3G Squeezed into UX

[Oginger1]

Hello everyone,

I've been reading this site for the last couple of years now since buying a UX50. I thought it time I should share with you a little mod I did to my UX to give me built in 3G. The mod is very simple to do andas long as you're reasonable with a soldering iron, it should cause no problems.

Parts used:

Huawei E169G USB 3G Modem
4 port USB hub
Dremel
Epoxy Glue

Before you begin make sure you set up the software for the USB modem. You may find the UX does not supply enough mA for setup to start. If so use a jumper cable to power from a second USB. Once everything is set up then the fun can begin.

1, Open up the Ux and remove the drive, zif cable, and usb socket.
2, Carefully de-solder the USB socket from the zif cable. I messed up and ripped 2 of the tags off the zif cable at this point so had to trace back and connect further up so be very careful.
3. Solder USB hub onto the zif cable.



4. Solder one of the usb hubs to the original UX usb socket
5. Strip down the E169g and de-solder the usb plug off the end.
6. Solder E169g to the usb hub. You should now have something that looks like this



Now for the fun of getting it to fit. The USB hub fits nicely in the recess behind the wireless card. You need to remove the main motherboard to gain access to this space. Be careful when dissconnecting the screen from the motherboard. With a bit of fiddling and swearing you should be able to get the hub in place and route the wires where you want them. I'm not using the extra 2 usb sockets at the moment but I have plans for them!
With the hub in place and the wires routed my UX was now looking like this



I was hoping to get the modem to fit in the lft hand rear case without too much modding but it was just too thick. I removed as much plastic from inside the back but was still 2mm short so I unscrewed the left hand panel, spaced it 2mm and stuck it back with epoxy. Now everything fitted in.

Final assemble was easy. The modem slips into the back of the case then close up and screw back together. Power up and surf on the go!

[bandit2xx]

Is it working good? Fast? Cool

[bejand]

Not the most aesthetically pleasing internally, but if it works as its supposed to then thats friggen awesome. Are you in the USA? Cuz we use a different frequency for the 3G network. Good work!

[Oginger1]

I'm in the uk. I got the modem (E169g Unlocked 7.2Mbps) off E-bay for £65. I was originally going to use the ZTE modem that I was using but it was too big to fit in so opted for the E169.

I'm thinking of putting a little pigtail lead to socket on so I can attach an antenna for better reception. Not too bad at the moment but always room for improvement.

[ktdre]

Hi,

Nice mod... something i am trying to consider how i will go about for a long time...

i had been considering stuffing my usb hsdpa adaptor into the ux.

i also was considering one of those pci-e cards also.

http://cgi.ebay.com/SIERRA-MC8781-WW...3A1%7C294%3A50

http://cgi.ebay.com/Unlocked-Sierra-...1%7C294 %3A50

http://cgi.ebay.com/Unlocked-Option-...1%7C29 4%3A50

i know i will lose the wifi in the process, but i wouldn't need it if i had 3G.

Also im considering the intel wifi/wimax pci-e card.

what do you think.

1. stuff the bandrich bandluxe c120 usb stick stipped into the ux in the place of the compact flash drive + upgrade the pci-e card to intel 5350 (wifi 2.4/5Ghz N + Wimax)

2. remove the wifi card and replace with a hsdpa card from the above.

i feel option 2 is easier... what are your thoughts?
(if only they had one pci-e card with wifi, wimax and hsdpa :-)

kt

[Oginger1]

I think someone on here has already tried swapping the pci-e card and it didn't work. Also there would be the prolem of getting the simcard reader to work. Can't be sure but have a search. Thats why I went the route of the USB modem and not pci-e

[HayabusaUK]

Oginger1 thats an awesome mod.

One question though, the UX50 is that one with a CF slot?

Ive got a 380 which has the useless EDGE modem so im thinking there may be a little extra space avaialable for me if i rip it out.

Not that im brave enough (yet) to whip out the soldering iron...maybe in 6 months time perhaps ;O)

[Oginger1]

Yup. The ux50 does have the CF slot but this mod does not interfer with it at all. As for how much room you'd get with the removal of the Edge module I'm not sure but I should be able to let you know in about a week. I've got a 380n on its way to me that I just got off e-bay. I'll have to have a look around it when it arrives.

[MathProfJohnson]

Don't hate on me (but only if you could squeeze a better keyboard on there) smile

[computercowboy]

@ Oginger > cool mod for sure
In that second to last picture it looks like you have some evidence of some illicit substances being smoked whilst doing your mod... or do the cigarettes in the UK just look weird.