USB Adapter for Cardbus Wireless Modem 3G Cards : U132

Frequently Asked Questions

• Which cards are supported?
• Can I use other PCMCIA cards in my U132?
• My card has integrated WLAN, will this work?
• Do you have drivers for LINUX or MAC O/S?
• Can I use the Dashboard software from my operator?
• How do I setup a 'manual connection'
• Can I run a VPN with my card in a U132?
• Do I have to buy my card from an operator?
• Do I need to plug in a power adapter?

Which cards are supported by the U132?

The U132 supports Cardbus wireless networking cards which have been designed with a USB host controller chip as the bridge chip. This includes nearly all CardBus datacards (for UMTS, EDGE, CDMA, HSDPA). Our product page for the U132 includes a list of operators who supply supported cards, however this list is not comprehensive as there are a very large number of operators world-wide. The supported cards listed here are by Manufacturer and Model Name, not by operator. Most operators 're-brand' the cards that they sell with their own front label, however it is usually simple to discover who has manufactured the card. If you have a card, look for a manufacturer's name and model number on the back. If your card is not listed below please contact us for advice.

Known Supported Card Models

• Kyocera Wireless Passport KPC650 CDMA
• Novatel Wireless S620 CDMA
• Novatel Wireless V620 CDMA
• Novatel Wireless U740 HSDPA
• Novatel Wireless U760
• Option Fusion UMTS, EDGE, GPRS

Known Non Supported Card Models

• Option "HSDPA Ready" card is not supported at this time

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Can I use other PCMCIA cards in my U132?

No. There is no 'universal' solution which will support all PCMCIA cards in a USB adapter The U132 supports only the Wireless Modem cards which have been designed using a USB host controller chip as a bridge. It does not support memory cards.

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Can I use the integrated Wireless LAN in my card with the U132?

Unfortunately it is not possible to route WLAN signals via the USB adapter. If your datacard has built in Wireless LAN (802.11g) then you will still be able to use the 3G connection via a U132 but the WLAN is not supported.

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Do you have drivers for LINUX or MAC O/S?

No, at this time the U132 is only supported in Windows. 

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Can I use the Dashboard software from my operator?

Most operators provide an additional software package to make it easy to connect to the web via your datacard. This software has links to your email client and your internet browser software. Most dashboard software packages will be able to connect to the card when connected via a U132, however a few have problems doing this. Elan is working with the operators concerned to get the problem dashboards fixed so that they do support the U132.

If there is a problem with the dashboard software that your operator provides, this will not prevent you from connecting to the Internet, sending and receiving email or running a VPN connection. You can do all of these things just as you would with a wired connection to the internet down a wired modem. You will need to setup a manual connection

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Can I use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) with the U132?

Yes, as long as you are able to setup the VPN this works very well. For the purposes of running a VPN, the U132 + your datacard will give you an internet connection which is equivalent to using a wired modem. The physical method of connecting does not affect the VPN.

You will need to setup a manual connection via your datacard, and then run a VPU over this connection.

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Do I have to buy my card from an Operator?

You can use any of the supported cards in the U132 regardless of where you have purchased it from. Some companies sell 'unbadged' cards and these will work. However, in order to make a connection you will need to purchase a subscription from an operator, who will supply you with a SIM card. Subscriptions are generally available either on a monthly contract (including a set number of megabytes of data) or on a 'pre-pay' arrangement. These arrangements vary from country to country.
Note that you cannot take the SIM card out of a mobile phone handset and put it into a datacard.

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Do I need to plug in a power adapter?

No, you will not need an additional power adapter, as sufficient power is supplied via the USB slot to power the U111 and the PCMCIA card. If your laptop or desktop USB port does not supply as much power as the USB specification says it should, then you may encounter problems and need an external power supply.

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