Mobile broadband from start to finish
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This article explains all about mobile broadband, a technology that makes it possible for you to connect to the Internet from virtually anywhere, even if there’s no Wi‑Fi network available. It uses 3G, 4G, and LTE cellular and mobile networks to do this, just as phones do.
Because mobile broadband is a relatively new technology, there are some terms and concepts you might not be familiar with. We'll cover those in this article, along with the steps you'll need to set up and use a mobile broadband connection.
What is mobile broadband?
Mobile broadband technology, also called wireless wide area network (WWAN) technology, provides wireless high-speed Internet access through portable devices. With mobile broadband, you can connect to the Internet from any location where there is cellular
service available for mobile Internet connectivity.
To connect to the Internet using mobile broadband, you need a mobile broadband data card (described below) and a mobile
broadband subscription.
Mobile broadband technology has its own special terminology:
A data card is a small card or device that provides mobile broadband Internet access. Removable data cards can be in the format of PC cards, USB cards or dongles, or ExpressCards. Data cards can also be embedded laptop modules.
A subscriber identity module (SIM) is a small, removable card that contains subscriber identity and security info for mobile broadband services. Some data cards might not have physically identifiable or removable SIMs.
An access point name (APN) or access string is a combination of letters and numbers provided by your mobile operator to identify the type of network access you have. A mobile operator might have different APNs that offer different types of services.
Autoconnect refers to the mobile broadband connection manager that automatically establishes a connection to a mobile broadband network.
Autoselect refers to the mobile broadband connection manager that automatically selects a mobile operator to connect to when you're out of range of your mobile broadband network.
Just as with a phone, roaming refers to moving outside your usual geographic area of usage. When roaming, you connect to your mobile operator through a partner network, and you're usually charged more for data service.
3G, 4G, and LTE networks are cellular networks that support different connection speeds and technologies.
If you have an external data card, make sure that it's correctly inserted into your laptop. Also make sure that the wireless switch, if present, is turned on. The wireless switch is usually found on the front or side edge of a laptop.
You might be asked to provide an access string or an APN to help identify your mobile network. An access string (for CDMA devices) or APN (for GSM devices) should be included in the info that came with your subscriber identity module (SIM) or subscription.
If you don't find it, and you have trouble connecting to the Internet, contact your mobile operator.
If your SIM is locked, the default PIN is set by the mobile operator. When the device is locked, it can't be used, and you need the PIN to unlock it. Check the info that came with your SIM or subscription. If you don't find it, and you have trouble connecting to the Internet, contact your mobile operator.
To configure your mobile broadband settings
View a list of available networks by swiping in from the right edge of the screen, tapping Settings (or if you're using a mouse, pointing to the upper-right corner of the screen, moving the mouse pointer down, and then clicking Settings), and then tapping or clicking the network icon (
or 
).
Tap or click your mobile broadband network.
If you want to connect automatically in the future, select the Connect automatically check box.
If you want to roam automatically, select the Allow data roaming check box.
Tap or click Connect.
If prompted, enter the access point name (APN) or access string, the user name, and the password. You can find these in the info that came with the device or with your mobile broadband service.
Note
If you didn't select the Connect automatically check box, for future connections, tap or click the mobile broadband network name, and then click Connect.
To change APN, access string, user name, password, and connection settings
View a list of available networks by swiping in from the right edge of the screen, tapping Settings (or if you're using a mouse, pointing to the upper-right corner of the screen, moving the mouse pointer down, and then clicking Settings), and then tapping or clicking the network icon ( or ).
Press and hold or right-click your mobile broadband network, tap or click View connection properties, and then tap or click the Profile tab.
Enter the access point name (APN) or access string, the user name, and the password. You can find these in the info that came with the device or with your mobile broadband service.
You can also select one or both of the following check boxes:
Tap or click OK.
To change roaming settings
View a list of available networks by swiping in from the right edge of the screen, tapping Settings (or if you're using a mouse, pointing to the upper-right corner of the screen, moving the mouse pointer down, and then clicking Settings), and then tapping or clicking the network icon ( or ).
Press and hold or right-click your mobile broadband network, tap or click View connection properties, and then tap or click the Roaming tab. (The Roaming tab is only available when you're roaming.)
To allow Windows to automatically choose a network, select Autoselect (recommended). Or, to choose a network, select the network name from the list, and then tap or click Register.
