Adding a WWAN Card to a Notebook After Purchase

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Adding Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) Cards

For many laptops, adding a WWAN card after its purchased may not be possible as some laptop configurations require WWAN-specific motherboards and LCDs (antennas). This is true for all Rugged laptops as they have some chassis that is only compatible without WWAN components.

An example of a WWAN LCD with antennas (Figure 1):

Figure 1 - WWAN Antenna

The common reasons that a WWAN card has to be added are:

1. The laptop is not configured properly when ordered by the Sales Representative.
2. The person ordering does not order the item (either they did not know it was to be part of the laptop or forgot it).
3. The need for this WWAN option is determined after the laptop was purchased.

The best solution for this issue would be to return the laptop and order it in the proper configuration (if it is within the return period).

Some reasons why it is beneficial to return and order the laptop in the proper configuration are:

1. Laptops have a lot of components in a small space depending on the model or configuration and may have no room for the WWAN card. Some laptops do not ship with antenna wires if no WWAN is ordered. Some laptops cannot have both WLAN and WWAN simultaneously (some Mobile Precision Workstations have an RGBLCD that is not compatible with WWAN antennas).
2. It may be more expensive to buy the parts and pay for any needed installation. (It is not a Tech Support service to install parts that are ordered after the computer purchase.)
3. Adding the WWAN card after purchase can be problematic and time consuming.

It is best to reorder a laptop with the wanted features to ensure that all compatibility factors are caught by the Dell System Configurator. This should not let you create an incompatible System configuration.

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