Thinkpads Forum

Has anyone tried using a Intel 6230 or 6235 combined Bluetooth and WiFi card in a BIOS-modded T60? Any other thinkpad?

I have a no-whitelist BIOS, that part is covered.

I see on the 'net some people have been having problems getting win 7 to recognize the Bluetooth part (with the WiFi working great). There are also reports about engineering samples floating around, which may only work with previous versions of the driver set.

The card sounds like an awesome way to add BT to the Thinkpads born without it, and in case of the 6235, even BT 4.0 support for low power devices. The 6235 is available for like $21 on fleabay.

Would love to hear from anyone who has experience with these, and if positive, I'd love to hear where you bought yours.

But what is the point exactly? This model can have the regular module built in. You just need to check the video cable because there is a version that doesn't have the tiny connector soldered. By the way, if you happen to find the version with the connector please let me know, I'm looking for one.

mikemex wrote:But what is the point exactly? This model can have the regular module built in.

There are a couple of points:
- BT 4.0 (available in the 6235) will bring support for low-power bluetooth devices like heart rate monitors, bicycle computers, perhaps your next watch, allow your (next) phone to conserve battery life while tethered to your laptop etc.
- Not needing to open up the screen assembly.
- Not risking finding you have no BT connector on the display flex when you do open up the monitor assembly
- (and not needing to reassemble, wait for new display flex to be purchased and arrive, and then opening up again).

mikemex wrote: You just need to check the video cable because there is a version that doesn't have the tiny connector soldered. By the way, if you happen to find the version with the connector please let me know, I'm looking for one.

That would be one more point - display cables with BT connector for 4:3 15" laptops do not appear to be available on ebay at the moment..

Lastly, anyone wanting to update their wifi card to a 6200 anyways would be shelling out most of the $21 cost anyways, so adding BT this way would be more cost effective even if one didn't need to purchase new display flex (and of course, if drivers work would also save some time and possible frustration).

I'm pretty sure that the modules for T60 and later are all the same and compatible with each other, what changes is the version of the Bluetooth supported.

This is a module for xx30 models:

http://www.germany-china.biz/mia/pic/others/60Y3303.jpg

This is a module for T60:

http://i.ebayimg.com/t/lenovo-Thinkpad- ... w~~_12.JPG

If I remember correctly, they are USB devices so they are not subject to whitelists. In theory you can add BT 4.0 to a T60.

If both the Intel 6230 & 6235 WiFi/BT combo cards are anything like their WiFi/WiMax combo cards then they will require PCIe (for WiFi) & USB (for Bluetooth) connections for both to function from a single mPCIe slot.
Unfortunately the T60's WiFi slot only supports PCIe and has no USB connection & the WWAN slot (if available) only supports USB and has no PCIe connection.
Therefore in this case only the WiFi section of the card will be seen in the WiFi slot & if available only the BT section of the card will be seen in the WWAN slot - However it may be possible to jumper a USB feed to the WiFi slot - See T61 and WiMAX (ref to the T60 posts within).