Just further to chiefie’s article Got Vista? Got VMC? But no go? covering the installation of the Novatel U630 on Vista, the following forum covers the manual installation of the following VMC data cards:

- Huawei E618 3G data card
- Novatel XU870 HSDPA ExpressCard

This process was performed using Vista RC1 Build 5600 and files from the VMC installation CD v7.03.0004.

Step 1: Locate drivers for data card

Drivers for data cards are grouped into device specific folders under an inf folder. You can browse your VMC installation CD to the inf folder:

D:\Software\VMC\program files\Vodafone\Vodafone Mobile Connect\ics\inf

The following folders contain the specific device drivers:

Huawei E618 3G data card - 8000000200012019
Novatel XU870 HSDPA ExpressCard - 8000000200012030


Step 2: Insert data card

Vista will detect the data card and attempt to install the device using the ‘Found New Hardware’ wizard. Cancel the wizard and open Device Manager.


Step 3: Manually assign device drivers

Vista will assign multiple ‘data interface’ devices under the ‘Other devices’ category for the data card.

Right click the device, select ‘Update Driver Software…” and browse to the specific driver folder as described above. Make sure ‘Include Subfolders’ is checked.

Repeat for all other ‘data interface’ devices. Vista should indicate the successful installation of the following devices:

Novatel XU870 ExpressCard
- Novatel Wireless Merlin HSDPA Modem
- Novatel Wireless Merlin HSDPA Status Port

Huawei E618 3G data card
- HUAWEI Mobile Connect – 3G Modem
- HUAWEI Mobile Connect – 3G Application Interface
- HUAWEI Mobile Connect – 3G PC UI Interface


Step 4: Set the APN

Before you create a dial-up connection to get online, you will need to set the APN. Typically, the connection manager software would perform this set for you, but manual installs require manual setup of the APN as part of the modem properties.

Under the ‘Modems’ list in Device Manager, right click on the data card modem (Novatel Wireless Merlin HSDPA modem or HUAWEI Mobile Connect – 3G Modem) and select ‘Properties’.

Click the ‘Advanced’ tab and in the Extra initialisation commands field enter:

AT+CGDCONT=1,”IP”,”www.vodafone.net.nz”

Click Ok.


Step 5: Create a DUN connection

The last step is to create a dial-up networking connection.

- Click ‘Start’ and ‘Connect To’
- Click on ‘Set up a connection or network’
- Select ‘Set up a dial-up connection’ and click Next
- Select the data card modem
- Enter *99***1# into the dial-up phone number field
- Leave username and password blank and enter ‘Vodafone’ or something similar as the connection name
- Click Connect

Notes:

The obvious feature you are missing by not using a connection manager is signal strength indication. You will however be able to use the LED on the data card to check which network you are connected to e.g.

Status	Novatel XU870 LED
No coverage / Network search	Solid Red
In 3G coverage	Flashing blue
In GPRS coverage	Flashing green
Connected to 3G	Solid blue
Connected to GPRS	Solid green
HSDPA (3G broadband)	Solid yellow

Hopefully this is useful for some while we wait for the release of Vista-compatible connection managers next year.