Adding 4G / LTE module to X230

[oldlock]

There is a sim card slot under the battery on my X230 (purchased in Dec 12). Is there an LTE compatable WWAN module I could add it the machine ? If so can anyone suggest suitable part numbers ? My laptop is a 2306CTO

TIA

[Puppy]

No. Lenovo supports modules with USA specific 4G frequencies only. There are modules that supports other countries as well (namely AirPrime MC7710) but Lenovo does not want to use them, the module is blacklisted in BIOS.

There is a long thread about it http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/X-Series-ThinkPad-Laptops/X220-support-for-4G-LTE-Sierra-Wireless-MC7710...

[x220forme Community Moderator]

Puppy,

presently current x230' wl (BIOS 2.52) supports mc7710.

[Puppy]

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x220forMe wrote:
presently current x230' wl (BIOS 2.52) supports mc7710.

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Really ? What about X220 ? Is there Lenovo branded MC7710 ? I can't find it in summary of changes http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc/pccbbs/mobiles/g2uj11uc.txt

[x220forme Community Moderator]

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Puppy wrote:

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Really ? What about X220 ? Is there Lenovo branded MC7710 ? I can't find it in summary of changes http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc/pccbbs/mobiles/g2uj11uc.txt

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about x230 - sure

1. The list of Regulatory Notices, x230 is in laptop support list for mc7710

2. EU Declaration of Conformity for mc7710, dated Jan 2013

3. x230 Parts List, dated 11 April 2013

As for the x220 - no chances.

[Puppy]

Interesting. Since X220 and X230 are almost the same Lenovo could ... I know, no way.

Still don't get how exactly it is supported. There is no Lenovo branded version of it, no driver download, no support in Access Connections ..

[x220forme Community Moderator]

One more point:
4. my countrymans have tested mc7710 with USB\VID_1199&PID_68A2 in t430s and x230 with their current BIOSes.

About x220. It's not a technical reason. Just a business (money for sertification of modem AND laptop which is out of the product line)

[Puppy]

I would call it 'customer support'. Lenovo knows that there are customers locked in to .20 models because of the keyboard layout. I bought X220 when X230 was available just because of the keyboard. I'd rather have more recent hardware, USB 3.0 and now the 4G support but ...

Similar to Microsoft still providing security updates for Windows XP while there are more recent OS versions already available. What is the cost of the certification of X220 + MC7710 ? Should we start collect ....

BTW the PDF document does not mention T530 is supported for MC7710, weird.

[dobdoob]

Hi x220forMe

can you tell  me where can i buy mc7710 that will work with my lenovo x230 current Bios

as lenovo office in US is telling me that they don't have it 

[x220forme Community Moderator]

Hi, dobdoob

amazon, ebay, aliexpress, taobao...