How to use mobile broadband with 2degrees SIM card in Lenovo Windows 8 laptop

Forums › 2degrees (including Slingshot, Orcon, Flip, Stuff Fibre, MyRepublic, 2talk and Vocus) › How to use mobile broadband with 2degrees SIM card in Lenovo Windows 8 laptop

BaronGrivet

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#123283 2-Jul-2013 10:22

I have a Lenovo X1 Carbon running Windows 8 Professional.

The laptop has a SIM card slot and I've purchased a 2degrees SIM card (using the Data Sharing Plan) and inserted the card.

Windows 8 detects the SIM card once it has been inserted and it shows up as "2degrees" under the "Mobile Broadband" in the network sidebar.

However I cannot get the network to connect - even with 4 or 5 bars "2degrees" is shown as "Limited".

I phoned 2degrees and they told me to set the dial number - but the Windows 8 "mobile broadband" configuration doesn't behave like a dial-up modem.

I then spent a couple of hours wading through Google looking for a solution with no luck.

Does anyone have a solution?

Thanks in advance.

freitasm

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#848136 2-Jul-2013 10:38

Have you configured the APN settings to be "internet" (without the quotes)?

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BaronGrivet

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#848142 2-Jul-2013 11:13

freitasm: Have you configured the APN settings to be "internet" (without the quotes)?

Yes, the APN is configured to "internet" - blank username and password.

Spong

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#848230 2-Jul-2013 13:53

Have you tried the SIM card in a phone or dongle to see if data is working or enabled on the account?

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tanivula

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#848257 2-Jul-2013 14:19

With Windows 7 there is a Lenovo application called access connections. I think in there you can manage network and mobile broadband settings. I'd be surprised if there wasn't a similar application amongst the Lenovo tools pre installed.

Pwned

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#848262 2-Jul-2013 14:33

Have you activated the sim card? And as suggested above, please try the sim on a phone.

BaronGrivet

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#848551 3-Jul-2013 09:17

Hi Everyone

Thank you for your help so far. I've checked that the SIM cards are enabled and that the data sharing is working properly.

I put the SIM in a mobile phone and could access the internet/ run a speed test - this activity was recorded in the "Shared Data" section of my 2degrees account.

Unfortunately I still get the "Limited" message on my laptop. I currently have 5 bars of coverage.

If I go into "Network and Sharing Center" in the Control Panel, select the "Mobile broadband (2degrees)" connection and select "Diagnose" I get the message on the attached screenshot.

tanivula: With Windows 7 there is a Lenovo application called access connections. I think in there you can manage network and mobile broadband settings. I'd be surprised if there wasn't a similar application amongst the Lenovo tools pre installed.

I've looked into this but it appears that for Windows 8 the OS is supposed to natively take care of mobile broadband.

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2degreesCare

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#848846 3-Jul-2013 16:16

Have you got enough credit to connect or a Data pack on the account?

Please PM the SIM # so I can check.

Cheers
^POB

michaelmurfy

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#848847 3-Jul-2013 16:27

2DegreesCare: Have you got enough credit to connect or a Data pack on the account?

Please PM the SIM # so I can check.

Cheers
^POB

Even if there was credit on the sim it shouldn't make it fail as if there's a DNS problem, I suspect the APN settings have not been set correctly in Access Connections (if your laptop ships with that installed) - I found on my Thinkpad I had to set it under this in order to connect.

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Virgil

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#848863 3-Jul-2013 17:03

Hiya BG, this post won't help you much except tell you what the problem isn't :-)

I have the same laptop. When I plugged a Vodafone data-only sim in, it just worked ... no config any anything necessary on the laptop or account.

I have, occasionally, seen the DNS error message you posted above - randomly and for no particular reason. Either restarting the laptop, or simply removing and reinserting the sim, seemed to clear it.

Good luck with it.

Cheers

Lurking ...

BaronGrivet

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#849077 4-Jul-2013 09:08

Thanks for everyone's help.

The problem seemed to come down to the DNS settings.

For some reason the DNS was set with static IPs that I didn't recognise and couldn't ping.

After replacing them with the Google DNS server settings (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4) it's up and running.

I can't say I'm thrilled with the performance though - the test below was done on my laptop's browser with a full five bars of coverage.

For comparison this is what I got from the Speedtest app on my battered old Motorola Defy (also on 2degrees) - right next to my laptop.

Any suggestions on how to get better performance with mobile broadband on my laptop?

freitasm

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#849079 4-Jul-2013 09:11

What happens if you leave the DNS empty (which should be the correct way to use it)?

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BaronGrivet

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#849091 4-Jul-2013 09:32

freitasm: What happens if you leave the DNS empty (which should be the correct way to use it)?

Hi Mauricio

Initially I tried to leave the DNS blank and have them set via DHCP, but it would just revert to the static IPs.

If I selected "Obtain an IP address automatically" and save etc. the values are overwritten to this:

Which is what was set before when it wasn't connecting at all. To satisfy my curiosity I tried connecting to the internet and these settings now work!?

Unfortunately the network performance is still uninspiring.

I've just entered the Twilight Zone with this, and seem to have gone full circle.

Not really sure what's going on, but my brain sure does hurt.

freitasm

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#849095 4-Jul-2013 09:39

Those DNS seem to belong to 2degrees so they should work... As you say this works now for you so better not touch.

Performance is another story and it will depend on which region you are.

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2degreesCare

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#849208 4-Jul-2013 12:26

118.148 and 118.149 are 2degrees.

Speeds will depend on location, traffic load, in-building etc. Do you have a get better speeds in different areas of the house or on a different device? Some customers have their Modem plugged into an extension and on the window ledge. :\

Where are you in New Plymouth btw? You can PM me if you like.

^POB

BaronGrivet

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#849243 4-Jul-2013 13:38

2DegreesCare: 118.148 and 118.149 are 2degrees.

Speeds will depend on location, traffic load, in-building etc. Do you have a get better speeds in different areas of the house or on a different device? Some customers have their Modem plugged into an extension and on the window ledge. :\

Where are you in New Plymouth btw? You can PM me if you like.

^POB

Hi, thank you for that - I really appreciate the service.

The good news is I'm now getting excellent data speeds:

Thank you to everyone for your help, very much appreciated.