To show or hide estimated data usage
View a list of available networks by swiping in from the right edge of the screen, tapping Settings (or if you're using a mouse, pointing to the upper-right corner of the screen, moving the mouse pointer down, and then clicking Settings), and then tapping or clicking the network icon ( or ).
Press and hold or right-click your mobile broadband network connection, and then select one of the following:
After you click Show estimated data usage, a usage summary appears. Clicking Reset sets your data usage tracking back to zero. This doesn't affect the total amount of data you've actually used, which your mobile operator is tracking.
To enable, disable, or change your PIN
View a list of available networks by swiping in from the right edge of the screen, tapping Settings (or if you're using a mouse, pointing to the upper-right corner of the screen, moving the mouse pointer down, and then clicking Settings), and then tapping or clicking the network icon ( or ).
Press and hold or right-click the mobile broadband network, tap or click View connection properties, and then tap or click the Security tab.
Do one of the following:
To enable the PIN, tap or click Enable PIN, enter the PIN, tap or click Enable PIN, and then tap or click OK.
To disable the PIN, tap or click Disable PIN, enter the PIN, tap or click Disable PIN, and then tap or click OK.
To change the PIN, tap or click Change PIN, enter the current PIN and the new PIN, enter the new PIN again for verification, tap or click Change PIN, and then tap or click OK.
Notes
If the device doesn't support using a PIN, the Security tab will be unavailable.
Entering an incorrect PIN 3 times can result in your account being blocked until you get a PIN unblock key (PUK) from your mobile operator. If you're connected at the time that your account becomes blocked, your existing connection will end.
If the PIN is currently enabled, the Enable PIN button will be unavailable.
If the PIN is currently disabled, the Disable PIN and Change PIN buttons will be unavailable. You must first enable the PIN before you can change it.
To find subscription and provider details
View a list of available networks by swiping in from the right edge of the screen, tapping Settings (or if you're using a mouse, pointing to the upper-right corner of the screen, moving the mouse pointer down, and then clicking Settings), and then tapping or clicking the network icon ( or ).
Press and hold or right-click the mobile broadband network, and then tap or click View connection properties.
Tap or click the Subscription tab.
To find your device and account info
If you need to contact your mobile operator, they'll ask for info that identifies the device and account in use. To find this info, follow these steps while your mobile broadband device is present or plugged into your PC:
Trượt nhanh vào từ cạnh phải của màn hình, gõ nhẹ Thiết đặt, rồi gõ nhẹ Thay đổi thiết đặt PC.
(Nếu bạn đang dùng chuột, trỏ chuột đến góc phải trên của màn hình, chuyển con trỏ chuột xuống, bấm Thiết đặt, rồi bấm Thay đổi thiết đặt PC.)
Click Wireless, and then look under Mobile broadband hardware information.
You can restart the device by removing and reinserting it, by turning the PC off and back on, or by resuming from hibernation or from sleep.
Here's a list of the most common problems you might encounter when using a mobile broadband connection, and the steps you can take to solve them:
I'm having connection problems
This section covers a number of connection problems, some possible reasons, and what to do to fix them.
The mobile broadband connection isn't listed in Network Connections. Possible reasons:
Your SIM or device is locked, not readable, or no longer valid.
Your mobile subscription has expired or isn't activated.
You're in an area where there's no network signal.
You have a signal but you can't connect. Possible reasons:
You don’t have a valid data subscription.
The access point name (APN), user name, or password used for the connection isn't valid.
You're roaming and the selected network operator doesn’t allow data services or you don’t have roaming enabled for data services.
You can connect from some locations but not others (for example, you can't connect from out of town). Possible reasons:
For all of these problems, to try to find the exact cause of the problem and a solution, start the Network troubleshooter by following these steps:
Open Network and Sharing Center by swiping in from the right edge of the screen, tapping Search (or if you're using a mouse, pointing to the upper-right corner of the screen, moving the mouse pointer down, and then clicking Search), entering network and sharing in the search box, tapping or clicking Settings, and then tapping or clicking Network and Sharing Center.
Tap or click Change adapter settings.
Press and hold or right-click the mobile broadband connection, and then tap or click Diagnose.
Depending upon the service plan you have, access to certain sites (IP addresses), ports, and types of services might be blocked by your mobile operator. Contact your mobile operator to make sure you have the service necessary to use the program over the mobile broadband connection.
Certain mobile operators have separate settings for Internet access using a data card versus a phone. Contact your mobile operator to make sure that your subscription allows using a data card and that you have the correct settings.
