OQO Model 02 hacker crams in HSDPA early

We knew adding HSDPA to the OQO Model 02 was roughly equivalent to swapping out a mini-PCI card, but instead of waiting on OQO to take its own sweet time in releasing such a version in the States, tnkgrl took it upon herself to hack one up. After soldering in a correctly sized Sierra Wireless AirCard, everything works dandy, and she took pics aplenty of the process, but you might want to wait on a tutorial or a bit of common sense before you rip into your own EV-DO-equipped model in a warranty-voiding effort to rid yourself of the shackles of EV-DO.

[CapWKidd @ May 7th 2007 4:07PM]

So, all you need to do is add the SIM holder? Sweet! Anyone else have on of theses PCs? Looks like it would make for a nice "always on you" PC, eh?

1 comment also... :)

[Ratchet the Lombax @ May 7th 2007 9:01PM]

I have one of the OQO model 2 PCs and it is real nice. It does everything I need I to do and is really small. I did have the Model 1 but gave it to my dad when I upgraded and he loves it too.

[wabguard-email @ May 7th 2007 4:39PM]

I added 2 IR LEDS on my laptop for use with WII remote. I had to run wires behind LCD from a usb port. When I went through airport, they didn't even mention it. I should mention I didn't really make it neat on the inside either. Hahaha.. feel safe?! :)

[Dustin Frazier @ May 7th 2007 4:44PM]

How many geeks have blown up planes?

[Jesse S @ May 7th 2007 4:28PM]

Ewwww...Why? Evdo Rev. A is faster than HSDPA in the states...

[ScOObyDoo @ May 7th 2007 5:02PM]

Yeah, but good luck finding EVDO outside the US. Anyone that travels (and I'm sure a lot of people here do) will love being able to use it abroad.

[wraith808 @ May 7th 2007 5:44PM]

And EV-DO Plans cost more too. I get my unlimited plan from Cingular for $49.99, and verizon's unlimited plan costs... Oh. I'm sorry. Verizon doesn't *have* an unlimited data plan.

[akijikan @ May 7th 2007 5:12PM]

shackles of ev-do? rofl...

[Jesse S @ May 7th 2007 5:59PM]

It does, and it's the same price...

[wraith808 @ May 7th 2007 6:02PM]

I guess they just don't advertise it under their plans? The least I saw to buy in when I chose was $79.99. Where is verizon's?

[Gordon @ May 7th 2007 8:28PM]

I have several air-cards w/ Verizon. Unlimited data @ $59.99/mo.

[bluemonq @ May 7th 2007 10:03PM]

You just *think* it's unlimited. But just try downloading, say, 12GB a month for a month or more... (all of the cell companies promising "unlimited" data piss me off...)

[akijikan @ May 7th 2007 9:14PM]

lol check the facts buddy unlimited EV-DO from Sprint costs onyl $15/month and has a lot more coverage than HSDPA.

[tnkgrl @ May 7th 2007 9:52PM]

I just wanted to add... Beyond of the Mini PCI Express card swap, the tricky part of this mod is installing the SIM holder!

[Jesse S @ May 7th 2007 10:32PM]

@akijikan, you can't use that to tether.

@blue, yeah, they have a limit of 5 gigs, but I've gone well over that, and they didn't freeze my account or anything.

[akijikan @ May 7th 2007 11:58PM]

yeah you can I do it all the time.

[Richard @ May 7th 2007 11:35PM]

Hi, Im a student at LSU and was seriously considering getting a UMPC. I was wondering what anyone thinks would be useful to me, considering I am a student. I would like somethnig that would be about 7" screen size. Also, I want some kind of docking station or a USB port along with VGA ports, so I can plug everything in and use it as a desktop pc.

[Whtrbt7 @ May 8th 2007 11:45AM]

I've been following this one for a while on tnkgrl's blog: http://tnkgrl.wordpress.com/2007/05/07/oqo-model-02-hsdpa-mod-part-1/
HSDPA is faster than EVDO Rev 0 which is installed on the OQO 02. It's also cheaper by $20. Sprint and Verizon charge $60/month for EVDO on laptop/handtop computers. HSDPA is also available in other places worldwide. The OQO 02 is an excellent handtop even though stock of the unit is quite low.

[anonymous @ Jun 15th 2007 7:51PM]

akijan,

you should check the facts. sprint is 59/month unlimited evdo. verizon is also 59/month. has been the case for both since they introduced evdo. here are their websites confirming this. where did you get sprint evdo for 15/month?

Sprint:
http://nextelonline.nextel.com/NASApp/onlinestore/en/Action/SubmitRegionAction

Verizon:

http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/store/controller?item=planFirst&catId=409&action=viewPlanDisplay&planId=31739