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+-- Forum: Pinebook Pro (https://forum.pine64.org/forumdisplay.php?fid=111)
+--- Forum: Pinebook Pro Hardware and Accessories (https://forum.pine64.org/forumdisplay.php?fid=116)
+--- Thread: LTE adapter via NVMe (/showthread.php?tid=10597)
LTE adapter via NVMe - grego - 07-08-2020
Hello, I'm interested whether anyone here managed to successfully connect an LTE adapter to the PBP via NVMe.
If not, is there anything that would prevent it from being possible?
RE: LTE adapter via NVMe - Arwen - 07-08-2020
Please note that the NVMe adapter only supports PCIe interface.
Many LTE M.2 devices require extra things, like SIM card slot supplied to them, from the host adapater. Or a USB interface. Or even a different slot configuration. If you do some research, you may be able to find a LTE M.2 device that is PCIe only, with it's own SIM card slot.
There is a possibility that a different M.2 adapter card will be made available. It's exact feature set, and any release date have not been clearly decided. Here is the forum thread discussing it;
https://forum.pine64.org/showthread.php?tid=9727
RE: LTE adapter via NVMe - manawyrm - 07-08-2020
There's no real benefit of trying to put an LTE adapter inside of the Pinebook Pro.
LTE modems (on M.2 cards) almost always just use regular USB, instead of PCIe.
The additional drawbacks are very high power draw from the modem (the voltage regulators on the PBP can't handle that amount of current) and bad antenna characteristics (because of the large amount of metal in the case).
The voltage regulator issue can be solved pretty easily with a little high-power switch-mode regulator, the antenna issue is a bit more tricky.
Additional USB ports are available inside the Pinebook Pro under the shielding, as unused pins on a USB hub IC.
I'd recommend using external USB LTE modems or your phone (in either USB tethering mode, or via WiFi).
The first option will give you some trouble (due to the high power draw) again, though.