3.75//4G WWAN modules available (just visit www.4gsource.net, e.g.), however the problem is that you cannot install all WWAN modules as there is a whitelist in both Lenovo's and HP's BIOS that will stop the system from booting if a non-whitelisted hardware is found ... that's another sucker, especially if the hardware is apparently "unsupported" / lacks proper support but you have no other choice ... 

Cheers,

Lars 

[Puppy]

---

mark23 wrote:There are plenty of 3/3.5/3.75//4G WWAN modules available (just visit www.4gsource.net, e.g.), however the problem is that you cannot install all WWAN modules as there is a whitelist in both Lenovo's and HP's BIOS that will stop the system from booting if a non-whitelisted hardware is found ... that's another sucker, especially if the hardware is apparently "unsupported" / lacks proper support but you have no other choice ... 

---

I can't agree more. I'd also rather have Sierra Wireless MC7710 module instead but due the stupid blacklisting in BIOS (and bios mods means warranty void) I can't.

Do any vendors (Asus for example) apply that BIOS blacklisting as well ?

[mark23]

HP support is apparently listening to their customers. HP shipped two replacements, which arrived one day later. Well, that was quick, I am not going to complain ...

1. HP hs2340 HSPA+ (Ericsson f5521gw), Hardware Rev. 3.00, dated 2012/04/22, firmware RA402 (cannot be updated to R5E08)
2. HP un2430 HSPA+/EVDO (Sierra MC8355), firmware D3200-STSUGN-1575

Fairplay. I gave Ericsson another chance. However, I was experiencing the same problems in no time, even with the latest drivers and the "latest" firmware ... well. Ultimately it is the Olympic idea that counts - the most important thing for Ericsson is taking part in this thread ...

Consequently, I completely removed the drivers for the HP hs2340/Ericsson f5521gw from my system, replaced the HP hs2340/Ericsson f5521gw with the HP un2430/Sierra MC8355 and installed the most recent HP driver for the HP un2430 and the most recent HP Connection Manager that I found on the Elitebooks 8570p's support website.

At the time of this writing I am almost 14 hrs online and I haven't experienced any problems so far, no matter whether the connection is idle, changing from 2G to 3G networks. That is a huge improvement!

Heureka.

:-)

Cheers,

Lars

[Puppy]

Thanks for confirmation that the Ericsson module is buggy regardless of driver or firmware version.

Unfortunately I can not ask Lenovo to replace it with Sierra Wireless MC8355 (Gobi 3000) because I had to buy the Ericsson module separately. Pre-configured models are WWAN ready over here only. Another issue is that Lenovo sells the Sierra Wireless module in the US region only http://shop.lenovo.com/us/itemdetails/0A36185/460/5166FF91DAB5442C846A84A5FA006F9D

[palcipalci]

Ok.. My problem with erricson bugs.. solved on X220

New Lenovo recovery... or clean istall OS..

next windows full  OS updates

After that plugged Ericson WWan module to NB.

Install new drivers..

support.lenovo.com/en_US/downloads/detail.page?&DocID=DS029034

released driver: 05 Jun 2012

And Lenovo system update at the end

And now.. no problems.. about one day testing..

Hope, it will be ok now.